New Zealand representatives Aiden Takarua and Leanne Poulson will need strong performances on the last day of section play to press claims for the playoffs at the World Bowls Champion of Champions Singles in Auckland.
Over 50 champion bowlers from 30 nations have descended on New Zealand for the 22nd World Bowls Champion of Champions Singles at the Browns Bay Bowling Club in North Harbour this week.
Southland-based Aiden Takarua, one of the youngest bowlers at the event, dropped his first game today in an exciting clash with the 2019 World Champion of Champions Singles winner Lee Schraner from Australia, but recovered to beat Chi Hong Wong (Macau China) in his second game.
Schraner is the only unbeaten player in section three, with Takarua and Canada’s Pat Bird equal in second place on five wins. They may need two wins from tomorrow’s remaining three games to cement claims for the weekend playoffs.
The three section winners and the runners-up in both male and female will progress to Saturday’s quarterfinals. The third placegetters in the three sections also go through. One will be drawn by lot to progress directly to the quarterfinals while the other two will playoff on Friday afternoon to decide the final qualifier.
“It was a tight battle with Australia today. I played some good bowls but he was really good when it counted most in the tight moments,” said Takarua.
“It was an enjoyable game and I had my chances. I struggled a little to get into the second game but got on a roll in the second set.
“I’ve won five from six but I would expect I will need at least two more wins if not all three tomorrow to get into the playoffs. That would be a real goal for me.
After six rounds in the men’s competition, in section one Malaysia’s world no. 2 ranked Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple has six from seven games joined by Royden Stewart Aperau (Cook Islands) and Wayne Roberts (South Africa) on five wins from six games.
In section two England’s Lewis King is unbeaten with India’s Putul Sonowai, Thailand’s Wattana Kadkhuntod and Welshman Ross Owen all on five wins.
Section three is led by Australian Schraner who has six wins from six with Takarua and Bird both on five.
In the women’s competition, Joy Peyroux (Niue) leads section one unbeaten on five wins ahead of Milika Nathan (Tonga) on four wins while Shae Wilson (Norfolk Island) and Ireland’s Sarah Kelly share third on three wins.
Section two is led by India’s Nayan Moni Saikia unbeaten after five rounds from Australia’s Laini McGorman on four wins with Cook Islands’ Teokotai Rahui Jim and Hong Kong China’s Gloria Ha sharing three wins.
Section three is led by defending champion Anne Nunes (USA) unbeaten on five wins with Stefanie Branfield (England), who has remarkably prevailed in the tiebreak in each of her five victories.
New Zealand’s Leanne Poulson, who started slowly, found form today to beat Thailand in two sets with some strong draw bowls. She will need at least two wins on the final day to press any claims of progressing to the weekend.
The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are all on Saturday.
Results - Men: https://results.mc.worldbowls.com/competition/eac5e39b-eebb-4988-9a34-6f1629b5755a#ladder
Results – Women: https://results.mc.worldbowls.com/competition/75e5ca33-04c0-4d0b-8d8d-f4a67ab606d0#ladder
Pictured above: Aiden Takarua in action at the Browns Bay Bowling Club today. (Credit: David Allen, Inside Bowls Magazine)