Peter Ireland won his second consecutive triples title. PHOTOS/FILE
BOWLS
CHRIS COGDALE
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It was a case of deja vu for the Featherston trio skipped by Peter Ireland in the Rosewood Funeral Home Wairarapa Open triples title at the Masterton Bowling Club over the weekend.
Ireland combined with number two Stuart Campbell and lead Les Donovan to win their second straight open triples championship, with the final victory coming against two of the three losing finalists from 2019 – Gary Caffell [skip] and Ronnie Saunders, who were joined by Colin Hutchby for this year’s tournament.
Ireland qualified for the final with a 26-5 victory over Norm Beams from Masterton in the quarterfinals, followed by a 18-17 semifinal win, after an extra end, over Masterton’s Matthew Day.
Caffell defeated Dean Stratford [Masterton] 19-14 in the quarterfinals, and Martinborough’s Gary Muriwai 18-17 in the semifinals.
The Ireland trio were too consistent in the final, claiming the championship with a 21-13 victory.
Featherston completed the double, with the experienced trio of Janelle Frew [skip], Tanya Wheeler [lead], and Maryanne Ashworth winning a one-sided final 28-3 over the Dale Rowe [Featherston] skipped combination, which included two promising teenagers – Olivia Mancer, and Alarna Sweeney.
Wheeler qualified for the decider with an 18-11 win over Masterton’s Makaia Campbell in the semifinals, and Rowe defeated Shirley Hewson 21-14.
This weekend, The Professionals Open Mixed 2-4-2 pairs will be played at Masterton, with 28 duos entered, an increase of six from last year.
Defending champions O’Donovan and Rowe from Featherston will again be among the favourites.
The Scott Mackenzie [Featherston] and Campbell, and the Masterton pairs of Caffell and Alanna Saunders, and Warren and Judith Wyeth, and Martinborough’s Gary and Rozanna Muriwai are other strong combinations.
