Bowls: Dry run for the Games

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Top bowlers will be in action in two events in Auckland this weekend, with particular interest in the men's and women's teams for the Commonwealth Games.

Determined to give their bowlers match play on a surface as close as possible to the conditions expected in Manchester, Bowls New Zealand have built a green at the East Tamaki club where New Zealand will play Australia in an unofficial five-test series.

The Briscoes Challenge aims to give teams the opportunity to play on greens of the same (slow) speed expected in England.

At the same time, other leading bowlers will play the International Open Singles at the Pukekohe Indoor Stadium. An ultimate prize of around $200,000 is at stake.

The tournament is the first of three qualifiers for January's world indoor singles and pairs in England.