To qualify for post-section games, bowlers will have to win at least three of their four games in section play.
Both the men’s and women’s events have the same conditions of play with four games of 21 shots or a two-hour time limit on Saturday. The same criteria will apply for the knockout stages of post-section on Sunday, except the two finals will have no time limit.
Both venues will provide excellent spectator fare with well-performed bowlers playing each other in section play. Players who did well in their club singles championships last weekend will be looking to continue their good form this weekend.
In Section A of the men’s event, Gisborne Bowling Club’s Jamey Ferris has won this event twice to date while still in the junior ranks and will be looking for a third success. He won through to the final of his club singles last Sunday and has already won the centre fours and pairs so far this season. His opponents tomorrow are Mark Walker (Tolaga Bay), Bruno Lourie (Kahutia), John Kora (Tolaga Bay) and Steve Berezowski (Poverty Bay).
Te Karaka’s Adam McIlroy makes a welcome return to the game and will obviously be buoyed by the recent success of his brother, Blackjack Shannon McIlroy, who won the world champion of champions title in Australia. However, Adam has drawn his well-performed father, Bob McIlroy, in his third game and this should attract much interest.
Another form player in this section is Gisborne’s Ricky Miller, who also played well in his club singles last weekend and should qualify for post-section, although he is drawn to meet Adam McIlroy in his last game.
The second father-versus-son clash in Section A has Tolaga Bay’s John Kora up against new player Gerry Kora, who is making his debut at this level.
The first round in Section B has a clash of two of the favourites for the title with centre men’s selector Steve Goldsbury up against Vern Marshall (Kahutia). Goldsbury is full of confidence after his wins in this season’s centre fours and pairs, while Marshall is on his home greens and will have support from his club members.
The only visiting player in the field is Ken Addley from Wellington’s Naenae Bowling Club, who will meet Mike Howes (Kahutia), Marshall in his second game, and Wairoa’s Graham Fitzpatrick and Wayne Bestford. Fitzpatrick must be rated a chance following his performances so far this season in interclub and representative fixtures.
However, Gisborne’s Charlie Ure, a capable singles exponent, meets Fitzpatrick in his first game and then plays Murray Duncan (Kahutia) in the second round. Duncan was in good form last weekend and remains unbeaten in his club singles.
Malcolm Trowell played well against Hawke’s Bay but will need to maintain that form against Kahutia’s George Vaotuua and Alistair Macpherson on their home greens, Wairoa’s Tim Thompson and Goldsbury in his last game.
The women’s event over at the Gisborne Bowling Club sees Kahutia’s Dayvinia Mills chasing her third successive win in this centre tournament. Following her wins in 2016 and 2017, she went on to win a National title at the 2018 Bowls NZ National Championship Women’s singles finals. She will have to be at her best to achieve a “threepeat”.
The field of 14 players contains seasoned players who showed good form in their club singles last weekend.
Gisborne’s Queenie Takurua will be in her element on her home greens and made no race of it winning her club singles title unbeaten. She is not drawn to play her daughter Adrienne Smiler in section play.
Also featuring in the Gisborne club’s complement is Tanya Harrison, who has also shown good form in her interclub and representative outings this season.
Kahutia’s Betty Herring was in top form in her club singles as well and will also be favoured to make post-section play on Sunday. Based on her showings against top opposition in the Hawke’s Bay Intercentre last month as well as being the runner-up in this event in 2016, Poverty Bay’s Ngawai Turipa is also rated a chance at this level.
Tolaga Bay’s Mary Taingahue is making a comeback to the game and was a previous winner of this event some years ago, while Glenys Whiteman (Kahutia) will be looking for an improved performance after an early exit in her club singles last weekend. Her clubmate Marie Wright also has the ability to make post-section play.
These centre singles events rely on the volunteer services of the markers. This weekend 12 markers will be required at Kahutia and another seven at Gisborne on Saturday, so it is hoped that a full complement will be present at both clubs to contribute to the successful running of both tournaments.
