BOWLS - Jack's Corner

With Garry Houlahan
* Mangawhai suffer errors playing catch-up
Fortunately the weather on Saturday was a pleasant change from last weekend and it was possible to play the final of the mens Champion of Champion Triples between Bowls Whangarei and Mangawhai. It was supposed to be played at Bowls Whangarei greens but overnight rain forced a transfer to Hikurangi. The Mangawhai team scored singles on each of the first two ends but only managed to score one further shot in the entire game as Bowls Whangarei raced away for an easy 22-3 victory, when the teams called it off with four ends to go. To be fair there was not such a margin between the teams but when Mangawhai fell behind they were forced into trying to make things happen and on a number of occasions ended up either taking out their own shot bowl or moving the jack and conceding further shots. The Whangarei team was Tom Chapman (Skip), John Jamieson (Two) and Sam Prasad (Lead) while Mangawhai were represented by Aaron Van Haaften (Skip), Charlie Shepherd (Two) and Gerry Mulligan (Lead).
* Women fight to end
By contrast the final of the women's Pairs was a very close affair with the scores being level 14-14 playing the last end. Hikurangi (Sarah Wright and Girl Reweti) were ahead in the early ends but Dargaville (Tottie Rakich and Ann Radonich) kept their cool and clawed their way back into contention and finally prevailed in a tight contest.
Dargaville made it through to the final by beating Onerahi (Sophie Anderson and Ann Lison) comfortably in a game in which there were some large fluctuations in the score. Onerahi picked up five shots early in the game to lead 7-2 but promptly dropped five, three and then a two to allow Dargaville back into the game.
* Three win gold stars
The above two finals saw three Gold Stars won. Ann Radonich won her first Gold Star with her fifth Centre title in the women's game. In the men's final Sam Prasad also won his first Gold Star while John Jamieson won his second with his tenth Centre win. Congratulations to all players.
*Until next season
Well the season is now officially over and for many of us the bowls have been packed away. To those of you who participate in winter bowls, good bowling and I hope the weather is not too depressing over the winter months.
This is the last Jacks Corner of the 2007-08 season and my thanks to all those who have given me information for this column throughout the season - it has been much appreciated. See you all next season.