could anyone sink lower?

[Ken Gargett]

FOUR members of a New Zealand lawn bowls team have been found guilty of match-fixing in a ruling which has rocked the normally genteel sport.

The New Zealand four of Gary Lawson, Shayne Sincock, Shannon McIlroy and Jamie Hill were been found by a judicial panel chaired by a former judge to have deliberately lost a match against Thailand at the Asia-Pacific Champions in Malaysia in August.

New Zealand's 17-15 loss to Malaysia in the pool match had the effect of eliminating Canada from the championship playoffs while giving the New Zealand team what may have been a beneficial draw in the playoff rounds.

Canada protested to World Bowls and the international organisation ordered Bowls New Zealand to investigate.

In a 13-page verdict released Monday, the panel found the New Zealand team had deliberately lost the 17th end of the match against Thailand, conceding four shots to go from 15-12 ahead to 16-15 behind.

Lawson, a double world champion and winner of a record 10 national titles, said Monday he could not yet say whether he would appeal.

"If the penalty is not too bad I don't think it will matter about appealing. At this stage I think we will just sit back and see what happens," he said.

"I would like to think it won't be too harsh. I think we have already served a big enough penalty."

Lawson said while Canada had protested the outcome of the disputed match, it had not intended an inquiry to lead to serious disciplinary proceedings.

"It's gone way beyond where it should have," he said.

"The Canadians never wanted their protest to go this far."

[jquest63]

Is nothing sacred anymore? Also, did they happen to take performance enhancement drug?

[Ken Gargett]

apparently all three kiwi fans are in shock.

[hoyopr]

And the one Canadian fan is concerned that his seasons tickets price may go for next season.

[jquest63]

apparently all three kiwi fans are in shock.

So, I'm not the only one. I had to down a shot of Glenlivet and smoke a Boli PC to settle my nerves.

[Colt45]

Thank goodness tiddledywinks is unscathed by such scandal.