Early form hits Aramoho bid

Aramoho bowlers went within an inch of taking the national men's interclub division one title in Palmerston North.

After an indifferent start last weekend, Aramoho stormed home over the final two rounds to fall short by one point of securing the title from Stoke Nelson.

Selector and team manager Don Williams said a number of vital draws and losses in the first round denied the Aramoho men national honours.

"Two draws and losing four games by one point denied them the title," Williams lamented.

"Had Hawke's Bay beaten Stoke in the final game of the fours instead of drawing, and had Aramoho won the pairs instead of drawing, they would have scraped through."

Singles player Sean Johnson won three of his five games with the highlight a victory over New Zealand representative Shannon McIlroy.

The pair of Peter Bellis and Kevin Coombe had two wins, two draws and a loss, while the fours team of Keith Slight, Dave Anderson, Kevin la Roche and Gavin Scrivener ended with three wins and two losses.

However, it was to be a day of what ifs. "Had they shown the outstanding form they showed in the final two rounds in the opening stanza the Aramoho men would have returned home national winners," Williams said.

Tauranga South finished third, Bowls Napier fourth, Browns Bay from North Harbour fifth and Kaitangata from South Otago sixth.