Bowls: Girvan leaves it late to win quarterfinal

Richard Girvan unleashes a drive during his quarterfinal match against Shaun Scott in the North...
Richard Girvan unleashes a drive during his quarterfinal match against Shaun Scott in the North East Valley 10,000 yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Sydney based Richard Girvan did it the hard way. He came from behind to snatch victory with his last bowl in a thrilling quarterfinal on the North East Valley green yesterday.

Girvan (39) beat home town boy and New Zealand singles champion Shaun Scott (North East Valley) 25-24 by scoring two shots on the 30th end.

Girvan has given himself a chance to win an elusive final in the Speight's Invitation singles today.

He finished runner-up to the ice man Rowan Brassey (Auckland) in 2007 and to Justin Goodwin (Auckland) in 2010.

''I would like to go one better tomorrow,'' Girvan said.

''But it's a tough field and is full of quality players.''

Girvan is one of three Black Jack players who have reached the semifinals.

He plays former international Philip Skoglund (Palmerston North) in one semifinal. Skoglund beat beat former international Jim Scott (North East Valley) 25-20.

Three time winner Shannon McIlroy (Nelson), who is expected to be the New Zealand singles player at the Commonwealth Games, beat Andre Smith (Marlborough) 25-21 in the quarterfinals.

The other Black Jack in the semifinals is Sydney based Ali Forsyth, who scored a spectacular 25-24 win over Mark Watt (North East Valley) by drawing the shot with his last bowl.

Girvan has based himself in Sydney since 1999 and believes the intense competition he gets each week on the Sydney circuit helped him win a tight game yesterday.

''The wind made it tough today,'' Girvan said.

''I just tried to be consistent and I managed to pull off a couple of good shots to get the win.''

Girvan trailed Scott 18-11 after 17 ends and he needed to use all of his vast experience to get back into the game. He did this by scoring seven shots on the next four ends.

It was nip and tuck after this and the scores were locked at 23-all after 28 ends. Scott added a single on the next end before Girvan drew two shots on the 30th end to win the game.

McIlroy, who won the event in 2006, 2008 and last year, has the chance to win his fourth title today and edge ahead of Brassey, who has also won the event three times.

Smith held a narrow 13-12 lead over McIlroy after 12 ends but the experienced Black Jack then took charge and scored eight shots on the next four ends to lead 18-13.

It was a buffer that enabled him to stay in front of the tenacious Smith, who fought back and closed the gap to one shot, 22-21, after 24 ends. McIlroy drew three shots on the final end to win the game.

In the past, McIlroy would have blasted away with some strong drives to build on his five-point lead.

''But my drive wasn't on target at the weekend, so I stuck with the running shot that I was playing well,'' he said.

McIlroy intends to call on his experience in the two rounds today.

''I have been there and done that. I will think back to my past experience and the emotions that come up,'' he said.

McIlroy faces Forsyth in the semifinal and knows that the Sydney-based player will be buoyed by his dramatic last-bowl win against Watt.

Watt (23) had four shots on the head after Forsyth had played three loose bowls. But Forsyth, who won back-to-back New Zealand titles in 2003 and 2004, called on all his experience with his last bowl.

''We had played short ends going that way and I didn't think about my weight on the first two bowls,'' he said.

''My third bowl was horrible and my only option was to dead draw with my last bowl.''

It was a remarkable fight back by Watt, who is a member of the New Zealand Development squad.

He trailed Forsyth 21-14 after 26 ends but then clawed his way back with some telling drives and accurate draw bowls to draw level at 24-all after 35 ends.

He dropped a four on the 18th end and that was a decisive part of the game.

Jim Scott looked down and out when he trailed Skoglund 22-12 after 21 ends. He also fought back and kept Skoglund pinned on 24 points for four ends before the Palmerston North player gained the winning point.

The semifinals start at the North East Valley green at 9.30am today and the final is expected to start at 1pm.

 

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