ON THE MATS

The Poverty Bay-East Coast under-18 indoor bowls team with the Alison Cowan Junior Challenge Trophy they won after beating Tauranga u18s 70 to 42 in Whakatane. Back row (from left ) are coach/manager Malcolm Trowell, Kayla Trowell, Rachael Rickard, Jaykwan Casey and Adam Rickard. Front: Souta Preddey, Sean Haskins, Quaylahan Casey, Dylan Foster and Zoe Trowell.Picture supplied

The Poverty Bay-East Coast Under-18 team were far too good for their   Tauranga counterparts on their way to winning the Alison Cowan Junior Challenge Trophy with ease.

In the first round of pairs and after a long drive through to Whakatane, PBEC shocked Tauranga by winning all four games to go 16-0 ahead.

The Round 2 singles  were shared four games each, giving PBEC a  24-8 lead.

Tauranga got the better of PBEC in the Round 3 pairs, winning two and drawing two to close the deficit to 28-20.

Five wins to PBEC in the Round 4 singles took the score to 38-26.

Whatever coach/manager Malcolm Trowell said during the lunch break worked as PBEC stunned Tauranga by winning all four pairs games to forge a 54-26 advantage.

Three wins for PBEC in the next round of singles put them on 60 points to Tauranga’s 36.

PBEC won two games and drew one in Round 7 to be 70-42 in front, meaning the last round of singles didn’t need to be played and the teams shook hands.

The PBEC team members were Dylan Foster, Souta Preddey, Kayla Trowell, Quaylahan Casey, Rachael Rickard, Zoe Trowell, Adam Rickard and Sean Haskins, with Jaykwan Casey the reserve.

With so many talented u18 bowlers, top coaching from Malcolm Trowell and good organising and financial support through the centre, PBEC are the envy of other districts.