By GRAHAM SKELLERN
TAURANGA - New Zealand under-30 representative Sean Johnson has the chance today of emulating the national lawn bowls tournament feat of the Wanganui Aramoho club's most famous player, Peter Belliss.
Belliss, who now lives in Noosa, Queensland, won both the pairs and singles titles on a magical January day
in 1992 at the Tairei club near Dunedin.
The 27-year-old Johnson, who has been playing 12 seasons for Aramoho, also chases the double on the Matua green in Tauranga today.
He first plays the pairs final this morning, leading for fellowWanganui representative Chris Waterson against the Hinuera combination of Stu Settle and Kevin Smith.
Then Johnson fronts up for the semifinals of the singles against 1991 champion Petar Sain (Carlton). The final of the Tower-sponsored national championships will be held straight after that.
Waterson and Johnson have done supremely well in reaching their second national final in two seasons - they lost the fours in Christchurch last January.
They had to overcome a tough Bay of Plenty pair of Sid Giddy and Maurice Hickey and a dramatic last end before thinking of winning their first national title.
The Bay players needed four on the last end. Giddy killed the end three times and then Hickey drove the kitty in the ditch for two shots and Giddy added another.
The players called the umpire for a measure and Waterson's last draw shot beat the opposition's next bowl, which was sitting in the ditch, by half an inch for a 15-14 win.
Settle, who was leading, drew two superb shots under pressure on the final end to finally quell the charge of the Tauranga South pair, Merv Gibbons and Ray Noone.
On the fateful last end Noone actually rocked Settle's shot bowl on the draw, but the head remained unchanged for a 13-12 victory and the tiny Waikato Hinuera club could think about winning their first national championship.
Smith and Settle took out the favoured North Harbour pairing of Kerry Chapman and Ivan Kostanich 20-7 in the quarter-finals, while Giddy and Hickey held off another dangerous pairing, Carlton brothers Ivan and Wally Marsic, by scoring singles on seven of the last eight ends to win 16-9.
Waterson and Johnson had to pick up a three on the last end to beat the Auckland Farac brothers, Morris and Mike, 15-14.
