After the big furore regarding Gary Lawson, skip of the New Zealand Fours team, being found guilty of match fixing, it made me think about our own local competitions where this might take place.

I have overheard players on numerous occassions at different clubs discuss throwing a game so that they can claim a share in the prize money. Whether they actually have done this I will not know but I am pretty sure where there is smoke there is fire.

It seems that to some players money is more important than the excitement of actually winning a game or playing your best. I wonder if the current economic pressures that players find themselves in lately will escalate this format of play??

Perhaps I am naive or just plain "doff". How do you ensure part of the prize money by throwing a game? I cannot understand why the NZ's did not want to play the Aussies? By throwing a game, did they come second or third? Whose money was buying them off during the 17th end of the game??

Ummmm makes you wonder about all this match fixing. Yes Cheryl I also know of people that have decided to "fix" a match and share the prize money. I do not think that the present economic situation is doing this - this is due to pure greed and lack of sportsmanship. I know of quite a few "good" bowlers that enter competitions purely for the prize money, which is all well and good because we all want to win something. But I think to the detriment of the game of bowls. Sometimes games are thrown because these players watch who they will have to play next and know that if they loose they play a team that they feel they have a better chance of beating to get a little further in the competition. I know that this does not make sense but believe me I have sat and listened to these conversations and been absolutely amazed at the thinking. Come on guys - lets remember this is a sport......

match fixing is a major problem in all the games . the team managements should take steps to prevent it .