Bowls: Southerners get bragging rights

In a North versus South battle of the bowlers, the Southerners can add another notch to their belts, as the men's pair from West End South Canterbury came away with a comfortable 20-9 win over Kensington (Northland) at the National Club Championships Pairs Final.

Escaping the bitter 9-degree weather and flooded greens, the tournament was taken indoors to Dunedin's saving grace, the Westpac Indoor Stadium, for all post section play.
Scott Fisher and Gary Ford's (West End, South Canterbury) journey to victory was a roller-coaster, only just making it through qualifying with three wins and two losses on day one.

Coming into post section play, the West End duo had a tight win over Rob Ashton and Brent Stubbins (Johnsonville, Wellington) 10-9 to go on and play the Dunedin locals from Forbury Park. After a convincing win in the Semi-final, 13-6, they had secured their place
in the national pairs final.

Their opponents, Gordon Bond and Dean McMurchy (Kensington) too had had an impressive road to the final. Having not lost a game all tournament, it was theirs for the taking. However, it was not to be.

Leading from the beginning, there was nothing getting in the way of Fisher and Ford's vision for victory. The game was all but won after they scored nine shots over the 9th and 10th ends, to end the game 20-9 with two ends to spare.

In the women's final, Lynlea Rogers and Mere Fisher Terrace End (Manawatu) representatives were ecstatic with their 26-6 win over Clare Hendra and Kennie Critchlow over Silverstream, Wellington.

Scoring on 13 of the 16 ends played, the Manawatu women could walk away with their heads held high and an impressive win to add to their history books.

Today the Men's and Women's triples is underway again at the indoor stadium.