Twelve men’s and eight women’s teams kept the green at the Rarotonga Bowling Club busy over the past three weeks as they battled in the highly contested Men and Women Triples competition.

A highlight of the competition was the participation of two very young male players – Jonah Akava and Karl Ingaua, who are both 11 years old.

“We were privileged to have these young boys enter the competition,” said Nooroa Teipo, president of the Rarotonga Bowling Club.

The men’s teams were divided into two sections of six, while the women played a round-robin competition.

Teipo said after five rounds of the men’s competition, the top four in each section moved into a knock out competition playing off for the finals.

The finalists were Anthony Turua’s Team versus Harold “JJ” Browne’s Team.

“These two teams fought it out in the finals where Anthony’s team came out the victors,” said Teipo.

The third and fourth placings were played off between Tupou Mahia’s Team and Pio Mitchell’s Team.

For the women’s competition, teams participated in a seven-round round-robin tournament. The team with the most wins was declared the winner, followed by second, third and subsequent placements based on the number of wins.

“However, if two or more teams have the same number of wins, then, their aggregated points are added and the team with the highest aggregated points wins. If the points are equal after this, then, point for and against comes into play to determine the winner,” Teipo said.

The team comprising Tiare Jim, Tai Jim and Tara Aperau won the women’s title with 15 points.

There will be no competition for the next two weeks as the Rarotonga Bowling Club members will be travelling to Aotearoa New Zealand today (Friday) to play against the Bridge Park Bowling Club, the Otahuhu Railway Bowling Club and the Grey Lynn Bowling Club.

The club has also entered four Mixed Triples teams in the Royal Oak Easter tournament.

On Sunday, the travelling players attended the St Joseph’s Cathedral mass for the blessing of their uniforms and goodwill, followed by a hearty island kaikai at Nikao beach.

“Good luck to our bowlers and all the best,” said Teipo.

Results

The Men’s Triple Championship results are as follows. First place - Anthony Turua, Papino Akaruru, Jubilee Mani with 20 points vs Second - Harold “JJ” Browne, Royden Aperau, Arona Ngari with 4 points; Third - Tupou Mahia, Tere Daniel, Vaine Veiao with 24 points vs Fourth – Pio Mitchell, Andrew Reremoana, Matepi Puiri with 4 points.

The Women’s Triple Championship Results are as follows. First place – Tiare Jim, Tai Jim, Tara Aperau with 15 points for win vs Second – Munukoa Purea, Terii Soon, Juliet with 13 point for win +10; Third – Nooroa Mataio, Mareta Teipo, Rausei Tuaine with 13 point for win +9 vs Fourth – Linda Vavia, Christina Paio, Rongo Ingaua with 12 points for win.