Makos triumph in South Is fours
THE HavelockMarlborough Makos completed a clean sweep of the inaugural South Island Open Fours at Taieri Bowling Club yesterday.
Andre Smith and former Black Jack Shayne Sincock teamed up with Nelson pair Murray Scott and Gary Watson to claim the title.
The foursome went through the five days of competition undefeated, overcoming the Joko Susiloskipped Andersons Bay quartet 2613 in the final.
Andersons Bay lost little with Bobby Johnson coming into the team as an 11th hour replacement lead for Grant Simpson. Johnson proved somewhat of a crowd favourite as he went headtohead with Scott, the Makos’ lead.
But despite Johnson doing an excellent job with Andersons Bay’s first two bowls, Scott was blindingly accurate and hardly off the jack all game.
Scott has proved somewhat multiskilled in fours competition, also proving in the past to be a more than worthy skip for Nelson.
‘‘I understand what my mate up the other end needs, so I’ve just go to get it in as handy as I can,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re all quality guys, these guys, so I know they’ll take care of the rest.
‘‘But to be fair, none of these guys can lead, so it fell on me. ‘‘They can’t throw jacks.’’ Smith proved somewhat of a heartbreaker for Susilo and local supporters.
Time after time, just as Susilo appeared to regain control of the head, Smith replied in kind with a draw bowl of his own or his ability to drive with deadly accuracy.
Such was the intensity over the five days of competition both finalists were counting their blessings after closeencounters in semifinal play.
The Andersons Bay four survived a late resurgence from Rod Fleming’s Taieri quartet that included Ken Wal ker, Karl Mason and and Phil Austin, to win a nailbiter 2524.
It was a similar match in the other semifinal in which the Makos secured a place in the final with a great escape, defeating the Kerry Beck’s (Canterbury) skipped composite team that included Jonty Halwell (Kaikorai), Keru Rupene (Taieri) and Paddy Stewart (Canterbury) 2520.
But come the final, the Makos were all business, getting away to a cracking start to hold a 212 lead after 13 ends. But it was to be another five ends before the Makos were able to trouble the scorers again, as the Andersons Bay quartet showed signs it could claw its way back into contention.
With the Makos drawing a further five shots on the 19th and 20th ends, it proved enough to put the game out of reach. Andersons Bay conceded defeat after 22 of the mandatory 25 ends.