Around the greens

POVERTY BAY

The Poverty Bay club’s first singles championships of the season were decided last weekend.

Play was in two groups — those with one to three years of bowls experience, and those with less than eight years.

The competition was a two-life system with games up to the semifinals being decided over one and a half hours.

Semifinals and finals were decided on the first bowler to gain 21 shots.

The women’s one-to-three-year group winner was Robyn Arthur, who was unopposed.

The u8yr group winner was Joy Davis. She and Kym Walters were the only entrants in this group. Walters returned to bowls only this year, and Davis’s experience proved the deciding factor.

The men’s one-to-three-year group winner was Dawson Owen.

Dusty Miller was unlucky to relinquish a life to each of Luke Sanders and Owen, who were to meet three times to decide the title.

Sanders developed good skills last season but could win only once against the more consistent drawing of Owen, who won the final 21-12.

The u8yr group winner was John Fricker.

Starting with seven competitors, the championship crystallised into a three-way contest featuring Fricker, Dave Hooper and Mike Travers. Fricker took a life from both Hooper and Travers before receiving a bye to the potential final.

In a fascinating semifinal, Hooper led 15-6 after 14 ends before Travers found form, winning seven of the next nine ends to draw level at 19-all and then go on to win 21-19.

In the final, Travers pulled ahead, 9-3, after eight ends.

Fricker drew level after 12 ends and the result was impossible to predict.

Both players bowled to a high standard and were a joy to watch, but Fricker edged ahead for a hard-fought 21-18 win.

David Holmes