Bowls won by Cole

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34072, 9 February 1976, Page 26

Bowls won by Cole

(N Z Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH

In spite of near galeforce winds, the final between Cyril Cole (Khanidallah) and Jack Sommerville (Matamata), produced bowls of a high standard when the Lion Masters singles was contested in Palmerston North yesterday.

It was a case of one man adapting himself better to the conditions than the other, and the New Zealand representative, Sommervilie, was only too willing to admit that on the day the No. 1 Wellington Rothmans singles exponent was his match. The match, which lasted over 27 ends and finished 31-22 in Cole’s favour, saw Sommervilie lead until 13 ends, at which stage he was in front, 13-12, but from there on, the drawing of Cole was the telling factor in the match. By the time 17 ends had been played, Cole led 20-13, and when 20 ends were reached, though Cole led. 23-19, Sommervilie had made his mark with a couple of threes. As it turned out, Cole scored on five of what

[proved to be the remaining seven ends, to run out a I worthy 31-22 winner. I Earlier in the day, Cole ■had headed off Bill Gannon ■ (Wanganui R.S.A.), who on I Saturday created one of the upsets of the tournament by beating Nick Unkovich {(Ohaku Bay).

Still, Gannon, a beaten semi-finalist last year, was to fill the same role again this season.

The man to capture the i imagination of the public [throughout was the 71-year-old from Waimate (South Canterbury), Norm Manchester. It was he who came from behind to topple the New Zealand representative, Bob McDonald (Onehunga). However, his winning run came to an end against. Sommerville, although he fought back from a near impossible situation to run Sommerville close. The plate final was also a closely-fought affair with the New Zealand representative. Dave Baldwin fParitutu) heading off Phil Skoglund (Northern), and again, this was a match which could have gone either way. In the quarter-finals of the Masters plate. B. Johns

(Christchurch) was beaten 21-17 by H. Andrews (Paritutu).