Centre Fours competitions decide championship semifinalists

It was a lovely sunny weekend for Bowls Wanganui to hold their Centre Fours competitions for both men and women.

The victorious semifinalists will now play off for the titles at the end of the season, when all the centre championships will be decided, on the weekend of March 16-17.

Men’s section play on Saturday saw teams having to win three out of four games to qualify, and heading into the last round there were 11 teams still in the hunt for a place in post-section.

However, in what was a closely contested round, only five qualifiers made it through to Sunday.

These teams were: Kevin Burney (s), Allen Springer, Michael O’Leary, Anthony Hanna (Wanganui BC); Cary Pinker (s), Peter Head, Peter Raymond, Warrick Pinker (Wanganui East); Keith Schultz (s), Ron Hutchinson, Ray Wilson, Alan Raisin (Aramoho BC); Phil Corney (s), Gavin Scrivener, Selwyn Prescott, Brendon Kenny (Aramoho), and Clint Park (s), Ray Park, Bernard Anderson, Alan Dickson (Wanganui BC).

In the only quarter-final match needed, Park’s team beat Burney’s 19-6.

The semifinals saw Corney’s Aramoho beat Pinker’s Wanganui East 15-9, then Park’s team beat Schultz’s Aramoho 17-9.

The Corney and Park teams will meet in the final in March.

In the only women’s section, three teams secured the three wins they needed to advance to postsection play.

These teams were: Pam Burgess (s), Dot Belliss, Denise Taylor, Debbie Wildermoth (Wanganui BC); Dianne Patterson (s), Lesley Bourke, Eleni Meimaris, Karen Hunt (Wanganui BC), and Marlene Foster (s), Judy Johnston, Eileen Anderson, Joan Raymond (Wanganui East).

In the only semifinal required, Patterson’s team won the match-up of Wanganui BC against Burgess’ team 16-10.

Foster’s team will take on Patterson’s in March.

Ray Park and Diane Patterson will now appear in two finals that weekend — the Centre fours and mixed pairs.