SOUTH CANTERBURY RETAINS CUP

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 19

SOUTH CANTERBURY RETAINS CUP

"I couldn't have played any better bowls on the day,” said the Opawa bowler. C. Rowe, on Saturday during the Steans Cup match between South Canterbury and Christchurch at the Dallington green. Rowe's four had just lost a close game against C. P. Tutty’s South Canterbury four. South Canterbury retained the Steans Cup which it won last year, and it Is believed that this is the first occasion either side has lost on its own greens. The trophy is played in Ashburton and Christchurch in alternate years. .On aggregate. South Canterbury finished ahead by 195 points to 164. Its bowlers won five of the eight games. Rowe’s game against Tutty reached a dramatic climax on the twentieth head when Tutty was one shot behind. On this end Rowe had four shots, but Tutty drovethrough to displace the kitty into the middle of the South Canterbury bowls. Tutty went ahead 19-15 with a five. Rowe drew level at the twenty-fourth end. and on the twenty-fifth, his last bowl approached the kitty in a position which would have given him the shot and the game, but as it stopped, it rolled on to Its aide away from the kitty. The shot and the match went to Tutty.

R. C. Ritchie (Christchurch) beat F. R. Loach (South Canterbury) 25-21 in a match in which fortunes also altered significantly on the twentieth end. Loach was leading all the way, and was- in front 21-19 after the nineteenth end. Ritchie’s team then got a six to go ahead. All the shots were drawn, and it was a particularly outstanding display. Ritchie won 25-21.

G, Reid (South Canterbury) had a fine win over J. o. Thompson (Christchurch), 30-13. Reid led 13-16 after the fifteenth end and scored five on the sixteenth, three on the twenty-first and three on the .twenty-fourth, Conditions were not pleasant but the weather held out. Though damp, the greens were drawing well. General opinion was that the South Canterbury side was one of the best it has had for some Results were (South Canterbury names first):— S. A. Cox lost to H. R. Pool, 11-23; B. Stowbll beat J. Simp-

son, 20-18; R. A. Smith beat A. D. Smith. 31-18: N. C. Manchester lost to A. F. Roberts, 18-24; G. Reid beat J. 0. Thompson, 30-13: F. R. Loach lost to R. C. Ritchie, 21-25; C. P. Tutty beat C. Rowe. 22 20. E. H. Turner beat J. Hewitt. 20-23.