Illawarra-based juniors Dawn Hayman and Dylan Skinner have been selected in the Australian under-18s squad for next month's clash against New Zealand.

Skinner played in the trans-Tasman series in Auckland last year, while Fairy Meadow star Hayman has won a spot for the three-day series on March 18-20 at Traralgon Bowls Club.

NSW lead the way with five players in the squad of 10, comprising five boys and five girls.

The trans-Tasman series features singles, pairs, triples and fours and is the pinnacle of bowls at a junior level.

Reigning NSW junior singles and fours champion, Skinner will play lead in the triples and fours, while Hayman will be the skip in the pairs and play third in the fours.

The series will also include Open, Development (under 25) and Bowlers with a Disability categories, with a combined 60 player representing their country.

"Selection in this team to represent Australia in what is a much sought-after event is worthy recognition for the performances of the past 12 months for these young players," Australian coach Steve Glasson said.

"Michael Sims, Dylan Skinner and Ellen Ryan have been selected for a second time, which is a wonderful achievement by them and I am thrilled to welcome the other seven juniors into the international fold for the first time.

"The experience they will all gain by spending time at the event with our senior Jackaroos and our development teams will only enhance their bowls careers further.

"It's a great opportunity for them."

In 2013, following three nail-biting days of competition, the Australian team returned home with a clean sweep of the overall trophies for the open, development and under-18 competitions with New Zealand's only Test victory coming through their under-18 boys' combination.

Australia's Open and Development teams will be announced next Tuesday.

Zone 16 Fours reaches quarter-finals

Wiseman Park and Warilla have two teams each in Saturday’s  quarter-finals of the Illawarra Zone 16 Fours Championships at Warilla Bowling Club.

The Zone 16 Fours is the first championship of 2014 with three rounds played last weekend.

 Jackaroos squad member Shane Garvey skips one Wiseman Park team in the quarter-finals against Robert Glen’s unheralded Warilla team.

  In the same half of the draw, Warilla’s back-to-back World Cup champion Jeremy Henry takes on Ben Ford’s Dapto Citizens team.

  Playing third for Henry is NSW under-25 star Aaron Teys, who last month impressively won the South Pacific singles and pairs titles.

  The winner of the Henry versus Ford match takes on either Garvey or Glen in one semi-final.

  Wes Falconer skips a Towradgi Park team in their quarter-final against Robbie Warren’s Wiseman Park team.

Falconer has been in great form winning his three matches by a combined 39 shots.

 Warilla is tournament headquarters, with the quarter-finals on Saturday  at 1pm.

 The semi-finals are on Sunday  from 9am, with the final from 1pm.

 Last year, a Bulli team won the Zone 16 Fours and went on to  the final at the state titles in Maitland last October.

Green recognised

Balgownie-based John Green was named joint Bowler of the Year, and new Wiseman Park recruit Dylan Skinner the outstanding junior player, at the annual Bowls NSW Player Awards in Sydney last month.

Green had an amazing 2013, which included winning the ‘‘grand slam’’ of team events with his club Taren Point,  helping Zone 13 win the Inter-Zone title and being part of NSW’s victory in the Australian All Sides Championships.

 Green shared the Bowler of the Year award with clubmate Wayne Turley, with the duo winning the NSW State Pairs last October.

Green started 2014 by claiming a record-equalling ninth South Pacific crown after skipping his fours team to the title.

Meanwhile, talented Dylan Skinner is the NSW Junior Bowler of the Year for 2013.

The 16-year-old, who will shortly take up a four-year greenkeeping apprenticeship with Wiseman Park, won silver in the Australian Junior Pairs and bronze in the Australian Junior Singles in 2013.

Skinner also became the youngest player to win a state open title after taking out the state Triples at Port Macquarie BC.

Meanwhile, Tathra Beach’s James Reynolds has become the first bowler to win consecutive NSW Disability Bowler of the Year awards.

Picton’s Chris Nairn was the other finalist in the Disability Bowler of the Year category.