NOTABLE WINS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 11

NOTABLE WINS

One bowler in the national tournament being held in Christchurch will probably not be remembered as one of the great competitors in the singles but he will have the satisfaction of knowing he beat two of the leading contenders for the title. He is a Hillside (Dunedin) fitter. W. J. Pockson, of the Caledonian club, who in his seven games in the singles took lives from a former winner of the title, R. J. Andrew, and another leading bowler, W. Freeth, of Nelson. Third Year

Pockson, aged 38, is competing in his second national tournament and is in only his third year of bowls. He met Andrew in his first match of this tournament and displayed no sign of fear at playing a bowler of Andrew’s standard. He won by one point after an extra end. He had a comfortable win against another player and then met Freeth. In this match Pockson seemed to have met his master when he was down 1-10 at the seventh head. However he gained steadily until at the twelfth end he took the lead, 11-10. Freeth fought back but Pockson played the long heads better than his opponent and often outdrew Freeth. He moved away to a lead of 18-11 when the game was finished at the seventeenth because of the time limit. Outplayed Pockson was one of the last pair of two-lifers at Fendaiton when he lost to P. F. Moir (Balmoral), a brother of the wellknown New Zealand cricketer. Alex Moir. The Balmoral bowler outdrew and outplayed Pockson to win, 18-9. Pockson probably gained some assistance from a green which was in some games heavy but this did not detract from the merit of his performances. He only lasted two games in his first national tournament, he survived several more this time and may finish even higher up in future tournaments.