Indoor bowling news

SHIELD WINNERS: Poverty Bay-East Coast junior indoor bowlers won the Membery-Pearce Shield under-18 tournament in Hamilton. They were up against representative age-group teams from Tauranga, Waikato, North Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki. It was the second year running Poverty Bay-East Coast had won the shield. Team members are, back (from left): Malcolm Trowell (coach), Akuhata Keelan, Hina Preddey, Kaia Matenga and Shaquaid Hihi. Front: Matthew Foster, Dylan Foster, Karma Matenga and Nathan Trowell. Picture by Liam Clayton

EIGHT of Poverty Bay-East Coast’s youngest indoor bowlers were in devastating form in Hamilton, winning the Membery-Pearce Shield under-18 representative event against Tauranga, Waikato, North Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki for the second year running.

Six weeks of coaching paid off for these young guns and after the second of 10 rounds, the Bay team had not had a loss, racking up 27 points. By Round 5, the team were fizzing. They had 43.5 points, 15 points ahead of their nearest rivals.

Regular talks by their coach, Malcolm Trowell, backed up by team manager David Lynn kept them focused.

By Round 7, they were sitting on 63.5 points, 21 ahead of their nearest rivals.

After Round 9, managers agreed that the Bay were too far in front, on 78.5 points, and they shook hands. .

The successful team from the nine games played were: 11-year-old Dylan Foster (8.5 wins and top-scorer), 12-year-old Nathan Trowell (6.5 wins), 10-year-old Karma Matenga (4 wins), 13-year-old Matthew Foster (6.5 wins), 15-year-old Kaia Matenga (7 wins), 13-year-old Hina Preddy (7.5 wins), 13-year-old Akuhata Keelan (5 wins) and 17-year-old Shaquaid Hihi (4.5 wins).

“The event was well run by the Waikato centre, and attracted 48 junior bowlers and reserves.

After the competition, the Bay team got to shake hands with Graham Membery, thanking him for donating the trophy. Graeme Pearce, the other person whose surname features on the trophy, wasn’t present.

Coach Malcolm Trowell said it was great to see all 48-plus young bowlers shaking hands in a circle afterwards.

The Poverty Bay-East Coast centre has worked hard over the season to attract young bowlers to the game, and now has 33 young members affiliated to the centre.

This is the first time the centre has had 33 young members.

Potential is there for a further increase in numbers, due to Kiwisport funding through Sport Gisborne.

Introductory lessons are being given in some Gisborne/East Coast schools, including Te Araroa and Ruatoria.