Burden Park two, Team Canada nil

– Glen Atwell
WHAT is in the water at the Burden Park Bowling Club?
For the second time in six months the underdogs beat Canada’s Commonwealth Games lawn bowling team, this time 4-2 in a Labour Day practice match.
The Chairman’s XI played singles, pairs and triples against Team Canada in both men’s and ladies’ competition.
Burden Park’s Evelyn Martin won the ladies’ singles and Betty Gooch, Jan Bourke and Sandra Mueller overpowered the Canadians in the triples.
But the men’s competition was dominated by the Canadians.
Former world junior champion Ryan Bester defeated Burden Park’s Geoff Robinson in men’s singles and Don Reid and Russell Laughton lost the men’s pairs to their Canadian opponents.
In November the Burden Park Premier side staged a thrilling 4-2 victory, defeating Team Canada as it struggled to adapt to the fast-paced nature of the Australian greens.
However, a week after the competition the Canadians went on to win gold at the Asia-Pacific Championships.
Maybe this time the Burden Park loss is a recipe for Commonwealth Games gold? Team Canada manager Bob North thinks so.
“The competition at Burden Park before the Asia-Pacific Championships definitely helped us win the men’s overall gold medal and Ryan Bester’s singles gold medal,” he said.
“Hopefully it will do the same for the Commonwealth Games.”
The Commonwealth Games lawn bowling rolls into action today (Thursday).