Buchanan Drops In Rank For Soldiers' Attack At Beresfield

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday January 9, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

SOLDIERS Point bowls manager Charlie Buchanan will find himself in a role other than skipper for the first time in more than a decade in the Newcastle district pennant competition this year.

The former Victorian representative will skip in a trial match against Raymond Terrace tomorrow night but will play third for Jason Pietraszek when Soldiers Point meet Wallsend in the opening round of the Beresfield Pre-Season Knockout on Tuesday night.

Pietraszek, who was recalled to the NSW side to play ACT in Canberra next month, NSW seniors representative Neville Downes and John Collins will be the skippers against Wallsend. But Collins is likely to shift back to third for former NSW Bowler of the Year and state player Simon Lack when pennants start on March 1.

The Beresfield competition has attracted 20 teams and begins on Monday night with Toronto Workers playing Mayfield West and Wangi against Adamstown.

Raymond Terrace No.1 grade pennant side and East Maitland complete the opening round when they play on Tuesday night.

Raymond Terrace and Maitland City will field their Premier League and No.1 grade pennant teams.

? NSW Premier League debutants Lithgow will have to make only one trip to the Hunter this year after Raymond Terrace agreed to their round-nine clash being brought forward.

The teams were scheduled to meet on March 29, but the match will now be played at Raymond Terrace on Friday, February 1.

Lithgow will then play the other two Hunter-based clubs in the competition Toronto Workers on the Saturday afternoon and Maitland City on the Sunday morning.

Raymond Terrace will also play a triple-header on the opening weekend. They play at Roselands on the Saturday afternoon then stay over and do battle at Mt Lewis on the Sunday morning.

? Night pennant matches are set to become a reality in the Newcastle district No.1 grade pennant competition this year.

Mayfield West, who have been elevated after their victory in No.2 grade last year, and Raymond Terrace are two teams keen to play on Friday nights and they have been drawn in the same section.

The Newcastle District Bowling Association last year agreed to the playing of top grade pennant matches on Friday nights provided the clubs involved agreed.

? Soldiers Point has vacancies for its Fred Watson men's fours event to be played from February 4 to 6.

? Sam Twining (Maitland City) and Natasha Van Eldik (Raymond Terrace) helped NSW beat Western Australia and South Australia in the Under 18 Interstate Tri Series at Albion Park on the South Coast last week.

NSW finished on 44 points, followed by Western Australia (32) and South Australia (12).

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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