Brothers Again Prove Winning Formula For Maitland City

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday March 5, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

THE decision of Maitland City Bowls manager Clay Parker to revert to tried-and-proven combinations has paid dividends in the NSW Premier League competition.

Maitland City have won their past three matches, against Cabramatta, Roselands and Taren Point, since Parker linked brothers Shannon, Nathan and Simon Mitchell in one rink and had brothers Tim and Sam Twining playing lead and second for himself.

"I used the same combinations last year when we were all at East Maitland and won the zone flag before being beaten in the semi-finals of the state play-offs," Parker said.

Maitland City are now equal third on eight points but will be without Simon Mitchell on Saturday when they host Merrylands, who recorded their first win of the season when they beat Mt Lewis on Sunday.

Nathan Mitchell will take over the rink from his brother, with Shannon playing third and Troy Burton coming into the side as second.

Raymond Terrace, who also share third place, will travel to Dubbo to meet the Western Warriors (6).

Toronto Workers (6) will be out to arrest a three-game losing slump against bottom-placed Riverina Rollers (0) in Wagga.

? The Newcastle district midweek pennant competition kicks off today with defending No.1-grade titleholders Soldiers Point hosting Windale Gateshead while Raymond Terrace, runners-up last year, play Kotara at Kotara.

? Newcastle's two senior representative sides both tasted success at Charlestown on Monday when the No.1 side beat Zone 15 (Central Coast) 122-105 and the No.2 team accounted for Hunter District 117-95.

Terry McCabe, Sam Laguzza, Neville Downes, Ross Ball and Doug Howard were the successful skippers for the No.1 side.

Dennis Meek, Bob Bissett, Bob Bradley and Frank Botham were the winning skippers in the second side.

? Chris Taylor (Swansea Workers) will be chasing two Newcastle district junior titles this weekend.

He will be attempting to retain his junior pairs crown when he partners Natasha Van Eldik (Raymond Terrace) in the final against Toronto Workers duo Sam Morgan and Jarrod Gorsuch at Raymond Terrace on Friday night.

Then on Sunday morning Taylor will line up against Daniel Hill (Mayfield West) in the singles final at Warners Bay.

? Defending titleholders Henry Novak, Peter Burgess, Ross Ball and his son Martin overcame a slow start to successfully defend their Alder Park fours championship on Sunday.

The quartet trailed 7-0 before accounting for John Ridgewell, Harry Day, Mark Jackson and Larry Powell 34-12.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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