Bowls representatives keeps hot streak alive

Nelson’s top bowlers have claimed their second National Intercentre title in as many years.

The seven-woman team of Kirsten Edwards (fours skip), Jo Collis, Amy McIlroy, Barbara McGregor, Val Smith (pairs skip), Kay Hammond and Jo Edwards (singles) were in top form as they stormed through the field, winning the final against Northland with an unblemished record.

Each match consists of three games: fours, pairs, and singles. To progress, the winning team must win two of the three games.

Having progressed through section play with a perfect five-win record, Nelson faced Marlborough in the quarter-finals and were given a run for their money but won all three games.

That saw the team face Waikato in the semi-final, where they had to fight back after losing the fours, with Jo Edwards taking the win in the singles while Val Smith and Kay Hammond came from behind to win the pairs in the last leg.

The final saw a strong performance, with the pairs winning comfortably and the fours winning from behind in the last leg, with Jo’s single game finished early because the match was already decided with her up 24-19 in a race to 25.

Coach Dave Edwards says that while back-to-back titles have been done before, it’s a remarkable achievement for the team.

“We’ve obviously got a huge target on our backs. I wouldn’t say it’s presuming (we’ll do well), we’ve just got our own standards.

“It’s the third time in four years Nelson has won the event.”

He says the win was a team effort, with “no I’s”, which has been a large part of their recent success.

“All seven players shone at various stages.

“They know what they’ve got to do. They’ve prepared well and executed well, and I’m super proud to be associated.

“I’ve coached New Zealand teams for 10 years, with obvious tremendous success, but this Nelson women’s team sits high on my list of really good memories.”

He says the win was even more special as they played in the memory of their former team mate, Colleen Earl, having attended her funeral in the weeks before the tournament.

“We very much had her in our thoughts. We were doing it for ourselves in Coll’s memory.”

With the team expected to stay largely together into the future, Dave says there’s no reason they couldn’t do it again.

However, he believes one of the reasons the sport is so popular is that anyone can win on their day.

The tournament marks the end of local bowls’ representative season, but there is still some action on the cards.

Stoke’s men's and women’s teams have earned their qualification into the National Interclub Sevens Competition, which is played in Auckland over the first weekend of April, while local fixtures see their champions crowned.