The 24th Pick n Pay Night Bowls tournament is nearing its end with only the final left to be played. With 40 teams participating throughout the tournament today (Friday 2 March) will see the top two teams in the main and plate events respectively facing off in the finals at the Grahamstown Bowls Club.
The knockout stages of this year’s competition commenced on 26 February, with 16 teams in each event. In the main event, Buco 46 defeated 3/4 Black 19-8, Videotronic toppled Toppies 23-5, Bad Boys pipped Pheasant Pluckers 22-10, and Albany Vikings saw off East Cape Electrical 15-11. The Operational Rats also saw off Angels Forever 19-11, 9 3/4 CC took down Geenet 22-9, Taps Inc slaughtered Settlers 31-3, and, in the last main event quarter-final, IT Hard Drivers downed the Barbarians I 18-3. After this round Buco 46, Videotronic, Bad Boys, Albany Vikings, Operational Rats, 9 3/4 CC, Taps Inc and IT Hard Drivers had qualified for the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Round of 16 matches for the plate teams also took place on Monday, with eight teams advancing to the quarters on Tuesday– Pick n Pay defeated GBS Mutual Bank I 18-14; Settler City Automark 16-9 Fizixs; Four Seasons 18-15 Kenrich; Knock Shop 18-11 St Johns First IV; Makana Brick B 17-13 Makana Brick; and Pam Golding Properties 12-11 Extreme. The Barbarians II drew against Imaginet but went through on points, and HKE Strikers were washed out against Settler City New Cars but went through on points.
There was more great bowling action in the 27 March quarter-finals with Buco 46 booking a place in the semis of the main event, with a 26-9 defeat of Videotronic. Bad Boys saw off Albany Vikings 20-3; Operational Rats had a hard-fought 14-13 victory over 9 3/4 CC; and Taps Inc set up their semi final spot with a 24-7 win over IT Hard Drivers.
The plate event quarters were just as exciting, as all eight teams looked to secure a spot in Wednesday night’s semis. Again, Pick n Pay showed their class in seeing off Settler City Automark 21-12; Knock Shop booked their place with a 17-8 win over Four Seasons; Makana Brick B scraped past HKE Strikers 19-14; and Pam Golding Properties sent The Barbarians home empty handed 20-7.
In the tension-filled semi-finals all four teams in each event could potentially win it all. Buco 46 beat Bad Boys 16-9 in the first main event semi-final, while Taps Inc won 19-12 over Operational Rats would battle in a slightly more high scoring affair. Taps Inc. will play Buco 46 in the final, with their semi-final opponents squaring off for third place.
In the plate event, Pick n Pay were ousted 1809 by Knock Shop while Pam Golding Properties take down Makana Brick B 16-9, in a tough match. The Knock Shop vs Pam Golding Properties plate final will also be in Friday, while Pick n Pay and Makana Brick B duel for third place.
Pick n pay are sending a butcher with prime steaks at a very special price which will be on sale per the “weigh n pay” method. These will be cooked to perfection while fans wait. All night bowls players are urged to attend as there will be plenty of prizes on offer. “The steak braai is open to the public and we would love to see as many people as possible on the evening,” said a spokesman for the club.
Photo: Sue Mclennan
