An independent panel investigating match-fixing allegations
has found a Gary Lawson-led New Zealand four deliberately
lost an end against Thailand during the Asia-Pacific bowls
tournament in Malaysia last August.
In a 13-page judgment released to the players today, the
judicial committee said Lawson and teammates Jamie Hill,
Shayne Sincock and Shannon McIlroy were guilty of
deliberately throwing the 17th end of the match.
"It found the New Zealand team (four) did agree to lose the
17th end but they also found that evidence presented showed
they had then tried to win the 18th (and final) end," a
source told NZPA today.
"That (losing the 17th end) however, was enough to find the
players guilty of trying to lose the match."
The charges were brought by Asia-Pacific contestants Canada
and World Bowls.
The New Zealand combination, who had already qualified for
post section play in Kuala Lumpur, led Thailand 15-12 in
their section play match before conceding a four on the
penultimate end and another shot on the last, to lose 15-17.
The New Zealanders held three shots on the last end before
the Thai No 3 deflected his delivery off a wide bowl to end
up behind the jack.
Bowls New Zealand (BNZ) stood the four down while
investigating the accusations.
That investigation found there was a case to be heard and the
players appeared before a judicial committee in October.
Lawson, 43, who has represented his country since 1989 and
last year won the pairs and fours titles at the world
championships in Christchurch, has always denied the
accusations.
"The decision today was pretty much what I expected really,"
Lawson told NZPA, adding he had been asked not to comment
further on legal advice.
However, he told Radio Sport in an interview he felt the
quartet, particularly McIlroy, had been punished enough.
"We have been suspended from the New Zealand team, missed out
on a trip to Malaysia, had our payments from high performance
for winning the world championship ceased..."
He said the whole issue had been pushed by BNZ chief
executive Kerry Clark.
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