BOWLS - North teams show 'em how it should be done

With Garry Houlahan
Great news from the representative weekend in Auckland. Both the women's Open and Academy teams plus the men's Academy team won their respective regional finals and qualified for the national final in Palmerston North at the beginning of April.
Saturday's play was affected by the weather and all games were played on artificial surfaces, while Sunday's games were back on grass.
The women's teams both scored 14 match points to be clear-cut winners of their competitions, with Auckland runners up in both events.
In the men's Academy section Auckland, North Harbour and Northland were all equal on 10 match points and it came down to a count back on set points.
Northland had 11 set points, Auckland 10 set points and North Harbour 9 set points, which made Northland the winners.
The men's Open had a similar result, with Auckland and North Harbour all square and requiring a count back to find the winner. Auckland took this out by a narrow margin and will go on to Palmerston North.
* Great day in store
Those Academy players who were successful on the weekend can look forward to another challenging day on Sunday with the Yovich & Co sponsored "any combination" triples to be played at Bowls Whangarei.
There is $1000 prize money up for grabs and a lunch is to be laid on for all players.
If you have not already entered, contact Paul Yovich on 021 829 339 and put a team in.
* Regional finals begin
Wednesday sees the start of the regional finals of the NZ Community Trust events with the Mixed Pairs, followed by the Singles on Thursday, Pairs on Friday, Triples on Saturday and Fours on Sunday.
All the participants will have won their way through by winning their own centre championship, so all the top players will be on display.
Make sure you get along.
* Fixture postponed
Saturday's shocking weather put paid to Bowls Whangarei's annual Life Members A/C Triples and the decision was made early to pull the plug.
The club have applied for a weekend date at the beginning of May, so you will not have to miss out on this popular event.
Contact Garry Whitham or the club for details of the new arrangements.
* Greens both full
The Bowls Northland Coaching Association held its annual tournament at Kamo last Friday and managed to attract two full greens.
Prizes were awarded for both greens and on the Kamo Women's green the winners were Onerahi's Sophie Anderson, Bill Starkie and Therese Matthews with 4 wins, 25 ends and 61 points.
Second went to Charlie Jellick, Raewyn Jellick and Peter Urlich from Maungakaramea with 3 wins, 23 ends and 51 points while third were Kensington's Shirley Holland, Phyllis Holmes and Maureen Proctor with 3 wins, 19 ends and 37 points.
On the Kamo Men's greens the win went to June Wilson, Shirley de Vries and Judy Whelan with 3 wins, 22 ends and 47 points, second spot to Kensington's Robin Sowerby, Stan Callagher and Joan Erceg who had 3 wins, 26 ends and 58 points and third to Kensington's Shona Andrews, Claire Appleton and Beth Gribble with 3 wins, 17 ends and 45 points.
There were also consolation prizes for each green and on the ladies' green a One Tree Point team of first year bowlers in D McGregor, C Williams and W McGregor managed to win a prize for their efforts of 0 wins, 9 ends and 17 points. Good to see them having a go and, as the more experienced bowlers will know, you lose far more than you win over your career.
Consolation for the men's green went to an Onerahi team of Val Reed, Trudi Beamish and Jean Roxburgh who managed 1 win, 12 ends and 17 points.
The overall winner of the trophy was Onerahi's Sophie Anderson, Bill Starkie and Therese Matthews.
* Regional competition
Sunday week sees the playing of the second round of the regional 1-5 year competition at Waipu.
The first round was played in October and the final round will sort out just who are the top 1-5 year players in the region.
I have been involved in the running of this event for many years and it never ceases to amaze me just how much talent there is among these bowlers who have had so little experience.
It is well worth a trip out there to see them perform.