Update 29^th October  2014.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

It’s Interclub time again, with the prospect of cut-throat competition in the two top Divisions as the  cream of local players square off this weekend. It’s a pity that the wrinkles in the excellent idea of combining this competition with Wanganui couldn’t have been ironed out, but maybe that will just intensify the clashes between the leading contenders. The heavy concentration of Women’s strength at Northern will make this one day competition theirs to lose, but on the plus side the lack of contenders will make it easier for Selector Eric Watson to find the right combinations with the first Inter-Centre clash of the season only a fortnight away. The task faced by this pundit in trying to predict how the Men’s competition might play out becomes very difficult with three of the six Division One contenders not having unveiled their selections at time of writing. Palmerston North arguably has greater depth of quality players than most of its rivals, and this is reflected in their decision to reverse previous policy by fielding two teams in Division One. Talking points in the sides emerging from Linton St are the return after a year’s break of Ross Ellery and the appearance of the well performed Brian Looker, previously of Terrace End, who Skips the Four in the B team. Ellery’s most recent performance at top level saw him drop only one Singles from five as Manawatu ran second in the National Inter-Centre. Even more interesting in the B team  is the appearance of top Kapiti player Ray Boffa, who will have Mike Abraham leading for him in the Pair. Palmerston North A will field possibly the most lethal and well performed combo named by any club so far in the Pair of Pat Horgan and Dean Gilshnan. The  Northern side, unconfirmed as yet, will probably start as favourite in Division One, with trump cards in Philip Skoglund and Glasgow Silver Medallist Mark Noble, as well as the return from tropical climes of the vastly experienced Craig Gush. Takaro visibly grows in strength each year. Their side is currently unknown, but with the big match ability and strategic craft of Barry Wynks in their corner, cannot be counted out. The return of Clayton Simpson to Terrace End compensates for the loss of Brian Looker, and they have Shane Rogers currently in red-hot form. Shane has travelled widely to display startling early season form on the Kapiti Coast and especially in Wanganui, where he recently dealt mercilessly to the best of the locals, including the legendary Peter Belliss, on his way to the local Open Singles final.

In a quick look at the remaining contenders for the rained off 2x4x2 Pairs , now up for completion in early December, Shane and the well performed Sherryn Blake  stand out as likely to be a serious threat to obvious favourites, the Mark Noble/Fisher and Wynks/Janeen Noble combos.    

Thanks Denis.