Tolaga Bay team runners-up at Rotorua lawn bowls Classic

The Tolaga Bay teams who competed at the two-day Classic tournament in Rotorua over Anzac weekend are, back row (from left): Malachi-Moses Gray, Chrissy Gray, Karen Pinn and Lucan Taingahue. Front: Rewi Castle, Clara Taingahue, Mary Taingahue and Veeshaye Smiler. The TB 1 team of the Grays, Pinn and Lucan finished runners-up.

A near-perfect day 2 performance earned a Tolaga Bay team runners-up honours at a bowls tournament in Rotorua over Anzac weekend.

The Tolaga Bay 1 line-up of Malachi-Moses Gray, Lucan Taingahue, Chrissy Gray and Karen Pinn showed consistency, versatility and resilience at the two-day Classic bowls tournament hosted by Rotorua Bowling Club.

They were among 16 teams, including a Tolaga Bay 2 side, who competed across a multi-discipline format.

Tolaga Bay 1 ended the competition on an impressive total of 80 points and a +62 differential.

The winning team finished on 82 points and a +102 differential.

The top two were well clear of the rest – the third-placed Wainuiomata team compiling 66 points (+45).

Tolaga Bay 1 opened their campaign with a convincing 19–5 pairs win to Malachi-Moses Gray and Lucan Taingahue.

Karen Pinn and Chrissy Gray lost their pairs game 16-11, but the TB1 team rebounded strongly in the fours with a 12-9 victory.

Pinn had a commanding 20-10 win in the singles, while the triples went down 14-9.

At the close of day 1, Tolaga Bay 1 were well in the hunt on 30 points and a +11 differential.

On day 2, they lifted to another level.

They opened with a dominant 20–3 win in the fours, Taingahue and Pinn combined superbly for a 22-8 pairs win and the Grays followed up with a 15–6 victory.

The triples combo of the Grays and Pinn had a nail-biting game, edging their Reporoa opponents 12–11.

Taingahue ended a great day on a high with a 24–5 win in the singles.

The Tolaga Bay side added 50 points and a remarkable +51 differential to their tally with their efforts.

They showed depth, adaptability and the ability to rise to the occasion under pressure against some quality opposition.

The Tolaga Bay 2 team of Clara Taingahue, Mary Taingahue, Rewi Castle and Veeshaye Smiler finished on 42 points and a +44 differential.

They encountered some tough opponents over the event, but gave spirited and competitive performances featuring hard-fought ends and moments of quality the scoreboard did not reflect.

“Beyond the results, what stood out most across the weekend was the unity shared by both Tolaga Bay teams,” Pinn said.

“The tournament became more than just a contest – it was an opportunity to build lasting memories, reinforce friendships and celebrate the strong family ties within the group.”