South Otago in bowls final

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 13

South Otago in bowls final

South Otago qualified for the New Zealand final of the Rothmans indoor bowls tournament when it won the South Island final on a count-back of ends in Christchurch on Saturday. All four teams In the final gained three wins and, after the count-back. South Otego was the winner by one end from Nelson. Final points were: South Otego, 3 wins, 6 points, 47 ends, 88 individual points; Nelson, 3, 6, 46. 85; Greymouth, 3. 6, 41, 75; South Canterbuiy, 3, 6. 40, 75. A real surprise occurred in the first round contest between South Canterbury’s Bill Ramage and Russell Botting (South Otago). Ramage scored on one end only and was overwhelmed, 30-2. Botting played a major part in South Otago’s over-all win as he scored on 12 ends. The other South Otago skip, Andrew Bennington, was beaten by Norma Clements, 18-13, although Bennington scored on seven of the 15 ends. A serious car accident deprived Greymouth of a top bowler in Peter Brooks. Kath Dyeming assumed the skip’s role and Brooks’s brother, Kevin, went second. Mrs Dyeming lost to Chris Preston (Nelson), 19-13, but Wally Brooks gave Grevmouth a win when he beat Hori Barnes, 14-12, in an exciting match.

Ramage reversed his first round form to score a good win over Preston, 20-13, but Warnes evened the match by scoring a win over Mrs Clements, 16-9. Botting continued on his winning way, beating Mrs Dyeming, 15-7. and Wally Brooks narrowly beat Bennington, 15-13.

At this point, South Otago had an advantage of five ends over Nelson. Greymouth was two ends behind Nelson and South Canterbury a further five behind. The vital final round produced several thrilling contests. In the game between Botting and Preston, only 13 of a maximum 15 ends had been played when the final whistle went, Botting scoring on seven to Preston’s six. The score favoured Botting, 12-9. Warnes scored a runaway win, 16-5, over Bennington,

Mrs Dyeming convincingly beat Ramage, 17-9, but Mrs Clements beat Brooks by the same margin. The count-back showed that South Otago had won by a single end (47) from Nelson (46). The winning team was: Mrs N. Pringle, B. Pringle, Miss F. Lamb, F.. Sotting (s.’i, Mrs L. Smith, Mrs L Black, W. Garrick, A. Bennington (s.). Results:—

First round.—Nelson A <C. Preston) 19. Greymouth A (Mrs K. Dyeming* 13; Greymouth B (W. Brooks) 14, Nelson B (H. C. Warnes) 12; South Otago A (R. Botting) 30, South Canterbury A (W. Ramage) 2; South Canterbury B (Mrs N. Clements) 18, South Otago B (A. Bennington) 13. Second round.—South Otago A 15, Greymouth A 7; Greymouth B 15, South Otago B 13; South Canterbury A 20, 'Nelson A 13; Nelson B 16, South Canterbury B 9.

Third round.—South Otago A 12, Nelson A 9; Nelson B 18, South Otago B 5; Greymouth A 17, South Canterbury A 9; South Canterbury B 17, Greymouth 8 #.