Wanganui unable to catch Manawatu in wet

Aramoho's Sean Johnson, newest member of the Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame, competing at the Laird Park club on Saturday. Photo/Stuart Munro

They ran on and off in between the cloud bursts, but the Premier 1 senior men's teams representing Wanganui were unable to catch Manawatu's Northern Bowling Club during the final rounds of the inaugural combined Manawatu-Wanganui Premier competition on Saturday.

After the two November weekend meetings saw Bowls Wanganui club teams play at home and away to their Manawatu counterparts, Saturday's last three rounds saw the sides from each province play against themselves.

At Laird Park, the Wanganui teams had to wait until after the morning downpour to get out on the green, getting through their three matchups, while over in Palmerston North the Manawatu teams experienced similar delays.

In the end, Northern had entered the day as the points leader and remained so, having scored better on their home green when the Wanganui teams travelled over on November 23.

Wanganui's Aramoho Bowling Club finished second, five points behind Northern, with Palmerston North Bowling Club coming third.

Despite being a combined competition, both Northern and Aramoho will go forward to represent their province at the Lion Foundation Regional Interclub playoffs in Wellington this coming March.

Wanganui had better success in the other grades, as Castlecliff Bowling Club won the Premier 2 competition.

In the Women's draw, played at Aramoho Bowling Club, the Wanganui East team will claim the title despite rain calling the day off early.

The Manawatu teams have completed all seven rounds, while their Wanganui counterparts have one round left to play.

However, sitting on 30 points, Wanganui East can not be touched by Northern, who finished on 29.

Results

Premier 1 senior men: Northern 29, Aramoho 24, Palmerston North 21, Wanganui East 20 (-19), Wanganui 20 (-20), Terrace End 19, Takaro 18, Durie Hill 17.