Chances good in octagonal contest

Wairarapa senior men's bowls selector Dennis Richards is confident of his team making a strong showing at the annual octagonal tournament to be held in Palmerston North from Friday through to Sunday.
Richards believes the second placing achieved by his side in a tourney with Wellington, Manawatu and Kapiti earlier in the season is a good pointer to their chances this weekend when those four centres will be joined by Taranaki, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and East Coast.
Manawatu won that particular event but there was just the one point in it and the fact Wairarapa headed off the normally powerful Wellington line-up was a highlight in itself.
All six members of the Wairarapa squad are experienced players who have been around the representative scene for some seasons now.
Playing the singles is Ian Monaghan with John Claydon and Les O'Donovan in the pairs and John Polson, Graham Tindall and Brian Schischka in the triples.
Polson also doubles as selector of the Wairarapa senior women's team whose form leading into the Palmerston North tourney has been somewhat mixed.
While optimistic they will also do well this weekend Polson wants them to be more aggressive in their decision making.
"We have tended to be too tentative in our shot selection and against the better sides that counts heavily against you," he said.
Shona Wilkie will play the singles for Wairarapa and the pair consists of Avis Cooper and Robyn Schischka. In the triples will be Judith Wyeth, Liz Bondy and Daphne Traynor.