Marshall, Kapene compete in finals

BOWLS

TOLAGA Bay Bowling Club’s Vern Marshall won two of his games at the Bowls New Zealand national champion of champions singles finals in Lower Hutt.

Marshall represented the Gisborne-East Coast centre at the tournament, held at the Naenae Bowling Club’s indoor green last Friday and Saturday.

Wairoa Bowling Club’s Glenda Kapene was the centre women’s representative and had three losses against bowlers well experienced at this level.

Marshall won two of his scheduled three games on Friday.

He lost his first game 21-14 to Taranaki’s nationally ranked Dean Elgar but recovered well to beat top representative singles players David Clark (Counties Manukau) 21-14 and Neil Barron (Hawke’s Bay) 21-18.

However, a 21-8 loss to Southland’s Sheldon Bagrie-Howley on Saturday morning ended Marshall’s hopes of qualifying for the finals on Sunday.

In the women’s section, Kapene lost 21-13 to Taranaki representative singles player Rhonda Adams in the only game she played on Friday — she had a bye in the second round.

On Saturday, Kapene had more tough games, losing to Audrey Stevenson (Kapiti Coast) 21-14, Jacqueline Broderson (North Harbour) 21-4 and Barbara Tiffen (South Canterbury) 21-14. All three opponents had plenty of experience at this level.

Kapene is in only her second year in the senior ranks and, although she lost all four of her games over the two days, she will have gained valuable experience.