Update 27^th January  2015.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

The probability of drawing two specific marbles randomly from a barrel containing forty-four is obviously very small indeed. Gamblers would not fancy the odds, and mathematicians would confirm their doubts. Yet it happened just like that when the post-section draw for the Taranaki Open Fours took place last week. The scarcely believable result was that Philip Skoglund’s team found themselves immediately drawn against their clubmates from Northern, skipped by Doug Hayward. It must have been a bitter disappointment for both teams, but especially for the Skoglund side containing three of their illustrious family, which had impressively racked up seven straight wins in their section, without playing the final game. The Hayward side had to start as underdogs, but they looked the better team throughout and won impressively. It was an unfortunate anti-climax to end a satisfying week for the Skoglunds and Craig Gush. However, huge credit must go to Doug Hayward, Derek McKee, Des Meyer and Paul Darbyshire, who then took the bit firmly between their teeth and advanced confidently to the next round. The highly dangerous Tauranga Four led by the long experience of Peter Clark blocked the path to the last 16, but this hurdle was safely overcome. Next up were two former Manawatu players, Dean Elgar Skipping and Cameron Nairne Leading, in a West End team rated as a big local chance, but they too succumbed in a tight struggle, and the Hayward side had reached the heady heights of the Quarter-Final. Lying in wait there were the uber-consistent Settle brothers of Hinuera, winners the previous year, and this time the Hayward side dipped out with all flags still nailed to the mast. It was a fine showing by a team hardly noticed by this pundit in his preview. The final outcome of this iconic tournament was a ‘feel good’ story too, with the very able Roger Hassall finally crossing the line in his fifth final, while Paritutu team-mates Sanger and Skip Goodin also had multiple runner-up trophies in their possession. Only Lead Alan Batley had won previously, and that was many years back. Statisticians would have marvelled at the Paritutu side’s Quarter-Final win by 16-15 – a total of thirty-one shots scored over twenty six ends, including an extra end. Clearly, nothing was conceded easily in that one!

In one of the most impressive Representative outings in years, the Manawatu Men’s and Women’s sides simply swept aside the opposition in comfortably winning last weekend’s Quadrangular at Naenae. This bodes well for the big stuff later on, but with one proviso. Wairarapa is palpably weak, and Kapiti mediocre at present. That leaves Wellington, where the Women are always strong but the Men are seldom taken too seriously when Inter-Centre time arrives, Our selectors are largely getting it right, but there is much tougher opposition than this to come.

Thanks Denis.