Close finish to open men’s triples

OPEN MEN'S TRIPLES WINNERS: Te Karaka Bowling Club members (from left) William Murray, Don Williams (skip) and July Williams defeated Tolaga Bay Bowling Club's Vern Marshall (skip), Mick Maunder and Murray Duncan in the final. Picture supplied

An extra end was needed to separate the finalists in the centre open men's triples at Kahutia Bowling Club's greens.

Te Karaka Bowling Club trio Don Williams (skip), July Williams and William Murray won the “shoot-out” by a shot.

It was William Murray's first centre title.

The scores had been tied 12-all at the conclusion of the 18th end of a nail-biting game in which Don Williams's calm play had been a feature.

The runners-up were the Tolaga Bay Bowling Club trio of Vern Marshall (skip), Mick Maunder and Murray Duncan.

Eight teams took part in the David File Decorators-sponsored men's triples — two from the Gisborne club, two from Te Karaka, and one each from Poverty Bay, Tolaga Bay, Kahutia and Wairoa.

Four rounds were played on the Saturday and all eight teams automatically qualified for the post-section on Sunday. In a seeded format, the top four teams played against the bottom four in single elimination rounds.

Among the favourites were the team of Bob McIlroy (skip) and his sons Brendon and Adam, from Te Karaka Bowling Club.

However, they did not make it to the semifinals. They lost to the Gisborne club's Ricky Miller (skip), Mark Walker and Geoff Pinn on the Sunday morning.

In the semifinals, Miller's team lost to Don Williams's Te Karaka team.

Also tipped as contenders were the Gisborne club team of Jamey Ferris (skip), Charlie Ure and Robin Jefferson.

They defeated the Poverty Bay team of Steve Berezowski (skip), Bruce Ball and Andrew Ball on the Sunday morning.

However, in the semifinal they lost a high-quality game to Marshall's Tolaga Bay trio.