Laguzza Turns Friend And Foe For Swansea

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday December 10, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

PRIZED new Swansea signing Sam Laguzza could turn into the club's nemesis when they play Valentine in their deferred Invitation Big Bowls Challenge encounter at Valentine tomorrow night.

Laguzza, who was named NSW Senior Bowler of the Year two weeks ago, only agreed to return to Swansea yesterday after having played for Toronto Workers this season.

But he has been playing as the regular marquee player for Valentine in the Invitation Big Bowls Challenge for the past three seasons and will fill the singles role for the Lakers tonight against one of the Skiffs' talented young guns, Michael Abel.

"I played two seasons for Swansea before joining Toronto Workers this year, and I am looking forward to going back," Laguzza said.

"I live at Swansea and the club has some very talented young players who hopefully I can help guide in the right direction."

Swansea bowls manager Paul Wesche said the club was looking forward to Laguzza returning.

"He is a great player and he will add that much-needed experience to our No.1 grade side which, while buzzing with talent, is still very much on the young side," Wesche said.

Laguzza will be one of the Swansea skippers next season. Abel and brothers Scott and Matthew Baus will battle it out for the other two spots.

The Baus brothers will also play important roles for Swansea this week when they play two vital matches in the Invitation Big Bowls Challenge.

Matthew will skip the pairs and Scott the triples when they host Alder Park tonight and when they travel to Valentine tomorrow night.

"These two games are make or break for us," Wesche said. "We are 16 points out of the top five, so we really need to win both these matches because we play the defending titleholders Kurri Kurri in the final round."

Swansea are in 11th spot on 69 points, Alder Park (92.5 points) are fourth, Valentine (57) are last and Kurri (85) equal fifth.

Alder Park and Kurri, like Swansea, have a deferred match to play, while Valentine have two in hand.

World singles championship runner-up Aron Sherriff will again turn out for competition leaders East Cessnock (100.5) when the Comets host 10th-placed Kahibah (70.5) tonight.

Sherriff, who filled the singles role and beat Martin Ball in straight sets when East Cessnock beat Alder Park 9-6 last Friday night, will be playing his third game of the season for the Comets tonight, which will qualify him for the play-offs next month.

He will be one of three current NSW reps in the East Cessnock line-up, along with pairs combination Mick Cronin and Brody Pitham.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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