BOWLS - Mills, Franklin triumph as juniors' singles events decided

With Garry Houlahan
CENTRE Junior Singles were finalised at Kamo during the weekend, with Lauren Mills and John Franklin emerging the winners of their respective competitions.
In the women's event, nine players qualified for post-section play. In the last four, Mills, from Kensington, defeated Ann Halls (Onerahi) 20-19, while Margaret Gurney (Kensington) just beat clubmate Amy Burgess 18-16. The early ends were close in the final, but Mills drew away to emerge the winner, 21-16.
The men's event had 13 qualifiers. In the semis, Paul Yovich (Whangarei) beat Brett Robinson, from Maungaturoto, 21-17, while Franklin, from Onerahi, needed an extra end to beat Mangawhai's Neville Franks after it had been tied 18-18 at the end of the two-hour time limit. The final went to Franklin, with a good exhibition of draw play, 21-15.
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Champion of Champion Singles is the main event on the calendar this weekend, featuring the men at Kensington and the women at Kamo. There has been a venue change for the women. The contest was originally set down for Mt Manaia but, with 18 entries, the event required a two-green venue. Kamo Bowling Club is the new venue. Men's draw: Paparoa - bye, Waipu v Ngunguru, Mamaranui v One Tree Point, Onerahi v Dargaville, Mt Manaia v Kamo, Leigh v Maungaturoto, Hikurangi v Maungatapere, Mangawhai v Whangarei RSA, Whangarei v Arapohue, Maungakaramea v Kensington.
Surprisingly, John Dunn and Alan Rakich, arguably Northland's best singles players, are drawn to clash in the first round. It should be a cracker.
Women's draw: Arapohue v Hakaru, Dargaville v Mt Manaia, One Tree Point v Whangarei, Maungakaramea v Ngunguru, Paparoa v Mamaranui, Waipu v Onerahi, Kensington v Ruawai, Maungaturoto v Hikurangi, Kamo v Maungatapere.
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Northland Kittyhawks finally managed to get their second charity day of the season played on Monday after two false starts because of bad weather. Even this day had its problems, with play being abandoned after three games because of rain. The day still managed to raise $1500 for North Haven Hospice.
The winners of the bowls were a Mangawhai team skipped by Colin Neal, with One Tree Point coming in second under the command of Des McLean. Leigh were third, with skip Peter Manuel.
This club does marvellous work throughout Northland in raising funds for worthwhile organisations.
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The Arapohue Bowling Club are to hold their Ken Bradley Memorial triples this weekend and, as usual, have been active in getting teams from far and wide to become involved.
The draw is: Section A (at Arapohue & Ruawai): D. Clements (Arapohue), W. Webb (Arapohue), J. Jamieson (Whangarei), T. Ker (Dargaville), E. Pattillo (Kensington), E. Bradley (Sponsor), M. Thurston (Ruawai), G. Moran (Putaruru), P. Hood (Te Atatu), R. Talbot (Okahu Bay), K. Robinson (Putaruru), T. Witika (Okahu Bay), M. Bradley (Tauranga), N. Bell (Pt Chevalier).
Section B (at Te Kopuru and Arapohue): T. Chapman (Whangarei), A. Van Haaften (Mangawhai), W. Edgar (Onerahi), B. Horscroft (Kensington), G. Kay (Arapohue), T. Campbell (Opononi), J. Cook (Queensland), W. Kidd (Pauanui), T. Skinner (Silverdale), F. Siedel (Putaruru), B. Wilson (Tuakau), M. Stanaway (Tauranga South), K. Robinson (Manly), K. Talbot (Pt Chevalier RSA).
Section C (at Dargaville and Te Kopuru): F. Kirk (Whangarei), M. Price (Dargaville), S. Perrett (Arapohue), R. Bowmar (Onerahi), S. Foy (Arapohue), B. Wyatt (Mamaranui), G. Lydiard (Kensington), G. Slattery (Waitoa), P. Cullen (Helensville), T. Garmonsway (Opononi), G. Maunsell ((Opononi), M. Stanaway No. 2 (Tauranga South), R. Smith Bridge Park), B. Robinson ( Helensville).
Section D (at Ruawai & Dargaville): Chester (Onerahi), T. Webb (Arapohue), P. Wightman (Mangawhai), S. Neville-White (Whangarei RSA), A. Martinovich (Ruawai), T. Manga (Ruawai), S. Selak (Kawerau), P. Doreen (Kaitaia), K. Billson (Mt Wellington), M. King (Far North), S. Ford (Okahu Bay), M. Stone (Bridge Park), M. Fitzgerald (Opononi), J. Foy (Frankton Junction).
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Hikurangi Bowling Club Classic Fours on Saturday was won by a Ngunguru team entered by Bill Barnes. Robin Sowerby, from Kensington, finished in second spot, with yet another Kensington entry, Joe Thorburn, third. Sowerby went one better at Whangarei on Sunday, winning the Mixed Triples from Paul Graham, who placed second, and Dave Holwell, third.
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Tomorrow the Northland Coaching Association is holding its annual triples tournament at Kamo. It is an ``any combination' event, but no more than one skip per team and they encourage skips to include a one to five year bowler in their team. Dave Dalton will take entries on 437 7089. Please help the coaches if you can - they rely on the income from this tournament to undertake their work at your club.
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It was encouraging to see secondary school pupils playing bowls last Friday. There were more than 60 entrants and three greens were required to accommodate them. From those 60, a team will be selected to represent Northland in the regional tournament at Wellsford this year. While we all despair of bowls' future at times, such youngsters offer the sport hope.