by Grant Hassall
Briar Atkinson is now officially rated the best under-21 bowler in the country.
The Paritutu player won the national age-grade title, in mixed company, at the Naenae greens in Hutt Valley on Sunday.
It follows a spectacular last 12 months, with many distinctions including the NZ women’s champion-of-champions singles in July.
But just as the case was in her Taranaki Open singles triumph earlier in the month, Atkinson had to grind out victories. It showed a clear ability, again, to win tight, important matches – an excellent attribute for any champion sportsperson.
In the final, Atkinson defeated Canterbury’s Braeden Casware 21-17. After an even opening, Casware edged in front 13-11 and then 17-15. Atkinson dominated the scoring after that, finishing with two braces and two singles to claim the title. It was Casware’s first loss of the weekend, having won his prior six matches.
Atkinson beat Wellington’s Jordan Keene 21-19 in the semifinals and Auckland’s Lee Warburton 21-17 in the prior round.
Rahotu’s Nathan Goodin claimed a bronze medal. He was edged out 21-20 by Casware in the semifinals.
Earlier, in section play, Goodin qualified second from his pool, after four wins from five games. Atkinson, who was also in the same section, lost to both Keene and Goodin, before turning the tables in post section.
Meanwhile the richest bowls event in the province was won by a Fitzroy quartet at the weekend.
The annual Waitoa Beer-sponsored Tower 10,000 proved popular once more with a capacity 32 teams taking part.
The winning team was Lesley Te Awa, Maree Gadsby, Ron Gadsby and Grant Pease. West End’s Garry Murfitt was second with Tower’s Grant Anderson third.
It was Pease’s second big win in Hawera during the week. On Wednesday, at Hawera Park, a composite side of Pease, John Gray, Paul Matheson and Bryce Robins, representing the Coronation Hotel in Eltham, won the three-day north island Licence Victualers Association tournament.
Courtesy of Sports News Taranaki: https://sportsnewstaranaki.co.nz/news-article?id=1685