Experience wins out in fours finals at NZ champs
Johnsonville’s Dale Rayner and Royal Oak’s Michael Galloway, both former internationals, skipped their sides to impressive victories in the finals of the fours at the New Zealand bowls championships in New Plymouth on Sunday.
Rayner, who attended the 2010 Commonwealth Games, combined with long-time team-mate Kaaren Guilford, Reen Belliss (Aramoho) and Linda Ralph (Carlton Cornwall) to post a resounding 26-5 victory over the four of Wendy Jensen (Takapuna) in the women’s final.
Galloway, who has had two stints in the national side but has not been seen internationally since the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was the outstanding player on display on finals day. He combined with clubmates Steve Fisher and Martin Dixon, and Manurewa’s David Clark to take the men’s crown 19-7 against Takaro’s Dean Gilshnan.
As indicated by the score, Rayner’s side was completely dominant against Jensen and her team of Adele Ineson, Robyne Walker and Lauren Mills. They consistently placed more bowls around the head, and shot away to an 18-1 lead after 10 ends and never looked back.
It was a second title for both Rayner and Belliss, who have separately succeeded in the pairs, and a maiden Dominion title for Guilford and Ralph.
Galloway’s side looked a little shaky on the opening three ends against Gilshnan and his quartet of Scotty Mcgavin, Matt Pearson and Philip Skoglund. The Manawatū team led 4-0 at that time.
But Galloway turned the momentum on the next end, when facing three down he trailed the jack for two.
Aided by a four on the eighth end, Galloway’s side took a 10-4 advantage.
Galloway killed the 10th end when four down and then converted the replay to a count of three. He repeated that two ends later to sew up the clash.
It was Galloway’s third title, a second for Clark, having won the 2001 pairs with his skip, and a first for both Dixon and Fisher. The latter, still a junior in the outdoor code, is a former national indoor pairs winner.
Despite both finals being one-sided affairs, all four semifinals were nerve-racking contests.
Rayner’s side edged Kaye Bunn’s side of Dayvinia Mills, Janeen Noble and Mere Nepia 14-13 after the scores were even playing the last end.
Jensen held off a late charge from Selina Goddard’s team of Briar Atkinson, Trish Croot and Lisa White 17-15.
In the men’s, Gilshnan preserved a one-shot last-end lead to deny Clyde’s Dave Chisholm, Roger O’brien, Howard O’donnell and skip Pat Houlahan 18-16. Galloway needed an extra end to eliminate Englishman Sam Tolchard, who was skipping Mike Carroll, Terry Scott and Michael Kernaghan, 16-15.
Atkinson was the only Taranaki player to make the last four in either event. Dean Elgar, skipping a composite side, made the last eight in the men’s fours, an effort repeated in the women’s section by Rhonda Adams, Susan Cottam, Trish Howard and skip Kristin Stampa.
The mixed pairs event started yesterday and will be finalised at Paritutu on Thursday.