BOWLS Finals Of Centre Singles And Pairs Played

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30367, 17 February 1964, Page 8

BOWLS Finals Of Centre Singles And Pairs Played

E. Colville (St. Albans), on the Beckenham green on Saturday, won the Christchurch Bowling Centre’s open singles tournament. On the same green N. Burtt and A. Roberts (Cashmere) won the pairs title. It was a pity that these games were played at Beckenham, for there were many green patches and on some of the rinks it became difficult to master these areas.

Burtt and Roberts came through the pairs competition with their two lives intact. Their, opponents in the final were T. D. Lane and G. Thomson (Fendalton), whom they had beaten 19-13 earlier in the tournament. Fendalton then won its next game as a one-lifer to go on to the final, which Cashmere won 24-11, but the score belied the 'run of play. The Fendalton pahplayed delightful bowls, but Cashmere was really having a day out, and no matter how close Fendalton got to the kitty, Cashmere would invariably draw inside or turn the opposing bowl back to take the shot.

Roberts's win gave him his second centre title. Up to the seventh head the game was very even and the score was 7-all. Over the next three heads Cashmere took four shots to lead 11-7. On the next head Lane drew a toucher, which was nearly rested back by Burtt Roberts then played a perfect running shot to disturb the head and win the shot on a measure. Lane again served his skip well and left him two shots at the change-over, only to have Roberts run one shot out. Thomson replaced this and then drew a third, but Roberts with a drive took out two to be one down. Cashmere led 15-8 after 13 heads. The leads failed on the next head, but Burtt had the two closest bowls. Thomson with his first turned one out, but Roberts replaced it with his first and held two' shots. Burtt was on the kitty with his first bowl and then Roberts added another. Thomson, with a good upshot, took out one of the shots bpt also shifted one of his bowls and was still four down at the end of the head. The next head was a bad one for Fendalton, for after -Lane had left the head with two good shots Roberts drove with his first and took out the two shots and then drew two more. Thmson failed narrowly to save the head.

It appeared to be all over now with Cashmere leading 22-8. Lane on the next head again gave his skip good support with two shots, but Roberts drew inside. Thomson tried to drive out the shot bowl but missed, and then with his last played a perfect trail to take the kitty back for three shots, . the first time Fendalton had scbred for five heads.

Fendalton was now down 22-11, with four heads left to play. On the next head Thomson drew the shot and then Roberts drew inside, but his shot was removed with a running shot by Thomson, who, with his last bowl, drew • a second shot,-only to have Roberts get inside with his last to take one shot. Lane again was the scorer on the next head and drew two good shots with his first two bowls, but Burtt nullified these by drawing right on to the kitty. Lane was not to be outdone, and brushed off a short bowl to run on to the kitty for shot. It was Roberts again who did the damage, and with a perfect draw he moved Lane’s bowl, sufficiently to take the shot. Cashmere led 24-11, and Fendalton, wtib. . only 12 bowls to play over the next two heads, was right out of the game, nad it ended there with two heads unplayed. Singles Play The play in the final of the singles between Colville and J. Dale (Burwood) was notable for the.great number of bad bowls and the wide scattered heads. Seldom was there a tightly packed head. The first four heads were very wide, and over these Dale scored seven to Colville’s one. On the next head, which was another very open game, Colville took four shots. .Colville on- the next head drew better- and held two good sohts, but Dale,, with a lucky.' wick, better and held two good shots, on the next head, and on the next some- real bowling was seen. Dale drew shot and then Colville drew closer,. but Dale ran off the shot bowl to hold two, and .Colville with, a firm draw trailed the kitty for two to bring the score level at 8-all, on the eighth head.

Dale on the next head was holding shot and Colville had three seconds, so he tried to run off the shot bowl. He succeeded. but also shifted the kitty and killed the head. The replay of the head saw poor bowls, Dale taking one shot Dale took a single on the next two heads, but on the twelfth Colville completely outdrew Dale to take three shots. Colville was on top again on the next head and drew three shots, and Dale could do nothing to save the position. Colville was leading 14-11 at the end of 13 heads. On a much tighter head Dale took two shots to be within on- of Colville. The fifteenth head woujd have disgraced first-year players, for there were only two bowls that were jack-high

but they were well away from the kitty, and the rest were eight to 10 feet short. On this erratic head Dale held two shots. After a toucher by each player with his first bowl the rest were well off target until Colville nearly drew the shot with his last, but Dale held the shot. Dale led 16-14 with five heads left to play. Long heads had been the order of the game, but after Dale had thrown the kitty into the ditch Colville threw up a very short one. This head was much better, and with Dale holding shot Colville drove to such good effect that he held three shots. Colville was right on top in the next head and drew four, none very dose, and Dale, who had every opportunity to save the head, seemed to have lost touch.

Colville was leading 21-16 with three heads left to play. On the next head, a very short one, Colville was holding three shots, but Dale with his last saved the- head to take shot. Colville was under pressure on the twentieth head when Dale was holding three shots. He drove and removed two, but Dale drew a second with his last bowl. The last head was full of interest, and with Dale requiring three shots to win he drew four shots. Colville was all at sea with his first three, and when he delivered his last bowl it appeared that the game was all over, with Dale the winner, but this narrow bowl became a lucky one for Colville, for it wicked off a short bowl and turned in to run down towards the kitty for second shot to give Colville the win, 21-20. Results were:— Pairs Ninth Round.—Two-lifers: G. Thomson (Fendalton)' 21, Roffe (Spreydon) (one-lifer) 15; A. Roberts (Cashmere) a bye. Onelifers: J. Simpson (St. Martins) 25, R. Powell (Papanui) 16; T. Steele (St. Albans) 29, D. .Langley (Christchurch) 12; S. Snedden (Linwood) 33, E. Houghton (Allenton) U; H. Gibbons (Barrington) IS, A. Nottingham (R.S.A.) 17-. Tenth Round.—Two-lifers: Roberts 19J Thomson 13. Onelifers: Simpson 17, Steele 15; Gibbons 21, Snedden 12. Eleventh Round—Roberts (two-lifer) 17,' Simpson (onelifer) 14; Thomson 15, Gibbons 14. Final,—N. Burtt and A. Roberts (Cashmere) (twolifers) ■ 24, T. B. Lane . and G. Thomson (Fendalton (onelifers) 11. Singles Ninth Round.—E. Colville (St. Albans) (one-lifer) 22, D. McNeill (Rangiora) (two-lifer) 20; J. Dale (Burwood) 20, H. Deavoll (Sydenham) 15. Tenth Round.—Dale 19, McNeill 18; Colville a bye. Final.—Colville 21, Dale 20.