The worlds of rugby league and crown green bowls collided yesterday, as a team from Barrow Raiders visited the King Alfred Bowling Club on Walney Island to try their hand at a sport that couldn't be more different in intensity to their own.

The Raiders team contained their Papua New Guinea internationals Stargroth Amean and Wartovo Puara, but head coach Paul Crarey was unfortunately not available.

The King Alfred, meanwhile, contained top county representatives Barry Lowden, Tony Whitehouse, Glenis McDonald, Wendy Holmes and Gillian Corran

After a quick lesson on the rules of the game, a selection of players and backroom staff paired up with King Alfred bowlers and played a‘round robin’ bowls competition, where the rugby players showed whether they had had finesse, as well as brawn.

King Alfred club secretary Dave Whitehead said sports therapist Martin Williams, who is one the club's sponsors and an assistant physio at the Raiders thought the day was a good idea as part of the club's reach into the community.

He went on to say: “Greenkeeper Keith Mills barred rugby boots, scrummaging and ‘high tackles.'"

“Do they play bowls in Papua New Guinea? It certainly was an interesting afternoon.”