By JIM BRIGGINSHAW
DEFENDING champ Neil Burgess (Lennox Head) has made it into the third round of the Northern Rivers district singles without rolling a bowl.
He had a bye in the first round and a forfeit in the second.
Going for his seventh district singles title and a hat-trick, the former NSW rep is not likely to find his path so easy at Lennox Head on Sunday.
He will be up against the well-performed Barry McKendry (Lismore City).
McKendry knocked over the reliable Gary Burt (Casino RSM) 31-28 at his first outing.
Also at Lennox on Sunday, Tony Cheli will play Neil Harding (both had second round forfeits and first round byes); Daniel Foster will be up against John Lang (Foster won 31-11, Lang won 31-15).
Viv Ross, who had a 31-4 win in the third round, will meet David Ball, a 31-17 winner.
There also are big third round winners in the fourth round at South Lismore on Sunday: Gary Thompson 31-17 v Delio Santarossa 31-15, Ric Barnes 31-21 v Brian Nixon 31-10, Rod Burgess 31-22 v Rob Foster 31-23, Graham Stewart 31-11 v Richard Latta 31-30.
The semi-finals and final will be at South Lismore on May 6.
Semi-finals in the district reserve singles at South Lismore (final at 1pm) are: Tony Canini v Ian Ahrens, Anthony Gaggin v Michael Copeland.
District senior singles semi-finals and final also will be played at South Lismore on May 6.