Only one southern four survives

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 44

Only one southern four survives

(By our bowls reporter)

Three North Island teams and one from the small Otago town, Palmerston, will today meet in the semi-finals of the fours championship at the New Zealand women’s bowling tournament in Christchurch.

In one semi-final this morning, Mrs Z. Smith (Huntly) will play Mrs C. Bain (Wilton, Wellington), and in the other, Mrs E. Stevenson (Palmerston) and Mrs L. Fowler (Herne Bay, Auckland) will clash.' The final will be played on the Linwood green this afternoon. Yesterday, three games of 21 ends were played and this reduced the field from 32 to four.

In spite of the tiredness of the players and the bitterly cold conditions late yesterday afternoon, the standard of bowling in the quarterfinals was high and two of the matches were decided on the last end. ( Mrs Fowler ended any hope of the host centre providing the fours winner when she came from well down to catch and eventually beat Mrs E. Warren (Barrington). Mrs Warren needed two to draw level playing the last end and she held them until the Heme Bay No. 3, Mrs J. Whitney, drew the shot with her last bowl.

Mrs Warren played firmly to move the shot bowl and although she upset the head the shot stayed with Mrs Fowler. EXCITING FINISH

In another tense finish and after a game of some excellent bowling, Mrs Stevenson scored a two on the final end to beat Mrs A. Haywood(Geraldine) 18-17. Mrs Stevenson held the two shots she needed at the changeover and as members of the Palmerston team looked away from the green, Mrs Hayward drove with both her bowls. When the

second, like the first, missed, the Palmerston players’ relief was obvious. Mrs Smith had an even battle with Mrs M. Nicol (Marewa) for three-quarters of their quarter-final, but in the dying stages Mrs Smith, who has previously been runner-up in the national I pairs, pulled away. STUCK ON 13 ■the fourth quarter-fina! was also even for a time, but 13 proved unlucky for Mrs R. Ryan (Waharoa), and while she was stuck on it for four ends Mrs Bain scored 10 points and gained an unassailable lead.

The writing had been on the wall for the Waharoa four, when, in the previous round, its form had been patchy in a 26-23 win over Mrs B. Cherri (Lower Hutt). On at least three occasions Mrs Cherri lost an end by playing into the head and giving Mrs Ryan the counters. In the second round of the day both Mrs Smith and Mrs Stevenson had tough battles. Mrs Smith, after finding that 13 was unlucky also for hei (she was stuck on it for seven ends), scored a three on the last end to beat Mrs S. Rhodes (Riccarton) 18-17, and Mrs Stevenson withstood

a late challenge from Mrs T. Mortimer (West End), to win 23-21. The most notable performance of the first round in the morning was Mrs Nicol's recovery from 2-16 down after 11 ends to beat Mrs M. Coveny (Lower Hutt) 22-20. The round also saw the elimination of Mrs G. Smith (Kaiapai), who won the title in 1965, and Mrs Fowler, by a 33-3 win over Mrs D. Nicholls (Mount Victoria), gave notice that she will be a strong contender for the title. Results of yesterday’s three post-section rounds were: THIRD ROUND Mrs Z. Smith (Huntly) 27, Mrs M. Coombe (Tauranga) 11; Mrs S. Rhodes (Riccarton) 19, Mrs E. Mair (United) 15; Mrs G. Child (Tainub 19, Mrs A. Noble (Allenton) 18; Mrs M. Nicol (Marewa) 22, Mrs M. Coveny ((Lower Hutt) 20; Mrs A. Beazley (Linwood) 31, Mrs A. Anderson (St Martins) 19; Mrs C. Bain (Wilton) 18, Mrs G. Neal (Waterlea) 12; Mrs R. Ryan (Waharoa! 30, Mrs B. Stanbury (Bumside) 11; Mrs B. Cherri (Lower Hutt) .30, Mrs G. Smith (Kaiapol) 14. Mrs A. Haywood (Geraldine) 27, Mrs J. Steele (Burwood) 10; Mrs J. Ryan (Onehunga) 26, Mrs A. WhlUng (Woolston) 12; Mrs E. Stevenson (Palmerston) 27, Mrs E. Kent (Greymouth R.S.A.) 17; Mrs T. Mortimer (West End) 24, Mrs M. Allison (Georgetown) 20; Mrs E. Aitchlson (Hampden) 21, Mrs A. Manson (Shirley) 14; Mrs L. Fowler (Heme Bay) 33, Mrs D. Nicholls (Mount Victoria) 3; Mrs E. Warren (Barrington) 23. Mrs H. Rains (Fendalton) 10; Mrs R. Laurenson (Ranglora) 22. Mrs M. Pirrle (Dalllngton) 16. FOURTH ROUND Smith 18, Rhodes 17; Nicol 22, Child 16; Bain 25. Beazley 13; R. Ryan 26, Cherri 23; Haywood 29, J. Ryan 12; Stevenson 23, Mortimer 21; Fowler 24, Aitchison 11; Warren 22, Laurenson 17. FIFTH ROUND Smith 23. Nicol 14; Bain 28,' Ryan 16; Stevenson 18, Haywood I (17; Fowler 22. Warren 19.