Darby runs away with singles title

Keanu Darby
Keanu Darby
Keanu Darby (North East Valley) once again proved he is the player to beat when he won the Bowls Dunedin men’s singles title yesterday.

The 95-strong field began competition at the Taieri Bowling Club greens two weeks ago, reaching the semifinal stage, and because of the calendar, a two-week wait ensued before Darby and fellow semifinalists Geoff Wilson (Kaikorai), Tom Taiaroa (Kaikorai) and Joko Susilo (Andersons Bay) could determine who would play in the final yesterday.

Darby accounted for Wilson 21-9 to book his spot, while a torrid battle took place between Taiaroa and Susilo, Susilo winning a nail-biter 21-20.

The dust had hardly settled before Susilo found himself up against the drawing power of Darby in the final.

Darby scored four shots on the third end to march out to an eight-shot lead after five ends, keeping Susilo scoreless until he dragged one in on the sixth end.

Despite drawing three shots on the eighth end, it was Darby’s ability to score in multiples that kept Susilo locked out and secured the title 21-11 in demanding and damp conditions.

Darby (23) is proving to be one of the most promising young bowlers in Otago. A semifinalist in the Speight’s North East Valley 10,000 at Labour Weekend, he is continued his rich vein of form when playing lead for North East Valley clubmate Roger Stevens to set up victory in the Dunedin Centre men’s pairs in December.

On his way to winning his third Dunedin Centre title, and second for the year, he defeated his clubmate and teammate Stevens 21-12 in the quarterfinals.

The Taieri team of Judy Robertson, Barbara Archer, Wendy Hurring and Jean Young won the Ballard Brooch for women’s interclub competition on Friday afternoon, defeating the Fairfield four of Jacqui Peterson, Barbara Walker, Louise Natta and Judith Trouwer 18-6.


 

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