Flapper in Games frame
Matthew Flapper is on the cusp of Commonwealth Games selection Ocean Grove bowler Matt Flapper knows he is just one impressive performance away from booking a place in the Australian team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as Alex Oates reports for the Geelong Advertiser.
Flapper, who was this week selected in the national team for a series against Wales and the 8-Nations event in Glasgow, believes a strong showing in the tournaments will all but secure his ticket to the UK.
“It will have a big bearing,” Flapper said.
“If someone can stand up as a player that performs well in those conditions it will hold them in good stead.
“I need to make the most of this opportunity. I want this spot and I’ll do everything I possibly can to get to the Games.”
Flapper is among 19 Australian bowlers who will travel to the UK in just over six weeks for the traditional host-city lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.
Flapper, who was named in an 18-man Australian team at the start of the season, made the 13-person Jackaroos touring team (seven men, six women) after impressing at a selection trial camp at Maribyrnong Bowling Club.
“It was a pretty intense camp,” Flapper said. “The selectors found a green that would best replicate the conditions we will face in the UK and they picked 10 men and eight women of the highest calibre in the state to play against us so we could have a strong hit-out.
“We weren’t sure how many they would take but I’m lucky that I did enough and earned my spot.”
National coach Steve Glasson said the players won a berth in the 8-Nations event based on their ability to perform in the conditions, but he emphasised nothing is assured in terms of Games selection.
“Now we travel into foreign territory and much slower greens so we need to be prepared for very different conditions,” Glasson said.
“Naturally those selected have been selected on merit and displayed an ability to adapt to the tricky conditions we expect in Scotland which augurs well for them in terms of making the Games team, but by no means does it indicate a walk-up start to the Games.”
The prestigious 8-nations event, which starts on August 26, will be staged at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Club in Glasgow, the host venue of bowls at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Australia will compete against New Zealand, England, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada and two teams from Scotland.
