Bay of Plenty and the remainder of the competing teams showed that development bowls is alive and well in New Zealand.

The Bay was the best performed centre at the National Under 8’s Championship, with the men winning their event and the women reaching the semi-finals.

THE BAY OF PLENTY WOMEN LOST TO EVENTUAL WINNERS AUCKLAND IN THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE NATIONAL UNDER 8’S INTER-CENTRE. PLAYERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS ARE: ANGELA STEPHEN, JOCELYN HOLTEN, ADRIENNE REID, VINI SMITH, GAIL DUNCAN, DI BURTON, HEIN MACK. ALSO PICTURED ARE MANAGER MARGARET BARLOW AND COACH JANICE PAAP.

It was the first time that the Bay had won the national under 8’s title and it signalled that the province has a healthy development programme against the high-profile major centres such as Auckland, North Harbour, Wellington and Canterbury. 

The ecstatic Bay men derailed the hat-trick dreams of North Harbour by winning the final at Howick two games to one.

The Bay’s singles player Talor Duncan called on all his talent and drew a back toucher on the fast Howick green at 20-19. The well performed Harbour player Daryl Read drove and missed, and Duncan picked up the important win 21-19 to give the Bay one of its greatest bowling moments.

Stefan McCartain and Nathan Arlidge in the pairs and the four of Andre Hudson (skip), Nick Tomsett, Bill McCullum and Cliff Webber were consistent throughout and had a superb tournament. They combined to win their matches against Northland and Marlborough in post-section play to secure the final against defending champions for the last two seasons, North Harbour. Interestingly, North Harbour and Bay of Plenty were the top two qualifiers from the same section.

In the final, McCartain and Arlidge  beat the highly-regarded pair of Errol Koroi and Bevan Smith, a former Commonwealth Games sprinter, 19-16, and the Bay four was 11-14 behind with two ends to play when Duncan wrapped up proceedings with his well-timed draw (anything as dramatic as Rory McIllroy sinking a seven metre putt on the 18th to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill).

THE BAY OF PLENTY WOMEN LOST TO EVENTUAL WINNERS AUCKLAND IN THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE NATIONAL UNDER 8’S INTER-CENTRE. PLAYERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS ARE: ANGELA STEPHEN, JOCELYN HOLTEN, ADRIENNE REID, VINI SMITH, GAIL DUNCAN, DI BURTON, HEIN MACK. ALSO PICTURED ARE MANAGER MARGARET BARLOW AND COACH JANICE PAAP

The Bay women of Angela Stephen (singles), Adrienne Reid and Diane Burton (pairs) and Vini Smith, Jocelyn Holten, Gail Duncan, Hein Mack (fours), also showed the centre is a force to be reckoned with its semi-final placing in the national tournament.

They beat Canterbury 2-1 in the quarter-finals with Stephen beating Kirsten Rowe 21-11 and the four winning 22-12. The Bay had three hard-fought matches against eventual winners Auckland in the semi-final but sadly they slipped away - with Auckland winning 3-0. 

Yet, the women's team, coached by former Auckland selector Janice Paap, had every reason to celebrate with the men’s side, proving that the Bay has many of the up and coming bowlers in the country.

Competitors at the National Under 8’s Inter-centre showed complete enthusiasm and commitment as they played their most important tournament. It was their big moment.

The play on the final day at Howick – watched by a large gallery - was exciting, dramatic and of a high standard. Bowlers at this stage of their careers need this type of exposure and experience.

Bay men’s manager/coach Kevin Maxfield said the win was marvellous. ‘’The players had this goal for five years. Our centre didn't enter them last year and they missed out on the tournament when I thought they had a chance.

‘’It was the last opportunity for three players, Stefan (McCartain), Nathan (Arlidge) and Talor, and they came through with flying colours.’’

Centres are now talking about the need to retain the Under 8’s Inter-centre on the national playing programme.