Sykes now favourite to win N.Z. bowls title

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32494, 2 January 1971, Page 16

Sykes now favourite to win N.Z. bowls title

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. The 57-year-old player, L. Sykes, yesterday made himself a better-than-even chance to win the New Zealand bowls singles title. Sykes, in the morning, brilliantly-overcame the powerful driving ot' J. N. S. Flett (Point Chevalier) to win, 18-9—and continuing his accuracy into the afternoon made light of a disruptive southerly wind to beat C.-Cole (Khandallah), 23-9.

The loss spelt the end of the road in the pairs and singles for Cole, who had played 22 matches in succession over five days. There were still five players left in the singles after post-section play yesterday. Sykes has been joined in the last five by the defending champion, P. Skoglund (Northern), J. Somerville and

N. Unkovich (Rewa), and I. Tourell (Woburn), all with one life remaining. At 8.30 a.m. today, Sykes is scheduled to meet Unko- . vich in the semi-finals. In the other half of the draw, Somerville meets Skoglund. As both are a round behind, the winner of this clash will meet Tourell in the other semi-final.

The pairs will be decided today one finalist having already been found, D. Bald-, win (skip) and J. Murtagh (Paritu, New Plymouth). This pair lost its first encounter but reached the final late yesterday afternoon with a slashing 27-13 win over the previously unbeaten P. Jones and J. Miller (Otahuhu Railway). Jones and Miller were the only pair to reach the semifinals without losing a lite* after a series of close tussles. - The defending champion-,. R. Wilkinson (St Albans) r with a new lead, B. Sinclair, beat Skoglund and the former ' jockey, V. Sellars, 24-12. Wilkinson will now meet Jones to find the other pairs'’ finalist. SINGLES First round L. Sykes (Naenac) beat J. Flett (Point Chevalier), 18-9; N. Unkovich (Rewa) beat J. C. Milne (Lyall Bay), 21-7; C. Cole (Khandallah) beat P. Brvant (Masterton), 18-12; I. W. Tourell (Woburn) beat J. W. Moody (Northern), 20-9. Second round Sykes beat Cole, 23-19. PAIRS First round M. R. Buchan (Tui Park) beat P. Skoglund (Northern), 15-13; T. M. Vaughn (Gisborne) beat N. R. Francis (Woburn), 16-13; E. A. Horan (Oamarunui) beat A. M. Baillie (Park Avenue), 18-15; J. A. Dole (Stokes Valley) beat W. J. Powell (Central Cambridge). 27-19; A. J. Dorward (National Services) beat V Meredith (Carlton), 24-11; E. McCahon (Elmwood) beat N. Unkovich (Rewa), 22-20; D. Baldwin (Paritutu) beat H. N. Ballinger (Khandallah), 20-13; C. Curtis (Tauranga) beat B. Pridham (Bayswater), 25-18; T. P. Tobin (Onehunga) beat R. E. Pilkington (Balmoral), 19-18; W. R. Wilkinson (St Albans) beat G. N. Nicholls (Victoria), 34-7; M. George (Seatoun) beat G. E. Pearce (Petone). 23-13; C. A. Cole (Khandallah) beat C. Walker (Palmerston North), 18-16. Second round P. E. B. Jones (Otahuhu Railway) beat Buchan, 18-16: Horan beat Vaughan, 21-15; Dale beat Dorward, 23-9: Baldwin beat McCahon, 21-10; Tobin beat Curtis, 24-20; Wilkinson beat George, 20-10; Skoglund beat Cole, 19-10. Third round Jones beat Horan. 29-12; Baldwin beat Dale, 22-17; Wilkinson beat Tobin, 17-15; Skoglund beat Buchan, 23-14. Semi-finals Baldwin beat Jones. 27-13; Wilkinson beat Skoglund, 24-12.