Mossman bowler all set to do the state proud
Lawn bowls
Far North Queensland can proudly boast of having its very own state lawn bowls representative, with Mossman’s Malachy McTaggart making the Queensland Under-25 squad.
McTaggart, who flew down to Brisbane last week to take part in trials with the 12-man outfit, is the only under-25 state player north of Rockhampton, while there are two others in different age groups based in Cairns.
He is now aiming to make the eight-player team to take on NSW at Tweed Heads in September to be announced in coming weeks, with the recent Brisbane trials part of that process.
Originally from NSW himself before moving north to be closer to his mum, McTaggart started playing the game at age 10, where he was usually the youngest bowler out on the green.
“My best friend took me down one day on Australia Day and I fell in love with it,” he says.
It was originally a bit daunting playing against older opponents, but the nerves had settled by the age of 11, when he started to post more victories.
McTaggart, 22, is still one of the youngest out on the green, but he is now one of Mossman bowls club’s star players.
However, now he has made the Queensland squad, some of his NSW mates are starting to rib him about the approaching State of Origin-style format.
“I’ve been called a traitor,” he says.
His Mossman club, however, could not be more supportive.
“We are so proud of Malachy McTaggart being selected as part of the Under-25 men squad,” a club statement reads.
“Truly a Queenslander now Malachy, loving the maroon.”
Bowls Queensland also congratulated all the state players selected, highlighting their “hard work and dedication”.
“We look forward to an exciting and competitive 2025 season wearing maroon!,” the association states.
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