Heat goes on title contenders
The Cooper’s Beach and Kaitaia RSA clubs secured the latest Bowls Far North Centre titles up for grabs last weekend.
The Centre 1-8 Singles championships for men and women saw a total of 12 bowlers contesting the two titles at Cooper’s Beach on Saturday and Sunday.
Finals day on Sunday began in cloudy conditions but soon warmed up with the uncomfortable heat making it very tough to achieve consistency which turned proceedings into very interesting day for all involved, noted Centre commentator Bunty Barron in her report from the two days of play
Shirley Marr (Cooper’s Beach) won the women’s final after beating Linda Fowlie (Opononi) by 21-13 to claim her first centre title. Fowlie had taken one of Marr’s lives after winning a very close game 21-19 earlier in the day to set up an intense final between two very talented and evenly matched juniors, Barron said.
“Both players were fully focused and showed their determination to win in a very close scoring final but towards the end, tiredness proved to be the factor for Linda due to the heat and she seemed to have lost her way.
With that, Shirley just kept on with her consistent draw bowling to win.”
Others to qualify from day one, alongside Marr as the only two-lifer, were her clubmate Lindy Beaver and Razia Wrigley (RSA), both one lifers like Fowlie.
The men’s title went to the RSA’s Don Lilly who emerged victorious from a field of eight players by beating Kerikeri’s John Upperton 21-18 in a final. Barron said the pair were “neck-and-neck” throughout in an intense battle before Lilly played the perfect two bowls to claim the title.
Three players advanced to the second day’s play, the other being Mike Reddy (RSA), all with one life intact.
Barron said all the games were played in the best of spirits and congratulated everyone for making it such a “great competition”.
Also thanked were host club for their hospitality, greens and facilities while the greenkeeper and kitchen ladies were acknowledged for looking after the players, supporters, markers, match control and umpires.
■ UPCOMING: The next Centre title up for grabs are the Champ of Champ singles to be held at Kerikeri this Saturday and Sunday, February 22-23.
It was also advised players will be notified when entries have been confirmed for the remaining Centre champ of champ events.