Southland bowls teams fall far short of titles

Expectations were high that one or more of the teams representing Southland would be to the fore in national competitions contested at Palmerston North and Christchurch in recent weeks, but it was a sad tale that followed all the teams home.

Three club teams from Southland, each consisting of seven players (singles, pairs and fours), represented the southern zone in the National Interclub Finals with all three teams finishing in the bottom two of the six zone teams competing for Club of the Year 2015.

The mens and ladies premier intercentre teams were also confident of a strong showing after last year qualifying through to the quarterfinals but both teams missed out on a place in the playoff rounds.

A lack of consistency and players’ inability to step up to that next level of competition were contributing factors in the demise of all teams.

Two more mens championships have been finalised – the Champion of Champion Singles and Champion of Champion Triples events, with Gore’s Sheldon Bagrie-Howley continuing an outstanding season of form with success in both events.

In the singles, Bagrie-Howley was pitted against wily campaigner Stuart Dickson (Waikiwi) and despite trailing 8-11 after 12 ends, Bagrie-Howley won nine ends, dropping just two more to close out back-toback title wins in this event 21-15.

In the semifinals Dickson accounted for Northend’s Ian Brown 21-15 and Bagrie-Howley scored eight shots in the last four ends to defeat Te Rangi’s Steve Sanders 21-18.

In the triples event BagrieHowley combined with Tony Cockerill and Bill Crawford to give the Gore club and Cockerill their second titles for the season.

In the final over 16 ends they headed off Makarewa’s Mua Toomata, Paul McIntyre and Lewis Heywood.

At the halfway stage Gore led by a point, but Makarewa’s challenge faded when losing four of the next five ends and the final result went to Gore 16-11.

Gore won their place in the final after defeating Aaron Tribe (Bluff), Thomas Eruera and Dave Alexander 19-9 and Northend’s Ian Brown had to settle for a minor placing after he, Neville Brinsdon and Edgar Potter succumbed to Makarewa 16-12.

The season will draw to a close with the completion of three more Champion of Champion events – the men’s pairs this weekend, followed by the ladies triples and finally the men’s fours.

The results of these three games will determine the final points in a closely contested race for both the men’s and ladies Player of the Year trophies.