Auckland has successfully defended both Octagonal titles, delivering a resilient performance across a weekend shaped by testing conditions, tight margins and high-quality opposition and just a touch of good fortune.

With Howick hosting the Premier competition and the Development event at Browns Bay, the stage was set for a full-scale testing ground ahead of Intercentre selection. 

Premier

The Premier Men’s campaign was anything but straightforward. Day one produced a steady start, collecting seven of a possible twelve rink points and two match points, while Northland’s men impressed early, defeating Auckland 2–1 in the opening round before going on to topple Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau, only falling to North Harbour in round four.

Day two told a different story. A lifted Auckland side claimed a crucial 2–1 win over North Harbour – a result that carried extra significance after their recent 7-all draw at the Battle of the Bridge. A commanding 3–0 victory over Waikato combined with a draw between Northland and Far North and North Harbour securing only two rink points in round six, left the final round wide open.

In a dramatic twist, North Harbour fell 1–2 to Counties Manukau. Auckland claimed three rink points against Thames Valley to secure second place overall, while Northland’s 3–0 win over Waikato sealed the top spot in the men’s competition.

Performance Lead Paul MacKinnon highlighted the significance of the weekend as a selection trial under pressure. “With many high-level players across the competitions, the whole weekend was a test. It was excellent to see the hard work and preparation paying off, especially in challenging weather and with a late illness withdrawal to the Premier men’s lineup.”

The Premier Women produced a consistent campaign. After a narrow opening loss to Northland, they responded with a sequence of 2–1 match wins over North Harbour, Bay of Plenty and Waikato to close day one strongly.

Day two followed the same pattern, with further 2–1 victories over Far North and Counties Manukau. A drawn final round against Northland proved decisive, sealing the title by just half a match point, a result that underlined both their composure and depth.

Head Coach/Selector Trish Croot said the outcome reflected their lead-in preparation,
“A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes, and this has paid dividends. For the premier team, this was the final step towards Intercentre in March, and we are extremely proud of their performance.”

Development

The Development Men were the only undefeated side across both competitions. Their campaign included commanding 3–0 victories over Far North, Counties Manukau and Northland, 2–1 wins over Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Thames Valley, and an impressive 2.5–0.5 result over rivals North Harbour.

They finished with 17.5 of a possible 21 rink points, an outstanding 83.33% return. Northland Development finished second with five match points and 12 rink points.

The Development Women were equally impressive, finishing with 6.5 match points and 16 rink points.

The final round draw against Northland came down to the last bowl, with the singles conceding a four after the bell to square the match at 17–all. Throughout the campaign, the side secured maximum three-point wins over Counties Manukau and North Harbour, along with 2–1 victories over Waikato, Far North and Bay of Plenty. They opened the weekend with a strong 2.5–0.5 win over Thames Valley.

For many players, the campaign marked the culmination of a season of structured development. Squad member Jane Field reflected on the environment created within the group. “This year is the first time we have been pushed to excel, shown how to do it and encouraged to be our best. I’ve loved the experience and the team culture.”

Eyes on National Intercentre

With the Development programme now complete for the season, attention turns to National Intercentre, to be hosted in Auckland in partnership with North Harbour next month.

Meanwhile, the 1–5 Year squad will be announced next week ahead of their Octagonal defence in Tauranga. This will be the first Octagonal event hosted outside the greater Auckland region.

Across both events, the weekend delivered exactly what it promised: high-pressure bowls, meaningful selection performances and further evidence of the depth building within Auckland’s representative pathway.

Another proud step – with the biggest stage still to come.

👉View full results here