The World Bowls Championship is currently on in Australia. But for Kiwi lawn bowler (and NZ pairs champion) Andrew Kelly (35) the game switched codes briefly on Friday, when he got to tackle an offender running from the police – a change from the normally sedate sport.
“You could hear sirens and a bit of drama going on in the street outside the bowling club and then some bloke just ran through with police right behind him,” Kelly said.
“Putting two and two together, I picked up he was probably wanted by the coppers.”
Kelly had just played his shot and was waiting for the other side to play.
“So I had a bit of time on my hands to deal to the situation and just reacted accordingly,” he said. […]
“He was trying to get away, and across the green was the shortest path for him, so I took it upon myself to get to him and that’s that.”
This is a first for Kelly in a game of bowls.
“There’s been streakers. All sporting events have that sort of thing happen, but I guess this to me was quite a bit different because he was obviously wanted for doing something naughty.”
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