Bowls: Fours champion put out in cliff-hanger

CHRISTCHURCH - Defending champion Andre Smith, of Havelock, in Marlborough, was eliminated at the death when the national fours bowls championship was reduced to the last 16 yesterday.

After leading throughout the bulk of the 18 ends, he lost 18-19 to Wanganui's Ray Park on a replayed extra end.

"We missed three crucial drives, and that about summed up the game," Smith said glumly as he and team-mates Lloyd Gallop, of Blenheim, Kevin Greenwood, of Renwick, and Bob Dowling, of Havelock, reflected on their near-miss.

They had been within one bowl of staying alive on the first extra end. But Park, with his last chance, delivered a perfect backhand drive to kill the jack.

"He played a great bowl, that last one," Smith lamented. "He could only see a quarter of the white ball, and hit it."

The men from Marlborough also held shot on the replay until Chris Waterson trailed the white through to give Wanganui two. One was recovered, only for Park to draw accurately.

Park reached the last eight in both the fours and pairs last season, having been a pairs semifinalist at Wellington in 1987. His team-mates are Waterson, Sean Johnson and Ian Broderson.

It was Park's second consecutive win against a nationally recognised opponent. On Thursday afternoon he beat former pairs and singles titleholder Brian Baldwin, of Paritutu, 23-15 at the United green.

Park comes up against some more champions today.

The Papanui team he meets includes Pat Doig, Dave Trainor and Warner Barber, who shared in the fours title nine years ago.

Burnside bowler Bruce McNish edged out clubmate Peter Stumbles to win the plate final 24-23. - NZPA