TWO local bowlers will have the opportunity to test themselves against the best in Victoria, after being selected to represent the Country team in the annual City versus Country clash.
Barham Bowls Club’s Brody Harker and Cohuna Golf’s Harrison Keely have been selected to take on the City team after strong summers on the green, with the annual match-up to be used as a trial for the Victorian state team.
Harker and Keely will go up against another 30 bowlers for a spot on the 12 person Victorian team in Bendigo on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13.
While it will be Keely’s first time playing in the annual event, Harker is almost a veteran, with the Barham bowler looking forward to pulling on the country colours once again.
“This is my fourth time trailing, but I believe it’s Harrison’s first time though he definitely deserves this,” Harker said.
“He’s been one of the best bowlers in our region for a long time, so it’s a well deserved achievement.
“I’ve made it through to the top 14 (for state selection) before, but I haven’t made it into the top 12, so essentially I’ve been on the emergency list for the Victorian team.
“I just hope I can go one step further and actually play for Victoria, at least that’s the goal.
“Obviously, we’re (Victoria) a pretty strong side and they have to pick 12 players, but I just hope that I perform on the day and give myself the best chance of being selected.”
Although selection for the Victorian team is the goal, getting a win over the City rivals will be just as important, with the rivalry steadily building between the two teams over recent seasons.
“The last few years us country boys been really competitive and I think we might have even won the first series from memory,” Harker said.
“They beat us in the last couple of series, but it’s always good fun coming up against the city fellas and showing them that us country boys can still take it to them.
“It’s always a good test coming up against the better bowlers and I suppose having myself and Harrison playing shows just how competitive our region is.
“It goes to show that small country towns and clubs can still match it with the best.”
With the local pennant season coming to a close, attention among the bowls community will switch to state and representative events.
Having just completed the first season of the newly formed Northern Valley pennant competition, Harker was impressed by the new concept, with it potentially having a positive affect on his and Keely’s games.
“I thought the new league (Northern Valley) worked well,” Harker said.
“Every game we played was close and I felt like it was a lot more competitive and a lot more enjoyable across the whole season.
“There was new people to play against, a better standard of competition and it was a good challenge, hopefully we can continue doing it.
“The better standard just makes you concentrate about every shot more and it means you have to be on your game for the whole time otherwise you are going to lose.”
