Lawn Bowls: Bay of Plenty representative teams set for season opener

Bowls New Zealand bowls develpment officer Steve Beel, 63, and club member Carolyn Tasker, 57. Photo / George Novak

The Bay of Plenty representative lawn bowls teams face a stern test in their first big outing of the season in Auckland on Sunday.

There is a certain degree of experimentation from the new selectors Gayle Melrose and Lance Tasker as the Bay square up to Auckland, North Harbour and Northland in an extremely-competitive quadrangular at Browns Bay.

A total of 54 men and women are travelling to Auckland and the selectors will be keeping a close eye on who can handle the bigger stage as they mix combinations between the open and development sides.

"We are looking to spread the net a wee bit wider," said Tasker. "The development guys picked up the national inter-centre title last season and they will want to push for front-end roles in the top team. It's going to be a hard hit-out on Sunday, and it's a good benchmark."

Tasker and Melrose, a national assistant coach, is looking to develop a strong-spirited squad system this season as they build towards naming the final seven (men and women) for the national inter-centre championship in March.

"From November we will be holding fortnightly training sessions in either Tauranga or Rotorua and using the experience of Gayle [Melrose] as assistant coach of the Black Jacks to develop the skill set of the players,'' says Tasker, a five-times national title-holder who has elected to select rather than play.

The women's open and development sides have a settled look, led by former national representatives Mary Campbell and Mina Paul, and experienced Sue Hodges, Mere Eden and PK Tamehana.

Carolyn Tasker is making her debut for the open team, while Leonie Renata and Marilyn Constantine – members of last season's inter-centre semifinalists – have been omitted.

Last season's Bay champion of champions singles winner John Hohepa, one of the development national champions Nick Tomsett, and journeyman Marcus Merrick have been given the opportunity of showing their wares in the open men's team.

Experienced Steve Beel is returning to representative play after rehabilitating from knee surgery, and pushing for promotion to the open side will be Andre Hudson, Cliff Webber and Brendon Brill.

Promising Anthony Ouellet will this weekend be in Christchurch rather than Auckland, competing against the best young players in the country in the Burnside under-26 singles. Other players unavailable in the men's squad for Sunday were John O'Shea, Dan Dickison, Reg Sim and John Gray.

- Supplied Content</strong>

The teams:

Men Open: Eric Patillo, Steve Beel, Neil Wilson, Steve Hughes, Tony Parkinson, Greg West, Marcus Merrick, Nick Tomsett, John Hohepa.
Development (8 years and under playing): Andre Hudson, Cliff Webber, Brendon Brill, Peter Goddard, Sean Armstrong, Brian Duffin, Paul Martelletti, Bill McCallum.

Junior (1-5 years playing): Adam Reid, Paul Kirby, Bill Reid, Regan Williams, Wayne Dowie, Arthur Ball, Charlie Griffiths, Barry Karl, Andrew Marshall.
Women Open: Mary Campbell, Sue Hodges, Karen Clark, Pat Andrews, Carolyn Tasker, PK Tamehana, Mere Eden, Mina Paul, Jasmine Merrick.

Development: Angela Stephen, Adrienne Reid, Di Burton, Vini Smith, Gail Duncan, Jocelyn Holten, Hein Mack, Carol McGrory, Jacqui Stydom.

Junior: Caitlin Thomson, Gloria Duffin, Gloria MacGibbon, Sally Lavis, Shandelle Tennet, Janet Barnard, Anne Marsh, Lynda Copeland, Bridget Crawford.