A group of Bay of Plenty indoor bowlers are competing in the Paterson Trophy zone 2 finals this weekend in Napier.

Teams from Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty are taking on Hawkes Bay, Waikato and Poverty Bay from the zone 2 areas, and the winner will progress forward to the 68^th Welch inter-district final in Pukekohe in September.

The Tauranga team has won the Paterson Trophy nine times in 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017, but they are yet to win the Welch trophy.

Leading the team are New Zealand representatives Paul Smith and Fiona Keegan, and the teams selectors have picked an in form team with players that featured at the national championships.

The Bay of Plenty team have won the Welch Trophy in 1966 and 1969, but have not won the Paterson Trophy since. Leading their side is North Island reserve Robin Porter and Northern Zone Masters rep Derek Owen.

The teams are:

Tauranga A team – Paul Smith, Mike Phipps, Anthony Ouellet, Fiona Keegan.

Tauranga B team – Geoff Coughey, Roger Bartosh, Lorraine Phipps, Val Hagan.

Reserve: Carl Jamieson. Manager: Graham Caie.

Bay of Plenty A team – Robin Porter, Sam Bryant, Gina Owen, Ciaran Blackbourn.

Bay of Plenty B team – Derek Owns, Simon Hatcher, Gavin Rennie, Tom Orr.

Reserve: Jacque Porter. Manager: Kristine East.