The Bowls Auckland Men’s Singles and Women’s Triples delivered high-stakes competition, narrowing the field to a talented lineup of semi-finalists poised for a thrilling finals weekend.
Men’s Singles Recap
One of the largest events on the playing calendar, the Men’s Singles saw 128 bowlers compete across eight greens, with 32 advancing to post-section play at Pt Chevalier. Howick Bowling Club had an impressive presence, with eight qualifiers making up 25% of the post-section field. Remarkably, none were drawn against each other in the first round, though only four advanced to the last 16.
Among the standout performances, Liam Hill (Auckland) dominated Allan Smith (St Heliers) 21-4 but was outplayed by Nick Thompson (Mt Albert), who executed a clinical 21-5 victory. National Singles champion Matt Berry, known as “The Gypsy,” overcame an early loss to secure a semifinal spot against “The Professor” Allan Blackman (Blockhouse Bay), who edged past Thompson 21-13 in a gruelling quarterfinal.
On the other side of the draw, ‘The Veteran” Neil Fisher (Howick) showcased his trademark composure with key victories over David Ball, Richard Kempthorne, and Johny Pocrnich. His semifinal opponent, Cameron Higgins (Glen Eden), a returning talent after a decade-long hiatus, is a former national secondary pairs champion and recently reached the final eight in the National Singles Championship.
With such a high level of skill and experience among the semi-finalists, three thrilling matches lie ahead to determine the next champion.
Women’s Triples Recap
Thirty-two teams competed at Balmoral and Glen Eden, with 18 advancing to Sunday’s post-section. Competition at Balmoral was tough with seasoned players such as Jenny Stockford (Pt Chev), Helen Van der Walt, and Estelle Hickey (Carlton Cornwall) all bowing out early.
The round of 16 saw strong performances, with Aggie Motu (Auckland BC) eliminating Ashleigh Jeffcoat 17-10, and the Fisher/Singer family trio (Royal Oak) taking out Bev Crowe’s Carlton Cornwall team. In the quarterfinals, Lesley McLinden’s Royal Oak team and Motu’s trio secured decisive wins, setting up a highly anticipated semifinal.
St Heliers’ emerging talent Jane Field, skipping juniors Julie Keven and Donna Davison, edged past an experienced St Heliers trio of Catherine Bien, Titia Ryder and Paula Kempthorne side 20-19 before dispatching Robyn Reihana’s Te Atatū team 20-11. Their semifinal opponents, Jamie Delany, Wamoana Stainton, and Rachel Hancock (Onehunga & Districts), overcame tough battles against Sue Peters (Howick) and Nicole Singer (Royal Oak) to advance.
With representative players spanning 1-5, development, and premier levels, the Finals promise top-tier action.
Finals Weekend awaits
The Finals Weekend takes place at Mt Eden Bowling Club on 26-27 April. Stay tuned for scheduling updates as the Men’s Triples and Women’s Singles results unfold.
