Province disappoint on the big stage

THE selectors have a lot to answer for after their chosen eight failed to impress at the recent South African Senior Men’s Inter-Districts hosted by Eden Bowls.

Nico Ferreira headed a new-look selection panel that picked a team they believed could challenge for a medal, possibly even gold.

But the chosen eight as a collective performed way below expectations; four wins and five losses meant sixth place in the 10-team Red Section, topped by Gauteng North who were beaten in final by Johannesburg Bowls.

Hearing talk of bad body language being exhibited by a couple of players from the same side didn’t help the cause.

Team sport demands harmony in the ranks, anything less is a recipe for disaster.

The culprits know who they are.

We’re talking big egos here, men who believe they’re “the bee’s knees”.

Maybe a reality check for the pair instead.

WP’s best player throughout the week was Durbanville Bowling Club’s Kevin Douglas, who played lead for Robbie Piketh.

Former junior Springbok Alan Johnson watched on and said Douglas was a “class act” and would be his “first pick” for next year’s tournament, and that there were as many as four berths “up for grabs” based on what he had witnessed on the Southern Cape greens.

WP president Graeme Kemp backed up Johnson’s take on Douglas, going even further to say he was the “best player” of the tournament.

It proved to be a gamble playing Eugene Ferreira at third for Piketh, a decision that backfired.

The Pollsmoor member earned his senior colours in 2106 as a late replacement and had a good tourney at second when WP won gold.

But this time round, as a back-ranker, it was a no-show from the burly youngster.

While he would have lapped up the opportunity to strut his stuff, the jump in position proved too much.

The selectors should accept they made an error of judgment.

Best they send their charge back to the B team and play him in the same slot so that he can learn the trade required for the elite league.

A seasoned local provincial stalwart backed it up by telling me Ferreira was “out of position” for no other reason than “lack of experience”.

Theo van der Walt completed the foursome as the second and was another who went missing in action.

Piketh is a class act but he can’t win a fours game with half a side.

As for the other four, Joel Roebërt – WP’s leading fourbowl player – operated at lead for former Protea Johan du Plessis’s lead and had a torrid time.

The Mowbray member’s hopes of playing for the national team nosedived in the process.

Peter Harvey (second) and Tony van der Poel (third) had their moments.

Du Plessis led by example in his skip debut.

But all in all there was little to crow about.

Surely the net must be cast wider when the next eight are selected to represent their district?

Members of the WP B team that brought home a silver medal from their tournament will be licking their lips.