Usual suspects on top in interclub play

The status quo in the Manawatu interclub competition has remained firmly in place, with the Palmerston North men again taking out division one and earning a place in the national finals in Auckland, where they reached the last eight a year ago.

It was also more of the same with the division two men, where Palmerston North got home narrowly from Dannevirke and Johnston Park, and also in division one women, where Northern again earned a crack at the big time.

In the division one men’s event, the Linton Street club went into the last two rounds with an imposing lead, but ended up struggling home four points clear of Johnston Park.

In round four an exquisite trail shot by Takaro Skip Ian Johnson produced four shots and a onepoint victory over Brian Little’s four.

In the final round, old rivals Northern downed Palmerston North 2-1, with Craig Gush and Tim Hook proving too good for Pat Horgan and Dean Gilshnan, while Tom Palmer inflicted a rare singles loss on Ross Ellery, winning decisively 25-14.

Terrace End won the division two women’s title, which also comes with a spot at the national tournament.

The next two weekends will be devoted to the open singles event, which in the men’s division has drawn an entry of 56, the biggest in a number of years.

It’s pleasing to see most of the rep team contenders involved, and, in a move reminiscent of former times, players will travel to to the Ashhurst, Woodville, and Foxton Beach greens, as well as Johnston Park, for the first day’s play under the two-life system.

Survivors will report to Palmerston North to continue play on Sunday morning.

The final stages will be played out the following weekend alongside the semifinals and finals of the Pathways open fours.

The opening week of World Bowls, at the Burnside greens in Christchurch, ended in bronze disappointment for the four New Zealand teams in contention for medals.

However, the dominance of Australia, both men and women, can only be respected.

Bowls Australia has strong links to Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport and this is clearly bearing fruit.

The very youthful Aussie women’s four were in a class of their own, embarrassing the Kiwis with a possible eight count on the first end of their semifinal.

A noticeable factor is the ultraconfident demeanour and swift delivery of the Australians, who step up to attempt the shot required without a moment’s hesitation.

The iconic Taranaki open men’s fours tournament has again had to follow soon after the national event.

This is being held in New Plymouth only a fortnight earlier, as happened just a few years back.

There will be 156 teams contesting the open this year, a drop of half a dozen teams.

It remains easily the biggest tournament in the country, followed in size by the Golden Oldies event at Palmerston North.

News has reached Manawatu of the death in Tauranga of a noted former local bowler in John Davies.

Known to many as ‘one leg’, because of an artificial extension to a leg, John represented New Zealand in disabled bowls.

He competed in Korea and later achieved unfortunate notoriety when he was sent home from the Manchester Commonwealth Games after a controversial incident off the green.

Barry Wynks of Takaro was also in that triples team which was forced to withdraw from the competition.

John was a very competitive member of the Hokowhitu and Palmerston North clubs and was also something of a singles specialist.

He was a Manawatu open singles champion and had two Palmerston North club singles titles to his name, as well as many successes in the team disciplines.