Future NZ bowls reps to fore in singles finals
Two of Taranaki’s most promising lawn bowlers have left spectators at the final of the open singles under no doubt they will be future full New Zealand representatives.
Briar Atkinson and Kaylin Huwyler were in great form on Monday at the Paritutu Bowling Club in New Plymouth, where they won the respective women’s and men’s titles.
Atkinson, who is part of the New Zealand development side, prevailed 21-20 in the final over Susan Cottam of the West End club to win the women’s title, which was sponsored by the Jean Sandel Retirement Village.
Huwyler is part of the wider New Zealand high-performance squad and was the most impressive player on display.
He beat West End’s Bruce Colgan 21-6 in the final of the men’s competition, which was sponsored by Harcourts Team Green.
Atkinson and Huwyler now hold seven Taranaki titles each.
Atkinson’s second-straight victory in the women’s event in the end became very heavy work but still got across the line. She led 13-0 after six ends in the final, and the game appeared to be heading for a quick conclusion.
Atkinson seemed comfortable holding an 18-10 lead before Cottam climbed back into it. A four on the 23rd end made the score 19-17 to Atkinson.
Cottam then took three successive singles to hit the front.
Atkinson, on a loose final head, held one shot and with her last delivery trailed the jack 1m to one of her other bowls to score a two.
In the semifinals, Atkinson eliminated her mother, Tina Atkinson-watt (Paritutu), and Cottam beat Jill Forbes (Inglewood), both with 21-12 scorelines.
Huwyler had excellent touch in the men’s decider against Colgan. He led 6-3 early, and four ends later that had become 13-3. Drawing a high percentage of close bowls, including a number of touchers, Huwyler wrapped up the title in 16 ends.
Earlier, Huwyler beat West End’s Craig
De Faria 21-11, while Colgan took a 21-15 win in the semifinals over Paritutu’s Dean Elgar, ending Elgar’s hopes of a three-peat.
Huwyler will represent Whanganui this week in the New Zealand intercentre competition, which starts tomorrow in Wellington.
The other three men’s semifinalists are part of the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki side for the event.
De Faria skips the four, which also comprises Colgan, Kurt Smith and Steve Walker. Elgar skips Aidan Zittersteijn in the pairs, with Darren Goodin in the singles.
In the women’s side, Atkinson plays the singles, with Alethea Rowlands and Chris Commane in the pairs. Gale Fache’s four also includes Atkinson-watt, Lesley Te Awa and Jackie Moeahu.
Meanwhile, high praise was heaped upon the Manaia club during the weekend when the club held a two-day men’s fours tournament to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
A mammoth 32 teams packed into the one-green club to acknowledge the efforts of yesteryear and the current state of the club with its top-shelf green and facilities.
During the tournament, 2006 Dominion fours runner-up Allan Stewart skipped his side of Colin Young, Glenn Newton and Matthew Watson to victory.
Quinton St Leger Reeves’ well-played lead bowls took a West End team to second place, while Mark Dudley’s Hāwera Park team was third, with prizes being paid down to 10th position.