What a weekend! Bowls Auckland Centre Finals Weekend wasn’t just a competition—it was a celebration of everything we love about bowls: skill, passion, camaraderie, club and community spirit. From the nail-biting games and the aroma of sizzling sausages to the enthusiastic supporters lining the greens, it was a weekend filled with special moments.
Standout moments included
- Jordana Franich (Carlton Cornwall) and Mark Posa (Mt Albert) claiming their first Centre titles.
- Helen Blick (Carlton Cornwall) and Kevin Dixon (Royal Oak) earned their fifth Centre title, securing a prestigious gold star.
- Nicole Singer’s remarkable two victories in two days.
Wrap-up summary
Women’s Fours – Golden Glory for Carlton Cornwall!
It was clubmate against clubmate in a black-and-gold showdown at the Women’s Auckland Fours Final! Estelle Hickey, Jordana Franich, Clara Bowman, and Helen Blick triumphed 20-11 over Linda Ralph, Jo Cheng, Lisa Appleyard, and Penny Yam.
Men’s Fours – A nail-biter
In a thrilling finale, Royal Oak’s Kevin Dixon, Peter Thorne, Danny Delany, and John Carruthers edged past Mt Albert’s Teo Turua, Nick Thompson, Taiki Paniani, and Mark Posa by a single point, 13-12.
Women’s Pairs – Back-to-back win
Royal Oak’s Rima Strickland and Nicole Singer achieved a stellar back-to-back title win, defeating St Heliers’ Catherine Bien and Angela Longney 21-14.
Men’s Pairs – Fitting finale
In an exhilarating final, Mt Albert’s Nick Thompson and Mark Posa delivered when it mattered most, securing the title 19-12 against a tenacious Pale Luka and Peni Panapa from Papatoetoe.
1-5 Women’s Pairs – Rockets rivalry
The scoreboard only tells part of the story. Royal Oak, fondly called ‘The Rockets,’ showcased true camaraderie. While Rebecca Brosnan and Loretta Ross put up a valiant fight, the mother-daughter duo of Nicole and Lee Singer claimed victory with a 17-9 win.
A massive thank-you to Carlton Cornwall Bowls for hosting, President Gerard for his umpiring expertise, greenkeeper Patrick for the pristine greens, and Jess for ensuring the club ran smoothly.
Kudos to WSL for bringing the excitement to a wider audience with live streaming, supported by a commentary team of Brendon Walton, Peter Thorne, and Steve Fisher.
To all the players, volunteers, and supporters—thank you for making this event such a success. Let’s carry this incredible energy into the new year. Here’s to many more exciting competitions in 2025!
👉To view live-streamed matches
