Rivals book Bargara battle

Trans Tasman series set for May.

THE sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand is hard to top.

And unlike their cricketers, New Zealand’s lawn bowlers actually put up a fight.

Some of the world’s best bowlers hail from either side of the Tasman, and Bargara will get a front-row seat when the two sides clash at the seaside club in the 2010 Trans Tasman series.

It is the players’ final tournament before Delhi’s Commonwealth Games, adding further fire to the clash.

Squads of 12 will compete, but only 10 from each team will make the cut for the Games.

“It’s the biggest thing to happen in Bundaberg sport for years,” Bargara Bowls Club stalwart Jim See said.

“We’ll have the best bowlers in the world on our greens.”

The Australians boast world number two Leif Selby, number three Kelsey Cottrell, number five Karen Murphy, number six Brett Wilkie and Commonwealth Games gold medallists Lynsey Armitage, Wayne Turley, Mark Casey and Mark Jacobsen.

The New Zealand side is likely to be just as potent, with world number one Val Smith leading its Bargara assault.

The Kiwis won last year’s men’s Trans Tasman series, while the Aussie women squared the ledger.

Since the inaugural tournament in Brisbane, Australia has won the men’s title on 16 occasions and New Zealand has won it 15 times.

The Australian women lead their contest 8-4, with one draw.

“There is no love lost between the sides, and with Commonwealth Games selection at stake they will be bringing their best game here,” Bowls Australia operations manager Des Ryan said.

Ryan said Bargara was chosen for the duel because of its similarities with Delhi.

“It ticks all the boxes — the hot weather and same bowling surface to Delhi,” he said.

“It’s the perfect preparation for the Games.”

Men and women will contest singles, pairs and triples from May 12-14, with broadcasts from Fox Sports and ABC as well as live streaming on the internet.

As many as 500 spectators are expected each day and a television audience of around half a million is also predicted.

“We’re going to be on show to the entire world,” See said.

“It’s a credit to our club and our facilities because we’ve put a lot of money and a lot of work into the club for this to happen.”

The tournament will breathe life into a region that has been starved of international sport for some time.

Last year’s Pro Circuit clay court tennis event was successful and will return this year, but the bowls series sits higher on the scale, according to Bundaberg Regional Council sports and recreational officer Dave Field.

“This is huge, the biggest sports event in Bundaberg for a very long time,” he said.

“It’s the pinnacle in sporting rivalry and it’s a chance to showcase the wonderful facilities we have to the world.”