Bowls: Craig achieves indoor bowls perfection

Biddy Craig
Biddy Craig
Biddy Craig has had a new lease on life and won all her six games in the inter-centre triangular indoor bowls match at Balclutha at the weekend.

It was the first time she had remained unbeaten in a representative match in her 32 years playing the sport.

Craig's performance helped South Otago put pressure on Southland and come close to beating its southern neighbour.

Southland won the annual event in Balclutha with 92.5 points. It was followed by South Otago on 89 and Central Otago on 34.5.

Craig and Southland's Stephen Langley were the only bowlers to win all their six games.

"I'm very chuffed to do this, especially against Southland, because they are a strong team,'' Craig said.

"I won five games last year, but this is the first time I've won all six.''

Each member of the team plays two games of singles, pairs and fours in the competition.

Craig has won only three South Otago titles, but her game has blossomed over the last two years and she is now playing the best bowls of her career.

Craig shifted from the family sheep farm to Balclutha 10 years ago when her husband, Trevor, was killed in a tractor accident.

She is one of 10 South Otago bowlers named in the combined South Otago-Central Otago indoor bowls team to play the North Island in Cromwell on Friday. Craig is third in the women's fours team skipped by Eileen Grant.

The other unbeaten member of the South Otago team was Alanna Preddy, who won four games and had two draws. David Grant and Shona Preddy had five wins.

Two Southland juniors, Caleb Hope and Hannah Wilson, were also unbeaten with five wins and a draw.

The best performed Central Otago player was Gloria Hurley with three wins. She will skip the women's triples team against the North Island.

Mat Begg, the winner of 30 Central Otago titles, is the combined team's men's singles player against the North Island.

A strong Dunedin based Otago team will play the North Island at the Otago Indoor Bowls Stadium on Sunday.

 

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