Bowls: Thames Valley make history as post section looms

Saturday, Feb 01 2025

Bowls: Thames Valley make history as post section looms

Grant Hassall

In the first 72 editions of The Devon Hotel Taranaki women’s Open fours, no Thames Valley side has ever won the top prize.

Last season Kaye Bunn (Thames Coast) put in a bold showing, making it all the way to the final.

And while Bunn exited this year’s event in the opening round of post section yesterday, three other sides from her centre survived both games at Paritutu to book their places in the last eight today.

Lee McDonald’s Mercury Bay side, comprising Colleen Section, Irene Goss and Nirie Reddy, made it through with a 27-19 win over Leanne Stewart (Hikurangi) in the afternoon.

Stewart had led the game 9-4 after eight, but then the tide turned. Reddy, not long out of juniors, impressed with some good conversions.

McDonald had beaten Lynda Francis (Havelock North) 26-15 in the first round.

Lynn Clifford, McDonald’s clubmate in Whitianga, also made the top eight after tense 24-21 win over the last local hope, Gale Fache (Paritutu). Clifford and McDonald have played together and combined to win the Thames Valley champion-of-champions fours as recently as two years ago.

But they brought their own teams to this tournament. Clifford is combining with Judy Campbell, Larisa King and Sue Rossiter, of umpiring fame.

They led Fache 10-4 early, but then after 16 ends, Fache had taken the initiative 19-13. After 20 ends, the scores were even. Clifford took a one-point lead into the last end.

Camp bell drew a beauty and there it remained. Clifford had earlier upset Bunn in an all-Thames Valley affair 21-18.

The third side from “Swamp Fox” country is skipped by Adele French (Thames Coast).

French is originally from Taranaki and her late uncle, Ollie, was well-known in horse racing circles and won the Taranaki New Year fours title in 2004.

Adele French is a highly competent competitor in her own right. She has won the last two New Zealand champion-of-champions triples with Bunn and Val Mathews.

This week French is in charge, with the experienced and still highly proficient Mathews in the engine room at No 2. Waihi Beach juniors Bev Rogers and Kathryn McGaughey complete the side.

The latter won the Thames Valley open singles in January.

They were comprehensive in the afternoon round, easily beating Robyn Wallace (Omarunui) 29-8, after leading 26-2.

French edged clear only over the closing ends of her morning struggle with Paula Meredith (Johnsonville), winning 24-18.

This morning, French meets Pat Dixon (Naenae), Cliford plays Debbie Wildermoth (Wanganui East) and McDonald faces Marilyn Constantine (Tauranga).

The fourth quarterfinal is between Janet Olliver (Waitarere Beach) and Sue Hodges (Omokoroa).

Dixon has Kathy Cross, Anne Robinson and Leonie Gough in her side and the ability of Gough to draw shots when needed was important in the final wash-up, as they ended the hopes of Cheryl Le Claire (Taradale) 25-17. The Wellingtonians had looked comfortable leading 17-7 after 15 ends.

But fast-forward four ends and the difference had been reduced to just two. The decider came on the 24th when Dixon took a five.

Constantine, a regular visitor, has a battled hardened side with former NZ rep Mary Campbell, Carolyn Tasker and dual Dominion fours winner, Mina Paul. 

They moved away from Pania Roberts (Opononi) after 10 ends, when the score was 9-8, to win 29-11.

Hodges had an exhausting day on the green but illustrated the resolution one would expect from the defending champions. 

In the morning round, Hodges scored a three on the last end to sneak home 22-20 over Ruth Spittle (Taradale). After lunch they beat Dianne Strawbridge (Kensington) 27-21.

Hodges got away to a 17-6 lead, and while the gritty Northlander got within two points with six ends remaining, her side could not quite reel in Hodges and her side of Karen Pickering, Rachelle Morrison and Char Beckett.

In the remaining afternoon game, Debbie Wildermoth (Wanganui East) came from 19-16 down after 20 ends to beat Kath Nepe (Ngongotaha) 25-20.

Wildermoth’s team is Thelma Ward, Adrienne Richdale and Joan Raymond. Raymond drew the jack superbly on the 24th end to set up a four-shot count.

Wildermoth used an extra end to beat Wendy Mitchell (Masterton) 31-30 in the morning. But her clubmate, Marlene Foster, was on the wrong side of a one-point match at the same time. Foster looked assured of victory, leading Nepe 24-5. But Nepe won the last 11 ends to take the game 25-24.

Janet Olliver and her Waitarere Beach side of Michelle Mcdonald, Mary Van der Velden and Gloria Michael earned the afternoon off with a bye, following her 24-20 win over Pam Mulford (Plimmerton). Olliver held the upper hand for most of the match. Her side led 23-14 through 20 ends, before Mulford closed to within three shots playing the last. Olliver took the point there to survive.

Meanwhile, 13 pairs secured the necessary three wins from four games in the Midlands Funds Management pairs event yesterday.

Post section in the pairs is at Paritutu today.