Firwood fires up the PBA in KZN

The evening of Friday, November 14 at Firwood Bowling Club brought colour, excitement and a sense of occasion as the club proudly hosted the festive launch of the inaugural Fairtree Firwood Classic tournament in KwaZulu-Natal.

Players, supporters and officials gathered for an evening that blended celebration with purpose. The event also marked the introduction of Samm and Roger Boulle’s GRIPPIN’ STUFF, a new range of organic performance products now being distributed internationally.

In a highlight announcement, well-known Protea bowler Wayne Roberts was named the brand’s official ambassador. 

Saturday’s action shifted to the greens at Firwood, Hillary and Stella Park Bowling Clubs, where competitors tackled a demanding format: two sets of nine ends, with a three-end tie-breaker should the sets be drawn. Bowlers played three round-robin games, producing tight games and fierce tactical play. By late afternoon, section leaders advanced to the knockout stage, where they battled for places among the competition’s top eight quarter-finalists.

Heavy rain swept across the greens on Sunday, but Firwood’s surfaces stood firm and play continued. The quarter-finals delivered powerful performances, setting up two compelling semi-finals: Greg Scott (Parkhill BC) versus Richard Allan (Empangeni BC – KZNCB), and Clinton Knott (The Bell BC – KBA) against Troy Garland (Westville BC).

With weather worsening, organisers shortened the final to two sets of five ends, intensifying the pressure on both Scott and Knott as they aimed for the R12 000 first prize — a welcome boost toward competing in the Fairtree tournament in Cape Town, where players can secure entry and travel to major international events.

In a composed and confident display, Greg Scott emerged as the overall winner, lifting the inaugural title. Clinton Knott delivered an equally impressive weekend’s performance, finishing as runner-up and earning the R10 000 second prize. With prize money extending to the remaining 14 section winners, the Fairtree Firwood Classic made a meaningful impact on competitors across the board.

It was a memorable debut — and Firwood Bowling Club proved the perfect stage for a new era of professional bowls in KwaZulu-Natal.

In closing, it has been a remarkable week for bowls in the Port Natal Bowls district, with the excitement of the Fairtree tournament at Firwood now matched by the pride surrounding Port Natal’s ten selected BSA Masters representatives. Their inclusion in the prestigious championships, to be held in Gauteng from February 6–8 2025, has drawn well-deserved applause from clubs across the district.

The honour spans all divisions: Open Masters contenders Wayne Roberts and Michelle Gerber (both Hillcrest), Paul White (Westville BC) and Natalie Botha (Stella Park) will carry strong district hopes; rising talents Jarred and Keegan Bauristhene (Westville BC) will look to make their mark in the Under-30 field; and seasoned competitors John Connellan and Glenda Matthews (both Stella Park), Roger Boulle and Arnie Muscat (both Westville BC) will battle for national honours in the Veteran division — with Muscat celebrating his first-ever Masters selection.

These achievements mark the momentum in Port Natal Bowls that is unmistakably on the rise.