PORT Natal Bowls continues to serve up competitive action, camaraderie and emerging talent, with the district’s popular Midweek Mixed Trips tournament producing a nail-biting finish, Westville Bowling Club celebrating a successful weekend, and three PNB rising stars earning valuable national development opportunities.
MIDWEEK TRIPS: THREE PLAYERS, TEN ENDS AND NO ROOM FOR ERROR
The PNB Midweek Mixed Trips tournament is gaining momentum, and with good reason. For bowlers with a free Wednesday afternoon, it offers the perfect blend of competition, friendship and tactical battles in which every bowl counts.
Sponsored by Mount Edgecombe Country Club, the tournament featured five games played over three weeks, with rounds hosted by Mount Edgecombe, Hillary, Durban Collegians and Firwood. The short, 10-end format leaves little room for mistakes: one disastrous end can turn a promising game into an uphill battle. The format also allows competitors to enjoy two games in an afternoon.
Five section-winning combinations advanced to the play-offs. They were John and Olivia Damen, alongside Solly Mogola (Umhlali); Ina Beavon, Minnette Hatton-Jones and Rod McFadden, with Chris Strover as reserve (Umhlanga); Linda Tolmay, Denise Whitehorn and Troy McDowell (Umhlali); Peter Garrett, Lindsay North, and Lindsay and Gail Jennings (Westville CC); and Jay Tilakdharee, Umi Premjee and Lorna Drake (Durban Collegians).
Garrett’s Westville combination overcame Beavon’s trio in the semi-final, while Tilakdharee’s Durban Collegians team defeated the Damens and Mogola to secure the other place in the final.
The final delivered a tense, closely fought contest. Westville CC maintained a narrow advantage throughout, but Durban Collegians refused to surrender, keeping the pressure on until the final bowls were delivered. Garrett’s trio eventually prevailed by just one shot, winning 7–6.
It was a fitting finale to a tournament built on competitive spirit and camaraderie, proving that ten ends can deliver more than enough drama.
WESTVILLE WIZARDS HIT THE JACKPOT
Westville Bowling Club once again proved itself a winning host, with competitors and spectators praising the organisation, food, foot-stomping music and hospitality that have become hallmarks of the Westville Wizard’s Spring Tournament.
The weekend’s headline prize was a spectacular R40,000, claimed by local favourites Rod Ward, Matthew Mayo, Russell Funnel and Lance Mansfield. Their winning combination finished three points clear of the runners-up: Wayne Roberts, Dion Audie, Paul White and Bonga Ngcaka.
Photographs shared by Bowls Banter with Tams Douglas capture the competitive action and infectious enjoyment that made the event such a success.
PNB’S NEXT GENERATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE
There is further reason for district pride as Michelle Gerber, Natalie Botha and Keegan Bauristhene attend the Bowls South Africa Emerging Protea Camp at The Nest in the Drakensberg.
The national development programme identifies promising bowlers from across the country and provides intensive technical, tactical and strategic coaching aligned with national and international standards.
Their selection recognises their potential and offers an important opportunity to sharpen their skills alongside some of the country’s most promising emerging bowlers.
PNB is proud to see these three bowlers take the next step in their development.