PNB 2025 4’s Champions Crowned

The weekend of October 11 and 12 delivered bowls worthy of the final Port Natal Bowling Championship of the 2025 season, with thrilling finishes and sportsmanship that reminded everyone why the game endures.

After a series of tightly contested playoff matches on Saturday—complete with upsets, nail-biters and gasps from the banks—the men’s semi-finalists for Sunday’s games were decided.

At host Club, Westville BC, Stella Park’s John Connellan, Chris Strover, Jason Lott and Jason Butterfield drew club mates Mike Barker, Brian Daventry-Bull, Paul Erasmus and Elijah Mommen in one semi, while Bluff’s Chad Wilson, Kevin Olivier, Jeff Waterman and Bryan Weldon took on Parkhill’s Brad Lezar, Gary Watson, Alex Morrison and Les Taljaard in the other.

Connellan’s quartet advanced with a comfortable win, but all eyes were on the Bluff vs Parkhill showdown. Playing the final end, Bluff led 12–6 and appeared in control. A moment of pure drama ensued.

With Bluff holding to take the game and most of Parkhill’s bowls well behind, Lezar trailed the jack into the ditch, suddenly turning the head to hold seven shots—enough to steal the game.

With his final delivery, an ice-cool Chad Wilson produced a masterstroke, curling around the cluster of bowls to rest centimetres from the ditch and reclaim the head. The Bluff supporters erupted as their team sealed a 13–6 victory and a place in the final.

The final saw two unbeaten teams square off, both having navigated sectional play without loss. The camaraderie between the eight men epitomised the spirit of the sport, their friendly banter and mutual respect adding to the spectacle for the crowd. Stella Park took the lead by picking up seven shots over the fourth and fifth ends to go five ahead, maintaining that margin to clinch a 15–10 win.

A gracious Connellan summed up the spirit of the weekend: “Although competitive, every team played in the spirit that encompasses lawn bowls. Our primary goal is to enjoy ourselves, meet new people and make friends. Anything else is a bonus—and today was our turn for that bonus.”

The ladies’ section proved equally captivating. In the semi-finals, Mt Edgecombe’s Heather Wright, Debbie de Kock, Heather Perling and Jenny Robinson edged Umhlali’s Cheryl Mostert, Jill Hackland, Faye Pedlar and Yolanda Victor 14–13, while Hillary’s Belinda Steffens, Leanne Marsh, Hayley Miller and Linda Meyer defeated Amanzimtoti’s Sarie Bisset, Doreen Salmons, Hilary Lindsay and Lesley Levi 13–10.

The final was a classic. Mt Edgecombe took an early lead before Hillary fought back to level the scores at 10-all going into the last end. Wright’s side held their nerve, drawing two decisive shots to claim the PNB Ladies Fours title.

A delighted Wright praised her teammates:“We held our composure right to the end—winning both our semi and the final on the last end was something special.”

Bronze honours went to Parkhill and Umhlali, rounding off a weekend that celebrated skill, spirit and the enduring magic of the game.

The action returns to Westville BC the coming weekend as teams of four vie for a share of the R89 000 prize money in the annual Spring Tournament.