Men’s IZRR preview and ILRR results
The 2019 WA Interzone Country Championship will be held at the picturesque Emu Point Bowling Club in Albany on the 2nd and 3rd of February. Albany was recently voted the second best holiday destination in Australia to visit and offers so many attractions to visiting players. If time permits players should take time to explore the National Anzac Centre, or natural attractions like The Gap and Natural Bridge.
The Emu Point Bowling club has two Evergreen Synthetic greens that were opened in late 2017. For players staying around Emu Point there is a café near the jetty, restaurants at nearby Middleton Beach or those venturing into town the popular watering hole Due South near Princes Royal Harbour.
All four Country zones can claim strong chances to this year’s title after such a close event last year in Dalwallinu. After two rounds all four zones were in contention. Eventual winners last year were the South West Zone.
The Southern Zone could well be considered favourites on their home greens this year with high profile recruits in current and former State representatives Matty Mitchell and John Sharp. They recently combined as part of the victorious Lower Great Southern League side (pictured) which went undefeated in the Men’s Inter League Round Robin. Forming a formidable back end is multiple WA state champion and 179 state game representative, John Goddard. The only question mark here is how much support such talent can receive from their front end players. The tiny Moodiarrup club will be represented by Richard Shinzig and Geoff Hosking. Notable absentees this year include Rosenthal Medallist Warren Holt and Mark Wunnenburg.
The South West Zone, looking to go back to back this year welcome the likes of former UK representative Robbie Tiller alongside established ex Perth Metro stars in Matty Ayres and Brad Ball. Russ Bates and Scott O’Brien who both stared in the Everest of Bowls this year will form a formidable front end to this year’s team. This side has real depth with Mark Simpson and the Pennington brothers. Making his debut is exciting youngster Mitch Walker from Donnybrook. On the sidelines this year or unavailable are James Webster, Ben Garrett, Wings Evans, and Keith Guelfi.
The Northern Zone will battle car lag as they manage one of the longest road trips for a game of bowls. Some players may choose the drive then fly option with the Rex Airlines flight on Friday for $180 flying Perth to Albany. With Country Week titles aplenty from the likes of Bradley King, Joe Criddle, and Phil Manning, they will prove very hard to beat. An all-round strong side that also includes Kevin Robartson, Wes Benton and in form players Tony O’Brien representing Wonthella and Matthew Whitely from Bindoon. Those unavailable or unlucky this year include Shane Giudice-Nairn, Dan Jolly and Glen Jones.
The Eastern Zone side looks extremely competitive and will look to challenge strongly for the title. With recently crowned State Pairs champions in Hayden Smith and Phil Jones and current Country Week singles champ Justin Smith and former winner Matty France, anything is possible. In support they have the experience of Maurie Crameri and Bill Fraser and young talent in Michael Curry and Greg Vaughan from Narembeen. Congratulations on their selection goes to Geoff Watson and Richard Cowcher from the Boulder Bowling club. Some of the talent unavailable or not making the trip include Aaron Smith, Mark Szczecinski, Silky Wilkins and Gary Walker.
In the words of election analyst Antony Green this is ‘too close to call’! Good Bowling and comradery is extended to all 80 participants. May the best performed Zone win and pending results and selection one can expect a very strong Country All Star representative side this year. The Country All Stars v WA State team game will again be held at Osborne Park Bowling club on Thursday night 28th of February prior to Country Week. The game should provide a good hit out as the WA state side prepare to compete this year in NSW in early April.
Article by David Appleton
The teams are as follows, skips named first. Followed by the results of the ILRR played in each of the respective Zones.
SOUTH WESTERN
M Simpson, M Ayres, F Ditri, S O’Brien
B Ball, D Appleton, W Coyle, R Bates
R Tiller, N Brierly, A Drayton, M Walker
G Keep, W Hyatt, S Pennington, R Mosele
M Pennington, R Deal, B Gearing, G Twist
SOUTHERN
J Goddard, J Fiegert, C Russell, J Davey
D Cliff, G Smith, B Duff, B Crisp
J Sharp, K MacGregor, R Dithcburn, J Flavel
M Mitchell, J Davidson, R Plant, R Schinzig
M Boxall, G Hosking, K Heberle, J Cowie
EASTERN
H Smith, P Jones, A Walker, G Watson
J Smith, D Thompson, R Griffiths, G Archer
W Fraser, A Ryan, G Vaughan, R Cowcher
G Main, M France, C Shell, W Burton
M Crameri, M Curry, M Lancaster, N Miguel
NORTHERN
B King, A Goulden, W Sivyer, P Leeson
J Criddle, K Robartson, J Trotter, M Thompson
A Carlton, M Whitely, G Beck, B Eather
M Fox, W Benton, P Walsh, D Patton
P Manning, T O’Brien, R Humfrey, B Preston
