Cook Islands Men’s Fours bowling team are now placed 8th in the world at the 2023 World Bowls Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.

A fantastic feat for our small nation of the Cooks. The bowling team have done exceptionally well after playing against 44 countries.

Team manager Anthony Turua said he is proud of the team’s performance beating some of the bigger nations from all over the world.

 “This has to be the best team that I have ever managed and the quality and performance of the team outweighs some of the bigger countries.”

There also has been talks between other countries and the Cook Islands, about the prospect of overseas teams wanting access to the Cook Islands players for professional contract status, he said.

Last week, at the second week of the Championships the Men’s played the singles and fours, and the Ladies in the pairs and triples.

In the Ladies Pairs vs India, the Cooks had an awesome win with 20 over India 10. They held off a determined challenge from Wales to win 14-12.

The Men's Four went down to Zimbabwe, Cooks 14 Zimbabwe 15.

Between the Cooks and Scotland in the Men’s Four quarter-final which was decided on the ninth end,   CIs 12, Scotland 20.

In the Men’s Singles Royden Aperau lost 8-21 to Scotland’s Iain McLean. In a tense singles match against Malaysia which ran to 24 ends, dawdled through its first half before rushing to a conclusion, Malaysia claimed the 21-15 victory, leaving Aperau in one of the top positions but unable to advance.

A mighty comeback from the Women’s Triple, who were down 2-11 nearing the halfway stage, was capped off when Philly Akaruru opened the final end with a resting toucher that Japan, for all their best efforts, couldn’t shift and thus the Cooks secured an unlikely draw to close out their World Bowls  programme 15 - 15.

In the Women’s Pairs against Malaysia, despite the best efforts of Emily and Tiare Jim, the final score was 15-19 to Malaysia, but it told of a strong comeback from 3-11 after eight ends.

The Women’s Four completed a difficult day with an 8-18 defeat at the hands of Jersey.

The Men’s Four ground out a tough win against India - Cooks 12 India 10.

The Men’s Four were pipped 14-15 by a difficult Zimbabwe combination who were playing well.

After a couple of wins earlier that week Royden Aperau faced his most difficult opponent Markus Merz of Switzerland, Cooks 12, Switzerland 21.

A quality game at the World Bowls Championship ended in defeat for the Cook Islands Men’s Four against New Zealand, Cooks 9 - 17  NZ.

In the Women’s Triple first game they were defeated 8-20 to New Zealand.

Last week the 2023 World Bowls Championships finished on a high note with the closing ceremony staged at Broadbeach Bowls Club, Gold Coast.

Yesterday, the World Bowls Champion of Champion Singles games started at Club Robina, Gold Coast. - ME/Cook Islands Bowls