All-Kaiapoi bowls final possible

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32801, 29 December 1971, Page 3

All-Kaiapoi bowls final possible

Last year, two Cashmere teams contested the final of the Christchurch Bowling Centre’s Christmas fours tournament, and this year there is a distinct possibility that a similar honour could befall the Kaiapoi club.

In the semi-finals at Linwood this morning, T. F. Coup (Kaiapoi), who won the event in 1969, will play L. Marshall (Christchurch W.M.C.), and J. Thomson (Kaiapoi), who only narrowly qualified for post-section play, will meet G. E. Bennett (Fendalton).

Although Kaiapoi holds a strong hand, it would be no surprise if there were a Marshall-Bennett final, as both these teams reached a high standard in their post-section matches yesterday. Bennett, who was runnerup to W. J. Cogswell (St Albans) in the Easter fours earlier this year, was particularly well served by his team of M. Welsh, who was with him at Easter, H. W. Wilson and R. A. Croft. In the first round, Bennett gained a winning break on C. H. Thompson (Oxford) about three-quarters of the way through, and then had big wins against D. Finnie (Sydenham) and K. G. Murray (Linwood). 10 IN SUCCESSION Murray came from behind to win both his first two games. In the first, he was 8-16 down to E. Raudsepp (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) but then scored on seven of the last eight ends to win, 22-17, and later against G. Morris (Rangiora) he won 10 ends in succession to turn a 3-8 deficit into a 20-8 victory. Against Bennett, Murray also came to light late with points on the last five ends, but it was a hopeless task and only served to cut the score against him from 20-5 to 20-10.

Marshall and Coup, as the six game winners from section play, had byes through

the first rouiid, and both found themselves in hazardous positions in the closing stages jf their first games. Against Marshall, T. Huggan (Woolston W.M.C.) scored a three—the third shot coming on an umpire’s measure—to tie the scores, 22-22, after the last scheduled end. Marshall, however, scraped through with a single on the extra end. COUP’S CLCSE CALL At almost the same time on a nearby rink, T. F. Smee (Fendalton) was within a whisker of eliminating Coup. A great shot by Coup denied Smee a four on the sixteenth end, but the single Smee got gave him a one-point lead with one end remaining. The head on the last end was a scattered one, but again Coup saved his side, and in a tight measure one of his bowls tied the scores at 17-17. On the extra end, Coup scored a three after his lead, A. Inwood, had given him a close shot with his second bowl. The other members of Coup’s four are H. O. Hayward and G. Matthews, who was in excellent form, and in Marshall’s rink are J. Andrews, S. Piper and K. Grant. Thomson figured in the best game of the first round when with his last bowl on the final and he drew the shot to beat G. W, Thomson (Fendalton), 18-17. The game was also notable for the fourth end, on which Thomson (Kaiapoi) scored an eight and all were from draw shots. Thomson, whose team is W. Minard, L. Holden, and L. Dowdle, then comfortably beat I. E. Andrews (United) in the second round, and in the quarter-finals he eliminated N. Flewelleri (Woolston W.M.C.), 20-17. Thomson again reaped a rich harvest early, a seven- on the third end, and although Flewellen was only two behind on the twelfth end, Thomson was mos'tly in command and it was only a three to Flewellen on the final end which made the final score so close.

The other three quarterfinals were even more clearcut affairs. Bennett’s front men were too steady for their counterparts in Murray’s team; Coup, with fours on two ends in the middle stages, had little trouble holding C. H. J. Hahn (Burwood) at bay; and Marshall, aided by sound bowling from his partners, was rarely in difficulty against C. Gollop (Sydenham). Hahn got past the first round with a somewhat surprising win against D. H. K. Stuart (Dallington), whose team did not play with the control of its section matches. Stuart won more ends, but gave away 15 points on three he lost. The final score to Hahn was 27-20.

Hahn then qualified for the quarter-finals with a handsome win against C. C. Johnston (Papanui), whose team also dropped below its earlier standard.

Gollop withstood a strong late challenge by I. A. Sellers (Opawa) to come through the first round, and he then had an easier time overcoming B. L. A. Irvine (Darfield). The easterly wind which cut across the greens did add to the bowlers’ task, but with Thomson the only unexpected semi-finalist, the beaten teams could hardly blame the conditions for their defeats. Results:— First round T. F. Smee (Fendalton) 23, A. L. Doggett (Woolston W.M.C.) 19; C. H. J. Hahn (Burwood) 27, D. H. K. Stuart (Dallington) 20; C. C. Johnston (Papanui) 15, H. Hirst (New Brighton) 9; C. Gollop (Sydenham) 21, I. A. Sellers (Opawa) 16; B. L. A. Irvine (Darfield) 20. W. G. Ditfort (Spreydon) 16; T. Huggan (Woolston W.M.C.) 20, A. Geddes (Mona Vale) 11. J. Thomson (Kaiapoi) 18, G. W. Thomson (Fendalton) 17; I. E. Andrews (United) 24, F. W. Fiecken (Cashmere) 17; N. Flewellen (Woolston W.M.C.) 16, L. T. McKendry (Dallington) 15; K. G. Murray (Linwood) 22, E.

Raudsepp (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) 17; G. Morris (Rangiora) 20, R. Pirrie (Dalington) 17; G. E. Bennett (Fendalton) 17, C. H. Thompson (Oxford) 14; D. Finnie iSy denham) 26, D. C. Lofley (Burnside) Second round T. F. Coup (Kaiapoi) 20, Smee 17; Hahn 24, Johnston 11; Gollop 23, Irvine 13; L. Marshall (Christchurch W.M.C.) 23, Huggan 22; Thomson 18, Andrews 10; Flewellen 28, R. Brown (Opawa) 12; Murray 20, Morris 8; Bennett 27, Finnie 7. Quarter-finals Coup 21, Hahn 11; Marshall 18, Gollop 8; Thomson 20, Flewellen 17; Bennett 20, Murray 10.