Can anyone stop the Lightning?

Week one of the Rapid Roll Pennants kicked off with a bang, as Pringle Park Lightning and Epsom made early statements in a fast and furious opening night.

Epsom’s Flash Gordon delivered a standout performance against Kevin Morris of Pt Chev and played a major role in Epsom’s upset 26–21 victory over a strong Pt Chev lineup.

In the Pringle Park camp, it was Lightning versus Thunder in a club showdown, and the Lightning struck hard. A dominant 32–15 win set the tone, with Pringle Park controlling the night, winning all three matches and building an impressive +42 differential.

Pt Chev hold second place with two wins and +10, closely followed by the Thunder, also on two wins and +10.

Mt Wellington Magic had a night they will be keen to put behind them. Despite an exciting late surge in the second round, they fell just three shots short against Pt Chev, going down 23–26. Magic will be chasing a bounce-back performance next week as they face fifth-placed Epsom and competition leaders Pringle Park Lightning⚡.

With just six sides in this rapid round robin format, every match matters and the ladder can shift quickly. Pt Chev face both Pringle Park sides next week in a decisive double header, looking to halt the Lightning’s charge while also keeping the Thunder from climbing the table.

The Thunder first take on Otahuhu Railway in round four. Despite managing just one win in week one, Otahuhu showed enough promise to suggest they could trouble any side on their night.

Rapid Roll Pennants is played with teams of eight, competing across four pairs. Matches are just six ends long and typically last around 30 minutes. After each round, all four pairs combine their scores to determine the overall match result using traditional pennant scoring. Fast, social, and fiercely competitive, this format is already delivering plenty of drama.

Stay tuned, because if week one is anything to go by, this competition is only going to heat up.

👉For full results 

The Auckland 1–5 Singles gets underway on 14 & 15 February with 102 emerging players (69 men, 33 women) taking to the greens in pursuit of titles and potential progression opportunities.

A major talking point this year is the evolving performance pathway. With several former 1–5 players now stepping into development rep squads, the field opens up for new contenders, while others eye one final chance to impress selectors ahead of next month’s Octagonal in Tauranga.

In the men’s draw, last year’s runner-up Fraema Akaruru-Teinaki returns as a leading contender, joined by proven singles performers Craig Moffat, Sam Brack, Phillip Garratt and Peter McConnell. The absence of multiple past champions adds an exciting level of unpredictability.

The women’s competition is equally compelling. Defending champion Penny Yam faces a challenging road, with strong opposition from Deanne Bronlund and a stacked Section Five featuring Sacha Collins, Dana Taylor, Adele Nelson and rising talent Christian Ly. Howick’s Lilly Wesche is another name to watch.

Play begins across Auckland on Saturday before all post-section action heads to Carlton Cornwall on Sunday.

 👉 Read full preview  👉Check draws & results 

Sarjeant makes it three for Northland in Taranaki Open

For the third time a team from Northland has won The Devon Hotel Taranaki women’s Open fours. Mangawhai’s Wendy Sarjeant skipped Christine Lineham, Angela Moon and Diane Klomp to become the 74th holders of the Erceg Rose Bowl at West End yesterday. In the final they beat the Royal Oak side of Sandra Taylor, Gail Clark, Robyn Fisher and Lesley McLinden 31-21 in the final.

In doing so, Sarjeant’s team becomes the third team from Kauri country to triumph. Ann Muir QSM skipped teams to back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The final was unusual insofar as McLinden’s side won 13 of the 24 ends completed. The 25th end was not played. 

👉Read Taranaki Bowls full recap

⬇️Third placed: Paula Kempthorne, Janine Browne, Estelle Hickey & Helen Blick

Howick takes the Keys 

-- Kashmira Umrigar

Howick well and truly held the keys at the 26th St Heliers two day Keys Tournament, delivering a standout performance across both finals.

The Open final produced an all-Howick showdown, with the team of Kevin Beasley, Hannah Dawson, Paul Hickey and Simon Gao showing real grit under pressure. Trailing 0–7 early, they dug deep and mounted an impressive comeback to claim a hard-fought 17–11 victory over Neil Fisher’s side, featuring Bryan Chapman, Ian Fisher and Gary Cotton, in a tightly contested and entertaining final.

Howick’s dominance didn’t stop there. In Division 1, the composite team of Phil Taylor, Wade Brealey,  Bruce & Linda Fenton also rose to the occasion, securing the title and rounding out a hugely successful tournament for the club.

With multiple trophies heading back to the same home, it was a weekend to remember for Howick – fins up to the mighty Hammerheads!