AROUND THE GREENS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33987, 30 October 1975, Page 19

AROUND THE GREENS

The former New Zealand representative, Wally Wilkinson (Beckenham), again began the season on a successful note by repeating his I win of last year in the (Labour Day week-end triples (tournament, conducted by | the Linwood, Burwood, and [Shirley clubs. I Wilkinson’s team was ■Clarrie Bateman, of Opawa,

and Noel Brostow. In the final, he beat Tony Deane (South Brighton), who was)

[partnered by Noel Flewellyn! and Doug English, 10-9. ’ Deane, who had taken the[ i lead with a five early in thei .game, was three behind! [playing the last end. He had I two at the change and drew; [a third himself. However,! Wilkinson drove off Deane’s; bowl to ensure victory. Wilkinson has a very good; [record in the event, having [won in twice and been run-[ner-up once in the six years [it has been played. In the semi-finals, Wilkin-■' son beat Arthur Stapleton' (Shirley), 7-5, and Deane beat Ivan Smith (Linwood),| 15-3. Stapleton's team was: ■Jack Gibb and Dave Taylor and Smith was partnered by J ■ Bernie Sansom and Allan: Black. : Smith beat Stapleton in the play-off for third and ' [fourth. i The consolation event, for I teams eliminated in the first [ iand second rounds of post- 1 [section play, was won by 1 'Sonny Calder (Linwood), ' with Bob Ashcroft (Liniwood) runner-up. The tournament attracted [BO entries and 25 qualified • by winning at least three of; their four section games. [' The final was played at Bur-! [wood. There appears to have been a big influx of new re- [ cruits to bowls this season. Many clubs report member- I ship gains, and some are ; quite substantial, examples ' [being Linwood, Papanui. and i R.S.A., which all have in •excess of 30 new members. [I A number of clubs were hit hard by the storm of.; August 1, but in most cases! the proverb about an ill-j< wind not bringing some! good has been borne out. The damage forced manj' of I these clubs to rebuilt fac-'i

I ilities and the clubs are, therefore, better off. , After more than 10 years of negotiations, Edgeware has at last been given by the City Council additional ■ land in St Albans Park on : which to lay a second green. ; Permission has also been given to build a new pavillion. The club is delighted by the decisions and it looks 1 ahead with confidence to the! challenges they present. , * * j There was a disappointing turnout, probably due, in', part, to bad weather, for the: : first meeting of club coaches ' at Papanui last month. It is also possible that some coaches, had not been 1 informed of the meeting and . to overcome this situation j arising again the centre will • advise the coaches directly, 1 and not through their clubs, of future meetings. Those who attended found ! the evening very worth , while, and the poor attend- : ance was scant reward for jail the work Mr B. W. Sin-: jclair has done in getting a l i coaches’ association estab- 1 j lished. An inaugural representa- ' tive match for bowlers of up - to four years experience will be played between the' Christchurch and South, : Canterbury centres at Sprey|don on Sunday, December 7. 1 The Christchurch team will : Ibe chosen by the centre selectors from club nomin- ■ ,ations, each club having the' right to nominate two players. ' Linwood retained the ■ Friendly Cup when it beat i Edgeware 141 points to 116 -in a recent match.