The Bowls South Africa (BSA) Men’s Open recently drew to a dramatic conclusion with the fours team playing under the Wingate Park banner, clinching the national title after a nail-biting final.
The victorious side – CP Mathewson and Driaan van Niekerk of Northern Cape Bowls (NCB), joined by Gauteng North duo Nikša Benguric and Wayne Perry – delivered an unforgettable performance to be crowned the 2025 BSA Men’s Open Fours champions. This event took place in Port Elizabeth from 17 to 25 May.
Their campaign was nothing short of dominant. The quartet went unbeaten in their section and continued their fine form through the knockout stages, comfortably dispatching opponents in the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals.
However, the finals tested every ounce of their resilience and composure.
Fighting for every shot
Facing a formidable Westville side from Durban, Wingate found themselves in early trouble, trailing 8–0 as their opponents applied relentless pressure.
Skip Benguric reflected on the challenge, saying that the surface was running beautifully, but the wind made things tricky. They had to adjust quickly, and fight for every shot. It was a real grind, but they pulled together and made it count.
After clawing back to level the score at 13–13 after 15 ends, momentum slowly shifted in their favour. The game turned decisively on the 19th end when Perry executed a brilliant running shot to move the jack and set up a scoring opportunity. With additional contributions from Mathewson and Benguric, Wingate emerged from the end holding four shots, giving them a commanding seven-shot lead.
The very next end brought more drama. Westville’s front rank applied early pressure, but Mathewson, true to form, produced one of his signature drives to clear the head. Benguric followed with another well-placed bowl, and Westville skip Paul White narrowly missed his attempt to recover the head.
With that, the Wingate team erupted in celebration, overwhelmed by joy and relief after an intense battle. Spectators were treated to an extraordinary display of skill, precision, and mental toughness, with the match delivering high-quality bowls from start to finish.
This victory not only reflects the team’s talent and dedication but also highlights the strength and unity across provincial lines in South African Bowls.
Showing their worth in SA Opens
Braam van der Westhuizen, president of NCB, congratulated the players from the Northern Cape who showed their worth in the SA Opens.
“This once again shows that the smaller Northern Cape Bowls must not be underestimated. Northern Cape Bowls, in comparison to the major provinces consistently perform on a national level, due to their dedication and also due to management that stands firmly behind them.
“I am incredibly proud of our winners but also of everyone who participated. You have held our name very high. When you consider the fact that the province has virtually no support from outside, I just wonder how we can perform with support.”
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