Bowls: Positive individual performances after rep bowls weekend

Grant Hassall

There were some positive individual performances and good indicators but no silverware from Taranaki’s bowlers at the central region Octagonal competition in Wellington at the weekend.

Taranaki were third in the men’s event and fifth in the women’s. There was, however, even better news from the under-eights event held in New Plymouth where Taranaki won the men’s section and were fourth in the women’s.

The senior men finished on 18 wins, from 28 games, just behind hosts Wellington (20) and Wanganui (19.5).

The most successful men’s combination was the previously untried triple of Kurt Smith, Bruce Colgan and Evan Jones. After an opening round draw, they strung together six successive victories.

John Roberts and Craig De Faria got away to a slow start with two losses and a draw, but then showed their worth by winning the remaining four games.

In the tough singles role, Paul Howell certainly didn’t disgrace himself, finishing with four wins.

The four of Kelly Hill, John Gray, Steve Walker and Scott Roberts had three wins.

Taranaki’s final placing of fifth was a little disappointing in the final wash-up in the women’s event, as it had been competitive in all bar five games. It had 15 wins, with section winner Wellington taking 19 victories. The women from the capital defeated Taranaki 2.5-1.5 in the last round.

Gale Fache’s four of Judy Crawford, Rhonda Adams and Bridget Fletcher excelled in winning their opening five games. There were some combinations adjusted on Sunday, and manager Cathy Andrews finished off the round six clash and was involved in the final-round draw with Wellington.

Chris Commane won three from seven in the singles, while Trish Howard had two wins in the pairs – one with Val Symes and the other with Adams. Amanda Crehan and Rita Davey won four and drew one in the triples. Two of the wins and the draw came with Maree Gadsby and the other two victories came with Symes.

Taranaki met expectations in claiming the men’s under-eights hexagonal event at Paritutu.

Taranaki had 15 wins and one draw from 20 games, with Stephen Fevre and Camron Horo leading the way with four wins and one draw.

The draw occurred in the last round, after the event had been secured, when Wanganui skip Steve Robinson had a freakish last-bowl result.

Singles player Nathan Goodin was in excellent touch on Saturday, winning thrice, and finishing with four in total.

The triple of Simon Rowe, Shae Fleming and Corey Brookes also had four wins, while the four of Ian Dawson, Mark Hawken, Gavin Benton and Jason Peters won three games.

Alethea Rowlands was the outstanding player under-eights women’s player winning all five singles games, this being half of the Taranaki tally of 10. The Taranaki pair of Shelley Clark and Angela De Bique had one win. Both the triple of Sherylle Taylor, Cindy Gray and Irene Taunt, and the four of Theresa Needham, Gloria Wolfe, Ashleigh Megaw and Linda Kape recorded two wins each.