Gary Lawson's hunt for a tenth title at the National Open Bowls Championships was almost derailed this morning by under-dog Robin Moffat of Hornby Domain.
Needing three on the last end to win and holding a shot, a Moffatt drive was slightly off target and the heavily favoured
Lawson World Bowls four scraped home, 18-16.
Things looked ominous for Lawson and his team of Andrew Todd (lead), Richard Girvan and Russell Meyer when they trailed 1-8 after eight ends but the internationals then reeled off 17 unanswered shots to rush out to 18-8.
Moffatt gained two three on the sixteenth and seventeenth ends to see Lawson go into the final end leading 18-15.
Lawson's second, Richard Girvan, said both fours had had their lucky moments and he expressed the team relief in progressing to this afternoon's semi-final against Canadian Ryan Bester.
Bester took six from the last end to give his 20-12 win over former New Zealand cricket representative Peter Petherick a rather false impression, while the others to win through to the semis were Lance Pascoe of Blaketown in Greymouth and Terry Scott of North East Valley.
As expected, Jo Babich of Carlton-Cornwall and Mina Paul from Ngongotaha won through to the women's semi-finals and they will meet Diane Harris (Papakura) and Ashburton's Diane Gutberlet, respectively.
Harris accounted for Pam Phair of Elmwood, while Gutberlet had a good win over Central's Patricia Wishnowsky.
This morning's results:
Men's fours, quarter-finals: Terry Scott (NEV) beat Alex Murtagh (Pine River) 15-11; Lance Pascoe (Blaketown) beat Rodney Greaney (Allenton) 24-19; Gary Lawson (Eastbourne) beat Robin Moffatt (Hornby Domain) 18-16; Ryan Bester (Hanover) beat Peter Petherick (Central Levin) 20-12.
Women's fours, quarter-finals: Diane Gutberlet (Ashburton), beat Patricia Wishnowsky (Central) 23-12; Mina Paul (Ngongotaha) beat Stella Trower (Burnside) 21-9; Jo Babich (Carlton-Cornwall) beat Joan McGregor (Waverley) 17-12; Diane Harris (Papakura) beat Pam Phair (Elmwood) 23- 12.
- NZPA
