Mangere edge Bridge Park in thriller

Mangere Bowls Club has nailed another Auckland centre title.

Against all expectations, the club’s Mangere Kotuku team of Mark Hall, Loto Fakaalofa, David Shackleton and Dave Lerhke and Terry Makira, Ben Wi, Andrew Walbran and Varseti Makira, with Liz and Kidd Enua as reserves, won the Auckland Winter Inter-club Fours at the Epsom Bowling Club.

They beat Bridge Park’s team of Phil Taylor, Luka Mataora, Ta Rito, Teo Turua and Bunty Hotene, Tuaine and Maroiroi Pereeti and Alice Evans by two points on the final end.

The win adds to the 2-4-2 mixed pairs, the Auckland Fours and the Auckland Champion of Champions singles title which was won by Terry Makira, the skip of Kotuku’s second fours team.

A total of 26 teams from clubs all over Auckland entered the bonus fours event, a format of competing sides comprising of two teams of four.

The scores of the leads and the seconds count at the end of each end.

Mangere Bowling Club’s Paul Newman is one happy president.

‘‘It’s a great start for the upcoming season. We won this title about four years ago and it’s great to win it back.

‘‘Our Kotuku team showed plenty of character. They needed an extra end to beat Epsom in the quarterfinal after the scores were locked at one a piece and the forand-against level at 40-all and they needed six off the final end to beat Bridge Park after each fours team shared a win each.

‘‘Both games were touch and go. We’re all very proud of what they achieved.’’

Newman presented the players with their winners pendants after the finals.

Mangere Kotuku won their section 8-2. They had Pt Chevalier Pirates, Avondale Spiders, Te Atatu, Henderson and Pringle Park in their group.

Bridge Park took out its section 7-1 against East Tamaki Jacks, Otahuhu, Avondale and Mt Wellington.

East Tamaki Aces won their section 7-1 against teams from Mt Eden, Hillsborough, Mangere Magpies and St Heliers.

SCOREBOARD Results (quarter Semi final: Final: finals):

Mangere Kotuku bt Epsom on extra end. Mangere Kotuku bt East Tamaki 2-0; Bridge Park bt West End 2-0. Mangere Kotuku (3 51 49 +2) bt Bridge Park (3 49 51 -2).