PNB leagues title races tighten
Image: Supplied
With the business end of the bowls league season fast approaching, the race for top honours in both the men's and women's first divisions is reaching fever pitch. After round 5 in the men's league and round 3 in the women's, the battle lines are firmly drawn — and with just two rounds to go, the stakes couldn't be higher.
In the men's first division, Westville Bowling Club continued their dominant run, racking up a solid 25 points last weekend to cement their position at the top of the log. Their total of 62,5 points puts them 6 points ahead of second-placed Parkhill, who walked away with 21,5 points from their two weekend encounters.
Still clinging to third place is Umhlali Country Club, who added 18 points to their tally but now trail Parkhill by a growing margin.
Westville will host Umhlali and Stella Park on home greens in the final two rounds — an advantage they will no doubt look to exploit. Parkhill, meanwhile, face Hillary away and Hillcrest at home, in their effort to narrow the gap. With everything to play for, the remaining fixtures promise nail-biting finishes.
Umhlali CC's 2024 KZN silver medallists are going for gold in 2025. Yolande Victor, Jill Hackland, Cheryl Mostert and Susan Nel with sponsor Sandra van Rij from Amberglades. | Supplied
Image: Supplied
The women's first division is proving equally intense. Newcomer Mount Edgecombe is the surprise frontrunner, holding a slender 1,5-point lead over Hillary, with Amanzimtoti just 1,5 points further back. With only 3 points separating the top three teams, the final rounds could reshuffle the entire leader board.
In the penultimate round, Mount Edgecombe face a determined Umhlali side, while Hillary meet Amanzimtoti in what could be a decisive clash. The final round is set up for fireworks, with Mount Edgecombe and Hillary, currently first and second, squaring off. Will the standings hold, or are we in for a dramatic upset on 2 August?
In the men's second division, it's Durban BC who hold the promotion advantage, sitting on 54,5 points — 5,5 points clear of Bluff BC. With three rounds left to play, including a double-header weekend on 2 and 3 August, anything can still happen. Brace yourselves — the final stretch of the league season is shaping up to be unforgettable
Meanwhile, congratulations go to Westville BC 'E', who has wrapped up their season on a high by topping the seventh division and securing promotion to the sixth.
As league action pauses this weekend, all eyes turn to the KZN Fours, hosted this year by PNB - promising high-calibre play and fierce competition. The men's sectional rounds are set for Hillary, Parkhill and both Westville clubs, while the ladies take to Umhlanga, Parkhill, Hillary and Westville CC.
Among the star-studded entries are the reigning men's champions from Westville BC — Paul White, Arnie Muscat, Troy Garland and Richard Hendicott who will play their sectional games at Westville CC as they gun for back-to-back titles. The 2024 silver medallist ladies' team from Umhlali— Susan Nel, Cheryl Mostert, Jill Hackland and Yolande Victor — are also reuniting and playing at Umhlanga with gold in their sights. Sectional playoffs will take place on Sunday, with the finals rounds to be held on Monday 28 July at Westville CC.
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IOL News
24-07-2025
- IOL News
PNB leagues title races tighten
Westville BC's 2024 KZN fours champions are looking for a back-to-back win. Troy Garland, Richard Hendicott, Paul White and Arnie Muscat with sponsor Sandra van Rij from Amberglades. | Supplied Image: Supplied With the business end of the bowls league season fast approaching, the race for top honours in both the men's and women's first divisions is reaching fever pitch. After round 5 in the men's league and round 3 in the women's, the battle lines are firmly drawn — and with just two rounds to go, the stakes couldn't be higher. In the men's first division, Westville Bowling Club continued their dominant run, racking up a solid 25 points last weekend to cement their position at the top of the log. Their total of 62,5 points puts them 6 points ahead of second-placed Parkhill, who walked away with 21,5 points from their two weekend encounters. Still clinging to third place is Umhlali Country Club, who added 18 points to their tally but now trail Parkhill by a growing margin. Westville will host Umhlali and Stella Park on home greens in the final two rounds — an advantage they will no doubt look to exploit. Parkhill, meanwhile, face Hillary away and Hillcrest at home, in their effort to narrow the gap. With everything to play for, the remaining fixtures promise nail-biting finishes. Umhlali CC's 2024 KZN silver medallists are going for gold in 2025. Yolande Victor, Jill Hackland, Cheryl Mostert and Susan Nel with sponsor Sandra van Rij from Amberglades. | Supplied Image: Supplied The women's first division is proving equally intense. Newcomer Mount Edgecombe is the surprise frontrunner, holding a slender 1,5-point lead over Hillary, with Amanzimtoti just 1,5 points further back. With only 3 points separating the top three teams, the final rounds could reshuffle the entire leader board. In the penultimate round, Mount Edgecombe face a determined Umhlali side, while Hillary meet Amanzimtoti in what could be a decisive clash. The final round is set up for fireworks, with Mount Edgecombe and Hillary, currently first and second, squaring off. Will the standings hold, or are we in for a dramatic upset on 2 August? In the men's second division, it's Durban BC who hold the promotion advantage, sitting on 54,5 points — 5,5 points clear of Bluff BC. With three rounds left to play, including a double-header weekend on 2 and 3 August, anything can still happen. Brace yourselves — the final stretch of the league season is shaping up to be unforgettable Meanwhile, congratulations go to Westville BC 'E', who has wrapped up their season on a high by topping the seventh division and securing promotion to the sixth. As league action pauses this weekend, all eyes turn to the KZN Fours, hosted this year by PNB - promising high-calibre play and fierce competition. The men's sectional rounds are set for Hillary, Parkhill and both Westville clubs, while the ladies take to Umhlanga, Parkhill, Hillary and Westville CC. Among the star-studded entries are the reigning men's champions from Westville BC — Paul White, Arnie Muscat, Troy Garland and Richard Hendicott who will play their sectional games at Westville CC as they gun for back-to-back titles. The 2024 silver medallist ladies' team from Umhlali— Susan Nel, Cheryl Mostert, Jill Hackland and Yolande Victor — are also reuniting and playing at Umhlanga with gold in their sights. Sectional playoffs will take place on Sunday, with the finals rounds to be held on Monday 28 July at Westville CC.
IOL News
03-07-2025
- IOL News
Interclub league fever begins
The women's divisions will gather at a single venue per round, all with eyes on the full 12-point haul. In the men's leagues, eight divisions will see clubs squaring off at different venues every week. First and second division clubs will be aiming to scoop a maximum of 17 points per round, while clubs in divisions three to eight can score up to 12 points. Kicking off this Saturday, clubs across the district will be hitting the road weekly in pursuit of glory: whether it's to earn promotion, avoid relegation or simply make their mark on what promises to be a gripping season. The 2025 Inter Club Leagues have arrived — and with them, the excitement and spirited competition that make the district leagues one of the most closely followed events on the PNB calendar. Among the favourites this season is Westville Bowling Club, 2024 men's champions. After finishing a commanding 18.5 points clear of their nearest rival last year, they might have been forgiven for stepping into 2025 with an air of confidence. But speaking to club President, Matthew Mayo, it's clear that complacency is not on the agenda. 'The league is never a cut and dried situation,' Mayo says. 'Westville BC will approach each game respecting the ability of our opposition. Every club in first division has strength and could pull off a win.' This season, Westville has introduced new strategies aimed at maintaining consistency and building unity within their ranks. A notable change: only players who committed to all seven league matches were considered for the club's first side — a move designed to ensure reliability across their campaign. With a surge of new members in recent months, Mayo explains that depth is not an issue, but commitment and perseverance to play and practice were key selection factors. The selection panel was expanded to five members, offering a broader perspective on team composition. In a bold move, skips were selected first, and then, in consultation with selectors, allowed to build their sides. 'It took some time, especially when two skips wanted the same bowler,' Mayo admits, 'but consensus was reached and we are happy that the best of Westville BC will represent us.' Their opening clash this weekend is against Amanzimtoti, newly promoted to the top division. Toti's representative, Greg McLeod, remains upbeat about their chances. 'We know it's going to be tough,' he says, 'but we're sticking to the formula that worked last year — we focused on compatibility between bowlers. That chemistry carried all our sides last season.' In the women's leagues, Amanzimtoti's ladies, fresh off their 2024 first division triumph, will take on Mount Edgecombe, new to the division. Skip Susan Nel remains focused but unfazed. 'No dramatic changes this year,' Nel says. 'We'll defend our position with the same spirit and unity that worked for us in 2024.' Mount Edgecombe's Heather Wright brings a touch of honesty to the encounter: 'It's natural we're nervous in this new arena,' she says. 'But we'll meet every game with determination and do what we do best – play bowls.' With bold strategies, respectful rivalries and a clear love for the game, the 2025 Interclub Leagues are off to a spirited start. Let the bowls roll!
IOL News
26-06-2025
- IOL News
PNB Masters rise to the occasion
Westville BC's Roger Boulle (Vet) and Hillary's Marc Rogers (Open) – newly crowned PNB Master's champions. | Paul White Image: (credit Paul White) As every seasoned bowler knows, true mastery on the green is far more than simply delivering a bowl accurately. It's a delicate dance of technical precision, strategic insight, adaptability and unwavering consistency. This past weekend, the PNB Masters showcased these qualities in full force. At the close of play on Saturday, the log standings were a tease for what Sunday had in store. The margins were razor-thin and anticipation ran high. In the Men's Open, Section 1 leader Jarred Bauristhene had edged two points ahead of Wayne Roberts, with the draw having them facing each in the final sectional game. Section 2 mirrored the drama: Marc Rodgers led Ruaan Victor by one point, and the two were drawn against each other in a winner-takes-all clash. Umhlali CC's Jill Hackland (Vet) and Linda Tolmay (Open) – 2025 PNB Master's champions. | Monique Lott Image: (credit Monique Lott) Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Men's Veterans offered their own nail-biters. Section 1 front-runner John Connellan and Louis Tolmay were separated by a single point, while in Section 2, Roger Boulle led Rodney Ward only on aggregate. Sunday morning was set to test composure and class. In the Women's Open, Section 1 saw a pivotal showdown between Glenda Matthews and Susan Nel—so close that a single shot on aggregate separated them. Section 2 was even tighter, with Michelle Gerber and Linda Tolmay level on points and only aggregate giving Gerber a slight edge. But Nel and Tolmay turned the tables in their final games and booked their spots in the title clash. Umhlali CC's ecstatic Linda Tolmay holds her first PNB Open Master's trophy aloft. | Monique Lott Image: (credit Monique Lott) The women's veterans continued the trend. Gail Jennings led Judy Green by a point in Section 1. In Section 2, it was equal points for Minette Hatton-Jones and Lorna Drake, with Hatton-Jones just edging it on aggregate. The drama was undeniable. And then came Sunday. In the Men's Open, Bauristhene and Rodgers both rose to the occasion, defeating Roberts and Victor respectively, to earn their final berths. In the final, Rodgers wasted no time asserting control and stormed to 21 shots in just 14 ends—claiming his first PNB Masters title. In the Veterans, Boulle was equally emphatic, joining Rodgers in the winners' circle with his own clinical 21-shot finish over 14 ends. Westville's Roger Boulle celebrates his first PNB Master's win. | Judy Bowland Image: (credit Judy Bowland)
