A huge weekend of bowls for the Ryman Healthcare Men’s Triples and Women’s Singles.

Congratulations to Linda Ralph – Carlton Cornwall Bowls on winning the Women’s Singles title in a great match against Ling Qu – St Heliers.

Ralph’s road to the final began Saturday at Blockhouse Bay, with three straight wins to take out her section with 9pts and although not needed, 42 NTOS the highest for the day across the competition! On to post section at Headquarters and home club Carlton Cornwall Bowls, Ralph’s first match of the day was against Gail Clark – Pt Chevalier, Ralph led right from the get-go – but by the ninth end there was just two points in it – unfortunately for Clark this was the closest she got, with Ralph putting an unanswered 15pts on the board in just five ends – taking the win 21-6. Quarter Finals saw Ralph take on fellow club-mate Liz Badenhorst, Badenhorst was first on the board, but in the third end, Ralph once again took off and ran away with the win 21-8. The Semifinal Ralph faced another club-mate and last season’s Singles Champion Ashleigh Jeffcoat. Ralph again led from the start with Jeffcoat just not able to find her earlier form. Ralph taking the win 21-11 and her spot in the Final.

Ling Qu our other finalist, also had a good run in section play with three straight wins. With her final game of the day a closely fought match with New Lynn’s Rachael Hancock 21-19. Qu’s first round of Post Section had her face Pt Chevalier’s Jenny Jones, past winner of the Women’s Premier Open Singles and what a game – neck-and -neck throughout – it could have gone either way. Qu taking the match 21-18 in the twentieth end. Qu’s quarter final was against the on-form Chelsea Farley – Balmoral, a solid and steady performance by Qu, saw her take the match 21-9 in the twenty third end. The semi-final between Qu and Te Atatu Peninsula’s Lauren Mills was an epic match by these two very talented bowlers – going to twenty-seven ends, it looked like Mills had it in the bag, but the ever-consistent Qu did not concede and came from behind to take the match 21-20.

The Final saw both women face their fourth game of the day, two very talented and evenly matched women, with a very big task ahead. They did not disappoint, the spectators at Carlton Cornwall were treated to an exceptional game of bowls, with both players incredibly skilled draw bowlers. Qu kicked the scoring on the first end, but from there it was just about bowl-for-bowl! All tied up in the sixth, fifteenth, nineteenth and twenty-third ends. Very tough work for our marker Lauren Mills, who did an amazing job – our Chief Umpire Jeanette Sinclair was called upon on more than one occasion for a close measure – the temperature dropped, and our women battled through – every bowl counting! Ralph taking the match 21-17 and our amazing finalists and spectators all treated to a sit-down and well-deserved drink.

Our Men’s Triples was also an exciting tournament. Many upsets in section-play – with last year’s champs not playing and the runners-up not finding form – the competition was wide open. Our semi-finals were both exceptional games. The match between Pt Chevalier Pirates and the Mangere Mako’s came down to the last end and had the spectators at Carlton Cornwall on the edge of their seats – the match going to the Pirates 16-14. In the other Semi it was close neighbours New Lynn and Blockhouse Bay play another exciting game, with the end score not reflecting the closeness of the match. We look forward to seeing Blockhouse Bay and Pt Chevalier playing the finals on a later date.

Many thanks to Carlton Cornwall Bowls for being our headquarters – their hospitality and greens – the players on both days were very well looked after by the amazing team in the kitchen and very well supported in the Women’s Singles by their markers.

Thanks to all our competitors for your participation – to our Chief Umpire Jeanette Sinclair, to all our host club and Umpires.

Looking forward to the Pairs Saturday week!