NATIONAL TOURNAMENT New reps in bowls team

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33069, 9 November 1972, Page 26

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT New reps in bowls team

(By

K. J. McMENAMIN)

Three bowlers who have not previously competed in the event have been included in the two Christchurch teams to contest the first round of the Rothmans national inter-centre tournament on November 2t>.

They are G. L. Barnes, who won the open pairs and open singles last season, the consistent M. J. G. Robson, and the promising B. J. Smith.

The teams were announced last evening by the centre selectors (Messrs J. R. Smith, G. T. Cotton and D. Martin) after a trial at the Woolston W.M.C.’s greens. They are:

Red (to play at Greymouth).— Singles: S. E. Lawson. Pairs: B. W. Sinclair and W. R. Wilkinson (s). Fours: F. W. Hoy, Robson. T. W. Dixon, and L. C. Lindley (s).

Black tat Blenheim). —Singles: Barnes. Pairs: K. G. Murray and G. E. Bennett (•). Fours: Smith. A. Memory, W. Hayes, and T. F. Coup (s). SPLENDID BOWLING

The trial, played on an exceptionally fast green for this time of year, produced a very high standard of bowling. The trialists to miss selection were P. F. Meier, E. M. McCahon, K. G. Shivas, C. L. Bull, H. P. Butts and N. Brosnan. The unluckiest was undoubtedly Meier, who was third in the singles at the last national championships. He played Lawson and in a tight game, full of good drawing, he went down 15-20. Lawson had two fours in his total, the second coming on the eighteenth end when he trailed the kitty away from Meier’s two close shots. TOOK COMMAND

In the other singles game, Barnes gave an impressive display of draw bowling to beat McCahon, 23-12. After 15 ends the score was 12-12, but from then on Barnes was in control.

In the pairs, Murray and Bennett (s) combined superblv to beat Brosnan and Butts (s), last summer’s pairs champion - of - champions, 25-14, the game ending on the twentieth end. Bennett,

iin particular, played some [delightful running shots. i Sinclair and Wilkinson (si beat Robson and Memory (») in the other pairs game, 20-13 (16 ends being played). None of these four played consistently, but with Sinclair having the edge on Robson in leading. Wilkinson generally held the advantage. The teams for the fours were Smith, Shivas, Hayes and Coup v. Hoy, Bull, Dixon and Lindley, and although all eight players justified their presence, Coup’s team was the more efficient. When plav ended after 15 ends it was ahead 17-10.