Boyd sisters back in Blackjacks squad
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mandy Boyd rejoins her sister in the first Blackjacks squad named by new head coach Sharon Sims.
Boyd withdrew from the world championships team for personal reasons but was at the Christchurch rink last December to see older sister Angela win a silver medal in the women’s pairs.
Sims, who has replaced former head coach Dave Edwards, and assistant Peter Belliss have named a 15-member squad through to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.
The 10-member world championship squad have been retained and are joined by Mandy Boyd, fellow Canterbury bowler Tayla Bruce and Auckland’s Selina Goddard, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.
Paul Girdler (Dunedin) and Tony Grantham (North Harbour) have been recalled to the men’s ranks.
Girdler skipped New Zealand to triples and fours titles at the 2015 Asia Pacific championships, but missed the cut for the Christchurch tournament.
Grantham was a bronze medallist at the 2012 world championships.
There was no place in the squad for former world champion Gary Lawson, who won a record 11th national title this month and expressed a desire to play for the Blackjacks again for the first time since 2008.
Sims said it ‘‘felt appropriate to largely retain the existing squad, given that every one of the team medalled at World Bowls and we have five current world champions’’.
But the former world and Commonwealth Games pair champion stressed there was still a chance for players to force their way into the squad before the Commonwealth Games.
‘‘While this is our current squad for the upcoming camps and events, the door is far from shut.
‘‘We saw some performances at the recent Heartland Bank Open in New Plymouth that shows there are several players knocking at that door.
‘‘If their form continues to demand selection, then changes will be made.’’
Sims said the Blackjacks had ‘‘a great world championships’’ with medals in seven of the eight disciplines - including two golds - but there was ‘‘still room for improvement’’.
‘‘Beating the Australians on own greens will be tough.
‘‘We did it here so we know it can be done, now with some slight changes and improvements, we can do it there too.’’
Of the Blackjacks’ returnees, Sims said Grantham and Girdler were experienced international players who could fill any position within the various disciplines.
Goddard won the women’s singles title in New Plymouth and Bruce was in the lead in the champion fours team.
The Blackjacks will play the Australians in two trans-Tasman championships before the Commonwealth Games. their