18-year old Bradley Down went down in a battle of the young guns in the final of the NZ PBA World Indoor Singles qualifier at Club Hastings late last month losing to Hawkes Bay’s 23-year old Dean Drummond in a tight affair 7-7, 9-7. Drummond came through Victoria players in the quarterfinal onward beating Ray Martin, Richard Corry in the semifinal, then Bradley. Bradley also came through Victoria players beating Tim Toomey in the quarterfinal and Laurie Guy in the semifinal.
It was another good weekend for Bradley in his hunt for ranking points to make next year’s Trans-Tasman side as he lost at the quarterfinal in the ranking singles event the previous day as well.
Former Victoria player Stephen Zino won his second qualifier of the season at the Paritutu club in New Plymouth with another dominant display of draw bowls beating Taranaki’s Rhonda Adams in the final. No doubt Stephen will be practicing hard at the Naenae club when the indoor green opens for PBA Finals Weekend in September.