Goodin returns to rep lineup
The return of Darren Goodin and a reshuffle of the order of the women’s side have been the responses of the selectors to the Taranaki representative bowls team’s below par performances last weekend.
Goodin, who was unavailable for the hexagonal, has been named as the men’s pairs skip for the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki men’s top seven for the intercentre event that will be held in Wellington from March 23.
Goodin takes the place of Scott Roberts, who after putting in a useful account in Palmerston North, is himself unavailable for the big contest of the year. Dean Elgar, after his narrow misses last weekend, understandably holds on to the singles berth.
The four of John Garrud, Jordan Linn, Mark Anderson and Craig Johns remains unchanged.
Rhonda Adams continues as the singles player in the women’s top seven. A new pairs combination of Chris Commane and Gloria Shaw will be tried at the intercentre. Both were involved in the fours last weekend.
Anne Duggan and Anne Brophy have been transferred from the pair into the front of the four, where they will be joined by Faye Gecse and Maree Gadsby, to complete an allNew Plymouth lineup. Gecse and Gadsby have been rewarded for their excellent results last weekend.
Revital Fertilisers Taranaki intercentre teams to compete in Wellington on March 23-26: men, singles, D Elgar; pairs, J Roberts, D Goodin; fours, J Garrud, J Linn, M Anderson, C Johns. Women, singles, R Adams; pairs, C Commane, G Shaw; fours, A Duggan, A Brophy, F Gecse, M Gadsby. ❚ What a fine family moment it was for the Goodin’s when father and son, Peter and Darren, combined with Paritutu clubmate Midge Shaw to win the Taranaki men’s open triples recently.
It gave the under-rated Peter Goodin his gold star for five centre titles – four of which have been secured with his son – the New Year fours (2001), champion-of-champions pairs (2013), Christmas pairs December 2014) and now the open triples. His other victory came as a member of the Shaw-skipped champion-ofchampions fours side in 2004.
Having the advantage of playing in a strong club has obviously helped Darren Goodin to hit 20 centre titles, although 11 of them have been secured in singles, underlining his quality. His complete list of victories is junior champion-ofchampion singles (2000), senior champion-of-champions singles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012), champion-of-champions pairs (1999 and 2013), open singles (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014), Christmas pairs (December 2003 and 2014), open triples (2014 and 2017), New Year fours (2001 and 2006) and the open fours (2015). ❚ The succession of extended tournaments has started in the province with three finalised in the last week.
The Len Lethbridge over 60’s men’s triples at West End, sponsored by Vospers Funeral Home, Lisa Keen Audiology and Western First National, was restricted to just two days play. The respective green winners were West End’s Garry Murfitt, Jim Rowe and Lindsay Murfitt, Fitzroy’s Noel Probyn, Nigel Newton and Grant Pease, and West End’s Fred Nicholas, Brian Hawksbee and Ivan Heal.
The annual Taranaki Civil Construction-sponsored Spurdle Memorial at Inglewood, with assistance from the famous family, was won by a host club team headed by Dave Stachurski. It included Neil Early, Graham Frater and Steve Sabine. Second went to Grayson McEldowney (New Plymouth), with Gerry O’Sullivan (Inglewood) third.
The Goodwin fives at Hawera Park was completed on Tuesday with the assistance of the White Hart Hotel, Zodiac Signs, Garden Edge, United Gaming, Houghton’s Plumbing and Pak N Save Hawera. Well known rugby identity Jock Richards was the victorious skip, with his side comprising Kearin Pollard, Steve Temperton, Phil Warner and Paul Clegg. Second place went to Oakura’s Tony McAlevey while Waitara’s John Niwa was third.