KEY POINTS:
Discarded national representative Marina Khan and ever-consistent North Aucklander Sue Wightman will fight out the final for the women's singles title on Friday at the National Open Championships at Pakuranga.
Both enjoyed comfortable winning margins after initially tough tussles in their semifinals yesterday and, no matter who wins the final, a new name will appear on the women's singles trophy.
Khan has won a World Championship bronze medal, a Commonwealth Games bronze, an Asia-Pacific gold and three previous New Zealand Open titles but she has never snared the singles prize.
She finished her semifinal clash with Feona Sayles (Northern) with a flourish, scoring four on the final end to finish the game in a hurry. It was not a pretty head though and the fact that bowls were scattered widely didn't allow Sayles to drive at the shot bowls.
Previously Sayles (Northern) had finally brought the brave run of 17-year-old Nelson schoolgirl Amy Brenton to an end but, before her 21-17 defeat in the quarters, Brenton had impressed everyone - including the national selectors - with her exceptional talent.
Perhaps the boilover in the women's results was the semifinal loss by Serena Matthews (Elmwood) to Wightman, a very capable Hakaru bowler. Matthews had strung together some impressive winning margins in previous days and beaten Waikato's tough Jan Malcolm 21-12, in her quarter-final.
But, with Wightman drawing superbly, Matthews couldn't quite continue her golden run, dropping a three on the second last end before Wightman clinched her place in the final 21-14.
Matthews had led 13-8 halfway through but failed to score on the last four ends, with Wightman opening the surprisingly wide winning margin.
One of the men's pairs finalists, Matt Gallop of Eastbourne, must be pinching himself to make sure the last month hasn't been a dream. He showed outstanding form to win the New Zealand Open singles in December and now, after a massive 19-3 win in yesterday's semifinal against Mike Nasey of Oakuranga, he's on target for a possible National Open title.
Gallop, who has played for New Zealand at development level in the Transtasman series, admits he's never played better in his life.
"I've changed my bowls and they seem to suit me a lot better," he said.
"Obviously the Open was awesome and I had to play pretty well in the semi and final. The form started getting better and better - your confidence grows, your intensity level picks up."
Gallop and his equally talented lead, Chris Le Lievre of Onehunga, have never played together before but their slaughter of Nasey was almost a perfect example of pairs bowls.
For his final opponent, fellow Wellingtonian Rob Ashton, a National Open title would also be a first. Ashton's last shot at an Open title was three years ago in Dunedin when he was beaten in the pairs final by Johnsonville clubmate Brendon Gibson and he doesn't intend to let this chance go.
Ashton and lead Ray Boffa shut Richard Girvan and Ali Forsyth out of their semifinal, with Ashton's driving being of the highest quality.
It was fitting his last shot - a drive - sealed the 19-10 result, with an end to play.
