Katikati bowlers take out Bay champs

Bowls BOP Champ of Champ Fours winners from left Helen Board, Robyn Johnston, Kath Osborne and Anne Newson.

Patience paid off for four Katikati bowlers who took out the Bowls Bay of Plenty Champion of Champions fours title at Taupo, March 8-10.

After winning the Katikati Bowling Club's fours championship Kath Osborne (director), Anne Newson (skip), Helen Board (lead) and Robyn Johnston (2) went on to play champions from 16 other bowling clubs from Taupo to Whakatane. The women lost only one match during the tournament.

Day one saw wins against Whakatane 23-13, Rotorua East 18-7 and Omanu 15-14. Day two the women beat Ngongataha 18-12, had a bye and played Ngongataha again to be beaten 21-4. With one life left on day three the team came up against tough challengers in the finals - beating Tauranga South 17-12 and Ngongataha 19-13.

Playing against Ngongataha champion Mina Paul, who holds numerous Centre titles, New Zealand title holder Marilyn McLeod of Omanu and Raewyn Willis and Robyn Davis, did not daunt them. The local bowlers were proud to have beaten a strong Ngongataha side twice - a team that drove them hard.

Kath said they talked to one another and told each other, "to be patient, keep our cool and we can do it".

Kath has been playing bowls for 41 years and credits the sport for saving her life earlier on. She has played at Katikati for 21 years and says, "the tougher they are the better - it lifts your game".

"We wanted to do our best - and we did," she said.

Helen said they went in as the underdogs.

"Who would have thought when we left that we would come home having won it," Robyn added.

"Being a small club members from Omokoroa, Papamoa and Taupo clubs stayed on to support us."

Anne Newson believes playing consistently helped them to win the title. The last Centre title claimed by women at the club was for the triples.

The four successful bowlers will be presented a trophy and centre title bar at the Centre Honours Day in Rotorua on May 4.