Harvey still hale and hearty for WP

PETER HARVEY has retained his place in the Western Province men’s open bowls team.

The 53-year-old Constantia Bowling Club member has been picked to play second again for Glen CC’s Johan du Plessis, who makes his debut.

Last year Harvey did well for WP in their defence on home soil, playing for his fours side skipped by Neels Kotze.

Kotze has since been axed, so Harvey gets to play for a man who has represented South Africa in the past.

The selector had Glen CC’s Du Plessis at skip for the final trials held at Goodwood last weekend, with former twotime WP singles champion Harvey his second.

“It’s an honour to be chosen to do duty for my district,” said Harvey.

“It’s now up to us eight players selected to try and win back the title again.

“I’m more than happy to be playing in the front rank again and the main thing for me is to give of my best for my province and teammates.

“The trials went well and now for the main event.

“A good bunch of players have been chosen and back on all of us doing the province proud.

“Let’s remember we only just missed out on winning a medal last year.”

The pencil- slim Harvey, who excels at many endurance sports, is a team man first and foremost and that’s one of the reasons for his selection.

WP have in the past come up short in the this department; some players seem to think they are bigger than the team and needless to say WP have paid the price in one form or another.

Yes, big egos are part and parcel of bowls.

Now Harvey’s one of those guys who fellow bowlers enjoy playing with and against. A true sportsman in every sense of the word.

Former Protea and district selector Alan Lofthouse has good words to say about Harvey.

“We’re from the same club so I have an intimate knowledge of the guy,” he said.

“His dad Tommy was one of the country’s best players back in the 70s and 80s, so good bloodstock here.”

Now one big surprise in the eight-man team is seeing Eugene Ferreira chosen to play third for second skip Robbie Piketh.

A surprise because he lacks back-rank experience.

While last year as a late call-up he performed well at second, a more demanding slot is a different beast all together.

A guy like Joel Roëbert is a far superior player than Ferreira and has served his apprenticeship at this level, but he still finds himself playing lead, so who knows what prompted the selectors to go the way they did.