Sydenham Wins Fours

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 8

Sydenham Wins Fours

A Sydenham four of K. Perry (lead), R. Blackburn (two), W. Bowden (three) and A. D. Smith (skip) played tight, consistent bowls to win the final of the Canterbury champion of champions fours event at the Mount Pleasant green yesterday.

They beat the St Albans team of N. Wadsworth (lead), F. A. Hughes (two), L. V. Gain (three) and W. J. Cogswell (skip) 24-11 at the twentieth end. The earlier rounds of the fours were played at the Dallington green but after the rain on Saturday the green was unsuitable for play. At very short notice the Mount Pleasant club offered its green. St. Albans began well and

led 3-0 after three ends. By the fifth end Sydenham had established a 4-3 lead, mainly because of some very accurate drawing.

Both teams continued to play tight bowls but Sydenham looked to have something in reserve. It lead 10-9 at afternoon tea after 11 ends. St. Albans made up the leeway to be 11-11 after 14 ends but this was the beginning of the end. The nineteenth end produced the best bowls of the match. Perry began by hitting the kitty with his first bowl and this was followed by two close bowls from Wadsworth. For Sydenham. Blackbum continued with two excellent shots to keep his team on top. St. Albans broke the head, leaving the kitty well clear.

Smith played a beautiful wick shot with his final bowl which rested against the kitty

and the St. Alban's skip could do nothing because his approach was blocked. During this end almost every shot drew applause from the small gallery. The drawing on the fast weed green was of a very high standard throughout the final. The twentieth and final end was a tight affair but Smith played an excellent final shot which spoilt St. Albans’s head and enabled Sydenham to take two points. Until the eighteenth end St. Albans still had a chance but in attempting to spoil Sydenham’s tight head, Cogswell gave Sydenham a -disastrous five points to give it a 21-11 lead.

Although St. Albans played well, the rare brilliance of Sydenham on occasions was too much. St. Albans always looked to be struggling, especially after the tea break. Results: —

Semi-finals: Sydenham 22, Mona Vale 18; St. Albanc 25, Mount Pleasant 16.

Final: Sydenham* 24, St. Albans 11.