Not enough in kitty for Wanganui

Waikato proved too strong when winning the Archie Wardlow Trophy at the indoor bowls quadrangular in Wanganui at the weekend.

The trophy is competed for each year by Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and pre-post favourites Waikato.

The teams of 16 play fours, pairs and singles, with the side with the most accumulated points claiming the trophy.

Waikato racked up 139 points, with last year's winners Bay of Plenty finishing second on 123. Wanganui finished a creditable third with 117 points.

Wanganui selector/manager Alton Heaslip said the the home town side fared well given the traditional strength of the larger centres.

"We have been a fairly consistent and well-balanced team this year and have some handy players, but Waikato is traditionally very strong. They were the favourites to take the title this year and so it proved," Heaslip said.

"We played well, but just couldn't win the vital games we needed to take the trophy. However, our performance augurs well for the ladies quad coming up in Napier at the end of June and the Paterson Trophy in Palmerston North for mixed teams in July. This event is to find the regional team to head to the nationals later in the year," he said.

Maria Klitscher was the best of the Wanganui bowlers, winning seven of her nine matches.