Scott wins tight clash against Signal
THERE were some epic encounters on the first day of competition at the North East Valley Invitational Singles yesterday.
One was the clash between past Blackjacks Shaun Scott and Blake Signal in the first round.
Signal (Nelson Bays) appeared to be in control as kept his nose in front.
However, after leading 1311 lead after 13 ends, Signal succumbed to a persistent Scott.
The 2009 tournament champion locked the game up at 1313 on the 14th end and took a
1413 lead on the 15th end.
Signal hit back over the next five ends to appear oddson to win the race to 25 as he led 2214 after 21 ends.
But Scott fought back and, four ends later, the Bannockburn bowler had the game locked up again at 2222.
On the 26th end, he took the lead for the second time at 2322.
Scott then scored two on the 27th end to win the game.
Scott accounted for Brent McEwan (St Clair) in the second round 2511.
Another past Blackjack Jamie Hill (Onehunga and Districts) appeared well in control of his firstround match against Australian international Scott Thulborn when he held a 209 lead after 20 ends.
But Thulborn clawed his way back to draw level over the next five ends.
Despite Hill scoring a three on the 26th end to be in sight of victory, Thulborn found another gear over the next four ends to win 2523 in a hardfought 30end affair.
Thulborn then beat Doug Thomas (NEV) 2517, while Hill lost to 2523 to Andre Smith (Marlborough).
The Kaikorai greens were full of upsets in the first round including veteran Bill Clements’ 2516 win against teenager Seamus Clements (Wellington) and the 2521 victory of Roger Stevens (Re Rangi) over past Blackjack and multiple national titleholder Gary Lawson (Eastbourne) .
Gore bowlers Elliot Mason and Caleb Hope went hammer and tongs in their first round, Hope squeaking home 2524.
Hope then defeated Bob McAuley (Central Otago) 2519.
Fellow Gore representative Sheldon BagrieHowley battled his way to a firstround victory over Dave Archer (Taieri) 2520 but lost 2516 to Keanu Darby (NEV) in the second round
Tournament favourites Aaron Wilson (Australia) and Ryan Bester (Canada) progressed through the first round unscathed. Bester defeated Paddy Stewart (Kaiapoi) 252 and Wilson accounted for Kaikoura’s Josh Boyd 2516.
In the second round, Wilson had to dig deep to overcome Rory Soden (North Harbour) 2523 while Bester downed Sean O’Neill (Timaru) 2516.
The secondround boilover was the win of Mark Watt (30) against 2011 tournament champion and Blackjack Tony Grantham (North Shore) 2524.
Watt is a former member of the North East Valley Club who is now based in Nelson Bays.