Bryant, McConnell bowls prospects

Press, 18 March 1983, Page 34

Bryant, McConnell bowls prospects

The top Hawke’s, Bay bowler, Peter Bryant, will be hoping to repeat his performance of two years ago when he contests the national champion-of-cham-pions singles on the Burnside greens this week-end. It was at Burnside that Bryant won the event in 1981, beating Christchurch’s Neville Poole in the final, and if he should be successful again this time he will be the first player to win the title twice.

However, Bryant will not be alone in seeking a second win. The field .of 22 also includes the 1980 champion, Arthur Rudduck,. of North Otago.

The event, which is sponsored by United Building Society, is for this season’s centre singles champions and, if anything, the field looks a shade stronger than in previous years. Duncan McConnell (Dunedin), like Bryant, has represented New Zealand in the last three years, and they look to be the two best prospects. Bruce McNish (South Otago) must also be rated. He has had a good season, skipping the winning four at the Dominion tournament and gaining South Island selection.

Bill Gannon (Wanganui), Tom Rutherford (Otago Central), Owen Smith (Auck-

land), Don Wadsworth (Nelson), and Laurie Symes (Taranaki) are other distinct possibilities, while Christchurch’s Tom Dixon must also have a good chance. Dixon has the advantage of playing on a green with which he is familiar, and if he could recapture the form he showed when winning the Christchurch title he would be very hard to beat. The tournament is played on a knock-out basis, with first and second round losers going into a plate event. There will be three rounds tomorrow, and the final should be reached about midday on Sunday. The games will be 25 up.