22 left in bowls

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 20

22 left in bowls

Twenty-two teams, from an entry of 108, have qualified in the Christchurch Christmas fours bowls tournament. There will be three rounds of post-section play at Woolston W.M.C. today and the final two rounds there tomorrow.

Most of the favoured teams came through, although the dark clouds that rolled overhead as the last section round was being I played yesterday added to the drama of some tense struggles. Tiie list of skips to qualify with games Won. is:—' Eight "wins.—R. Ashcroft. (Linwood'. B. P. MacManus (South Brighton), G. E. Bennett (Fendalton).

Seven wins,—T. Hopkinsori (Woodend), T. W. Dixon (South Brighton), T. Lock (Fendalton), C. Lyons (Linwood), Garver: (Dalli'ngtort. R. L. Cullen (Spreyio®l. D. Langley (Christchurch).

Six wins.—C. Cox (Burnside), D. °age (Redclifis), T. Flaus (New Brighton), C. K. Manson (Shirley). J. Simpson <St Martins), A. Uemory (Woolston W.M.C.I. P. L. Remi (Hornby), S, Beaumont •Redeliffs), I, J. .McAllister (Dal.ington). R. A. Croft (Fendalton), G, Coombes (Burnside), JW. Berry (Sydenham).

The total of 22 qualifiers was lewer than expected, the result f a number of teams which looked very likely to record a dxth win yesterday failing to theft objactha.

Two in this category were the Papamii entries skipped by Sid Glennie and Brian McGowan. Both had five wins overnight. Glennie lost his first game to B. Harris (Burwood), 14-18—Harris scoring a four on the last end—and Glennie, then succumbed to Clifi Cox (Barrington), 13-16. ’This Was only Cox’s third win.

McGowan, who had Puncan White, a member of John Giß’a second placed team last year, as his third, looked likely to gain his sixth win when he lay one shot and with his opponent, MaoManus, having only one bowl left bn an extra end. However, Mac-M-anus drove through a narrow portal to remove the shot and will the’ game bn a measure. McGowan met MaeManus in the seventh round and in the eight round he was well beaten, 26-13, by a team of Linwood colts =ki»ned by Rr-1 Ktmber, who had been put out of contention a round earlier.

This left MacManus as the; only qualifier from his section, the five game winners being Kimber. McGowan. George Glasgow (Christchurch - Richmond M.S.A.) and H. Webb (Burnside).

Tom Lilley and Barney Saund-I era. both of Canterbury, were chibmates who could also sympathise with each other, Lilley, needing just one win yesterday, lost his first game decisively, hut then failed, 16-17, to overcome Hugh Berry (Snreydon). Saunders reoulred tn win both hft games yesterday. He S«t the

second, bttt the first escaped him, 22-21. It was probably ho comfort to Saunders that his winning opponent. J. Morris (Rangioi-a), lost his seven other games. Another with a sad tale to tell was Lyn Berry (Elmwood). He won his first five games and then lost the. last three, the closest being yesterday morning when Lock beat him 18-15. Lock struck another blow *in the last round when he beat Jack Edmonds (St Albans’, 16-11. a game Edmonds needed to qualify.

Lyons and Garven were the only qualifiers from their section and they met in rhe final round. Garven denjing Lyons a perfect record by. beating him. 17-16.

Walter Hadlee, who won the event three years ago, finished with five wins. His chance of qualifying disappeared when he lost. 11-22, to Cedric Cox (Bumside) in the seventh round.

The draw for the first round this morning is Cox v. Flaus Garven v. Cullen, Beaumont v. MacManus. Memory v. Coombes. Hockinson v. Dixon and Lyons v. Remi.

The other skips all. have byes through to the second round but apart from one exeeptior they win also play their first games at 9 a.m. The exception is Berry and Bennett, who will start at 12.15 p.m. The second round games at f a.m, ere Lock v. Simpson. Lang ley v, McAllister. Page v. Ash erort, end Croft v. Manson.