Soldiers Recruit Top Gun Glasson

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday October 22, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

SOLDIERS Point have enlisted the services of former world champion Steve Glasson for their Invitation Big Bowls Challenge match at home against Alder Park tomorrow night.

Glasson and Kelvin Kerkow will be special guests at Soldiers Point tomorrow to participate in the club's 50th anniversary celebrations, and Glasson will stay over to fill the singles role against Martin Ball.

Alder Park agreed to the match being brought forward from November 6 so the game could be played as part of the Soldiers Point silver anniversary program.

Glasson is no stranger to the Big Bowls Challenge, having been a marquee player for Kurri Kurri, East Cessnock and Nelson Bay in previous seasons.

"I love playing in the competition, even though I have only had limited success when I have played previously," Glasson said.

"The power play is a great innovation, and the entire concept of the competition is a great promotion for the sport of bowls."

Ball said he was looking forward to playing singles against Glasson for the first time.

"Steve Glasson is one of the finest players that Australia has ever produced, and it will be a privilege to play singles against him," Ball said.

Soldiers Point and Alder Park, who have both made solid starts to the season, will play double-headers this week.

Soldiers Point, in fifth place on 24.5 points, travel to Redhead tonight to meet the sixth-placed Sharks (23.5).

Alder Park back up at home against the second-placed East Maitland (29.5) on Friday night.

"It is an important week for both clubs," Ball said.

"Around 100 points will be needed to be certain of making the play-offs, and two wins for either side this week would see them nearly halfway there after only five matches."

Competition leaders East Cessnock (30.5), who bounced back strongly from their first-round loss to defending champions Kurri Kurri to whitewash Ettalong Memorial 16-0 and then account for Redhead 9.5-5.5, travel to Charlestown tonight to tackle the Tigers (20.5), who are still chasing their first win of the season.

Eric Ryan will again fill the singles role for East Cessnock.

Brody Pitham will play skipper in the triples.

The Comets moved Pitham to triples skipper and brought in Ryan to play singles after their first-round loss to Kurri Kurri.

Ian Lean returns as marquee player for equal third-placed Wallsend (28) when the Bears host newcomers Swansea (19) on Friday night.

In other matches this week, Valentine (15.5) are home to Nelson Bay (23) tonight and Kurri Kurri (22) host Kahibah (21) tomorrow night.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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