Wanganui women edged in thriller

The Wanganui men's and women's representative bowls teams had different reactions to their fourth placings at the hexagonal intercentre tournament in Palmerston North at the weekend.

While the men finished off the pace behind the Kapiti Coast and dominant Wellington team, the Wanganui women's side were deadlocked in a fight to the finish with Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and the Wellington team.

Coach Chris Waterson said it came down to the final end of both pairs matches in the last round against Taranaki.

Wanganui, who had the superior differential if the four centre teams finished in a four-way tie, lost one pairs game after leading 16-15 going into the final end, while in the other pairs game a near-perfect bowl just touched the kitty, which cost another four points.

Picking up two overall competition points for their victory, Taranaki moved to 30 and won the title, followed by Hawke's Bay and Wellington (29), then Wanganui on 28.

"We would have won it, that's how close it was," said coach Chris Waterson.

"It was just a magnificent display, it's just a shame we couldn't win."

It was also the first time in a number of years that Wanganui have beaten Wellington at the hexagonal.

Waterson then settled on the seven players from this squad of 10 who will attend the NZ Intercentre championships, being held in Christchurch on March 28-29.

Dianne Paterson will be the single, the pair is Lesley Bourke and Anne Loveridge (s), while Pam Burgess moves from pairs to the fours with Marlene Foster, Pauline Pirere, and Marilyn Constantine (s).

"We're bullish about our chances of making the top eight this year," Waterson said.

The Wanganui men, without some of the district's leading players, averaged two and a half games per round, with two draws and two games lost by a point.

"The players were all out there giving their best and, as always in bowls, you need the rub of the green which we did not seem to get too much of," said manager Mike Morgan.

"However we are satisfied that the outcome finishing equal [3rd-4th] was a good effort."

Singles player Clint Pair and the pairs team of Ian Porteous and Tony Waikato had the most success with three wins and a draw each from their games.

Final results

Men: Wellington 34, Kapiti Coast 28, Manawatu 24, Wanganui 24, Taranaki 21, Hawkes Bay 19.

Women: Taranaki 30, Hawke's Bay 29, Wellington 29, Wanganui 28, Manawatu 18, Kapiti Coast 16.