The Tokelau pair of Pale Luka and Peni Panapa came from behind to snatch the gold medal in the men's pairs at the 2024 Oceania Challenge. Photo: New Zealand Bowls
The honours were well-spread on the final day of the 2024 Oceania Challenge bowls international in Auckland at the weekend.
The second Oceania Challenge, an official World Bowls event, featured national teams from Cook Islands, Niue, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga, the Australia Performance Pathway team, and two from New Zealand - an Aotearoa Māori team, and a New Zealand Under-26 team.
Missing was Fiji, who did not send any team to the event.
The Pacific spirits were shown alive and well with Tokelau and the Norfolk Islands, who also claimed their own share of gold at the event.
The Tokelau pair of Pale Luka and Peni Panapa came from behind to snatch the gold medal in the men's pairs.
New Zealand Bowls said the pair had trailed the kiwi combination of Seamus Curtin and Finbar McGuigan in the opening set before scoring four shots late to claim the set.
They then came from 8-2 down in the second set to grab the winning shot with the last bowl and claim the overall victory.
Carmen Anderson, 69, led the fight for Norfolk and showed her experience at the 2024 Oceania Challenge. Photo: New Zealand Bowls
Then it was the Norfolk Island pairing of Carmen Anderson and Shae Wilson who claimed the women's pairs final.
They defeated the New Zealand combination of Briar Atkinson and Olivia Mancer.
Sixty-nine years-young Anderson led the fight for Norfolk and showed her experience, having been a former world champion, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a multi gold medallist at the Asia Pacific Games.
New Zealand Bowls, who hosted the event, said the week was of significant benefit both to the emerging Pacific nations but also the heavyweights like Australia, who won the Oceania Challenge points table on 72 from last year's winner Aotearoa Maori 68 and New Zealand U26 65.
New Zealand lost to the Norfolk Islands in the women's pairs at the 2024 Oceania Challenge. Photo: New Zealand Bowls
Samoa put up a fierce battle in the women's triples finals, holding a 5-2 lead before Australia scored four shots to claim the first set.
The Samoan side fought gamely in the second set, coming back on the final end but could only draw level, which handed Australia a second title for the day.
The World Champion of Champions Singles starts on Tuesday, with representatives from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nuie and Tonga playing.
New Zealand Bowls, who hosted the 2024 Oceania Challenge, said the week was of significant benefit both to the emerging Pacific nations and heavyweights Australia. Photo: New Zealand Bowls
Results
Pairs: Men, Semifinals: New Zealand U26 2 Samoa 0 (12-7, 5-4); Tokelau 2 Aotearoa Māori 1 (6-2, 3-5, 2-1 tiebreak). Final: Tokelau bt New Zealand 7-6, 8-8.
Women: Semifinals: New Zealand U26 1.5 Aotearoa Māori 1 (5-8 7-4 4-0 tiebreak); Norfolk Island 1.5 Australia Pathway 0.5 (8-7, 7-7). Final: Norfolk Island 2-1 9-2, 3-10, 3-2 (tiebreak).
Triples: Men, Semifinals: New Zealand 2 Aotearoa Māori 0 (9-7, 4-3); Australia Pathway 2 Samoa 1 (5-7, 8-3, 2-1 tiebreak). Final: Australia 2 NZ 1 (7-4, 3-8, 2-1 tiebreak). Final: Australia 2 New Zealand 4-7, 8-3, 2-1 (in tiebreak).
Women, Semifinals: Australia Pathway 2 Aotearoa Māori 1 (4-5, 9-4, 7-0 tiebreak); Samoa 2 Norfolk Island 0 (5-4, 11-3). Final: Australia 1.5 Samoa 0.5 (6-5, 6-6)