Umhlali and Hillary scoop Port Natal Bowls pairs titles

Cheryl Waterman

Last Sunday presented challenging weather conditions for the competitors in the men’s and women’s Port Natal Bowls Pairs Championships.

Despite the ominous clouds that had been looming all morning finally releasing their downpour during the finals at Umhlali Country Club, the atmosphere remained electric with anticipation.

As tension soared, excitement reached new heights in the dramatic showdowns between the top four pairs combinations.

Spectators were captivated as both the men’s and women’s finalists put on thrilling performances, embodying the fierce competitive spirit that defines the game.

The winners of the ladies’ pairs and recipients of the Durban and District Bowling Association Cup, Umhlali CC’s Kerry-Anne Perry and Yolande Victor, approached their final against Stella Park’s Glenda Matthews and Natalie Botha with trepidation after enjoying a relatively easy semi-final against Amanzimtoti’s Nicky Stirzaker and Jackie Holdick.

Perry mentioned that she and Victor were pleased with their performance in the tournament but recognised that they would need to give it their all to provide a strong challenge against the Port Natal district A-team members, Matthews and Botha.

The scorecard tells the tale of a fierce contest. By the seventh end, both teams were deadlocked at seven shots each.

The Umhlali ladies then took control, gaining three shots on the eighth end and held their lead until the 15th, when the Stella Park duo fought back with a four-shot gain, tying the game at 16.

However, the resilient Umhlali team responded by winning the next two ends, putting them ahead by four shots going into the final end. Perry recounted the tense moment when Matthews stepped up for her last bowl, with Stella Park holding two shots.

“Glenda delivered a brilliant shot, trailing the jack back towards their bowls. It looked like they had four shots, but one of my bowls off to the side was in the third-shot position. We clinched the title in a hard-fought game,” Perry concluded.

After a monumental semi-final victory against Hillcrest’s Protea Wayne Roberts and his lead Dougie Bashford, by a single shot, Hillary’s Gerdus Beukes and Jarryd Ramsden advanced to the final against Westville BC’s Arnold Muscat and Roger Boulle.

Muscat and Boulle led the scorecard until the eighth end when the Hillary pair seized control. Despite a late surge from Westville, which cut Hillary’s lead to just two shots with five ends to go, Beukes and Ramsden secured three shots in the penultimate end.

Westville managed one shot in the final end, but it wasn’t enough to stop Hillary from claiming the title and the White Horse Rosebowl.

A jubilant Ramsden reflected on their performance, noting that he and Beukes were thoroughly tested throughout the tournament but were thrilled to repeat their 2022 victory. “It’s been over 30 years since the same two bowlers have won the PNB pairs title twice,” he remarked.

Bronze medals went to Amanzimtoti’s Susan Nel and Delysia Mitchley, and Hillcrest’s Wayne Roberts and Dougie Bashford.