425 Years Of Experience, 597 Major Titles And Average Age Of 40 In NZ Indoor Bowls Team 'The Mat Blacks'

The Mat Blacks leave this Saturday to take on their Australian counterparts in what will be the 26th Indoor Bowls biannual Trans-Tasman Test Match.

Despite an average age of only 40, the 16 New Zealand players have a combined and remarkable 425 years of experience between them and boast 597 Major titles.

The most experienced player is Simon Thomas, who is the New Zealand Captain and has been playing for 44 years.

He first played for New Zealand in 2003- a year before the birth of Nathan Trowell, who at the age of 21 is playing in his second Trans-Tasman test match.

Although only 21, Nathan has already won 2 Open National titles and has been playing for eleven years.

The three day clash will take place in Port Sorell, Tasmania on May 14th, 15th and 16th, with the opening ceremony setting the tone on Thursday morning at 9am.

The Indoor Bowls Trans-Tasman rivalry began in 1975 and has been contested on 25 previous occasions.

In contrast to many sports, New Zealand has a dominant record in indoor bowls, having won the test series on 19 occasions compared to just 6 won by Australia.

The test match is contested in alternating Countries and takes place once every two years. The 2024 event was held in Pukekohe and saw a comprehensive win go the way of Australia.

2009 had been the last time Australia defeated New Zealand in this series, and 1991 the last time they did it on New Zealand soil.

The full 'Mat Blacks' team is:

2026 Trans-Tasman Team 
‘Mat Blacks’

Womens Singles: 
Annelies Baker — Waikato

Mens Singles: 
Marcus Trlin — Hutt Valley

Womens Pairs: 
Alana Moffitt — South Otago 
Keri Te Tamaki — Otago

Mens Pairs: 
Nathan Trowell — Auckland 
Alex Reed — Waikato

Womens Triples: 
Kylie Gould — Canterbury 
Annelies Baker — Waikato 
Jenelle Lockyer — South Canterbury

Mens Triples: 
Daniel French — Otago 
Paul Wright — Auckland 
Gary Low — Southland

Ladies Fours: 
Sheree Holmes — Upper Hutt Valley 
Alana Moffitt — South Otago 
Keri Te Tamaki — Otago 
Jenelle Lockyer — South Canterbury

Mixed Fours: 
Simon Thomas — Canterbury 
Alex Reed — Waikato 
Kylie Gould — Canterbury 
Denise Clarkson — Hutt Valley

Mens Fours: 
Daniel French — Otago 
Nathan Trowell — Auckland 
Paul Wright — Auckland 
Gary Low — Southland

Mixed 6 Bowl Pairs: 
Marcus Trlin — Hutt Valley 
Denise Clarkson — Hutt Valley

Mixed 8 Bowl Pairs: 
Simon Thomas — Canterbury 
Sheree Holmes — Upper Hutt Valley

Reserves: 
Lesley Monk — Waikato 
Tim Veale — Manawatu

Captain: 
Simon Thomas

Vice-Captain: 
Sheree Holmes

Manager: 
Michael Lawson

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