Auckland once again defended the Battle of the Bridge at Browns Bay on Sunday, sealing a commanding overall victory against North Harbour in one of the calendar’s most anticipated representative clashes.

Strong performances across all grades underpinned a comprehensive 56–28 win, highlighted by a standout 1–5 Year Men’s effort, where Auckland claimed 11 of the 14 rink points on offer. The Premier Women followed with 10.5 points, while the Premier Men finished locked at seven points apiece after a fiercely contested match-up. Each of the remaining Auckland sides secured the majority of available points in their respective grades.

Men’s Premier: A proper arm wrestle

The Men’s Premier delivered the tight, tactical battle expected from two well-matched squads. North Harbour, bolstered by three former Auckland representatives made a sharp start in the singles, taking five wins. The intense heat on the Browns Bay carpet added another challenge during the fours, but Auckland steadied and claimed both games to swing momentum their way. The pairs produced more nail-biting finishes, with the centres splitting points evenly and the overall contest ending all square.

Men’s Premier & Development Head Selector Peter Blucher said, “It was a solid performance from the Men’s Premier and Development teams. Sharing the initial singles round, then pulling ahead in the teams rounds that followed. North Harbour provided some tough competition, and it was good to see our teamwork come to the fore in the later rounds. Another positive step as we build towards Inter Centre in March.”

Women’s Premier:  Youth and experience lead the way

Auckland’s Women’s Premier side produced one of the performances of the day. Viewed by some as underdogs, fielding emerging players against North Harbour’s seasoned lineup the side showed composure, maturity, and depth across all three disciplines. Their ability to convert pressure into points at key stages proved decisive, reinforcing the strength and continued growth of the women’s programme at the midpoint of the season.

Development Grades: Depth on display

Auckland impressed across both Development grades. The Men’s Development team posted a 9.5–4.5 win, built on strong singles results, two fours victories, and sharp execution in the pairs.

The Women’s Development side mirrored that consistency, delivering a 9–5 win through five singles triumphs, plus solid returns in the fours and pairs.

Women’s Premier & Development Head Selector Trish Croot said, “The ladies delivered an outstanding result, demonstrating impressive resilience, teamwork and composure in pressure situations against a very strong North Harbour squad. We couldn’t be happier, especially with the number of new players across both teams, including six who are still 1–5 Year bowlers. The improvement since our first outing in October is phenomenal.”

1–5 Year: Future stars shine

Auckland’s future talent followed a similar script to the other squads. The Men’s 1–5 Year side took an authoritative 11–3 victory, starting with six singles wins before sweeping all four pairs, the only side across the fixture to record a pairs clean sweep.

The Women’s 1–5 Year match followed a similar pattern: the fours were shared early before Auckland pushed ahead on grass in the afternoon, taking six singles and splitting the pairs to complete a strong win.

Head Selector Robyn Reihana added, “Our squads came together, play with a shared purpose and passion, and delivered a successful performance. We’re so proud of the team; it was amazing to watch their achievements on Sunday.”

A key marker in the season

Beyond the scoreboard, the Battle of the Bridge served as an important performance checkpoint for both centres as preparations build towards the Octagonals and Inter Centre events early next year. The day delivered everything we expected and more –tests of composure and execution under pressure were invaluable.

Bowls Auckland acknowledges Bowls North Harbour and Browns Bay Bowling Club for their outstanding hosting, along with the umpires, volunteers, and supporters who helped make the day a success.

The depth and consistency shown across all grades provide a strong platform as Auckland’s performance squads now shift their focus toward the next phase of the campaign.