Talent Lifts Taren Point For Semi-final

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday May 21, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

TAREN Point will boast seven internationals when they meet St Johns Park in the NSW Premier League major semi-final at Toronto Workers on Saturday morning.

Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Kevin Walsh and Wayne Turley (all Australia), New Zealanders Ali Forsyth and Richard Girvan and Ireland's Jeremy Henry are Taren Point's international contingent.

Robbie Thompson, who was named recently in the Australian squad, will play third for Casey.

The club lost last year's grand final 76-48 to St Johns Park.

Turley, who is also coach and co-ordinator, said his side were confident despite losing last year's decider, and a 70-49 defeat against St Johns Park this season.

"We were close with St Johns Park until about halfway," Turley said of this year's loss.

"It will be a matter of which team shows up on the day, but St Johns Park are definitely the side to beat because they are very experienced."

St Johns Park have five internationals Nathan Rice, Mark Jacobsen, Steve Glasson, Leif Selby and Brett Duprez in their side as they chase their fifth title.

Bowls manager Kevin Tresize said the side was very similar to last year's.

"They are a very close-knit unit, and Brett [Duprez] has come back well since we coaxed him out of retirement," he said. "But both Taren Point and Cabramatta are stronger this year, so in the end it will all come down to what happens on the day."

Internationals Peter Belliss, Rowan Brassey and Neil Burkett, who were Cabramatta skippers when they won the title in 2001, are again in the Bull Ants line-up.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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