Open fours a family affair for the Ranfords
A long-held family dream of the Ranford brothers combining in the Taranaki men’s Open fours is coming true this week.
Four brothers from the famed Hāwera family – Bill, John, Keith and Peter junior – commenced the Open playing at the West End greens in New Plymouth yesterday.
‘‘It’s been a long-time coming,’’ said Bill, the eldest.
The Ranford family were mighty contributors to the Nolantown club, where father Peter senior, like Bill, became a life member. An entrepreneur and gogetter, Peter senior was instrumental in establishing the richest bowls prize in Taranaki, the Nolantown classic.
The tournament remains popular, and has been held at the Tower club ever since Nolantown merged with Hāwera.
While the brothers, who also have two sisters, grew up at Nolantown club, Bill acknowledged it was mother Noelene that had been the glue that kept the family together.
The initial desire to play together was sparked by another brother, Ron, who now lives in New Plymouth and plays for Fitzroy.
‘‘I had asked them for years to join together,’’ Ron said. ‘‘But they were always too busy – until this year.’’
Unfortunately for Ron, when the brothers made the call earlier in the season he had already committed to another side.
But there is some consolation – and initial bragging rights.
The brothers are all staying with Ron for the week. And while the four Ranford brothers lost both games on the opening day – including a second-round defeat to last year’s runner-up Raymond Martin (Victoria) – Ron’s side, which is skipped by Bill Johnston, had a win and a loss.
The loss against Martin showed the Ranford brothers are still more than capable, as they clawed back into the match but fell short, just, 22-20 against one of the tournament favourites.
Among the more favoured teams doing well and recording two wins on the opening day were Martin, Gary Lawson (Stokes Valley), Dan Delany (Ellerslie), Kevin Smith (Hinuera), Kevin Coombe (Aramoho) and defending champion Dan Dickison (Tauranga).
Lawson skipped in the morning round as his side defeated Waitarere Beach’s John Michael 27-10. Lawson led in the afternoon, with Lance Pascoe skipping, as the side trounced Taranaki gold star holder Des Lowry (Rahotu) 38-12.
But Maurice Symes (Renwick), who opened with a win, was undone by current Taranaki singles champion John Garrud (West End) 24-12 in the afternoon. Garrud won both.
Among the most impressive of the Taranaki teams to record two wins were Craig De Faria (West End), Kearin Pollard (Hawera Park), Steve Muller (Oakura), Adam Collins (Oakura) and Hamish Kape (Paritutu).
De Faria, the 2019 winner, dispatched Jason Hawe (North End) 28-17 and then Ian Coombe (Mairangi Bay) 34-9.
Kape started with a resounding 33-18 win over Cary Pinker (Wanganui East) and then overcame Kelvin Bishop (West End) 26-9, the score blowing out with Paritutu winning the last seven heads.