For the majority of the women’s final the "local" team of skip Lynda Milne (Invercargill), Christine Buchanan (Queenstown), Angela Johnstone (Hokonui) and Linley
O’Callaghan from the Alexandra Club held off the pre-match favourites team featuring New Zealand reps Val Smith (Nelson), Deb White (Hinuera), Ashleigh Jeffcoat and Kimberley Hemingway (both Carlton Cornwall).
The Smith team held an early lead of 6-0 after three ends and then went out to 12-5, thanks to scoring a four and then a five.
However, the southern side was not about to give up and gradually fought its way back to level the scores with some tight bowling.
From there the scores climbed gradually to 14 apiece, and then finally a two gave Smith’s team a break to 16-14, and from there on they were able to push ahead and take the title on the 18th end.
It was the third fours title for skip Smith, a multiple world champion and Commonwealth Games medallist in a well-balanced team. Her teammates all claimed their first national title.
In the men’s tournament numerous big name teams made it through to the post section; however, each was slowly eliminated.
Combinations skipped by Graham Skellern, Taylor Horn and Sheldon Bagrie-Howley all fell.
Throughout the men’s final team Greaney led, and at one stage it looked like his side could race away with the title as it went to a 10-1 lead.
However in a slow but steady fashion, the Gregory-led side edged its way back, including a five on the 15th end to bring them within two, with the score at 16-14.
The consistency of Greaney finally told though — the side produced a three on the 16th end and then enough on the 17th and 18th to take a 22-14 triumph — but only after a few nerves in the sunny but blustery conditions at the Alexandra club.
Earlier in the semifinals, the Greaney team defeated the Craig Merrilees side 16-13, while Gregory’s team accounted for the Stephen Sanders side 22-7.
By: Staff reporter
