Gisborne’s Kahutia reach quarterfinals of national champ of champs women’s triples

Kahutia Bowling Club combination (from left) Dayvinia Mills, Karen Pinn and skip Glenys Whiteman reached the quarterfinals of the National Champion of Champions Women's Triples in Auckland.

Kahutia Bowling Club representatives made the quarterfinals of the National Champion of Champions Women’s Triples in Auckland at the weekend.

The Naenae Bowling Club representatives beat the Kahutia club’s Glenys Whiteman (skip), Dayvinia Mills and Karen Pinn 18-17 to end the Gisborne club’s run.

Having had a bye in the first round, Kahutia got off to a 19-11 winning start against the team from Mairangi Bowling Club.

In the third round, Kahutia started slowly against Tower Hawera Bowling Club and trailed 5-0 after five ends. Kahutia picked up six shots on the sixth end but Tower Hawera took two shots on the seventh to lead 7-6.

The Kahutia trio took four shots and five shots on a couple of ends, and by the end of the 16th end led 19-12. They then took two more shots and, with the score at 21-12, didn’t have to play the last end.

Kahutia, with two wins on the first day, ranked third overnight.

In the fourth round, Kahutia were level, 10-10, with Bucklands Bowling Club after the 14th end, then led 12-11 on the final end, but ended up losing by one.

That meant Kahutia had to win their next match to qualify for post-section play.

They faced the Claudelands Bowling Club team of Para Blackjack Teri Blackbourn, Teri’s mother Jenny Stockford and Kerrie Lupson.

Four shots on the fourth end gave Kahutia a 4-3 lead. Then the scores were level after the fifth end. Kahutia won the next five ends but by the end of the 17th end Claudelands led 14-12.

On the last end, Kahutia held two shots when Whiteman drew a third to win the game 15-14.

In the quarterfinal, Kahutia were up against the Naenae team of Kennie Critchlow (skip), Wendy Mackie and Tina-Marie Steere.

Kahutia started well, picking up four shots on the second end. After nine ends, they led 13-4.

Then the temperature dropped dramatically for the next few ends and Naenae clawed back the deficit. When Kahutia held shots close to or touching the jack, Naenae came in to take the shot or reduce the number of shots to Kahutia.

By the end of the 17th end, Naenae led 18-15.

On the last end, Kahutia held two shots close to the jack (one was a toucher). Critchlow’s last bowl stopped less than 10 centimetres away from the two shots. Whiteman tried a weighted shot to beat Critchlow’s bowl and just touched it but failed to play it out.

Naenae advanced to the semifinals on the back of their 18-17 win.