Around The Greens

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33058, 27 October 1972, Page 15

Around The Greens

The annual Labour weekend combined triples tournament staged by the Shirley, Linwood and Burwood clubs again proved very successful, the first two placings going to Woolston W.M.C. teams.

In a tense final, which produced some remarkably fine bowling, A. Memory’s team of M. L. King and K. W. Lipscombe beat M. J. G. Robson’s combination of W. Johnston and J. Whiting, 10-9.

With two bowls left, Memory was two down on the board and three down on the head. He trailed the kitty with his second-to-last bowl

and with his final delivery he drew the second shot he needed for victory. In the semi-finals Memory beat W. D. Sams (Barrington) and Robson beat K. G. Murray (Opawa). In the playoff for third and fourth, Sams, who was partnered by J. O’Neill and L. Newell, beat Murray, who had A. Wilkinson and J. Reilly playing for him. The tournament attracted 72 teams and 21 qualified for post-section play. Seventeen got through with three wins and four, those skipped by Robson, D. Langley (Christchurch), E. Trenberth (Christchurch) and A. Walker (Shirley), won all their four section games. * * fis

After two rounds in Elmwood’s championship fours the unbeaten skips are A. Gray, J. C. McDonald, J. G. Fitzgerald, E. M. McCahon and G. P. Thomas.

A progressive fours tournament was held at Elmwood on Labour Day. The winning skip was C. Smith, with four wins and among the thirds, seconds and leads there were only three-game winners, and play-offs were necessary. Those to take the prizes in these positions were L. Berry (thirds), B. Hamilton (seconds) and S. Shellock (leads). * * fis

Yet another example of how fortunes can suddenly change in bowls was shown in a post-section match during the combined triples tournament last week-end.

R. A. Lulham (Christchurch), who had K. Smith and W. Graham with him, was leading 13-3 with three ends to play, but on those final ends his opponent, D. Langley, also of Christchurch, scored a one, a five and an eight to snatch victory 17-13. Langley was partnered by W. J. Cole and G. L. Barnes. For Lulham, who has been among Canterbury’s top bowlers for a number of years, the dropping on an eight was a new experience. It had never before happened

to him in 22 years of bowling, but he had no excuses. “They were eight beautifullydrawn bowls,” he said. * * %

Teams skipped by B. Saunders (Mona Vale) and E. S. Foster (Papanui) took the major prizes at an allday tournament at Papanui last Sunday. The runner-up to Saunders was R. A. Lulham (Christchurch) and C. A. Clarke (Papanui) was second to Foster. * fis «

Canterbury has made a prompt start to its championships and after the first two of the six qualifying rounds in the fours R’ T. Bailey and T. Lilley have two wins and the skips with one win are J. Johns, H. Fletcher, F. Lees, D. Clements, C. Ashworth, H. Taylor, A. Poyntz and J. Sanders.

There was much interest in the game between Lilley and R. McLeod, who was the champion fours skip last season. Lilley led 18-3 at one stage, but McLeod recovered to be in front 20-18 playing the final end. Lilley, however, had the final say by scoring a three on the last end to win 21-20.

Another tight game was that between Bailey and L. Thomson. Bailey, aided by some fine bowling by his third, B. Rolton, got home, 21-18.

In the championships singles B. Devine, a secondyear player and the colts champion last season, was in excellent drawing touch to relieve C. Ashworth, the winner of the intermediate title last summer, of his first life. The score was 23-10. fit # fit

The annual South Island working men’s clubs’ tournament, which this season will be played on March 10 and 11, has been instrumental in raising $3306 for the betterment of bowls.

This is the profit that has remained after prizes totalling $1065 has been paid out and it has been spread among bowling clubs, the referees’ association and the turf research association. This season a record $3OO will be spent on prizes. fit * fit

The Dallington club will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary at Show weekend with a dinner on the Friday and a club tournament on the Sunday. All past members are invited to attend. They are asked to contact the secretary, Mr L. O. Milner (Phone 859-921). In an all-day tournament at Dallington last Saturday for the Mathison Rose Bowl the winning four was T. Rogers, H. Duffy, L. Milner and H. Drewery (s). fis fie fit

Linwood beat New Brighton 265 points to 223 in

the annual match between the two clubs for the BismanHal Trophy. Six fours played at each club with Linwood winning 148-98 at home and losing 117-125 away. The trophy has been played for 25 times and Linwood has now been successful 16 times. fis fis fis

A number of clubs have written saying how well their greens are looking this season and acknowledging the fine job done by greenkeepers and their assistants. It would hardly be fair to list these clubs and the personnel involved as there are, no doubt, other clubs equally well placed. However, one club which does deserve a special mention is United. Its greens have come up very well despite the severe damage done them by vandals at the start of the winter and for this the green-keeping staff are to be congratulated.