The first major tournament of the programme was completed last weekend and the winners of the Centre pairs who will represent Northland at the NZ Club Championships later in the season will be Gordon Bond and Dean McMurchy, Kensington; and Manu Timoti and Sara Wright, Hikurangi.
In the men's section 28 teams took part and 11 teams qualified for post-section play. Bond and McMurchy defeated Darren Mitchell and Sam Nelson of Whangarei in one semifinal and Ray Walsh and Trevor Moyle representing Waipu defeated Ken Fitness and Dennis Brewster of Hikurangi in the other.
In the final between Bond and Walsh, Bond scored four shots on the first end to go into a handy lead from the start. The score was 7-4 on the seventh end and a 4 and 5 on the next two ends virtually won the match for the Bond combination who went on to win the final 22-11.
The women's event saw 24 teams take part with seven combinations qualifying for post-section. Timoti and Wright defeated Ann Halls and Viv Ross of Onerahi in one semifinal and Joan Erceg & Margaret Gurney representing Kensington defeated Gwen Lawson and Heather Smeath of Kamo in the other.
In the final between Timoti and Erceg the score was 5-all after six ends, Timoti then scored eight shots on the next four ends to go into a handy 13-5 lead. After 14 ends the score had increased to 17-8 to Timoti, an unassailable lead.
The final score was a 23-8 victory to the Timoti and Wright combination. Conditions all weekend were not favourable, with the winds playing havoc with bowls. Some players, however, relished the conditions and played well, while others struggled in the conditions.
This weekend sees the Centre Fours for men and the Centre Singles for women being played. Sixteen teams have entered the men's fours and 28 players the women's singles.
The men's event will be played at Whangarei and the following teams have entered: C. Barnett, Maungaturoto; T. Reader, Whangarei; P. Nicholson, Kamo; D. Brewster, Hikurangi; J. Jamieson, Kensington; T. Mooney, Maungaturoto; R.Walsh, Waipu, P. Wightman, Mangawhai; J. Dunn, Onerahi; G. Bond, Kensington; L. Vallance, Whangarei; A. Rakich, Dargaville; D. Henwood, Mangawhai; M. Butler, Whangarei; R. Wright, Kensington; A. Marsh, Kensington. Play starts at 8.45am.
The women's singles will be played at Mangawhai and the following players have entered: Front green: M. Attwood, S. Epsom, S. Lauder, S. Ayerst, J. Rutledge, L. Mills, D. Owens, J. Erceg, D. Robinson, M. Gurney, A. Halls, J. Hardie, J. Hollingsworth, P. Mumford. Back green: S. Rokstad, D. Strawbridge, J. Walker, D. Lawrence, C. Henwood, D. Anderson, M. Parker, C. Downs, R. Brewster, C. Neeley, D. Goldsmith, L. Stewart, C. Budge, M. Guttenbeil. Play starts at 8.45am. Latest reporting time 8.30am. Players are reminded that a marker is required.
The NZ Chartered Clubs annual tournament commences in Napier next Monday. Good luck to those teams attending this event from the Northland Centre.
Entry forms for the Centre Interclub 7's have been distributed to all clubs. aEntries close on November 17.