Mt Eden’s eventful journey
The Mt Eden Bowling Club Men’s team kicked off their National COC Pairs campaign with a strong start, winning their first game against Kapiti Coast 21-8. After a bye, they narrowly defeated South Otago 15-14, concluding their first day late at 9:30 pm.
On day two, they faced the Sutton brothers, who had just come off the TV rink. Unfortunately, Mt Eden narrowly lost 16-18. This defeat led to a match against a Thames Valley team that couldn’t qualify, where Mt Eden was edged out by 3 shots, ending their chances of advancing.
Despite the disappointing outcome, we all enjoyed a Saturday night dinner at Rope & Twine, with Chris and Jordan providing much laughter. It was an opportunity for us to bid farewell to Jordan and his family, and wish them all they best as they prepare to move across the Tasman.
Playing one match at a time to victory!
Our journey was a little longer. In round one, we faced the experienced Bay of Plenty duo, skipped by NZ HP coach Gayle Melrose, and secured an 18-10 victory. Next was our TV match, where we felt everyone’s support. Lesley played outstandingly up front, setting the tempo and allowing us to score frequently, leading to a decisive 27-6 win. Round three was another comfortable victory, defeating the Wairarapa representatives 20-7, finishing the day at the top of the charts and safely qualifying.
Day two began with our first loss, jokingly blaming it on still being sleepy, with a 20-9 defeat followed by a bye round. A post-section bye led us directly to the semi-finals, where we were just two games away from glory. Facing the well-established Thames Valley pair, Kaye and Adele, we initially trailed but gradually took control, winning key ends to secure a spot in the final. The final, against the local representatives, was always going to be a tough challenge. We jumped to a 13-5 lead, providing a comfortable buffer. Despite a late fightback from our opponents, an exceptional end boosted our score, allowing us to manage the margin and clinch the victory 20-13.
Lesley and I are incredibly grateful for the support we received from Tāmaki Makaurau – our whānau and friends from around the motu and across NZ, we say a big thank you😊Our experience in Dunedin was fantastic, with the hosts at Hope’s Stadium providing excellent hospitality.
We all know that a game of Pairs is a lead’s game, the skip is only as good as the lead! Lesley’s played outstanding bowls up front. Her performance gave me no reason to show stress or worry – it was her weekend, no doubt about that!
We are thrilled to have won our first-ever national title, marking the first national title for Bridge Park, especially during its 50th anniversary. Our thanks go to the club’s committee and members for their support and generously contributing to our participation. We also thank Bowls Auckland for their contribution. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helped in many ways.
In closing, I leave you with this: “Stay positive, stay focused, stay humble; it can be your day anytime soon.”
