Bowls: Wrack nails his 11th Northland singles title

The Centre Open Championship Singles were completed at the weekend. Eighteen men and eight women qualified after section play on Saturday and five different greens. The weather played its part on Sunday and green conditions changed several times throughout the day's play.

The winners of this event will represent Northland in the National Club Championships to be played at the Onerahi greens from March 11-15.

The women's competition was completed in three rounds, with Ann Halls of Onerahi Club defeating Diane Lawrence of the Arapohue Club 21-11 in the final. This was a reversal of the day before when they met in section play where Lawrence came out the winner by the same score.

Quarter-finals: D. Lawrence bt A. Muir (Kensington) 21-14; M. Jones (Arapohue) bt D. Strawbridge (Kensington) 21-1; P. Murray (Kensington) bt L. Mils (Kensington) 21-11; A. Halls bt S. Wightman (Mangawhai) 21-18.

Semifinals: Lawrence bt Jones 21-14; Halls bt Murray 21-14.

Final: Halls bt Lawrence 21-11.

This was a first Centre Singles title for Halls.

Men's section results saw Wayne Wrack (Waipu) defeat Peter Dorreen (Hikurangi) by 21-13. The score was 13-3 to Wrack after eight ends in the race to 21 shots. Although Dorreen pegged the score back to 15-11 after 13 ends, Wrack continued to score on five of the last six ends to win the match and his 11th Northland singles title.

The semifinals and final were played in drizzling rain and although the green was not under water, the weather played its part in slowing the green down and making conditions very sticky for the final.

Round 1: L. Thorburn (Kensington) bt J. Dunn (Onerahi) 21-13; A. Trimmer (Kamo) bt T. Mooney (Maungaturoto) 21-7.

Round 2: D. Brewster (Hikurangi) bt I. Halls (Onerahi) 21-18; R. Bowmar (Onerahi) bt D. Cameron (Hikurangi) 21-16; P. Dorreen (Hikurangi) bt G. Bond (Kensington) 21-9; S. Nelson (Hikurangi) bt G. Mulligan (Mangawhai) 21-7; S. Smith (Whangarei) bt C. Van Haaften (Onerahi) 21-17; W. Wrack bt D. Dickison (Hikurangi) 21-11; S. Reesby (Kensington) bt A. Rakich (Dargaville) 21-19; J. Thorburn bt A. Trimmer 21-15.

Round 3: Brewster bt Bowmar 21-20; Dorreen bt Nelson 21-13; Wrack bt Smith 21-16; Thorburn bt Ressby 21-16;

Round 4: Dorreen bt Brewster 21-15; Wrack bt Thorburn 21-10.

Final: Wrack bt Dorreen 21-13.

Reminder

Entries close for the Executive Fours tomorrow. Many clubs have not yet bothered to enter their teams. Please contact Gwen by either phone or email to register your entries.

Best of luck

This weekend many Northlanders are away playing in the New Zealand Maori Bowls Tournament in Rotorua. After the success of last year's tournament played at Onerahi, players will be looking forward to another great event this year.

Simond Reesby and Lauren Mills will also be away this weekend competing in the Challenge trophy representing the Northern Region.

May we wish you all success.