Bowls finalists found

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 32

Bowls finalists found

The experienced and wellperformed Bill Newburgh (Elmwood) will meet the young, fifth-year Christchurch bowler, Philip Melville, in the final at Shirley on Sunday week of the centre open singles. They were the two players left, both as one-lifers, after the third day of the tournament at Spreydon yesterday. In addition to his reputation of being one of the best singles players in Canterbury, Newburgh will also have the advantage of knowing that be has already beaten Melville once.

This was in the eleventh round yesterday. Melville began the day as the only remaining two-lifer among the nine players still in the draw and after a bye through the ninth round he retained this status by coming away over the latter ends to beat Leon Jones (Southbridge), 21-11. Newburgh came from 4-11 down after 12 ends to beat Sonny Calder (Linwood), 2116, in the ninth round; Calder staying on 11 for eight ends while Newburgh advanced to

17. Newburgh had the bye through the tenth round and when he met Melville in the eleventh, the Christchurch entrant had the comfort of knowing that, win or lose, he was still assured of a place in the final. His defeat merely meant that the tournament would go into a fourth day. The game was close for the first half of the board, but Newburgh was clearly more consistent on the draw over the latter ends. Melville made two or three good saves with his last bowl on heads that were right against him, the best by far being a short trail for a three. However, Newburgh was too steady and even a bad mistake — a drive which removed his only bowl on the head and cost him a four — proved inconsequential. Newburgh then met Neville; Poole (Sumner) to determine; who would play Melville inj the final. Neither of these' two very fine singles players! was at his best, although a I strong wind was a contributing factor. Poole made the first break when when he got ahead, 138, but Newburgh closed the gap to 14-11 and he then had a run of nine points on four ends, the run beginning with a four when Poole lost his weight completely. This put Newburgh in front, 20-14, and some expert; driving — a strong feature of; his play throughout the game: — enabled him to kill at least | two promising heads for

;jPoole. It was a fine running 11 shot through a narrow portal sito take the kitty into the Jditch that finally gave Newburgh his win. ■; Poole’s chances of getting : |as far as he did looked remote I when in the ninth round he trailed Norm Wales (Woolsi'ton) 9-18 after seventeen 'lends. But he suddenly came ’to terms with the green and beginning with two threes he '| recovered to win, 21-18. ; Jack Dale, who was trying J for a third win in the event, got past the ninth round with J a big win over his Burwood I club-mate. Maurice Sealbv. I but his form lapsed in the I tenth round and Poole beat him almost as easily. Jones and Dale later 'played-off for fourth place land in a game with a fair 'amount of driving the young and promising Jones, who ; |was little known before the tournament started, was sucIcessful. 21-17. Results: Ninth round W. T. Newburgh (Elmwood's 21, 1.. G. Calder (Linwood) 16: .1. L. Jones (Southbridge) 21, M. S. Robinson (Barrington) 7; N. Poole (Sumner) 21, N. Wales (Woolston) 19; J. A. Dale (Burwood) 21. M. J. Sealby (Burwood) 8; P. Melville (Christchurch) a bye. Tenth round Melville, two-lifer, 21, Jones 11; Poole 21, Dale 11; Newburgh a bye. Eleventh round Newburgh 21, Melville 17, I Poole a bye. Twelfth round i Newburgh 21, Poole 15; Melville ’a bye.