Bayof Plenty Centre Singles Mens and Womens 2024 Finals Day
We woke up wondering if play would be possible again after heavy rain all week and overnight again, but the Mount Maunganui staff did their magic and had their greens running well again.
The Women’s final was set up for a real ripsnorter after A. Stephen of Omokoroa and K. Hema of Te Puke powered their way to the final 21/14 and 21/13 respectively.
It was A. Stephen that came out of the blocks all fired up setting the length and pace of the game. While both of them stuck to the same side of the rink, K Hema found her line but was playing overs and unders with her length struggling to find the perfect speed for the line. Alternately, it was A. Stephen who, when forced to play the other side of the rink, adapted sooner. This and her determination to win her first centre singles title, was to be the main factor in her classy and outstanding win of21/7.
Meanwhile in the men’s semi finals there was some drama. Unfortunately, S. Ivimey of Arawa, who was having an outstanding tournament had to pull out due to overnight sickness giving local hope and current Mount club champion E. Pattilo a walk through to the final.The other semi final was definitely an exciting one. A.Ouellet of Tauranga South and local hero N.Tomsett of Mount Maunganui were initially playing counter punch ends until half way through the match. It was A. Ouellet who started to make a difference with his up shots finding their range, sitting and pushing their way into the head for shots and extending his lead to over 6 at one stage. But N. Tomsett was not to be outplayed this day and with his back to the wall he came back by playing big shot after big shot to win in a nail biting 21/20.
The men's final was an all out Mount Maunganui final which brought the crowd in. But this was a revenge match for N.Tomsett after losing the club final only a week before to E. Pattilo. N.Tomsett was lying in wait like a lion waiting for his prey to walk by. With no previous play on the green that day E. Pattilo started the game on the backfoot playing overs and unders on his line and while playing good bowls, it was N. Tomsett who came out hunting the jack and never releasing the pressure. While E. Pattilo played some outstanding saves to try to stay in the game, it was N. Tomsett that played with poise and balance to take a deserved victory of21/10.