Andrews strikes again

Paritutu’s Cathy Andrews has scored an unprecedented fifth victory in nine years in the Taranaki women’s open singles bowls event.

Andrews, a former New Zealand representative, has now won

11 Taranaki titles and based on Sunday’s triumph, she still has plenty more shots left in her.

In the final Andrews beat Opunake’s Chris Commane 21-12.

While Commane opened with a brace in the final, a four to Andrews on the fourth end set the tone for the match.

Commane scored on 10 of the 19 ends, but only two of the counts were more than one. Andrews, on the other hand, made the most of her opportunities, collecting two threes and a further four, as she opened up a 16-7 lead.

It was too great a deficit for Commane to pull back.

It had been a long day for Commane, with some drawn-out games meaning the final did not start until 5pm. In her semifinal against West End’s Susan Cottam, Commane prevailed 21-17. In the other semifinal, Andrews beat Fitzroy’s Rhonda Adams 21-14.

❚ Despite losing a round on Sunday, the men’s centre fours was still expected to be finalised this Saturday at Hawera Park.

Only two rounds of post-section were completed after heavy rain i delayed play for two hours. By that point, a number of the leading skips had been eliminated.

Grant Mudgway’s Hawera Park squad, which was skipped by Kearin Pollard on Sunday, are the only side through to the semifinals at this stage.

They beat Mark Dudley’s Hawera Park team, which was entered under the name of Allan Hunt, 20-5 in the quarterfinals.

The only other quarterfinal that has commenced is between two West End sides, Garry Murfitt and Ross Henderson, with the former leading 4-1 after four of the 18 ends.

On the other side of the draw, the four quarterfinalists are Rodney Woods (Opunake), Rangi Hiroti (Inglewood), Jocky Bright (West End) and Kevin Hills (Alton). The latter’s side is skipped by Grant Anderson.