Little joy for local bowlers
Former Manawatu stalwart and national representative Philip Skoglund provided a whiff of local interest in the national interclub championships, which finished at Howick at the weekend.
Philip figured in the pairs for the Eastbourne side which retained its title from the previous year.
The composition of the successful Eastbourne team provides plenty of discussion, with its three weekend imports from outside Wellington starring in the critical singles and pairs slots.
This time they were too good in the final for the Stoke (Nelson) side which included world singles champion Shannon Mcillroy.
Stoke were winners of the section where Palmerston North dropped all three final round matches to slip to third on differential after leading the other five sides all the way.
A final-round measure that went against Palmerston North singles ace Dean Gilshnan at 20-20 could have earned a crucial win and a spot in the last eight.
For Palmerston North, Gilshnan won three of five, including a 21-5 demolition of top-rated North Harbour hotshot Scott Cottrell and a narrow loss 21-18 to Mcillroy.
Pat Horgan and Graeme Cooley won three in the pairs and Brian Little’s four two from five. Former Manawatu star Michael Galloway figured in the semifinals, playing singles for Hillsboro (Auckland).
He too was edged by Mcillroy in a high-quality contest cut short by the time bell. The Northern division one women and the Terrace End division two women both fought well, but were unable to progress beyond their sections, with the same fate falling to the Division two Palmerston North men.