The Taranaki women’s Open fours trophy has gone to a Bay of Plenty side.

Sue Hodges, from the Omokoroa club, and a first-time entrant in The Devon Hotel-sponsored event, impressively skipped her team to victory early on Sunday afternoon at Paritutu’s Indoor Complex.

Sue's side, which contained Karen Pickering, Rachelle Morrison and Ruth Lynch, were deserved 30-15 victors over Kaye Bunn’s team from Thames Coast in the final.

Play in the final began outside on the excellent Paritutu front green, but as the morning progressed, a light sprinkle of rain gathered momentum and it made play impossible.

At that time, the action was transferred inside, just as it had been for both of Saturday’s games.

Sue's side had already established a commanding 27-11, after 17 ends, at that point.

Kaye and her team of Molly Galloway, Deborah Gainfort and Val Mathews did their best to get back into the game. The side has fine record of coming from behind to win matches. And when they held a five on the 23th end, they had a sniff.

But Sue calmly drew a shot right behind the jack. Kaye hit a short bowl into the head, dislodging the shot for a count of two. However, with a differential of 15 on the board, and only two ends remaining, she conceded.

The victory by Sue's side was a terrific effort. Both Karen and Rachelle are just second-year players and they came through with flying colours. Ruth, Rachelle’s mother, claimed her third Open title in a distinguished career.

In the semifinals on Saturday, Sue had ended the run of the 2023 winners Lynda Bennett, Judy Marr, Katrina Ensor and Denise Te Momo (Pirongia) 26-9. Kaye defeated the 2023 runners-up Nicole Singer, Lee Singer, Robyn Fisher and Rima Strickland (Royal Oak) 21-20.

Rima led for the duration of the match before Kaye, on an exciting final end, claimed two to win by one shot.

In the quarterfinals, on Saturday morning, Kaye's side eliminated the last Taranaki team Lesley Te Awa, Robyn Klenner, Maree Gadsby and Val Symes (Fitzroy) 23-13.

Meanwhile, in the pairs event, which was finalised in the drizzle on Sunday morning, Terry McAlary and Sue Brady (Pine Rivers, Brisbane) held on to take the title.

Terry and Sue beat Tower’s Alethea Rowlands and Irene Taunt 22-18 in the final.

The Australian duo raced away to a 20-5 lead in the final, before a determined comeback from the Hawera pair saw the deficit reduced to just two points playing the last end.

But Terry and Sue took a two on the last end to become the first winners of the Margaret Cole Trophy. Margaret, who was on hand to present the cup named in her honour through the generosity of Board member Kevin Gray, is a Taranaki bowls legend who represented New Zealand in the 1980s.

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