Bowls: Belliss narrowly misses out on chance to defend title

Defending champion Peter Belliss fell one fightback short of a fours final berth at the national bowls championships in Wellington yesterday.

Belliss, Kevin Robinson, Steve Posa and Justin Goodwin almost did enough when they launched a late comeback in their crucial semifinal match against Blake Signal's team skipped by Alvin Gardiner, Robbie Bennett and Clint Carrol.

It was their second fightback of the day following a quarter-final nailbiter, but eventually the Belliss quartet slumped to a 21-17 loss. In an equally tight quarter-final earlier in the day, the Belliss four timed their run somewhat better against Andrew Kelly and his team of Lance Pascoe, Nick Buttar and Dave Good.

Down 5-16 with five ends to go against Kelly, the Bellis four produced some superb trail shots and accurate draw play when it mattered. They won the last five ends unchallenged, scoring a one, two twos, a four and a three to take the match 17-16.

In yesterday's other semifinal, the composite four of Ray Lovie, Scott Roddick, Gary Ruane and Barrie Andrews secured the other finals spot when they defeated the Pat Horgan-skipped team of Barry Wynks, Lawrie Gordon and Terry Curtis 20-19 on an extra end.

The extra end saw Gordon run the jack in the ditch for shot and with a couple of draw attempts from Ruane failing to count, the game looked to be going in the Takaro four's favour until Roddick drew a shot just one foot from the ditch to count for shot.

Horgan had two drive attempts but failed to connect, giving Lovie's team a place in this year's national final against Gardiner.

Signal's team had an impressive quarter-final win when they beat the strong combination of Shannon McIlroy, Dwayne Cameron, Iain Dalton and Paul Anderson 19-10.

On the other side of the draw, Ruane ended Auckland youngster Gregory Ruaporo's run with a 15-10 win while Horgan accounted for the Ken MacKenzie four 18-11.

In the women's competition, the Barbara McGregor-led Nelson team of double world champion Val Smith, Dianne Potts and Dale Bourke booked their place in today's final with a tight 14-11 win over Paula Meredith's Johnsonville four.

The formidable combination of Gale Fache, Nellie Hewson, Faye George and Loralie Hawkes secured the second finals spot with a 21-15 win over Verna Veint's Beckenham quartet comprising New Zealand representative Adele Greenfield, Maureen Doherty and Margaret Bruhns.

- NZPA