Breakthrough for Graham Stanley

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 52

Breakthrough for Graham Stanley

The South Brighton bowler, Graham Stanley, showed that he was in good shape for the coming national tournament in Christchurch when he won the final of the centre singles on the Spreydon green yesterday. The win gave Stanley his sixth Canterbury centre title, and he had a special reason for welcoming it. The event is one in which Stanley has consistently been to the fore in recent years, without ever quite managing to win it. Twice he was the runner-up — in 1980 and 1983. . In yesterday’s final he met the 1979 winner, Lyn Hanger (Burnside), but there was never much doubt that this was going to be Stanley’s year. He led, 12-4, after nine ends, 17-5 after thirteen and a three on the sixteenth end gave him his victory, 21-7.

Although Hanger was a shade disappointing, Stanley did play very well. His drawing was very steady and when the need arose he drove to good effect.

Stanley has been struggling to find his best form this summer, but now that he has found it he will be a definite chance at the national championships which begin next week. Four years ago he showed that the class was not beyond him by finishing fourth in the pairs. Yesterday the open singles resumed at the quar-ter-finals stage, rain having caused a month’s delay. ' Results: Quarter-finals: Ray Hunt (Spreydon) 21, Bruce McNish (Spreydon) 19; Lyn Hanger (Burnside) 21, Bernie Johns (Linwood) 18; Roger Norton (Spreydon) 21, Morris Nairn (Leeston) 9; Graham Stanley (South Brighton) 21, Noel Tomlinson (Hornby W.M.C.) 9. Semi-finals: Hanger 21, Hunt 13; Stanley 21, Norton 15. Final: Stanley 21, Hanger 7.