Gore Rams in top form
Playing two matches in Auckland tonight is part of a busy eight days for two Southland bowlers.
Sheldon Bagrie-Howley, of Gore, and Caleb Hope, of Invercargill, will be spending little time at home this week. A busy period started last weekend when they competed, without success, in different teams in a charity pairs tournament at three venues – Limehills, Thornbury and Waverley (Invercargill). They travel to Auckland this morning and on their return, the duo will get ready for a triples event at Tapanui and Riversdale at the weekend.
Bowls is their passion and playing in three competitions in eight days doesn’t faze them.
The pair and Ashleigh Jeffcoat, of Hamilton, are in the Gore Rams team that is leading the televised Bowls3Five competition in Auckland on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
The Rams lead the six-team competition by three points from Stoke Thunder, whose chances of making the final on November 28 will be enhanced when world singles champion Shannon McIlroy joins the side next week.
‘‘With us leading, the other teams are after us now,’’ Hope said.
Bagrie-Howley said he and his team-mates were all playing consistently and wins tonight would put the Rams in a strong position to make the final.