Gisborne-East Coast reclaim bowls trophy

CHALLENGE TROPHY SUCCESS: The Gisborne-East Coast bowls team broke an eight-year drought by winning the Challenge Trophy contested between GEC and Hawke’s Bay. Over two days’ play the Gisborne-East Coast players — 16 men and 16 women — emerged the winners by 30 matches to 26. Back (from left): Bobbie Beattie, Leoni Renata, Anne Day, Lesley McIntosh, Vern Marshall, Jamey Ferris, Anita Vaotuua, John Dawson, Ricky Miller, Lester Wright, Bob McIlroy, Ben Brown, Steve Goldsbury (player/selector), Bruce Easton, David Beattie and Peter Robinson. Middle row: Glenda Kapene, Sarah Brown, Ronnie Crone, Joy Davis, Lesley Seymour, Lyn Trueman, Queenie Takurua, Dayvinia Mills, Murray Murton, Arthur Hawes, Mark Walker, Robin Jefferson and Maurice Taylor (men’s manager). Front: Marie Wright, Carol Hawes, Kathleen Kyle and Lorna Reeve (women’s manager). Picture supplied

FOR the first time in eight years, Gisborne-East Coast bowlers won the Challenge Trophy for competition against Hawke’s Bay.

Gisborne-East Coast ran out the winners by 30 matches to 26.

The 16 men and 16 women must be congratulated on their dogged determination to achieve the success as the very cold and blustery wind on the Saturday and the variable wind on the Sunday made it almost impossible to play good bowls.

The competition was made up of four rounds — Round 1 was eight singles, four pairs and four fours matches; Round 2 was eight fours; Round 3 was eight singles, four pairs and four fours; and Round 4 was 16 pairs.

Results (Gisborne-East Coast scores first)

Round 1 — Men: 5-3. Women: 4-4.

Round 2 — Men: 3-1. Women: 1-3.

Day 1 match totals: GEC 13 HB 11.

Round 3 — Men: 5-3. Women: 5-3.

Round 4 — Men: 5-3. Women: 2-6.

Two-day totals GEC 30 HB 26.

Many of the games were close-run affairs, with Gisborne slightly ahead or close behind.

It was good to see the old heads and young guns working well together, with both showing their maturity to see the games through to their conclusion.

Well done.