Bowls to Barnes

Press, 17 June 1976, Page 6

Bowls to Barnes

From our bowls reporter Gary Barnes, of Canterbury, won the 1976 national indoor bowls championships singles title at Wanganui last night, beating Doug Mace, of Waikato, in the final by 18 to 7. ft was Canterbury’s first title at the championships since 1969. when Graham Taylor won the singles, although four times in the last three years Canterbury players have come runnersup. Barnes led Mace all the way, scoring twos an three’ of the first four ends, to lead!

6-2. Both picked up a few singles, before Barnes increased his lead to 13-6 after 13 ends. Mace then scored another single after Barnes, before Barnes put the game beyond doubt, finally winning 18-7 . Of the 2510 players entered in the singles 864 qualified for post-section play. In the last 16 rounds Barnes fought a stern tussle with the former New Zealand champion, Matti Sullivan, of Waikato. The scores were tied at 9-9 before Barnes up a four and tWo to I win, 15-9.

Alf Williamson (Canterbury) beat the 1973 winner, Trevor Wright (Waikato), on an extra end after the scores were tied 8-8 in this round. Canterbury’s other hope, Keith Becker, went down to Mace, 9-5, in a hard fought game: Results.—Quarter-finals: A. E. Williamson (Canterbury) 8 R. Fleming (Auckland) 7; G L Barnes (Canterbury, 13, B Stewart 'Auckland! 6; D. Mace iWalkatoi 9 R. Docherty (Auckland) 7: D. J. Death (Buah Ruahlne’ L- Moir (Auckland) 4. Semi-finals: Barnes 12, William son 9; Mace 8. Death 7. Final: Barnes 18. Mace 7 .. ? he (hampionships continue this week.