SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP TO ELMWOOD PLAYER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32870, 20 March 1972, Page 3

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP TO ELMWOOD PLAYER

With an efficient display of draw bowling, E. M. McCahon yesterday won for the Elmwood club the Maddison trophy; it is the second time the club has won the trophy in the last four years.

In 1969, Elmwood was successfully represented by W. T. Newburgh, who this season was the representative of his new club, Papanui.

Also in the field was the 1970 winner, J. P. Anderson (Linwood), who reached the final and thus almost joined the select group of bowlers who have been singles champion of champions twice. Early in the final, played on the Papanui green, it seemed likely that Anderson was about to add to his fine record this summer, but as his form slumped McCahon began a purple patch which made his position fairly secure well before the game ended on the twenty-fourth of the scheduled 25 ends.

In nine years of bowling, McCahon has not before won a centre title, although he has been a consistent performer and twice in the last three years has been within sight of the national pairs crown.

The final produced bowling of a high standard, with the deciding factors being the consistently fine drawing of McCahon and the fact that Anderson missed more drivers than usual. Both players favoured the fore-hand, with McCahon grassing his bowls much better.

The game opened with Anderson winning six of the first nine ends to take an 8-3 lead. However, McCahon then began a great streak of drawing which enabled him to win eight successive ends, and after dropping a two on the seventeenth end, he continued on to win four more in succession.

This made the score 20-10 in McCahon’s favour, and although Anderson played some of his best shots of the game to win the next three ends, the leeway was too great for him to make up. McCahon’s superb drawing form was not better shown than on the sixteenth end, when, on a full-length head, he placed three bowls within a foot of the kitty. Anderson had three drives, and, although all went close, none disturbed the head.

The seventeenth end produced another memorable head. Anderson, holding three seconds, brilliantly ran off McCahon’s shot bowl with his last delivery. But McCahon with his last bowl

played a delicate draw to regain the shot. Playing more on the backhand, Anderson drew two fine shots on the twenty-sec-ond end to keep the game alive, and he raised the prospect of it going the full distance by winning the twentythird end.

For a time on the twentyfourth end Anderson looked to have a chance of getting the three he needed to force the last end, but then McCahon drew a close shot, and although Anderson was on target with a shot to move the kitty back a yard he reshaped the head to such an extent that it left him only two counters. Both the semi-finals were extremely close. McCahon overcame a slow start to match S. E. Lawson (Christchurch), and on the second-to-late end McCahon scored a two to lead, 17-16. McCahon drew two shots on the wing on the last end and then placed a third behind kitty. Lawson tried for the dead draw with his last bowl, but was heavy. In the other semi-final, M. S. Robinson (Barrington) outdrew Anderson conclusively in the concluding stages, but Anderson’s firm shots saved him repeatedly. On the last end, the score was 16-16 and Robinson, having played his four bowls, was one up when Anderson delivered his last bowl. Anderson elected to drive for the shot bowl and he expertely plucked it from the head. Results:— First round Dalllngton (I. Scott) 19, Canterbury (A. G. Murray) 8; Barrington (M. S. Robinson) 19, Hornby (A. Wright) 13; Redcllffs (T. Hines) 24, Darfield (W. J. Wall) 16; Hampstead (G. Jordan) 16. Riccarton Racecourse (P. L. Remi) 15; St Martins (B. A. Carlisle) 24, Waihora (N. R. Withell) 11; Rangiora (E. E. Doggett) 18, Tai Tapu (W. Newton) 16. Sheffiield (G. Buxton) 21, Lyttelton (J. Webb) 7; AkarOa (T. E. Armstrong) 20, Allenton (J. A. Robertson) 16; Woolston W.M.C. (M. J. G. Robson) 22, Ashburton M.S.A. (R. H. White) 9; Leeston (M L. Nairn) 23, Burnside (K. G. Shivas) 12; Woolston (N. D. Wales) 17, Riccarton W.M.C. (A. W. Wright) 11; Linwood (J. P. Anderson) 22, Christchurch W.M.C. (R. T. Thomson) 11. Fendalton (J. H. Pickles) 29, Southbridge (J. L. Jones) 12; Ashburton (J. C. Austin) 18, Edgeware (A. T. G. Johnstone) 16; Mona Vale (A; Geddes) 19, Burwood (C. B. Hill) 14; Shirley (R. L. Ward) 19, Amberley (K. W; McFarlane) 18; Elmwood (E. M. McCahon) 16, Kaiapoi (T. F. Coup) 8; Sumner (T. H. Wood) 23. Morrison Avenue (W. Webb) 7; New Brighton (I. Anticich) 19, Cashmere (F. J Turner) 14. Papanui (W. T. Newburgh) 22, South Brighton (P. F. Meier) 12; Burnham Camp (R, J. Hey) 18, HalsweU (B. Ware) 12; Christchurch (S. E. Lawson) 17, Oxford (C. H. Thompson) 16; Belfast (A. Arps) 20, Mount Pleasant (W. Hammond) 11; Sydenham (R. France) 33. Cust (L. Thompson) 2; Opawa (I. A. Sellers) 21, Cheviot (H. C. Hollander) 16; Spreydon (W. Clark) 17, Kaiapoi W.M.C. (R. Taylor) 16.

second round Barrington 21, Dalllngton 10; Redcllffs 15, Hampstead 10; St Martins 19, Rangiora 17; St Albans (T. J. Edmonds) 22, Rakaia (A. D. Doig) 9; Sheffield 20, Akaroa 16; Leeston 19, Woolston W.M.C. 17; Linwood 22, Woolston 9: Woodend (T. Hopkinson) 18, United (B. R. Jordan) 16. Burnham Camp 20. Papanui 7; Christchurch 20, Belfast 12; Opawa 20, Sydenham 8; Beckenham (F. A. Barnard) 18, Spreydon 15; Fendalton 23, Ashburton 9; Shirley 16, Mona Vale 10; Elmwood 21, Sumner 16; New Brighton 21, Avon (R, Fowler) 9.

Third round Barrington 19, Redcliffs 10; St Martins 18, St Albans 17: Leeston 17, Sheffield 12; Linwood 18, Woodend 17; Fendalton 19, Shirley 10; Elmwood 23, New Brighton 12; Christchurch 16, Bumham Camp 15; Opawa 26, Beckenham 9. Fourth round Barrington 21, St Martins 16; Linwood 23, Leeston 18; Elmwood 22, Fendalton 10; Christchurch 19, Opawa 14. Semi-final Linwood 17, Barrington 16; Elmwood 20, Christchurch 16. Final Elmwood 20, Linwood 15.