EMPIRE GAMES N.Z. BOWLERS’ FIRST WIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29985, 21 November 1962, Page 7

EMPIRE GAMES N.Z. BOWLERS’ FIRST WIN

Lose To Scotland, But Then Beat Hong Kong

(Special Crspdt.

PERTH, November 20.

The New Zealand four gained its first victory after three successive defeats in the Empire Games bowls competition today. After losing yesterday to Rhodesia and England, and again this morning to Scotland, the New Zealanders found the form that had so far eluded them to beat Hong Kong, 31-20.

In the morning match, the New Zealand four led Scotland 5-4 after six ends, but failed to score on the next nine, and finally conceded the match on the nineteenth end with Scotland leading 24-8.

Points after four rounds were: Rhodesia 6, England 6, Wales 5, Hong Kong 4. Fiji 4, Scotland 4. Australia 3, Papua-New Guinea 2, Canada 2, New Zealand 2, Kenya 2. Today’s big surprise was the defeat of England, but the gold medal favourites came back with a victory over Rhodesia.

New Zealand disposed of Hong Kong without fuss or strain, and looked a completely different team from the one that had been constantly under pressure in the first three rounds. Struck Form All the players suddenly struck their best New Zealand form. M. K. Boon, probably the most undemonstrative player in the tournament, developed a great affection for the kitty, and R. E. Pilkington, skip of the winning New Zealand pair at the last games at Cardiff, also maintained a close and consistent interest in the target area. W. P. O’Neill, at No. 3, did his work with his usual competence, and J. H. Rabone looked the complete master. Hong Kong, the first opponents New Zealand have had who did not chase their bowls up the green, were outclassed from start to finish.

Rabone trailed the kitty for three shots on the first end, and New Zealand leapt into a 10-3 lead with a fine four on the sixth. Keeping control of kitty to play their favourite medium length heads, the New Zealanders added threes on the eighth, ninth and eleventh ends to

take a commanding 20-5 advantage. Hong Kong made a determined attempt to get back into the game on the 10th

end with excellent drawing, but O’Neill and Rabone drove the shots out as regularly as their opponents put them in.

Finally Rabone burned the head and on the replay another Rabone drive put New Zealand one up from three down.

New Zealand coasted home over the last few ends. The four led 31-15 on the 20th but allowed Hong Kong five on the last.

Puzzling Trend The New Zealanders had made another satisfactory start against Scotland before fading out of the game, a trend that has both puzzled and disturbed them. With singles on the first, fifth and sixth ends and a two on the second, they led 5-4 with six ends played. But then they failed to score on the next nine ends. A three on the 16th brought the scores a little closer together at 19-8, but Scotland went further ahead and

Rabone conceded his opponents the game on the nineteenth end with the score 24-8. RESULTS Results of today’s matches were (the 11 teams play each other once, gaining two points for a win and one for a draw): Third Round Scotland (M. Purdon, T. Hamill, J. Black, W. Moore) 24. New Zealand (M. Boon, R. Pilkington. W, O’Neill, J. Rabone) S. Wales (C. Stephens, E. Probert, T. Griffiths. A. Evans) 23, Kenya (M. Katzler, E. Wiltshire, G. Ashford, W. Coackley) 10. Fiji (J. D. Hunt, V. Costello, G. Williams, M. Bay) 22. Papua-New Guinea (R. Bailey. B. Schleusener, R. Holding, H. Nelson) 20. Rhodesia (M. Bibb, V. Blyth. J. Milligan, R. Turner) 24, Hong Kong (M. Hassan, A. Pereira, E. Liddell, G. Sousa) 14. Canada (A. Hoar, R, Moir. B. Shields. E. Brown) 18. England (G. Fleming. D. Bryant, R. Watson. S. Drysdale) 16. Australia a bye Fourth Round New Zealand 31, Hong Kong 20; Scotland 24, Canada 19; Kenya 30, Fiji 17; Australia (R. Gillings, L. Edgeworth, A. Baldwin, G. Makin) 30. Papua-New Guinea 11; England 22, Rhodesia 16; Wales a bye.