Queensland in firing line of Kiwi big guns
It wasn’t certain if the QLD V AUCKLAND U25 development series would run in 2014, but with big support from host club Musgrave Hill Bowls Club and others, it’s on! (Tues-Thurs, Dec 9-11) Auckland is loading some big guns for this year’s U25 Across the Ditch Challenge, to try to seize both Shields and take them home to New Zealand. (Queensland is defending champ for the U25 trophy, NZ for the U18 trophy.)
If you head along to Musgrave Hill Bowls Club next week (Tues Dec 9 – Thurs Dec 11), you’ll see NZ Comm Games team members Selina Goddard and Holly McIllroy in action, also one of the blokes has made an appearance for the NZ Blackjacks (Greg Ruaporo).
Queensland is fielding a mixed bag of seriously experienced young bowlers, and others relatively inexperienced at rep play, but who have demonstrated outstanding talent and dedication to the sport.
The Across the Ditch Challenge was designed by BQ state high performance coach Bill Cornehls and his Auckland counterpart as a “development series” for bowlers aged U18 and U25.
Each bowler plays at least six tests, over singles, pairs, triples, and mixed pairs formats, with the coaches trialling various combinations of players, looking for a mix that fires.
“It’s a good quality competition and it’s about giving opportunities to young bowlers, and building for the future, sure, we’d like to come away with two wins, U18 and U25, but it’s about testing combinations too, both sides see it that way,” Cornehls said.
QUEENSLAND Invitation Squads:
U18 Jacinta Weier, Rebecca Rixon, Jessie Cottell, Sophie Young, Brittanny Wiley, Tiffany Murray, Daniel Keogh, Jacob Nelson, Liam Stephan, Mitchell Mears, Dale McWhinney-Shillington, Nathan Wilson.
U25 Kiani Andersen, Cassandra Millerick, Madi Styles, Taleah Putney, Michaela Bailey-Nelson, Aymee Bellert, Cohen Litfin, Brendan Wilson, Jason Carpenter, Ben Savva, Paul Kajewski, Nic Gosley.
(Thanks to supporters, BQ, Musgrave Hill Bowls Club, BCIB, Goodridge’s clothing (team shirts), Auckland Bowls.)
For all the news on the test series, click here Qld vs Auckland
