On the mats Indoor bowls news

SUCCESS: Robieson Shield winners (from left) Lois Lamont, Warren Gibb, David Lynn (skip) and Journey Hihi. Picture by Liam Clayton

David Lynn, Warren Gibb, Journey Hihi and Lois Lamont won the 2018 Robieson Shield 7-6 in a tight final against last year’s winners, Malcolm Trowell, Nathan Trowell, Matthew Foster and Dylan Foster.

The Robieson Shield is like the Ranfurly Shield of local indoor bowls, and the nine-end final didn’t disappoint spectators.

Lynn’s team started with two shots on End 1, but Trowell’s team then picked up one shot on ends 2 and 3 to level it at 2-2. Lynn’s team then picked up one point on ends 4 and 5 to go ahead 4-2.

Trowell’s team dug deep, picking up one point on End 6, then two points on End 7 to go ahead 5-4.

The eighth end was Lamont and Hihi’s. They drew close and by the time Malcolm Trowell played his first bowl, he was three shots down. His first bowl missed moving the kitty. Lynn put up a short bowl to try to get in Trowell’s way. Trowell missed with his last bowl of the end, and Lynn’s team took the three points, giving them a 7-5 lead going into the last end.

On the last end, the shot changed often.Trowell’s team held one shot, which Lynn failed to beat. Trowell, with his last bowl, had a chance to draw a second shot to draw the game and force another end but played short on a very tricky hand to master.

Trowell’s team were by far the youngest in the field, and played great bowls throughout the day.

For Hihi it was her first Robieson fours gold-star-status title, having now won seven centre titles, including two titles towards her gold star. Lamont won her 61st centre title. Included in that tally are 16 gold-star-status titles. Gibb won his 20th centre title and has now won his gold star for five centre gold-star-status titles. He won the Robieson in 2006 and 2014 with Lynn, and also won the centre closing trios in 2012 and 2014.

It was Lynn’s 140th centre title and 35th gold-star-status title. It was his 11th Robieson Fours victory. He picked up his first Robieson Fours title in 1989 with local indoor bowls legend Alf Land.