Last man standing

CHAMPION: Gisborne-East Coast centre men’s singles champion Malcolm Trowell with the J.J. Martin Cup. Picture supplied

Malcolm Trowell was the last man standing when Bowls Gisborne-East Coast held the centre men's singles at Gisborne Bowling Club.

He beat Steve Goldsbury 21-17 in a hard-fought final and took home another centre title, and the J.J. Martin Cup

A field of 22 players entered: Geoff Pinn, Charlie Ure, Trowell, Goldsbury, Boon McIlroy, Paul Everett and Hona Huriwai from Gisborne Bowling Club; Andrew Ball, John Andrews, John Kora, Les Whittington, Bruce Gledhill, Gerry Kora and Steve Berezowski from Poverty Bay; Mark Walker, George Tamihana and Gerry Taingahue from Tolaga Bay; Joe Wimutu, Alastair Macpherson, George Vaotuua and July Hoepo-Williams from Kahutia; and Paddy Stewart from Te Karaka.

Sixteen players went through to post-section play on the Sunday, with single elimination.

In the first round, Hoepo-Williams beat Everett. Taingahue beat Whittington but lost to Hoepo-Williams in the next round.

Pinn had a big win against Walker but lost to Goldsbury next up. Goldsbury had beaten Tamihana in the first round. Trowell beat Vaotuua while Stewart beat Macpherson. In the next round, Stewart lost to Trowell.

Ball beat Andrews but lost to McIlroy in the next round. McIlroy had beaten Berezowski earlier.

In one semifinal, Hoepo-Williams and Goldsbury had an exciting game before Goldsbury won on the last end.

In the other semifinal, Trowell had a comfortable win against McIlroy.

Trowell and Goldsbury played some great bowls in the final. Goldsbury had good bowls on the head but Trowell was calm under pressure and at times turned the tables on his opponent when Goldsbury looked to have the upper hand.

• An article on the man behind the J.J. Martin cups will follow next week.