All four players were confident of doing well after their Gold Coast performances and this was reflected in their reaching the semifinals and just missing out on a place in the finals.
Teams needed to win at least four games out of six. Losing their first game in section play — against nationally ranked skip Sue Hodges and her team from Tauranga — made the task for Bunn’s team even harder.
However, they won their next four games relatively easily, which boosted their confidence for post-section play.
These results included a 28-12 win against a top Hawke’s Bay four skipped by Jackie Morgan and a 24-9 victory over the well-performed Paula Meredith’s Wellington team.
The first game in post-section play — against Mere Fryer’s Manawatū team — brought out the best in Bunn’s four. They dug deep to get home 21-17 in a tight match.
Next up were experienced North Harbour opponents skipped by Estelle Hickey, a sister of top Auckland player Linda Ralph.
Bunn's four won 20-12.
In the quarterfinals they were up against last year’s winners, skipped by women’s bowling great Val Smith.
The spectators were looking forward to a close match but Bunn’s team raised their game again, winning 19-10 and dashing the Smith team’s hopes of back-to-back titles.
In a semifinal the next day, Bunn’s team were up against a Wellington combination skipped by New Zealand representative Dale Rayner.
In an 18-end thriller, the teams were locked at 13-all, and an extra end was required.
Rayner’s team held the advantage during this end but Bunn, with the last bowl of the game, had a chance of shifting the shot bowl.
Her drive missed the scoring bowl by a millimetre, and Rayner’s team were in the final.
Bunn, Noble and Kahutia’s Mills and Nepia had the consolation of a well-deserved bronze medal for their third-equal placing.
They made a name for themselves and brought great credit to their clubs and centres.
Rayner’s side won the final 26-4, a margin that served to accentuate the quality of the Bunn team’s semifinal performance.
