Bowls: NZ eye rare chance to break Aussie rule

In age-grade internationals, New Zealand have never beaten Australia at bowls.

Tomorrow at Birkenhead on the North Shore they aim to change that.

The under-25 contests date back six years and prior to that the Kiwis used to put up a development team to remain competitive.

Whatever the format, the green and golds have always been overwhelmingly superior.

But the New Zealand men's coach Dave Edwards was far from pessimistic as he prepared his charges for tomorrow's first international.

"The Australians have always been formidable at under-25 level because most of their representatives perform at the highest level and overshadow us in terms of experience," he said

"But in Matt Gallop, who will play singles and skip the triples team, we have an individual who matches them this time and our other players have all gained essential experience in national events."

Gallop, 21, plays as a semi-professional in the company of Peter Belliss, Rowan Brassey, Andrew Todd and Ryan Bester out of the Cabramatta club in Sydney. He demonstrated his exceptional talent by winning the New Zealand Open singles last November and reached the final of the pairs at the nationals in January 2009.

Gallop has been named in the New Zealand team to contest the Eight Nations tournament in New Delhi in March, a forerunner to the Commonwealth Games.

In the singles, Gallop will take on a young player new to the international scene, Mathew Pietersen. Originally from Parkes, Pietersen plays in the New South Wales premier league and has been described as a player of "amazing" talent.

Another individual heading to New Delhi is Clare McCaul, who will play the singles and skip the pairs for the New Zealand women's team.

Most of her colleagues are extremely young and largely inexperienced but represent the future of the women's game in this country.

Among them is Gemma Collett, formerly of Papakura but now of Nelson, the wife of new New Zealand representative and former national singles champion Richard.

The teams play three test matches tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, each of four games (singles, pairs, triples and fours). Play will start at 9am each day.

TEAMS

Under-25 men

New Zealand: Matt Gallop (singles and triples), Andrew Kelly (pairs and fours), Mark Watt (pairs and fours), Chris Le Lievre (triples and fours), Greg Ruaporo (triples and fours). Coach: Dave Edwards.

Australia: Mathew Pietersen (singles and triples), David Ferguson (pairs and fours), Carl Healey (pairs and fours), Sean Baker (triples and fours), Dylan Fisher (triples and fours). Coach: Bill Cornehls.

Under-25 women

New Zealand: Clare McCaul (singles and pairs), Misty Arnold (pairs and fours), Mandy Boyd (triples and fours), Gemma Collett (triples and fours), Amy Brenton (triples and fours). Coach: Sharon Sims.

Australia: Sam Shannahan (singles and triples), Rebecca Quail (pairs and fours), Carla Odgers (pairs and fours), Janet Healey (triples and fours), Morgan Solman-Stewart (triples and fours). Coach: Faye Luke.

Under-18 men

New Zealand: Ryan Khan (singles and pairs), Monte Pawa (singles and pairs). Coach: Terry Scott.

Australia: Martin Miller (singles and pairs), Aaron Teys (singles and pairs). Coach: Bill Cornehls.

Under-18 women

New Zealand: Emma Le Lievre (singles and pairs), Kirsten Griffin (singles and pairs). Coach: Terry Scott.

Australia: Carl Griffiths (singles and pairs), Lisa Phillips (singles and pairs). Coach: Faye Luke.