Entering the final weekend, the leaderboard was a logjam. Four teams remained in contention for the title, but it was the league leaders, Kia Toa, who faced the most agonising afternoon. Forced to sit out the final round with a bye, they could only watch the scores trickle in, hoping their lead would hold.
The task for Waimate was clear but daunting: they needed two outright wins against Temuka on away turf to leapfrog the competition. Having previously split the honours during their first-round meeting in Waimate, the pressure was on for the 125-kilometre round trip.
The Waimate men rose to the occasion, delivering two masterclass performances to secure the maximum points required. When the final tallies from across the region were confirmed, the celebration began. The journey home was reportedly filled with cheers, laughter, and excitement as the players realised they had officially bypassed Kia Toa and held off a late charge from Pleasant Point.
The victory is particularly sweet given the gruelling nature of the competition. The Frank Morgan Shield is contested over 18 rounds, making it the most extensive club competition format in New Zealand.
Playing two-bowl triples with a six-player roster, the Waimate side showed remarkable consistency over the long haul. The championship-winning squad was comprised of Warren Taylor, John Ellis, Laurence Davis, Tony Whiting, Jock Greenlaw, Paul Radburn, and Rosina Beker. This victory also marks a significant changing of the guard in the division, finally ending a three-year dominance by the Geraldine club.
Final Standings: 1st Waimate 40 points; 2nd Pleasant Point 2 38 points; 3rd Kia Toa 36 points; 4th Pleasant Point 1 34 points; 5th Geraldine 32 points; 6th Timaru 1 31 points; 7th Timaru 2 30 points; 8th Temuka 27 points; 9th Fairlie 20 points. — Richie Kerr
