Bowls: Convincing win ahead of international

Danny Delany in action. Photo / File

Danny Delany, from Auckland's Onehunga club, gave himself an ideal preparation for the upcoming Asia-Pacific championships when he partnered Black Jacks teammate Richard Girvan for a comfortable win in yesterday's New Zealand Open pairs bowls final at Henderson.

With Delany leading superbly, he and Girvan beat Canterbury's Alvin Gardiner and his lead, Alan Hilton, 15-5 after just 13 of the scheduled 15 ends.

Hilton, in particular, was unable to overcome the blustery wind, the tricky green and, above all, Delany's accuracy up front.

Delany and Girvan will be New Zealand's new pair for the Asia-Pacific tournament in Adelaide and Girvan agreed that playing together at Henderson, culminating in yesterday's final, had been an excellent pipe-opener.

"It was good to get our combination together," he said. "It gives us a great boost for the Asia-Pacific. Danny was outstanding and set it up for us."

Delany now has a chance of a double as he is in today's triples final.

Girvan, a product of Auckland's Okahu Bay club but now based in Newcastle in Australia, also played consistently, apart from one minor error on the 10th end that prevented an even easier win. Holding four shots, Girvan in going for a fifth with his last bowl, knocked in an opposition side bowl to cut the count to one. But by then the game's result was starting to be academic.

For Girvan yesterday's win continued the many significant results he has had at Henderson. He won the national fours title there early in 2005, which started an international career which brought him a world championship fours title at Christchurch in 2008, and won the Open singles two years ago.

Also maintaining an affinity with Henderson yesterday were two experienced members of Whangarei's Kensington club, Anne Bateman and Ann Muir, who won pairs and fours titles respectively when the nationals were held there in 2005.

With Lauren Mills, who has just graduated from junior ranks, as their lead, the Northland veterans overcame national squad members, Jan Khan, Mandy Boyd and Leanne Curry, in the women's triples final.

Waikato's Doreen Schumacher and Bev Corbett beat Thames Valley's Margaret Henderson and Doreen Garlick to win the women's pair's final, 17-7, to add to the triples successes they had in 2009-10. The win was set up when they gained a five on the fifth end.