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WELSH WARRIORS CARRY
HOPES OF A NATION
Three brave Welshman will carry the hopes
of their nation when the talented trio land in
Australia for the World Team Cup in May.
Craig Williams, Keran Peregrine and Andrew
Fleming have been selected in the Welsh team
for the history making first running of the
World Team Cup at Tweed Heads Bowls Club from
17-25 May.
The three Welsh national squad members will
be looking to take home the silverware from
the men’s event, which features eight
nations representing the powerhouses of
international bowls.
Wales have opted to only send a men’s
squad for the 2007 World Team Cup, with the
women’s team being replaced in the draw by a
hand-picked all-star team from the Asia
Pacific region.
As the showcase of international bowls
draws near the wily Welsh have declared they
intend to make an impact at the indoor battle
royal.
Team manager Barry Fleming said the skilled
bowlers given the nod for the World Team Cup
were originally picked for an outdoor
tournament, but are capable of making the
switch to carpet.
“When we selected our team, the World
Team Cup was scheduled to be played outdoors
and our team was picked accordingly,”
Fleming said.
“Nevertheless, we are all looking forward
to participating in what appears to be a top
class competition containing a top class
field.”
Andrew Fleming shapes as the great hope for
the Welsh. The 35-year-old veteran of the
sport will play singles and skip the triples
in the preliminary rounds.
His guile on the green will be a key if
Wales are to see action past the round robin
phase.
Fleming, a horticulturalist by trade, is a
three-time singles winner in his county and
was part of the 2006 national pairs
championship winning team.
He plays his indoor bowls with Bro Ddyfi
IBC in Montgomeryshire.
Thirty-year-old Williams, who made his
senior debut for Wales in 2006, joins old
hands Peregrine (debuted 1994) and Fleming
(1998) in the team.
Williams will play lead in the pairs and
triples. He was an indoor junior international
in 2000-01, so it’s tipped he’ll enjoy
Tweed Heads Bowls Club.
Peregrine, 39, will skip the pairs and play
second in the triples combination. Like
Williams, he is comfortable on the carpet as
his indoor national pairs title in 2005
suggests.
The 2007 World Team Cup comprises events
for men and women with most nations sending a
team of six players three men and three
women.
A match will feature three
disciplines singles, pairs and triples,
with players only able to compete in two of
the three disciplines.
In 2007 the men’s event will feature
Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales,
South Africa, New Zealand and Malaysia.
The eight teams will be divided into two
sections of four for sectional play with the
top two teams in each section proceeding to
semi-finals and the semi-final winners on to
the finals.
ABC TV has committed to televising the
event with extensive coverage to be provided
as part of the network’s regular Saturday
bowls programming.
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