Bowls New Zealand Intercentre Results – Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 October 2022 – report by Lindsay Knight
Despite the Wendy Jensen-skipped four showing the way, North Harbour finished a disappointing fifth when the centre successfully hosted the 2021-22 national inter-centre finals at Browns Bay at the weekend.
The line-up of skip Jensen, three Lauren Mills, two Robyne Walker and lead Millie Nathan scored wins over Gisborne-East Coast and a strong Kirsteen Edwards-skipped Nelson on Sunday to add to the two wins secured on Saturday against Thames Valley and Central Otago.
The only setback for what proved a well-balanced combination was in the opening game of the six-team round-robin against Wellington.
The pair of Elaine McClintock and Theresa Rogers also won two of Saturday’s three games, but missed out to Gisborne-East Coast and Nelson on Sunday.
With an unwell Selina Goddard not quite reaching her top standard in what was an intensively competitive tournament those results were not enough to give Harbour a top three placing.
On the Saturday Selina went down to an accomplished Wellington bowler Lisa White in the opening round, then fell to Thames Valley’s and Central Otago’s representatives in games she would normally be expected to win.
But she was more her true self in Sunday’s final two rounds, withstanding a late comeback from Gisborne-East Coast’s player to win and then in the final game provided one of the highlights of the weekend.
She and the great Jo Edwards, from Nelson, another not at her best on Saturday with two surprise defeats, were involved in an epic singles match which confirmed their international class.
After 30 ends Jo won 25-24 and such was the quality of the contest there was no dishonour in this heart-breaking defeat. Selina held the game at 23-19 when she had what could have been two winning bowls. But with her last bowls Jo knocked one of the bowls out to reduce the score to 24-19 and continued her recovery to snatch the one-shot win.
A surprise win in the final round by Thames Valley over Wellington meant the small Central Otago centre finished first in the women’s competition, just ahead of Wellington and Nelson, which also had another great in Val Smith, skipping its pair. Thames Valley slipped ahead of Harbour for fourth, with Harbour heading off only Gisborne-East Cost.
A rousing men’s singles final round match, between Auckland’s Mike Galloway and Wellington’s Sean Curtain, also ended in a 25-24 cliff-hanger in Galloway’s favour. That gave the title to Auckland, with Wellington joining its women’s team in having to settle for the runner-up prize. Marlborough finished third, Hawke’s Bay fourth. Southland fifth and Bay of Plenty sixth.