Singles bowls to Tomlinson

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 23

Singles bowls to Tomlinson

Bowling clubs in opposite corners of Christchurch had cause for celebration after the champion-of-champions singles and fours were finalised on the Christchurch club’s green yesterday. For Hornby W.M.C. it was a particularly notable occasion. It won its first centre title in its 17-year existence when Noel Tomlinson beat Sumner’s Neville Poole in the singles final for the prestigious Maddison Trophy. It was also a first for Tomlinson. He broke through for his first major title in nearly 10 years of bowls, years in which he has always shown great promise. For somewhat longer, Tomlinson has been one of Canterbury’s leading indoor bowlers and his outdoor victory matches a provincial indoor champion-of-cham-pions singles title.

The other club to have cause to raise glasses this week was New Brighton. Jack Swift’s team of Ray Gash, Jim McKenzie and Bill Bodger took the fours title and this is believed to be only the second time in its 72 years that New Brighton has been in the winner’s circle, the last occasion was some 50 years ago.

The singles final was a disappointing game. Poole, who had played so well in the semi-finals, and who was trying to win this event for a third time, was well below his best and Tomlinson was always in command. He took an early 8-1 lead

and it was when he was 11-6 down that Poole might have got back into contention. Tomlinson, ' who was never frightened to attack, burnt the head when he was two down with a superb drive and on the replay he scored a four.

At 22-9, the final being 25 up, Tomlinson was just about assured of victory and it was only a four and a three near the finish that made Poole’s total respectable. But, as he conceded later, he simply couldn’t find line and length and was decisively outplayed. For Tomlinson, aged 48, his closest call catne in the third round on Saturday. He got home, 21-20, against Arnold Memory (Woolston W.M.C.) in a game that was tight all the way. On the last end Tomlinson scored a wonderful two, the winning shot being drawn with his last bowl with his margin of error being only centimetres.

The fours final was a much better game, and it was preceded by a very good if very long, semi-final between Swift and Jim Rowe (Rangiora). Rowe led 14-7 after 13 ends and it was only a five on the fifteenth end which put New Brighton back into the game. A short time later a great shot by McKenzie, which ran the jack into the ditch, raised its spirits even further. Swift went into the last end 19-17 ahead and was able to restrict Rowe to a single. The other semi-final, between Peter Remi (Burnside) and Bill McDonald (Sprey-

don) was abo a tight game after Remi had pulled back an early 8-2 deficit. A three on the pendtimate end gave Remi the leid, 19-17, for the first time aid he added a single on ithe final end. McDonald c»uld have won if he had beerl able to run the jack into tlfe ditch with his last bowl, j Remi’s team of Bill Devine, Graham Rebs and Bill Cosgrove made a slow start to the final an! was 12-2 down after seven .ends. However, once it gave Remi more bowls on the head its fertunes Improved and it evenlially drew level at 16-16 o) the sixteenth end. | A good three then put Swift ahead 19-16 and he had a windfall on the next end — Remi, two d wn, got only his own bowls irith a drive and went down £ five. The game was as good as over, and it was on the next end, the twentieth, wjen Swift picked up a three (s Burnside tried for a replay. Also finaised at Christchurch yesteday were two of the junior ider-club competitions. In the division one final, victory wentto the Fendalton team of Kev n Pinn, Malcolm Couper, Bajry Moore and Brian Farncale (s). It came from 20-13 down with six ends to play to beat Barrington, 25-20. The divis jn two winner was Garry .awson’s Sydenham team <f Shane Collins,

Peter Barker and Peter Smith. With two sixes early in the game it was always comfortably clear of Cashmere and won 30-23. The division three final was played earlier last week and won by the Linwood team of Murray Shaw, Andrew Curtain, lan Kamo and Mike Anderson (s). It came away on the last few ends to beat Sumner 24-17. Results.— Singles Third round: B. Mathere (Halswell) 21, R. McQuillan (Belfast) 19; T. Deane (Woolston Park) 21, D. Fagan (Rakaia) 8; N. Poole (Sumner) 21, K. Allsop (Hoon Hay) 4; K. Murray (Opawa) 21, D. O’Neill (Burnside) 11; G. Fyall (Fendalton) 21, L. Jones (Southbridge) 14; N. Tomlinson (Hornby W.M.C.) 21, A. Memory (Woolston W.M.C.) 20; M. McMillan (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) 21, K. Tough (Canterbury) 17; B. Ware (R.S.A,) 21, T. Gray (Papanui W.M.C.) 16. Fourth found: Mather 21, Deane 17; Poole 21, Murray 14; Tomlinson 21, Fyall 8; Ware 21, McMillan 4. Semi-finals: Poole 21, Mather 9; Tomlinson 21, Ware 16. Final: Tomlinson 25, Poole 16. Fours Semi-finals: P. Remi (Burnside) 20, W. McDonald (Spreydon) 17; J. Swift (New Brighten) 19, J. Rowe (Rangiora) 18. Final: Swift 27, Remi 17.