Mt Albert Celebrates at the BNH Open 2-4-2 Pairs
The Bowls North Harbour Open 2-4-2 Any Combination Pairs wrapped up on Saturday after two weekends of high-quality winter bowls. Hosted primarily on the greens at Manly Bowling Club across June 13, 14, and 20, the tournament’s unique 2-4-2 format—where players swap between lead and skip duties within the same end—kept spectators guessing and players on their toes from the first delivery to the last.
While host club Manly put on a dominant showing by filling three of the four semi-final spots in the Main Championship, it was the visiting Mt Albert combinations who proved to be the ultimate party poopers.
Main Championship: A Last-End Thriller
The knockout stages delivered exceptionally accurate drawing and tactical positioning, culminating in a classic Auckland vs. North Harbour showdown in the final.
The Semi-Finals
Tony Grantham & Zoran Bartulovich (Mt Albert) faced Manly’s Helen Briant and Bruce Shirley. After five ends, the scores were locked tight at 5-all, but the Mt Albert duo found another gear in the closing stages to book their final spot with a 10–6 victory.
Shaun Goldsbury & Skye Renes (Manly) kept the local hopes alive in the second semi-final. Taking on another strong Mt Albert pair in Colin Ayris-Webster and Hitesh Ranchhod, the Manly duo put on a clinic to run away with a comprehensive 11–3 win.
The Final: Down to the Wire
The final between Goldsbury/Renes and Grantham/Bartulovich was an absolute classic with nothing separating the two teams. The Manly pair held a slim 6–4 advantage after seven ends, but shots were traded fiercely over the subsequent ends, leaving the scoreboard deadlocked at 9-all heading into the 12th and final end.
The final end was a cracker. Almost every bowl delivered had a chance to alter the outcome in a high-pressure head. Ultimately, it was Mt Albert who clutched the deciding shot, taking the title with a 10–9 victory.
Huge congratulations to Tony Grantham and Zoran Bartulovich on a fantastic tournament!
Plate Event: Bay Pair Takes the Prize
The Plate tournament provided a second life for teams moving out of the main draw, ensuring a full, competitive schedule of matches across the two weekends.
The title went down the highway to Bay of Plenty, with the Mount Maunganui pairing of Nathan Arlidge and Malina Laloli navigating a tough knockout field to claim the silverware.
Plate Finals Results
Semi-Final 1: Nathan Arlidge & Malina Laloli (Mt Maunganui) def. Aaron White & Max Yates (8–4)
Semi-Final 2: Matt Berry & Lindsay Gilmore def. Steve Cox & Brian Wilson (9–8)
Grand Final: Nathan Arlidge & Malina Laloli (Mt Maunganui) def. Matt Berry & Lindsay Gilmore (11–8)
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Host Appreciations
Bowls North Harbour extends its sincere thanks to Mahurangi East, Hobsonville, Mairangi Bay, and Manly bowling clubs for providing excellent greens and facilities throughout qualifying and finals play. Special thanks also go to the umpires and club volunteers whose hard work behind the scenes keeps our regional events running smoothly.
For the complete section tables and match-by-match scorecards, head over to the official BowlsHub Aotearoa platform.