Bowlers Admit Throwing Match!

[NADTATIDA1]

Players in the New Zealand fours team found guilty of throwing a match at the Asia Pacific championships last August, confirmed the alleged conduct after the match, according to evidence issued yesterday by Bowls NZ.

The national body announced on Monday that the players had been found guilty of throwing the game and yesterday issued the 13-page decision reached by an independent inquiry panel chaired by district court judge John Bisphan.

It said that the team of Gary Lawson, Jamie Hill, Shannon McIlroy and Shayne Sincock had tried to lose the game against Thailand to avoid a playoff game against Australia, giving themselves an easier road to the medals.

The evidence said that Sincock and Hill deliberately played bowls short of the jack on the 17th end and that during that end the national coach, Dave Edwards, spoke to Lawson and asked him what was happening. According to the evidence Edwards was told: "F. . . off, you don't need to know what is going on."

Lawson said in his evidence he told Edwards to "p... off."

According to the decision, two members of the Canadian four on the rink next to New Zealand, became involved in a heated conversation with Lawson, pointing out that to lose to Thailand would affect Canada's chances of qualifying for the medal playoffs.

Edwards said after the team returned home he had a conversation with Sincock who told Edwards that it was extremely disappointing that he was asked to throw a game in his debut for New Zealand.

Sincock however denied that and said he was disappointed to be accused of throwing a game on his debut for New Zealand.

Edwards said in a call to Lawson the player said it would be a waste of money to have an investigation.

"Everybody knows we did it. I know we did it. I will take the rap. There is no need for money to be wasted flying around New Zealand and this could all be done over the phone," the decision quotes Lawson as saying.

Bowls NZ chairman John Carter has jumped to the defence of his officials over the inquiry.

"This decision confirms the very professional and credible way in which the Bowls NZ officials, including the [chief executive] Kerry Clark, national coach Dave Edwards and high-performance leader Lyn Johnston have managed this matter," Carter said.

"The behaviour of the four players, skipped by Gary Lawson, was a terrible example to other players, including young and new international players, and this decision makes it clear to all players that this conduct will not be tolerated."

The panel was dismissive of the evidence provided by the players and other witnesses, including the skip of the Thailand team who said he felt his team had played better than the New Zealand team. Near the end of the document the panel said they found that the admissions made by Lawson to the coach Edwards established his involvement in deliberately losing the 17th end.

"The committee finds the allegation proved against all four respondents," the decision concluded.

The inquiry into the allegation was conducted for Bowls NZ by Lyn Johnston, its high-performance manager.

She interviewed all the players separately after their return to New Zealand.

Bowls NZ will be making submissions to the judicial committee on the penalties to be imposed and Carter said it was not appropriate to make further comment until the committee has given its decision on penalty.

The players have 10 days to make submissions on penalties.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/3225034/Bowle...g-match-inquiry

[steveromagnino]

bunch of chuckers.

Not just aussies know about underarm bowling then it seems.