Bowls: Pre-emptive tests on bowls agenda

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand bowlers' bowls could be headed for the testing table before next month's transtasman test series in Australia.

Determined any on-green success would not be lost to a challenge on the legality of bowls used by its bowlers, Bowls New Zealand chief executive Kerry Clark said a move could be made to have all bowls tested.

"If we have any doubts, we could take steps to ensure all bowls meet the required standards," said Clark. "We don't want to see any success subsequently lost to such a challenge."

Clark said his association was "deeply concerned" at recent challenges against bowls used by Leo Leonard at the national championships and Adam Newman in a match between Wellington and Canterbury.

"I don't blame anyone for challenging an opponent's bowls. This kind of thing has to be nipped in the bud," said Clark. "Our game is about the bowl's bias, and if that is not what it should be we have to take steps to ensure it is right. If you take the bias away from the game you might as well play tenpin and bowl in a straight line."

New Zealand does not have a testing table or a licensed tester but Clark said in view of changing trends in the manufacture of bowls, it is something his association might have to consider.

"Getting a testing table is no problem. But finding a person capable of testing the bowls and then being able to make the necessary alterations to make them legal is.

"Not every Joe Blow is capable of putting a bowl on a lathe and get it right."

Clark said he was concerned that someone buying a new set of bowls - at a cost of close to $500 - could not go out and play without having to worry about their legality.

"In most cases, especially for the average bowler, they are a lifetime investment. In the past many bowlers bought a Henselite medium weight classic bowl. They would have passed the bias test forever as they were never close to the minimum allowable draw.

"Now manufacturers are going more and more for a narrower draw and simply some are not passing the test.

"Manufacturers will test on their own table and stamp the bowls as meeting the required standards," said Clark. "Test them on another table or surface and the result could well be different.

"That has to be a concern and one which the World Bowls Board has been wrestling with for five years."

Clark said Newman, who is close to becoming a regular member of the New Zealand team, cannot be blamed for using the Taylor bowls which failed the most recent test. "What I will question though is bowls manufacturers per se for putting bowls with the minimum bias on the market."

Unlike Newman's bowls, which were new and had not been altered in any way, the Henselite Maestro bowls used by Leonard were bought second hand in Australia and when tested showed signs of having been altered.