Bowls: Consistent Tokoroa bowler takes pairs

By Graham Skellern and Terry Maddaford

Rejuvenated Tokoroa bowler Kevin Robinson yesterday captured his second major title in two seasons - the Manurewa Invitation pairs.

Robinson last year broke through at national level after many years of bowling by winning the champion-of-champions singles.

He has continued that consistent winning form and joined his good mate Neville Risbridge to beat Christchurch's Bruce McNish and Neville Poole 21-10 in the final of the William Grant's.

The experienced Waikato bowlers earned a trip to the Warilla Masters pairs in New South Wales in April.

"We got away to a bit of a lead and any luck that went, we got it," said Robinson, who beat Papakura's Shane McGonagle and John Fitzpatrick 22-18 in the semifinals.

The biggest piece of luck came on the 16th end when McNish was holding three shots and Robinson was heavy with his draw, slicing the jack back to Risbridge's bowl to maintain the lead at 19-14. Earlier, Robinson led 6-0 and 18-9 after nine ends.

McNish, a Commonwealth Games representative, had a chance to tie the match on the final end when he wrested the Robinson shot bowl for three shots, but his own bowl slid too far past to join the required count of four.

McNish and Poole, who beat the 1996 winners, Jim Scott (Dunedin) and Rex Knox (Wellington) 19-18 in the other semifinal, had to settle for being runners-up for the second year running.

Meanwhile, Adam Newman shut out the news of the tragic death of a close friend on Sunday night to partner Rob Ashton as they successfully defended their Classic Invitation Pairs crown at the Browns Bay Bowling Club.

The unflappable pair - they won 20 straight for Wellington as a pairs combination before being split this season - beat Northland's John Dunn and Gordon Bond 18-11 to pick up the $4000 winners' cheque.

It was the second time the teams had met in the FAI event, with Ashton also winning their section clash on the second morning of the four-day tournament.

To reach the final, Ashton put out 1997 winners Eric Taylor and Brent Turner 25-6 in the semifinals, while Dunn ended home club hopes when he edged David Eades out 17-16 in a cliffhanger.

In the final, Dunn led 2-1 after the second end but that was the only time he was in front. Ahead by a shot after seven ends and by three after 12, Ashton then pulled away to win without completing the last of the 18 ends.