On the mats

CENTRE OPEN PAIRS CHAMPIONS: John Harvey (left) and Arnold Hutchins with the trophy presented to them for winning the centre open pairs indoor bowls tournament. Picture by Paul Rickard

ARNOLD Hutchins and John Harvey won the David Moore Pharmacy Centre Open Pairs 11-5 against David Lynn and Lois Lamont.

In the nine-end final, the score was 6-3 after four ends, with three-time national champion Hutchins playing superbly.

Lynn managed a point on ends 5 and 6 to trail 6-5, but Hutchins came back to pick up one shot on End 7 to lead 7-5.

End 8 proved decisive. Lynn held the shot at the end of the mat but, trying to draw, he played too heavy. He killed the jack and was penalised three points. That meant Hutchins was in command, up 10-5 going into the last end. Hutchins picked up one more point on the last end.

Both teams qualified the hard way, losing their first games of four. But both teams won their next three games to qualify.

Hutchins defeated Malcolm and Nathan Trowell 8-6 in one semifinal, while Lynn defeated Shaquaid Hihi and Shane Williams 14-1.

This was the 66th centre title for Hutchins. He last won the centre open pairs in 1979 and is in strong form after a long break from the game.

This was Harvey’s 41st centre title.

David Lynn continued his good singles form, winning the Gisborne Glass Friday Night Singles with five wins from five games. This gave Lynn his 129th centre title.

Runner-up was Lyn Kay-Allen, with four wins and 28 ends won. Pauline Stone was third with four wins and 27 ends won.