After the Ash Cloud phenomenon brought about the cancellation of the June series, the great Queensland and NSW rivalry begins again this Tuesday; not on the footy paddock but on the bowling green. After missing Queensland's 2010 series win, legendary Queensland and Australian bowler Kelvin Kerkow returns to a formidable looking team for this series at his home Club. With over 400 caps for his home state Kerkow joins current and former Australian players Mark Casey, Nathan Rice, Anthony Kiepe and Brett Wilkie while waiting on the NSW side Aron Sherriff, Shane Globits & Mark Berghofer fly the flag for the blues.
Similarly the Ladies boast great depth either side of the mat though Qld has won 5 of the last 6 series contested. Maria Rigby skips her all conquering Australian fours outfit (Gail Waitai, Lyn Cuthbertson, Sue McKenzie, Rigby) with recently anointed National Captain Lynsey Armitage and Tracy Foster the other skips. NSW have a legend of their own in Karen Murphy as one skip alongside Beth Quinlan and Katrina Wright. With national players Julie Keegan and Natasha van Eldik amongst them you can see why NSW fancy their chances.
The under 25s provide a chance for the 'up and coming' to show their skills not only in state colours but in various roles as each player will rotate through the various disciplines of singles, pairs and triples.
Kerkow's old mate and blues rival, Steve Glasson will be watching rather than playing this time around. Glasson, having recently retired from representative bowls is now the Australian Head Coach and will no doubt enjoy the state rivalries and further, close scrutiny of his current and potential Australian representatives. During the photo shoot Glasson joked that he had nearly as many representative caps as Kerkow, albeit 250 or so with NSW and the balance in his earlier days with Qld.