Bowls: Men's win clearcut, women in tight tussle

Gwen Lawson rounds up bowling news.

The first-year tournament for men and women was held last weekend and it is congratulations to John Day of Mt Manaia Club and Tina Harris of Mangawhai Club, the winners.

Day was the only bowler to have four straight wins on the day finishing, with a four-win +38 shot differential.

In the women's section, the result was much closer with four players on three wins. Twelve men and eight women took part and some excellent bowls was played.

Men: 1st: John Day 4 wins, +38; 2nd: Bruce Hathaway (Mangawhai) 3 wins + 28; 3rd : Glen Wintle (Mangawhai) 3 wins + 24, 4th: Keith Blincow (Mangawhai) 3 wins +21.

Women: 1st: Tina Harris 3 wins +25; 2nd: Hiria Rata (Hikurangi) 3 wins + 16; 3rd: Ziwa Erasmus (Kensington) 3 wins + 13; 4th: Sandi Ayerst (Kensington) 3 wins + 10.

Triples entries

Centre 1-10 year any-combination triples will be held on Sunday at the Kensington greens, reporting time 8.30am.

Fourteen teams will take part in this event, a disappointing entry. Please check the centre website for team entries.

Tourney canned

The Northland Coaching Association advise their annual fundraising tournament scheduled for Kamo tomorrow has been cancelled due to lack of entries.

It was their sole fundraiser this season.

Most coaches do a great job at club and centre level and it is disappointing that players and the coaches themselves were not prepared to support the event.

Play-offs time

Next week (March 9-13) the regional club championship play-offs will be held at the Kerikeri greens in the Far North Centre.

The event starts with mixed pairs (March 9), followed by singles, pairs, triples and fours each day.

The winners of each competition will attend the New Zealand finals in the Bay of Plenty next month.

Good bowling to all players representing their clubs and the centre.

Schools change

The secondary school bowls tournament is now scheduled for March 20 and not April as advertised in the centre handbook. The April date fell in the school holidays.

Entry is through Sport Northland and your school. The event includes singles and pairs for boys and girls. Play will be at Bowls Whangarei. Reporting time is 9am, bowls start 9.30am.

Please contact your school sports co-ordinator if you wish to enter. The entry form is available on the Sport Northland website.

Few roll up

The Centre Operations committee have completed their "player forums" held throughout the centre area.

Twenty-three players attended the three forums. With 565 players competing in centre open events this year, it was disappointing to have so few attend the forums, which covered possible changes to events next season.

Was it a case of the silent majority being happy with the way events are run at centre level or simply that those who complain are happy just to do that - complain?

Like all sports, we seem to have some who are never happy.