Pascoe, Hill too good in pairs final

Elmwood Park’s Lance Pascoe completed a long-held ambition to win a title at the New Zealand bowls championships when he successfully skipped Mt Albert’s Jamie Hill to the gold medal in the men’s pairs in Auckland yesterday.

Hill and Pascoe ran out emphatic 18-7 winners over Royal Oak’s John Carruthers and Mike Bradshaw in the final.

Hill led superbly throughout the event, laying a brilliant foundation. His reward was his fourth national title, having previously won three fours crowns.

Pascoe also brought his A game to the final, producing an excellent display.

After exchanging singles on the opening two ends, Hill and Pascoe shot out to an 8-1 lead after six. Carruthers and Bradshaw clawed back two singles, but nine shots over the next four ends effectively sealed the result at a 17-3 advantage.

Controlled play over the closing heads prevented any large counts going to the Royal Oak duo.

Carruthers and Bradshaw sneaked through a tense semifinal 15-14 over Bay of Plenty’s Nick Tomsett and Dan Dickison. Bradshaw led 11-7, before the BOP pair won four successive ends to lead 14-11. A Bradshaw drive netted one on the penultimate end, before the crafty Carruthers threw a short end and the required three shots were scored.

Hill and Pascoe trailed the Otago Central pair of Howard O’Donnell and Pat Houlahan 6-4 after eight ends. But they won the next eight ends to lead 17-6 and prevailed 17-10.

In the women’s pairs, Selina Smith and Dale Rayner won the feature opening game 14-12 over Clare Hendra and Tayla Bruce.

The singles winner from Monday, Nicole Toomey, with Tannith Potgieter, lost in round two 17-8 to Sarah Scott and Bronwyn Stevens. At the same time, Lisa Prideaux and Val Smith, lost 18-17 to Sally Cox and Lynne Bodger.

The women continue with pairs qualifying today, while the men start play in the singles.