Bowls: Pain is no barrier for plucky Farac

By GRAHAM SKELLERN

Simply playing in the national bowls tournament in Tauranga is a bonus for the gutsy Auckland representative Morris Farac - let alone reaching the last 16 of the pairs with his brother, Mike.

Morris Farac is racked with pain and worry, yet the former Carlton member -now of Henderson- shows no sign of it on the green as he keeps playing to his high standard.

"Yes, I'm struggling with my health. But I've always been competitive and I only go out on the green to do well. It helps me take my mind off other things," Farac said yesterday.

Following a visit to his doctor he considered withdrawing from the Tower tournament but was talked into playing by Mike, who said: "What are you going to do, just sit around at home. Let's go down and enjoy it and try to relax."

The Dalmatian brothers had a day to remember as they reeled off three fine wins to reach the business end of the pairs tomorrow. They won their first match easily, 24-7 over Taupo's Jack Giddy, but then had to contend with the dangerous Henderson pairing of Nick Separovich and Win Cozens.

It came down to an extra end and with his last bowl the determined Morris Farac drew the winner on the backhand when Separovich just missed with his run shot.

In their next game, the Faracs let an 18-7 lead slip away against Hamilton's John Kanawa and Wayne Stewart, who picked up a five on the penultimate end to trail by two shots.

But the Faracs dropped only one shot on the 18th end to win 18-17 and move on to play the strong Wanganui pair of Chris Waterson and Sean Johnson, last season's fours runners-up, in the last 16.

Waterson and Johnson ruined the hopes of the experienced Aucklanders, international Rowan Brassey and former pairs winner Ross Haresnape, who dropped a maximum six on the first end and were always on the back foot. Waterson and Johnson eventually won 19-11.

Interestingly, three teams entered for the fours championship next week were fully represented for the last 16 of the pairs. The Faracs' team-mates, another set of brothers in Ivan and Wally Marsic beat Silverdale's Barry Greer and Ian Watt 23-16 in the fourth round of post-section play yesterday.

One of the favourites, Ivan Kostanich and Kerry Chapman, were joined by their fours members Pat and Wayne Robertson - this time a father and son combination. It provided a memorable tournament for the veteran Pat Robertson, who like Johnson, Adam Newman and Sid Giddy, has reached the last 16 of both the singles and pairs.

Kostanich and Chapman beat Ray Park, the skip of the fours runners-up last season, 19-14, and the Manurewa pair of Shane Drabble and Lou Ogle 21-14. The Robinsons edged out a solid Bay of Plenty pair of Ted Schischka and Mike Tennent 16-13 in their fourth-round match.

The Christchurch Beckenham club also celebrated with two pairings in the last 16, Kevin and Howard Smith, who beat Matamata's Jack Eccles 16-12, and Bryan Turnbull and Geoff Wilkinson, who overcame Rob Terry and Geoff Stevens in the final matches yesterday.

The strong Bay of Plenty pair of Giddy and Maurice Hickey (Mt Maunganui) put an end to the run of Murray Davis, who has recently joined the same club after moving from Auckland.

First Giddy had to draw three screamers over the final ends to beat Trevor Wright (Te Awamutu) 14-13 in the first round before fighting off Davis and John Casey 15-11.

Last 16 draw: Kostanich/Chapman v David Bagge/Nelson Johnson (Matua), Stu Settle/Kevin Smith (Hinuera) v Keith and Jim Grafas (Te Puke), Pat and Wayne Robertson v Merv Gibbons/Ray Noone (Tauranga South), Turnbull/Wilkinson v Denis Matthews/John Wilson (Henderson). Jim Pratt/Wally McClennan (Omanu) v Hickey/Giddy, Kevin and Howard Smith v Ivan and Wally Marsic (Carlton), Dave Maquire/Howard Fuller (Tauranga South) v Mike Solomon/Adam Newman (Wellington), Morris and Mike Farac v Waterson/Johnson.