CLOSE CONTESTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 7

CLOSE CONTESTS

SOLDIERS ON GREEN

SURPRISING TIES AT BOWLS

(By TRUNDLER)

Spectators on Saturday were astounded fP s l e t , hat U»e only wins on the post in the finals of the R.S.A. tournament were between veterans and almost unknown beginners. It happens that there were more spectators than usual for a fine afternoon, as a cold wind made the shelters on the southern side of the Onehunga green more attractive than piaying, and they were treated to an unexpected finish. *??„ the ,^ h ? rt eliminating round, when iif . tor Qifford (twice champion ?' J against an Onehunga R.S.A. team I t Early. The latter notched a three, khnt hf £? lir . ® ve wlth One end to go. Lying tihot, he blocked the open drive, but GlHord got Yf i? r .. .. a winß bowl, and Early drote the iack_ dead, gaming one for a tie and a replay. To settle the tie there was excellent bowls on both sides, but Balmoral had the last a T ?, won two counters: E. Ward, B. Long, C. C. King J. oiflord 7, v. J. Wood. H. Whitney, 8 5 (substitute for J. McGregor). A. Then came the semi-finals, and GifTord's team to pieces, making only four against 13 (wlnner oi ">e last tournament), so all attention was given to the other semi-final ni? e = < L/i?.? par » tlTely inexperienced players were veterans who have been before the M or more. It looked like the ;°™® r x?® 11 !? victorious, but somebody suggested H? antl , the veterans held the shot J? t on ly to lose the play-off: W. Dilly, S-* iLt Yk ' w - Booth . J- Bradley 10, v. W. Lo'ram B ' ?eo * R " Randrup, W. A. Waterman was on leftve from camp, so all were I pleased to And him reaching the final, to retain the trophy won last time. The game itself

was disappointing: S. D. Eave, F. Bridges, T. w - Christey, G. A. Waterman (Talcapuna) 21 v. Bradley (Onehunga R.S.A.) 12. It appears that' in addition to the six veterans of the Boer War mentioned last week a 6 having taken to bowls, there are at least five mores',, i v " i lnsley ' Playing for W. Baffles In the R.S.A. tournament; D. I. Williams, playing for Bradley F. Dyson (Hallburton Johnstone): O. H Bray (Onehunga); and Walter Knight (Mangere). Takapuna Captures Badges McClymont's Fonsonby rink had no difficulty in retaining the Edwin Stars, and at one stage \ a V? 2. Granger's Mangere visitors then came to light and scored 11 points in a row but this was almost their last effort, the holder* winning by 22 to 15. A noticeable feature in this and the previous game has been the excellent Play of Ernie Jury, recalling his great wins of 20 years ago. The next to challenge are J. McCullough A Pederson, C. M. Culpin, W. Chiplln (Rawhiti), followed by A. E. Harland (Remuera), and A. H. Stitchbury (West End). A fairly well contested game for the Denison Pins was wrecked when the visitors lost a six on the 15th end, after which they failed to recover. Result: L. Bray, R. Laing, H. A. Robertson, L. G. Grace (Onehunga) 27, v. R. Thomas, E. Lardner, H. C. Keegan, T. G. Harriman (Te Papapa), challenger. 15. Next on the list are H . Whittle (Grey Lynn), .F. Dyson port) " Johnstone), and J. C. Taplin (Trans- !_, Waterman and party were winning the * j , tournament, another Takapuna rink captured the Diggers' Badges on their own green, picking the pace at once and winning by a big margin: E. Price, B. Gibbons, J. S. Wilcox. 5- ,£• C° Uins . challenger, 30. v. D. Tainsh. R. Worthington, W. Leather, T. Mason (Devonport), holder, 9. The next to try their luck at Takapuna will be R. a. Woolf (Onehunga R.S.A.), J. GiUord (Balmoral), and J. K. Ross (Carlton). Ellerslie All Square With Record Six wins are now to the credit of Ellerslie in the Jordan Pins, equalling the previous record of J. C. Taplin four years ago. Saturday's win happened to be against Tapltn's clubmates, the game ending: P. A. Lewis, J. T. White. L. Corby E. J. Mitchell (Ellerslie). holder, 28. v. J. Barlow. V. Rosser, J. Garrett, E. G. Jeffrey (Transport), 10. Next to challenge are S. McMahon (St. Heller's), and F. J. Morris (Te Papapa). The Hadwln Pins are back at Carlton after a close game: C. M. Whelan, H. Meltzer, H. A. Craig, G. A. Deare, challenger, 20, v. W. N. Abbott, R. G. Rainger, M. D. White, C. H ! Andrews (Remuera), 17. The holder had the advantage of its own green and started off with a three and a single, but Carlton took eight * our ends. This advantage was held until they tied at 13 on the 15th, It on the 18th and 17 on the 20th. As the clubs challenge in regular rotation, it is Balmoral's turn next, followed by Epsom. JUNIOR CYCLISTS CHALLENGE TO THE SENIORS AN IMPRESSIVE RIDE BY W. TYLER The result of the Manukau Club's 25 miles race for the Picknell Memorial Cup last Saturday proved conclusively that the juniors (riders under 18 years) have become a serious challenge to the senior division. Many seniors are overseas, but the scratch men, Shilton, Stonex and Trfcdrea, all on essential war duties, may be regarded as equally as strong a combination as the club lined up in pre-war days. At the end of four laps, 20 miles, the leaders were W. Tyler. S. W. Bartley. R. G. Whitley, C. A. Flinkenberg and G. R. Purdom. I With all their years of experience, neither Whitley | nor Purdom could outpace the three juniors. In fact, Purdom eased on the final round, and ft fast wind assisted. The finish resulted in Tyler (first) and Bartley almost dead-heating, a length ah r£?? Whitle y with Flinkenberg a good fourth. Tyler joined up this season and has made an impressive entry into the road sport. The previous week he was second in the junior 10 miles, while he finished third in the Warnock Cup over 20 miles. Bartley produced a great burst over the final chain, and rapidly drew level with Tyler. So close was the finish that only the Judges were able to separate them. Bartley has performed highly in all the 25 miles this year. He won the Carnival Cup and was third in the Helliwell Cup event. Fine Record Of Third Man Whitley has been associated with long events for many years. His first big race he won in 1935 over the notorious Birdwood course. Twice he has won the club's harbour race, and In 1939 he led Purdom into the Te Kuiti sports ground after a gruelling 50 miles ride over wet i roads from Hamilton. Purdom was fastest on that occasion, but last Saturday he seemed to be handicapped with a fixed gear. Hills. Hawkes and Lloyd started off one minute, but Lloyd had to retire with a broken gear cable. At the end of 20 miles Hills and Lloyd , were 43 seconds ahead of Shilton. Stonex and Tredrea. Even with the advantage of having the pair in sight, the scratch trio lost all their gained ground over that final five miles, for Hills finished exactly one minute ahead of Shilton. Both, therefore, shared in the time honours. Hawkes was only beaten in the sprint by Hills, while Shilton's high gear was a big asset in his flying finish against Tredrea and Stonex, who were both fully extended by the ex-Canter-bury giant. Hills was having his first official ride as a senior and. like Lloyd, could hardly have had ft better initiation into the ranks. Meredith Favourite Next Saturday the annual junior unpaced title event will be held over a 21 miles course, between Papatoetoe and Ho wick. Last year Hills. Lloyd and Aldridge were the best trio over 25 miles. At unpaced riding R. G. Meredith (Lynndale) has had no equals in junior competition this year, and he will naturally be the most favoured for the title. The course is metalled for seven miles, and entrants may find their heavier tyres more suitable and reliable. The Manukau Club have strong Juniors in Bishop. Wilson. Naulls. Herrick. Bartley, Ashton and Tyler, while Northern have a good quartet in Jones. Pascoe. Caudwell and R. Gibson. Papatoetoe's best juniors are Morris and Faithfull. The senior event will be over five rounds of a 4.7 miles circuit of fairly level roads. The last race over the course, in June, was won by Martin (Lynndale), with J. O'Gorman (Northern) fastest.