Makos triumph in South Is fours

Andre Smith, skip of the Nelson-Marlborough Makos men's four in action during the final of the South Island Open Fours at the Taieri Bowling Club yesterday. Looking on is opposing skip Joko Susilo (Andersons Bay). The Makos defeated Andersons Bay 26-13 to
Andre Smith, skip of the Nelson-Marlborough Makos men's four in action during the final of the South Island Open Fours at the Taieri Bowling Club yesterday. Looking on is opposing skip Joko Susilo (Andersons Bay). The Makos defeated Andersons Bay 26-13 to win the title. Photo: Wayne Parsons
The Havelock-Marlborough Makos completed a clean sweep of the inaugural South Island Open Fours at Taieri Bowling Club yesterday.

Andre Smith and former Black Jack Shayne Sincock
teamed up with Nelson pair Murray Scott and Gary Watson to claim the title.

The foursome went through the five days of competition undefeated, overcoming the Joko Susilo-skipped Andersons Bay quartet 26-13 in the final.

Andersons Bay lost little with Bobby Johnson coming into the team as an 11th hour replacement lead for Grant Simpson. Johnson proved somewhat of a crowd favourite as he went head-to-head with Scott, the Makos' lead.

But despite Johnson doing an excellent job with Andersons Bay's first two bowls, Scott was blindingly accurate and hardly off the jack all game.

Scott has proved somewhat multi-skilled in fours competition, also proving in the past to be a more than worthy skip for Nelson.

''I understand what my mate up the other end needs, so I've just go to get it in as handy as I can,'' he said.

''They're all quality guys, these guys, so I know they'll take care of the rest.

''But to be fair, none of these guys can lead, so it fell on me.

''They can't throw jacks.''

Smith proved somewhat of a heart-breaker for Susilo and local supporters.

Time after time, just as Susilo appeared to regain control of the head, Smith replied in kind with a draw bowl of his own or his ability to drive with deadly accuracy.

Such was the intensity over the five days of competition both finalists were counting their blessings after close-encounters in semifinal play.

The Andersons Bay four survived a late resurgence from Rod Fleming's Taieri quartet that included Ken Walker, Karl Mason and and Phil Austin, to win a nail-biter 25-24.

It was a similar match in the other semifinal in which the Makos secured a place in the final with a great escape, defeating the Kerry Beck's (Canterbury) skipped composite team that included Jonty Halwell (Kaikorai), Keru Rupene (Taieri) and Paddy Stewart (Canterbury) 25-20.

But come the final, the Makos were all business, getting away to a cracking start to hold a 21-2 lead after 13 ends. But it was to be another five ends before the Makos were able to trouble the scorers again, as the Andersons Bay quartet showed signs it could claw its way back into contention.

With the Makos drawing a further five shots on the 19th and 20th ends, it proved enough to put the game out of reach. Andersons Bay conceded defeat after 22 of the mandatory 25 ends.

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