Strong chance for Batavia to win inter-league zone title

The annual Northern Zone Inter League Round Robin series will start this weekend at the Wonthella Bowling Club, with the Batavia League given a strong chance of securing the zone title on home soil.

The Batavia League for the 10th year have two sides (Red and White) competing for the zone title.

The Batavia League would no doubt be delighted with player nominations for the event, which again were very strong.

While there was early concern this year would see nominations fall, they were on par with past seasons, with new players putting themselves forward for the event.

Since the introduction of the second side (White) the Batavia League has continued to be very competitive, with the Red combinations winning six series, while the lowest finish for the Whites was a fourth placing.

Wonthella Bowling Club surfaces will include two grass and the recently installed synthetic surface. Generally, the zone requests rinks around the 14 second range.

The speed of the three greens will vary due to the difference surfaces, which should bring Central Midlands, North Midlands, Central West Coastal and Moore closer to the locally based teams.

Selectors will be expecting another bold showing by both Batavia squads.

Both sides have a mix of experience and youth.

If history is any indication this is the recipe for very competitive Batavia League sides.

On completion of the series a 20-man Northern Inter League side will be selected to play another round robin series early February against sides from the South West, Eastern Districts and Southern regions of the State.

From this inter-zone event a country all-stars side will be selected to play the WA State squad at the Osborne Park Bowling Club in a night fixture just before the start of the 2020 Country Week carnival.

The three-day, round robin format has a history of close quality matches so the selected sides can expect a touch challenge against the skills of arguably 96 of the most talented players north of the metropolitan area.

The Reds’ representative side consists of Shane Giudice-Nairn (G), Mike Ford (G), Jon Trotter (G) and Brad Preston (W); Peter Ruedavey (G), Merv Grigsby (G), Geoff Ellis (G) and Joe Leeson (D); Dave Triffit (W), Vince Knight (M), Gary Preston (W) and Peter Leeson (D); Michael Walton (W), Tony O’Brien (W), Joe Cukela (G) and Mike Thompson (M).

The White side looks a talented squad with several first time representatives at the level — Kim Cross (W), Steve Palmer (W), Trevor Smythe (G) and Paul Williamson (W); Ian Cliff (D), Brian Wright (G), Gary Cosgrove (G) and Peter Hitchcock (D); Colin O’Brien (W), Kerry Easton (W), Gavin Denton (D) and John Sims (M). Ian Carlshausen (D); Geoff Crabb (D), Paul Johnson (M) and Kim Trotter. Reserve players: Phil Holland (W) Terry Koltazs (M) and Any Duane (D).