Maungaturoto go out happy at Kamo

Whether you win or lose, the beer tastes just as good at Kamo Bowling Club, reckons Maungaturoto bowler Kevin Robinson.
Robinson was part of the fours team from Maungaturoto Country Club who were defeated 16-15 by R Aitkens' team from Tauranga Citizens Club in the Moase Cup semifinal of the 38th Chartered Clubs New Zealand Fours Bowls Competition yesterday.
Skipped by C Bennett, the team had a great run in the five-day tournament, which was hosted by Kamo Bowling Club, and played at eight clubs around Whangarei.
"We led all the way in that semi until the last two ends - we had a chance to win it but we blew it and went down by one point," Robinson said.
While obviously disappointed with a loss during the business end of the competition, Robinson said the team were pleased with their achievement.
"We didn't expect to get to where we did ... we came here to compete and to qualify."
It was Robinson's first year contesting the annual tournament, featuring 168 teams from around the country - from as far south as Oamaru - next year's venue for the competition.
"I will definitely be coming back to this tournament, it's been a great competition," Robinson said.
Meanwhile, Aitken and the Tauranga Citizen Club fours progressed through to yesterday's no time limit final, going up against P Hickey's fours from Howick RSA, who defeated G Macdonald's team from Papanui Club, 15-13.
Tauranga (R Aitken, T Powell, S Hughes, M Henry) triumphed in the final, 20-17, despite a late comeback by Howick.
In the consolation tournament finals - also played yesterday at Kamo - I Monaghan's side from Masterton Cosmopolitan Club walked over G Stringer's fours from Hamilton Workingman's Club, winning the semifinal 18-5, while Papanui's B Dent's fours had a tough assignment when they played S Settle's fours from Matamata. Dent's eventually triumphed, winning 17-15.
The Papanui team (B Dent, W Park, A McIvor and B Williams) won the consolation final and the Jim Dempsey Trophy convincingly.
The non-qualifiers Kelly Plate final was also held yesterday and following a tight game, Mount Maunganui's I Newland, N Topp, A Webb and M Grafas defeated the fours from Mangawhai (L Lawrence, G Brockelsby, G Mulligan, and L Bird), 10-8.