Allan and Jefferson take optional pairs

VICTORY in the optional pairs tournament for those over 60 was a first for Maurice Allan at Poverty Bay Bowling Club’s greens last week.

Allan teamed up with Robin Jefferson to achieve his first success at this level.

Fourteen teams — seven of them from Poverty Bay — chose to play on two of the hottest days for bowls this season.

Teams had to win two of three games to qualify for post-section play.

Seven teams qualified.

Allan and Jefferson had the bye into the semifinals. In the games to determine who would join them, Lynne Trueman and Bruce Gledhill beat Andy Tamanui and Queenie Takurua 17-4, Glenys Whiteman and Murray Duncan beat Ian and Kath Carroll 20-5, and Dave Hooper and Tam Buckingham beat Bruce Ball and Steve McRoberts 15-9.

In the semifinals, Whiteman defeated Hooper 19-10 and Allan defeated Trueman 14-10.

The final was a thriller. Allan was ahead 10-2 after nine ends, but Whiteman and Duncan fought back tenaciously.

With the score at 11-all, an extra end was required.

Allan held the shot on this end to take the honours, 12-11.

Whiteman and Duncan can be pleased with their performance. In round-robin play they had beaten Allan and Jefferson 14-13.

The event was well supported. John Dawson, of Opotiki, and Bruno Lourie, of Te Karaka, teamed up for the tournament, and Opotiki couple Betty and Wayne Hurring also made the trip for it.