Giant-Killer' in Christchurch hr bowls final

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 9

Giant-Killer' in Christchurch hr bowls final

(By K. J. McMENAMIN) pOR the first time in the history of New Zealand lawn bowls, a champion provincial team will be found tomorrow when the national final of the inaugural Rothmans inter-centre tournament is played on the Woolston W.M.C.’s cotula green. It was always intended that the final should be played in Christchurch and the fact that the host centre should be the South Island zone winner is a stroke of good fortune for spectators, who will now have a vested interest in the outcome. To the surprise of many, the North Island zone winner was Northland. Auckland, Wellington and Manawatu, with many “name” bowlers in their ranks, were considered the most likely centres to win a place in the national final. Northland, however, revealed unexpected strength in beating both Auckland and Manawatu. The advantage of Christchurch of playing on a green of which it has some knowledge could be off-set by the faet that Northland has built up excellent team spirit by retaining the same seven representatives throughout the tournament Christchurch, on the other - hand, has only two bowlers in tomorrow's team who have played in every game. They are S. E. Lawson and R. A- Lulham. The selectors have met with some criticism for making so many changes. But to ensure that the players they picked were in top form, a special trial, to which all the -leading contenders were invited, was held last week. Few quibbles can be made at this method of selection. Although Northland has no nationally-known bowlers in its side, the record of the team during the tournament is most impressive. The singlet player, W. r McMillan, beat the current

New Zealand singles champion, P. C. Skoglund (Manawatu), and also last year’s title-holder, L. E. Franks (Auckland). His only defeat was at the hands of R. L. McDonald (Auckland). McMillan will have a chance to add the scalp of a third New Zealand champion to his belt when he plays Lawson, the Dominion singles winner in 1968. Lawson, however, has a fine record in the tournament, with wins in each of his six matches and against such formidable opponents as E. Pascoe (West Coast), A. J. Rudduck (North Otago), W. D. Scott (Central Otago) and M. J. Reardon (Marlborough). The Northland pairs combination of T. Naish and H. Ashcroft (s) proved its worth by beating such wellknown teams as K. A. Wing and V. J. Sellars (Mana-

watu) and D. Miller and P. E. B. Jones (Auckland) in zone matches. The Christchurch pair will be skipped by the present New Zealand titleholder, W. R. Wilkinson, with a newcomer to the team, F. W. Hoy, as his lead. Wilkinson skipped the four at Timaru, but with the pair losing all its three games on that occasion, a new combination was not unexpected. However, Wilkinson had his four working very well for him by the final game at Timaru and moving him could be the biggest risk taken by the selectors. Hoy is a specialist lead who won his place with some fine drawing at last week’s trial. The Northland four will be skipped by J. Kosovich, who has won some degree

of national recognition by bis deeds at Auckland tournaments. He is reputed to be an accomplished driver. The other three members of the four are D. Thomas, W. Neal and J. Leese. At the North Island zone final, the Northland four won each of its three games. Much will depend on the lead, P. F. Meier, if Christchurch is to fare well in the fours. He is a fine young player and performed with credit at No. 2 position in the Timaru matches. However, his play at Timaru was marked more by brilliance than consistency and it is the latter quality which is essential in a lead. Lulham has been moved from the No. 3 berth he filled at Timaru to No. 2, and as his strength lies in his drawing ability he should be well suited by the change. J. P. Anderson comes into the team as No. 3 in the four, and if he can ‘ recapture the form which recently won him the Christchurch centre’s open singles title he would be of enormous value. His bowling at the trial was of a very high standard. T. F. Coup’s selection as skip of the four was a little unexpected, as he has done little of note this season. However, he is an experienced skip and last season won the Christmas fours. ’ .. 1 The two teams will meet twice, once in the morning, beginning at 9 a.m., and once in the afternoon, beginning at 2 p.m. Two points will be scored for a win and one for a tie. If the match points gained by the two teams are even at the completion ois the two rounds, aggregate points will be taken‘into account If this, too, should fail to produce the winner, ends won will be the decider. There will be no time limits on the singles and pairs, but the fours will be restricted to two and three-quarter hours play.