Shanks four avenge round 1 defeat to win Kahutia men’s open title

Kahutia Bowling Club men’s open fours winners (from left): Leighton Shanks (skip), Liam Pinn, Kyle Pinn and July Hoepo.

Leighton Shanks skipped the winning team in the club championship men’s open fours at Kahutia Bowling Club.

Shanks, 14-year-old twins Kyle and Liam Pinn, and July Hoepo rebounded from an early loss to the team they went on to meet in the title decider.

In the first round, Geoff Pinn – father of Kyle and Liam – skipped Willy Murray, Kelly Te Miha and Andy Tamanui to a 14-5 victory over the Shanks four.

Allan Parker skipped Frank McLoughlin, Salvie Rickard and Graham Atkins to a 20-7 win against Joe Wimutu (s), Marty Ryan, Neville Wagner and Puna McRoberts.

Geoff Pinn’s team then beat Parker’s 14-11 and had a bye in the next round.

The Shanks four changed their playing positions and beat Wimutu 24-3, which meant the Wimutu combination had lost both their lives and did not qualify for the next round.

Parker’s four lost their second life when Shanks beat them 16-7.

Geoff Pinn’s team had both lives intact when they faced Shanks in the potential final. Shanks won 12-11, so a decider was needed.

Both teams played outstanding bowls before Shanks won 15-11.

Glenys Whiteman (s), Dayvinia Mills, Ngamiro Allen and Karen Pinn won the Kahutia women’s open fours by default as they had no opposition.