Bowls: Plenty of respect and gold star for Kernaghan

Mike Kernaghan with the singles  trophy yesterday. Photo by Bowls NZ.
Mike Kernaghan with the singles trophy yesterday. Photo by Bowls NZ.
All Otago bowler Mike Kernaghan wants from the sport is the respect of his peers.

He got plenty of that - and a shiny gold star - in Auckland yesterday.

Kernaghan (Kaikorai) won the New Zealand singles title for a third time when he pipped Alvin Gardiner (Elmwood, Christchurch) 21-19 on the 23rd end at the Browns Bay club.

It was a fifth national title overall for the former Black Jack - an Otago record - meaning he has joined the exclusive national club to earn a gold star.

''I'm pretty proud, really,'' Kernaghan told the Otago Daily Times.

''A gold star is something that bowlers around the country recognise. It's about having the respect of your peers, and that's really important to me.

''Having a gold star means I've achieved something in the game that I can be quite proud of.''

Kernaghan, who had previously won the New Zealand singles title in 2001 and 2002, became just the fifth bowler in the 100-year history of the national championships to win a hat trick of singles titles.

But it nearly all went horribly wrong in a fluctuating final in perfect conditions. Gardiner raced out of the blocks and led 7-1 after four ends.

''I just couldn't get it going. It's all about controlling the weight and I just couldn't get it right.

''I managed to pick up a couple of shots, and slowly started to get it going well. I played like I had been playing during the week.''

Kernaghan trailed 12-9 after 13 ends before peeling off a wonderful run, picking up 11 unanswered shots over the next six ends.

Game over? Not quite. Gardiner struck it lucky with four shots in the 20th, and added three more to cut Kernaghan's lead to a single point.

Kernaghan held his nerve to get the winning shot on the 23rd end.

It was much more comfortable in Saturday's semifinal, where Kernaghan thumped another multiple national champion, Gary Lawson, 21-5.

Presumably, the thrashing will not be a topic of conversation when Kernaghan and Lawson team up today to begin their title at the fours title.

''Gary's's like me - we're ultra competitive,'' Kernaghan said.

''You get grumpy when you lose but an hour later you get over it. He gave me a big hug at the end of it. We'll be right.''

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