Point Chevalier Pirates Set Sail With Women's Pairs Title

Point Chevalier Pirates Set Sail With Women's Pairs Title at NZ Open

Spurred on by vocal supporters from the Point Chevalier bowling club, skip Aggie Motu (Pt Chevalier) and Kirsty Hill (Mangere) gave the Pt Chevalier Pirates what they wanted – a win for clubmate Motu and honorary pirate Hill in the women's pairs at The Trusts NZ Open 2013.

It was a tense game that rolled back and forth between the Motu-Hill duo and a Thames Coast pairing of Val Mathews (skip) and Dolly Welch, that is until the eighth end which notched three points for the local women (8-5) at Henderson Bowls in Auckland.

A four on the next end extended their lead to 12-5, bringing forth more waving of the 'Jolly Roger' and an avalanche of 'arrghhs', in true piratical fashion. The duo maintained their lead and finished in style on the fourteenth end with a five that secured them the title and a 20-10 win over the women from Thames Coast.

“It's great to have all our supporters here, and a big thanks to them all for coming out,” Motu said as she accepted the honours alongside her lead at the tournament.

“Kirsty played really well throughout the tournament and was awesome throughout.”

Similarly tense yet mixed with episodes of levity, the men's pairs final featuring Rob Ashton (skip) and Barclay Lee (Composite) versus a composite team of Alvin Gardiner (skip) and Pat Houlahan ended with a well-deserved title going to the Ashton pair 18-10.

Rolling back and forth on the scoreboard in another tit-for-tat game, Ashton and Lee took control of the game in the fifth end with a three that put them in the lead 7-5 and inspired a mid-rink jig from Ashton. The veteran bowling side then chipped away at the opposition by taking singles in the next four ends to open up an 11-5 lead.

Gardiner, a multiple national title holder in the National Open fours (2010) and pairs (2012), and Houlahan fired back with three ends of their own to bridge the gap 10-11, but some superb draw shots from both Lee and Ashton earned the victors a three and four before the game was called on the fourteenth end, 18-10.

Tomorrow the women's triples final will start the day at 8:30am, and will be followed by the much anticipated women's and men's singles finals at Henderson Bowls.

Results

Ryman Healthcare Women's Pairs Final
Aggie Motu (s), Kirsty Hill (Pt Chevalier) bt Val Mathews (s), Dolly Welch (Thames Coast) 20-10.
Winners: Aggie Motu (s), Kirsty Hill (Pt Chevalier)

Ryman Healthcare Men's Pairs Final
Rob Ashton (s), Barclay Lee (Composite) bt Alvin Gardiner (s), Pat Houlahan (Composite) 18-10
Winners: Rob Ashton (s), Barclay Lee (Composite)

Finals Schedule

Friday, November 15, 2013
8:30am - Women's Triples
Karen de Jongh (s), Bev Crowe, Diane Hazelton (Composite) vs Margaret O'Connor (s), Linley O'Callaghan, Margaret Buchanan (Composite)
11:30am - Women's Singles
Kirsten Griffin (Defending Champion) vs Karen de Jongh (Carlton Cornwall)
2:30pm - Men's Singles
Neil Fisher (Howick) vs Tony Fabling (Hillcrest)
ends

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