The Reserve Day proved the ticket as clear skies welcomed top contenders to Howick for the much-awaited post-section matches. After a rain-induced delay from the previous week, the Men returned with zeal for their quarter-final clashes. Alas, it saw the end of the road for Balmoral, East Tāmaki, Royal Oak, and the hosts Howick.
The excitement escalated with the Women and Any Combination divisions joining the fray as the semi-finals rolled on. In the Men’s contest, Pt Chevalier Pirates triumphed 7-1 over Blockhouse Bay, while Auckland Originals secured their final spot with a 6-3 victory against Mt Albert Lions in a fierce semi-final.
Men’s Final drama:
The Men’s Final was an intense battle. The Auckland Originals Pair took an early substantial lead, putting pressure on Pt Chev’s Singles and Pairs. Fraser Young, Pt Chev’s newest recruit from Scotland, demonstrated his skill and quick adaptation to New Zealand’s playing conditions. Despite Jamie Hill’s efforts, the match was intensely close. In the final moments, with Auckland Originals leading in the Fours by a single shot, Jamie secured the Singles win and the match for Auckland Bowling Club.
Women’s Final triumph:
It was an all-round Carlton Cornwall Women’s Final – its Gold team vs its Black. Linda Ralph, coming off a recent national Fours victory, had a formidable challenge from Janine Browne. Ralph pulled ahead to secure a 21-14 win with the Blick and Hickey duo showing their experience, securing the Pairs win. CCB’s Black Fours bucked the trend with a decisive win, 19-10.
Any Combination played with heart:
The Any Combination category delivered some unexpected matchups, with Glendowie facing Papatoetoe Hunters Corner and Mt Albert taking on Balmoral. Papatoetoe emerged victorious in a challenging match against Glendowie, securing a 9-0 win to advance to the Final. A heartwarming feature was Glendowie’s Colin O’Brien leading the Pairs – competing against Papatoetoe’s Avi Padayachi, 70+ years his junior! Papatoetoe displayed dominant performances in the Final to secure the title against Balmoral.
Congratulations to Papatoetoe Hunters Corner for their Any Combination category win. And, the best of luck to Auckland Originals and Carlton Cornwall as they represent the Auckland region and their club in the upcoming Nationals.
Molecheck:
We extend our sincere gratitude to Molecheck for their invaluable support as our naming rights sponsor. Molecheck is a New Zealand-owned company with a team of doctors who specialise in detecting melanoma and other skin cancers and aim to keep Kiwis safe whilst enjoying the hobbies they love – including bowls!
Their generous offer of a 22% discount on full examinations for Auckland club members and their donation of two full mole check examinations as spot prizes exemplify their dedication to promoting skin health. Congratulations to the lucky winners, Jane Field and Jeanine Browne.
For more information on the services provided by Molecheck or to book an appointment, visit www.molecheck.co.nz or call 0800 Molecheck.
As always, we greatly appreciate all the efforts and contributions from the host clubs, their volunteers and the officials who have generously given their time to make an event like the Molecheck 7s a success – thank you.
Resit;s:
Use the following links to find out the full results
