Information - not provocation - is the aim

Welcome to my first column. First of all I am not Skog.

So don't expect the same provocative comments as those from the Legend who has done everything.

While I will make comment where necessary, I will also seek comment from our peers on the bowling green.

I will aim to keep you informed on what is happening in the centre, what is happening within clubs and who is performing with distinction.

But as Phil Skoglund pointed out on many occasions, you must come forward with your news if you expect it to appear in print. So straight off my contact points are email: tony.jensen@aon.co.nz, mob or txt 021491808 and home 3237569.

* Manawatu centre bowlers certainly performed with distinction at the nationals in Wellington.

First of all, Terrace End's Shane Rogers and Grant Simms reached the last eight of the pairs.

Philip Skoglund also made the last eight paired with son Ryan, which would have been been a thrill for them both. Phillip went on to a semifinal place in the singles and by also qualifying in the fours was one of the tournament's most consistent players.

Our centre had its greatest success in the fours with Ray Lovie from Northern skipping a composite side to runner-up. To reach the final, he had beaten the Pat Horgan-skipped combination of Barry Wynks, Laurie Gordon and Terry Curtis. Pat is, of course, from the Palmerston North club while the other three are all playing out of Takaro.

Our women weren't as successful but, as with other men, to qualify alone is a performance of merit when there are so many formidable composite teams.

A special word for young Cameron Nairne who qualified in both singles and pairs. I was in the same section in singles and a couple of old heads were very impressed with both his bowls and manner. The time-honoured Taranaki Men's Open Fours will be held next week and 52 Manawatu bowlers will make the trek west – an annual ritual for most.

Most of the teams look as though they won't worry the scorers too much during post-section play, but Wynks, Curtis and Gordon are there again. Earlier in the week they were unclear who would be skipping them.

Most bowlers regard the tournament as the best combination of competition, sportsmanship and fellowship and the organisation is a lesson for all sports. Lastly, the match-fixing decision has been released for the Gary Lawson-skipped New Zealand fours and they have been found to be have brought the game into disrepute.

Two points need to be remembered: Bowls NZ allows sports betting on some bowls events so any taint that matches can be fixed cannot be sanctioned. Secondly, if the decision had gone the other way what would it say for the sport to have it known that match-fixing was accepted.

I suppose the moral of the story is if you are going to do it, be a bit more clever and discreet!

- © Fairfax NZ News