The Canterbury Men's Senior team brought their A game to Timaru with a convincing win in the Quadrangular against South Canterbury and North Otago at West End on Sunday 3rd December.

The Canterbury team have been outplayed the last 3 years but brought a stronger squad with them this year and the troops preformed brilliantly. Hopefully for the game of bowls this is a great sign for Canterbury with the players sticking to their provinces, as they have proven in the past they are one of the strongest Intercentre teams in New Zealand.

The only unbeaten player on day in the Seniors was Canterbury’s Hamish Wilson,  who destroyed his opposition with outstanding bowls.

For South Canterbury the Pair of Scott Fisher and Dean Harper had 2 wins with a great win against Canterbury’s Kelvin Scott and Hamish Kelleher. Tom Taiaroa in the Singles had another outstanding game against Joseph van der Pennen and after the bell went the players could not be separated with a 20 all draw. Tom continued his good form with a win against North Otago, but Hamish Wilson was too good on the day in the third game.

The Pairs of Sean O’Neill and Marshall Stoddart lost there first 2 games against Canterbury by the slimmest of margins, the first against Rohan Ware and Liam Eathorne on drive after the bell had gone, and some magic bowls by Nathan Glasson and Matt Small in the second, but came back fighting in the last round against North Otago with a solid win.

In the Fours Ricky Ross, Mitchell Dunbar, Richie Kerr, and  Roger Glendinning destroyed the North Otago four in the first game and had 2 solid performance’s against Canterbury, going down in both games after the bell had gone with one end to play. Mitchell Dunbar had a solid performance at number three in his debut for the Seniors.

South Canterbury results

Singles

Tom Taiaroa Drew 20 all, Canterbury Red Won 25 TO 7 North Otago 25 to 18, Lost Canterbury Black 25 to 9

Pairs - Scott Fisher, Dean Harper

Won 24 to 13 North Otago, Won 18 to 14 Canterbury Black, Lost 15 31 Canterbury Red

Pairs - Sean O’Neill, Marshall Stoddart

Lost 16 19 Canterbury Black,  Lost 13 14 Canterbury Red, Won 14 10 North Otago

Fours - Ricky Ross, Mitchell Dunbar, Richie Kerr, Roger Glendinnng

Won 22 to 6 North Otago, Lost 9 to 12 Canterbury Black, 14 16 Canterbury Red

Senior Points

Canterbury Black 27

Canterbury Red 18

South Canterbury 16

North Otago 9

- Richie Kerr 

The South Canterbury Development team were close to pulling off another sensational win in the Quadrangular on Sunday on the West End greens. They finished 3rd overall, but managed to beat winners Canterbury Black 3 games to 1 which is an outstanding achievement for the province's Development bowlers.

In the Singles Dinga Andrew Bell made his debut for South Canterbury and to be fair, he was thrown in with the Sharks, but was growing with confidence as day went on.

In the Pairs, once again the duo of Mike Crook and Aaron Taylor won all their games with a solid performance from the pairing and remain one of South Canterbury Development's top pairing. The other Pair of Jarod Barker and Phil Quinn also had a great day with 2 wins.

In the Fours, the ever reliable Jarrod Trevathan, Gareth Burgess, Paul Brohan, and Jason Browning found the going tough in the first 2 games but they bounced back with a great win over Canterbury Black in the last game. Paul Brohan also made his debut for South Canterbury.

The only other player that remained unbeaten was Canterbury Black's Singles player Rodney Downs, which is an outstanding effort

South Canterbury

Singles -  Andrew Bell

Lost Canterbury Black 9 to 25, Lost North Otago 14 to 25, Lost Canterbury Red 17 to 22

Pairs - Mike Crook and Aaron Taylor

Won Canterbury Red 16 to 14, Won Canterbury Black 25 to 15, Won North Otago 19 to 14

Pairs - Jarod Barker and Phil Quinn

Won North Otago 24 to 7, Lost Canterbury Red 9 to 23, Won Canterbury Black 16 to 15

Fours - Jarod Trevathan, Gareth Burgess, Paul Brohan, and Jason Browning

Lost North Otago 12 to 17, Lost Canterbury Red 3 to 23, Won Canterbury Black 14 to 9

- Richie Kerr

Women’s Development and Senior Quadrangular

Good hot weather started the day for the quad held at the Temuka greens recently, turning to a southerly then cold, but the games continued with the following results between South Canterbury, North Otago, Canterbury Black, and Canterbury Red.


These games consisted of a single player, 2 pairs and a four.


Some very good bowls were played by all teams, some better than others but that is sport.


In the Development team, Singles player, Carolynn Darby won her last game against Canterbury Black 25-21, her 1st game against Canterbury Red was close at 18-25, and the 2nd game was closer still at 21-25, but bowls were very good from both players.


The 1st Pair Carol Fowler and Chrissy Herbert gelled well together, drawing lovely bowls winning 2 of their 3 games, 18-6 against Canterbury Black, and 25-11 against North Otago. losing 9-16 to Canterbury Red.


The 2nd Pair of Lyn Wilkie and Caroline Marshall won 2 of their 3 games, with their 1st game against North Otago, 17-9, won their 2nd game, 14-10 against Canterbury Black, and 3rd game lost 6-21 to Canterbury Red.


The Fours of Sandra Sutton, Vicky Nicholson, Lyn Hodges, and Barbara McIntosh lost all games but had played some good shots but could not keep them.  Scores were 1-27 against North Otago, 10-19 against Canterbury Black, and 5-16 against Canterbury Red.


Overall, our South Canterbury teams struggled as there were a few changes to teams and this showed in some games.


Canterbury Red took out the Helen Lightfoot Trophy with 24 win pts, 2nd was North Otago on 18 win pts, 3rd was Canterbury Black with 15 win pts, and 4th was South Canterbury with 15 win pts but had a Differential of minus 24 to Canterbury Black’s minus 4.


The Senior teams saw Barbara Tiffen playing Singles winning 2 from 3 games, 25-17 from Canterbury Red, 25-16 from North Otago and losing to Canterbury Black 12-25.


The 1st pairs saw Sam McAulife and Shelly McGrath play some great bowls but just missed keeping them as shots.  Game 1 was a loss of 9-19 against Canterbury Black, lost 11-20 against Canterbury Red and lost 16-20 against North Otago.


The 2nd pairs of Sharon Leonard and Janice Williams lost their 1st game to North Otago, 9-24, won their 2nd game from Canterbury Black in a very close finish,17-16, and losing their 3rd game to Canterbury Red, 12-23.


The Fours of Bridget Kitching, Rana Crabtree, Julie McAuley, and Maria Davey lost all 3 games, 10-15 to North Otago, 12-15 to Canterbury Black, and 10-18 to Canterbury Red.

Overall, Canterbury Red took out the Bett Prattley Trophy, with 30 win pts, from Canterbury Black on 21 win pts, North Otago was 3rd on 12 win pts, and South Canterbury 4th on 9 win pts.


A bit of a disappointing result from the South Canterbury Seniors and Development, but sport is sport, and to get a winner there has to be a loser.


Temuka was thanked for hosting, good greens and wonderful catering.  All were wished a Merry Christmas and safe journey home.


- Raewyn Crowe