Three days into the main event at The Trusts New Zealand Open and the first of the finalists have been
found in the men’s and women’s triples.
Held at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club, players were finally able to ditch the umbrellas and rain jackets, instead left reaching for the sunblock as conditions improved remarkably throughout Auckland.
Following several rounds of post-section, both reigning champions found themselves coming up short for an aspired title defence - simultaneously eliminated in their respective semi-final encounters.
Papakura hopeful Natarsha Grimshaw in action at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club in the women's triples. Grimshaw and her side of Leanne Poulson and Donna Jackison were eliminated in the quarter-finals, bowing out to Rebekah Papera's composite side of Jo McKenna and Jenny Stockford.
Queenstown duo Margaret O’Connor and Christine Buchanan, once again teaming up with local Anne Doreen, proved in fine form as they dispatched St Helier’s Ling Qu and Mairangi Bay’s Jan Gledhill in the first two rounds - though an impressive composite skipped by Esther Eu fared as the final stop for the defending champions - bowing out gracefully, 17-11.
Across rinks, the vastly experienced Northland/Auckland composite of Anne Bateman, Karen Hema and Linda Ralph pose an intimidating threat to Eu and her side of Helen Murray and Sheila Putu - with Bateman having tasted success previously at this event - and Hema and Ralph both provincial representatives in their own right.
Leading into the final, Bateman defeated the composite trio of Rebekah Papera, Jo McKenna and Jenny Stockford, 19-12.
Meanwhile in the men’s action, pre-tournament favourites Scott Evans and his star-studded side of Schalk Mouton and Blackjack Tony Grantham looked to have the goods early doors as they struck up strong wins against David Clark’s composite of Martin Dixon and Gavin Brown and Joe Whitelaw, before comfortably putting paid to the formidable trio of Petar Sain, Rob Ashton and Tony Garelja, 20-7.
But as impressive as that run was, the composite side of David Eades, Bruce McClintock and Bart Robertson were in equally commanding form as they swept past their opposition before accounting for the Evans’ trio 22-17 - earning a spot in this year’s final.
Waiting for Eades and Co on the other side of the draw is that of fellow North Harbour allies and 2013 champions Neil Fisher, Colin Rogan and John Walker - incidentally the same trio that made headlines last year for defaulting the National Pathway Triples final in favour of catching a booked flight home.
While the judiciary of the day ruled that Fisher, Rogan and Walker be suspended from all Bowls New
Zealand events and championship events at any club they were members of until June this year, the North Shore locals will be relishing the opportunity to compete for prestigious silverware in an event that is commissioned outside of that ruling.
And it appears their lack of presence in high profile events has done little to alter their form, with the combination roaring past Riverhead’s Duane McDonald 22-8, before annihilating the fancied side of Chris Le Lievre, Dave Good and Jamie Hill 22-9.
Made to work somewhat harder in their quarter-final match-up, the composite side of Brody Dix, Johnson Tanoa and Gene Gregory just falling short by a solitary point - with Fisher and Co going on to progress to the final after yet another one point victory against the talented composite line-up of Chad Grant, James Williams and Max Hamilton, 15-14.
Both triples finals will be broadcast on Sky Sport 3 from the TV rink from 9.30am (women’s) and 12.30pm (men’s) Saturday.
In other events, Friday’s action will see both the men’s and women’s pairs and singles respectively get
down to the final two, as the quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled to be completed by the end of day’s play - ensuring a busy weekend of live action on the big screen before the tournament concludes on Sunday.
