Paritutu have done the double in the triples.
The New Plymouth-based club won both the men’s and women’s open triples titles on Saturday.
In the Abrahams-sponsored women’s event, the victorious side was Briar Atkinson, Bridget Fletcher and Jackie Moeahu. The men’s Andersons Pies-sponsored title went to Darren Goodin, Hamish Kape and Don Christensen.
The victory by Atkinson, who produced a number of excellent shots throughout the day, was a big step in the career of the 17-year-old.
In the final, played at Fitzroy, her side edged away in the second half of the match to beat Opunake’s Pauline Davy, Rita Davey and Chris Commane 20-11.
After Atkinson’s side had led 9-4 after eight ends, Davy’s team levelled the ledger at 10-all after 12 of the scheduled 21 ends.
Atkinson’s front two then found their groove better, with the next five ends going to Paritutu to give them a match-winning 17-10 lead.
It was the third Taranaki title for both Moeahu and Fletcher and a second for Atkinson.
In the earlier semifinals, Atkinson had also pulled away in the second half of the match to beat clubmates Barbara Harvey, Berys Norgate and Amanda Crehan 22-14. Davy needed an extra end to squeeze past New Plymouth’s Heather Thomas, Val Fleming and Jopie Half 19-17.
In the men’s decider at Stratford-Avon, Goodin’s team were emphatic in the final, winning 22-6 over West End’s Garry Murfitt, Darren Scott and Bruce Colgan.
The mood of the match started on the opening end, when Goodin drove off a Colgan shot to secure a four. While Murfitt responded with a single and a two, that was as close as they got. Goodin led 11-3 after six, then 17-4 after 10 ends. Just 16 heads were completed, as Goodin collected his 24th Taranaki title, Kape secured his fourth and Christensen his 12th.
Both Goodin and Murfitt produced some impressive attacking shots in the earlier semifinals. Goodin overcame a small, mid-game deficit to beat Tower’s Anderson brothers, Mark, Grant and Brendan, 21-15. Murfitt held on to beat clubmates Paul Darbyshire, Bruce Hall and Steve Temperton 20-17 after leading by two shots playing the last end.
Meanwhile, Okato claimed the Radius Care-sponsored Taranaki men’s Shield at Vogeltown on Saturday. In a close finish, Okato president and skip Bruce Peacock drew a mighty shot to ensure victory for his side.
Okato finished with four wins and one draw from six games to head off Inglewood (two wins and one draw) and Tower (two wins).