Bowls: Youngsters draw on club form in pairs showdown

Dean Drummond, left, and Richard Hocking have the potential to upset many of their more experienced opponents in the Port Ahuriri Bowling Club's Railway Pairs tournament this weekend.

If club championship form is an indication, the smart money has to be on young guns Dean Drummond and Richard Hocking taking out the Port Ahuriri Bowling Club's prestigious Railway Pairs tournament this weekend.

Skip Drummond, 19, has won the singles, pairs, triples and fours titles at his Kia Toa club this summer. Lead Hocking, 18, has won the singles, triples and fours titles at the Taradale club and will miss having a crack at the pairs title because he will have started a commerce course at Canterbury University by the time that championship begins.

Despite their relative inexperience in the code in terms of years played, six and seven respectively, 2013 New Zealand under-18 teammates Drummond and Hocking have performed admirably as a composite pair.

"We won the Hawke's Bay centre's open men's pairs title last summer with a win against experienced centre reps Dave and Mark Stevenson in the final," Drummond explained before the pair had a training session at the Port Ahuriri club last night.

"Yes it was convincing too," Hocking chipped in.

They played in the first Voguehaven Rest Home-VJ Distributors Ltd Railways Pairs tournament two years ago and reached the top four. They're not short of incentives to capture the $2000 first prize in this weekend's 48-team event.

"With me starting university that money will definitely come in handy," former Taradale High School student Hocking said.

"I'm unemployed so any money I can get is welcomed ... plus a victory would be a good send off for Richard," Hastings Boys' High School product Drummond said.

Drummond pointed out their pair's complementary styles are the secret to their success.

"Richard is an unbelievable draw player. He calls the right shot for me and hopefully I produce it."

"Dean thrives with his runs and drives. He is also a good draw player when he needs to be ... we both know each other's strengths and weaknesses," Hocking said.

During last year's Trans Tasman under-18 tests at the Howick club in Auckland, Drummond and Hocking both played in the triples and fours as the Kiwis triumphed. Hocking is eligible for the New Zealand under-18 team again this year and will play lead in the pair and three in the four in Melbourne from March 18-20. Naturally Hocking, who gets his competitive streak from his mother, former Olympian hockey player Robyn Hocking, is hoping the Kiwis can topple the Aussies again.

Both Drummond and Hocking are coached online by Aucklander Howard Sandler. They both train up to three hours a day twice a week and increase this before a major tournament.

They also share the same idol in Nelson-based New Zealand representative Shannon McElroy. They are keen to follow the former Gisborne player's path and play for the Black Jacks at senior level.

"I'm eyeing the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast as well as the 2022 Games. The Gold Coast would be a pretty good place to go to," Drummond said.

"Me too," Hocking said.

The Bowls Heretaunga pair of Murray Glassey and Paul Selby will attempt to retain their title this weekend. All pairs will play four games on Saturday to determine three groups of 16 for Sunday's play which will also see every pair play four games.

The top three teams in the top 16 group score the major prizemoney with the runners-up winning $1200 and the third placegetters $800.