Bowls Bay of Plenty Presents – Year 1-5 Optional Pairs 2023 – Whakatane

As per usual, Whakatane provided a grand exhibition of outstanding bowls at the early season Year

1-5 pairs championship, for the Morgan Solomon trophy . The quality was high and the weather was

great despite a couple of showers on Sunday.

There were some standout games in the quarter finals but it was Bill Morrison against Paul Dench

that stood out the most. It was the skill of Morrison that got his team out of trouble several times

with some last bowl drawing to cut down or take shots off Dench. Morrison winning 17-10.

In the semi finals it was Mike Ashley vs Morrison and Jeff Meekings against Paul Stanley. In the first

semifinal it was an outstanding display by Ashley’s lead Chris Hurt that provided an absolute strangle

hold on the opening ends. This time despite his efforts Morrison was unable to turn the game

around enough, Ashley winning a close encounter 16-12. Meeking’s and team mate Luiz Del Monte

were in fine form throughout the qualifying rounds and post section. In their semi final they both

combined beautifully to dominate the Opotiki team of Stanley and Helen Clark to win 18-3.

The final was a continuation of their domination, this time over Ashley and Hurt, despite conceding

eight shots in the opening two ends. Unfortunately Hurt was unable to carry over his performance

from the semi final. In the end it was a deserving victory to the Omokoroa team of Meekings and

Del Monte 21-14 to emerge champions of the 2023 BOP Junior Pairs.

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