There was plenty to celebrate for the Hammerheads last weekend. The 1–5 space is clearly an area Howick Bowling Club, its coaching volunteers, and its player group have invested real time and energy into, and the results speak for themselves.
In the women’s 1–5 Triples, a reduced field did little to dampen the quality on display. The Royal Oak trio skipped by Nicole Singer may well have entered as the favourites, based on past results and representative experience, but Howick, skipped by Lea Hooper, made an immediate statement, taking the opening round match 16–15.
The top qualifier was the Carlton Cornwall trio skipped by Tania O’Leary, the only women’s team to win all four qualifying matches. In the post-section, they met Singer’s trio in the semi-final. Despite Carlton Cornwall’s top-seed status, Singer’s team took control on Sunday at Remuera, building a commanding lead and advancing to the final with a 25–12 victory.
The other semi-final was much tighter, as Hooper’s Howick side faced the home team from Remuera trio skipped by Kim Lapslie, creating a real buzz. It was a great reminder that there is real depth and talent in the 1–5 ranks, including players we may not always see regularly at centre level. Unfortunately for the home side, Howick held their nerve when it mattered most, closing out the match and booking their place in the final.
With the Champ of Champs Singles completed nearby and the Howick supporters gathering in force, the women’s final had a fitting sense of occasion. Royal Oak again pushed hard, but Howick found a way to finish the job, claiming the title with a 20–17 victory.
In the men’s event, the post-section field was stacked, and by Sunday morning, it genuinely felt like anyone’s title to win. In the quarterfinals, the Otahuhu Railway trio, skipped by Fraema Akaruru-Teinaki, overcame Steve Fisher’s Royal Oak side in an exceptional extra end, where the shot changed with almost every skip’s bowl. Nick Cape’s Mt Albert side had an epic battle with Crawford Blair’s Glendowie trio, with many onlookers attributing Mt Albert’s success to Mark Posa’s outstanding lead bowls. Meanwhile, Pt Chevalier’s Shaun Goldsbury and Howick’s David Weir both made light work of their quarter-final opponents to advance.
The semi-finals were much closer affairs. Howick edged past Mt Albert by a single shot, while Ōtāhuhu Railway eliminated Pt Chevalier 20–16 to set up a highly anticipated final.
With club pride, momentum, and a little extra nuance on the line, Howick took control under the lights. Against an in-form Ōtāhuhu Railway side, Weir’s trio produced a comprehensive performance, running out 25–10 winners and securing another title for the Hammerheads.
It was a memorable weekend for Howick, and a strong showcase of the growing strength, depth, and competitive edge within Auckland’s 1–5 ranks.
👉Check full results here
