Bowls: First bowls even finalists found

Grant Hassall 

The finalists have been found in the first Taranaki events of the new bowls season.

The centre fours, held in south Taranaki, has seen Oakura and Paritutu emerge as the last two teams standing in the HTL Group-sponsored women’s competition, which is being held for the first time this year.

In the Metcalfe Real Estate-sponsored men’s event, the two remaining clubs are Paritutu and West End.

Despite most players lacking match-play, given the damp start to the season, the standard of play was high.

Through the efforts of Rhonda Adams, the women managed to get the centre fours off the ground this year, after a failed attempt about 15 years ago. The Taranaki Board set the bar at 20 entries for the event to qualify as a gold star point, and this was achieved with 22 starting on Saturday.

In the semifinals at Manaia on Sunday, the Oakura quartet of Sandra Zittersteijn, Alesha Quay, Tina Atkinson-Watt and skip Jackie Moeahu scored a dramatic, extra end victory over Kristin Stampa (Stratford-Avon) 13-12. Stampa and her side of Wendy Walker, Sheryle Taylor and Theresa Needham had led 9-1 earlier in the clash before Moeahu’s side clawed back into the contest.

The other finalist is Paritutu’s Amanda Crehan, Marlene McArthur, Bridget Fletcher and skip Gale Fache. They also had a tough semifinal, before prevailing15-10 over Carolyn Batchelor, Anne Brophy, Val McEldowney and Elaine Hodge (New Plymouth).

In the men’s event, at Tower, three rounds on Sunday whittled the 16 qualifiers, from an original entry of 32, down to two teams.

The final will see Adam Collins, Dean Elgar, Daryl Read and Camron Horo (Paritutu) meet Steve Temperton, Dennis Osborne, Lindsay Murfitt and Garry Murfitt (West End).

Horo’s side edged another virtual Taranaki rep side, Jordan Linn, Dave Wilson, Steve Walker and Craig De Faria (West End), the defending titleholders, 12-11 in a titanic semifinal.

Murfitt continued a tremendous record in the event when he skipped his side to a 16-5 victory over Gavin Benton, Ron Gadsby, Andrew Gadsby and Evan Jones (Fitzroy) in the other last-four clash.

Murfitt has previously won the tournament twice, as well as being third-equal two years ago and runner-up three seasons ago.

The men’s final will take place on November 1 at Tower, with the women’s decider being played the next day at Manaia.