Manawatu¯ singles champions crowned
Both the men’s and women’s Manawatu¯ open singles champions had to fight hard to win their titles.
Johnston Park’s Stephen Love bagged his 21st centre title when he won the men’s competition in Palmerston North on Wednesday, while Erika Goldsworthy, of Woodville, won her third in the women’s final on Sunday.
Love went through the tournament unbeaten and defeated Palmerston North’s Ross Ellery 21-17 in the final. ‘‘It was close,’’ he said. ‘‘I got out to something like 17-9 ahead of Ross and he scored probably five or six ends in succession and so he got close. He played a big shot about three ends from home to save the game and I killed [the end]. It was a pretty tight final.’’
Love beat Brian Looker 21-7 in the semifinal and Rohan Teaz 21-10 in the quarterfinal.
It is Love’s fourth singles title. ‘‘I’m rapt because I think the alltime [centre title] high is 25 and I’m zoning in on that.’’
Love reached the last eight in the Manawatu¯ fours competition earlier this season and is entered in the open triples later this month.
Goldsworthy won a tight final against Robyn Mcgregor, of Palmerston North, 21-20 after it had been level 20-all, but Goldsworthy picked up two shots at the end to win.
‘‘It was very stressful and very tense,’’ Goldsworthy said afterwards. ‘‘I was just glad to get a couple of shots right on the jack.’’
Goldsworthy has won two pairs titles, but this was the first time she has entered the singles. She is in her last year of being an under-8 bowler – a bowler of less than eight years’ experience – and she beat some of the more experienced bowlers to win the title.
‘‘I played in the senior development squad for the reps and have been in the juniors since I started.
‘‘[Selector] Bev [Herbert] gave me a chance leading up to the senior reps next year, so I thought I should start entering in some of these top competitions.’’
Goldsworthy, who is secretary of the Woodville club, beat Lyn Jensen in the semifinal 21-19 and Faye Jones 19-17 in the quarterfinal.
❚ Bowls Manawatu¯ has named its men’s and women’s teams to compete at the hexagonal tournament on February 16-17. The senior teams are playing in Palmerston North and the under-8s in Whanganui. There are two singles players, two pairs teams and one fours team.
Men: Seniors: Singles: Stephen Love, Ross Ellery. Pairs: Shane Rogers and Dean Gilshnan, Terry Johnson and Scotty Mcgavin. Fours: Brian Little, Mark Noble, Clayton Simpson, Bruce Harris.
Under-8: Singles: Doug Winter, Matt Pearson. Pairs: Darren Wright and Pat Edwards, Bryan Gibson and Greg Oldridge. Fours: Dave Adams, James Bragger, Bryan Mcelligott, Mike Ryan. Women: Seniors: Singles: Mere Fryer, Emily Gray. Pairs: Lyn Corbett and Tina Vartha, Robyn Mcgregor and Julianne Mills. Fours: Lyn Jensen, Sheryn Blake, Caroline Fisher, Lynlea Rodgers. Reserve: Ailsa Lindsay.
Under 8: Singles: Helen Wehipeihana, Bronwyn Kennard. Pairs: Faye Symons and Sandie Pettersen, Erika Goldsworthy and Carla Roughan. Fours: Honey Giblett, Lucy Meredith, Margaret Grant, Kay Ball.