Kensington emerge victors after fighting bowl for bowl

The Centre Fours were completed after a  3 hour, 45 minute men's marathon final.
 After 18 ends, the scores were tied  15 all and an extra end was replayed twice to get a result.
The final on Sunday pitted  Colin Wintle, Chris Gore, Gerry Mulligan and Charlie Shepherd (Mangawhai)  against Ken Fitness, Mike Butler, Mark DeLacey and Joe Thorburn (Kensington).
Wintle went out to a 6-0 lead after three, Fitness came back to be 10 all after 11 and Wintle stretched out to a 15-11 lead after 15. Then the fightback began by the Kensington team. One point was scored on the 16th and 17th ends to make it 15-13 to Wintle going into the last end.
A good crowd  supported  Mangawhai  and became very vocal as, bowl for bowl, the shot on the head changed.
On the last end, Kensington  needed two shots to draw. The Mangawhai lead wasn't having a bar of that and placed his two bowls around the jack. It took five drives from the Kensington lead, two and three before the head was rattled by the  No 3 Mike Butler.
His bowl ended up the shot after his drive removed every other bowl  from the green, but  it was still a metre away. It was then over to the skips and Wintle drew the shot about a foot away. Fitness drew inside this for shot, Wintle was narrow and slightly short with his second. Fitness then drew inside his own shot to score two and force the extra end. And what an end.
 Players were bowl for bowl and when Wintle played his last bowl he moved the jack slightly to hold one shot. Fitness then drove and killed the end. The replay saw Wintle once again trail the jack, this time to hold two shots. Once again, Fitness drove and both shot bowls were removed leaving Fitness in charge. Wintle had to change his hand and attempted to draw but missed cutting across the front of the head and falling short.  Kensington  won the
game 16-15.
This was a 10th centre title and second gold star for  Butler, a 13th centre title for  DeLacey, ninth title for  Fitness and 11th  for  Thorburn.
In the semifinals, Fitness defeated Tom Webb (Arapohue) 11-10 and Colin Wintle defeated Tom Chapman (Whangarei) 16-6.
In the women's final, Diane Lawrence, Marney Jones, Lyn Nash and Leanne Stewart (Arapohue) met Maureen Parker, Helen Pike, Noeline Lewin and Jude Ganley (Kensington).
This game was 5-2 to Lawrence after five ends, 12-6 after 12 ends. Parker then fought back to make it 12-10 to Lawrence after 14 ends. On the 16th end, Lawrence was holding two shots, both sitting on the jack. Parker drove and put the jack in the ditch for two shots. Lawrence missed the chance to draw the shot with her last bowl. Then on the 17th end two shots to Lawrence and one scored on the last gave her team the win, 17-12.
Quarter final saw Parker defeat Sue Wightman, 13-4.
Semifinals saw Maureen Parker defeat Ann Muir (last years winner) 19-6 and Diane Lawrence defeat Pat Warth 17-7.
This win earned Diane Lawrence and her daughter Leanne Stewart their second centre titles, a first for Lyn Nash and a fifth centre title for Marney Jones, who had won four titles out of North Harbour Centre.
Around the Clubs
Dargaville Women Junior Singles result: Jeanette Masters 8; Jenny Mayall 7. An extra end was required to find a winner.
Kamo Bowling Club Men and Women: Championship Fours - Men: 1st - Ned Yovich/Dave Kerr/Alistair Robinson/Brian Trimmer (two lives); 2nd - Peter Strong/Graham Morris/Gilbert Howarth/Noel Wech.
Women: 1st - Shirley Henderson/Pam Brewster/Jill Strong/Joan Burgess; 2nd - Eileen Riceman/Pat Culley/Pat Bourke/ Baree Zouch.
Well done
Congratulations to Sue Wightman, winner of Kaipara Sportsperson of the Year award. Sue had a great season culminating in a New Zealand national title, as well as representing New Zealand in the World Singles Finals where she finished fifth.
Reminder
Centre Pairs entries close at 5pm today.