By HENRY MORABANG
THE performance by singles and the fours team at the 2008 World Bowls championship in New Zealand was a superb effort by any PNG team at senior level.
PNG singles champion Peter Juni was the case of so close and yet so far away when the Eastern Highlands man narrowly lost to New Zealand champion Ali Forsyth 21-19.
Both players were locked in a struggle to the end with scores reaching 18 all before Forsyth pulled away to clinch the quarterfinal spot at the death.
Juni who has played outstanding bowls all tournament – first with Pomat Topal to finish in the top 12 in the world in pairs and then to push some of the best including showing great courage and professionalism by getting over his narrow lost to New Zealand by thrashing Wales champion 21-9 in his final game, end the tournament on a personal high note.
According to Mike Carruthers, Juni lost to Wales champion in the quarter finals during the Commonwealth Games who went on to win silver.
He said Juni’s victory over the Welsh player was yet another outstanding performance and meant that Juni had finished in the World Cup in an outstanding ninth position in the world.
Currathers said the Fours team also almost qualified for the quarter finals after having a great win over Spain only to falter at the last hurdle going down to Namibia 17-8 in the final match of the tournament.
The Fours team also exceeded their seeding off 18 in the world to finish in the top 12 and have done PNG proud.
Team PNG of Juni, Nadu Namun, Dr Babona, Pokatau Pomelau and Pomat Topal plus team manager Willie Steven have done a suberb effort against the world best.