FOURS BOWLING OPENS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1947, Page 6

FOURS BOWLING OPENS

-Press Association

Haworth Eliminated In Firsf Day's Play

By Telegrapn—

WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. The blue riband event of the Doniinion Bowling Tournament now in its second week in Wellington, thc fours championship, began today in ideal weather and provided' some magnificent finishes, two rounds being played. The greatesc surprise was the .failure of the Canterbury foiu: skipped by R. Haworth, who carried off the championship in 1936 and 1937, to win either of his games. Seventy-nine of the 304 fours won their two games. Among them are former champions in Spearman (Christchurch R.S.A.), Bremner (Epsom, Auckland), Squire (Hawera), White (Runanga), Wilson (Mt. Eden, formerly of Linwood) and Livingstone (Onehunga). Jenkins (Carlton), runner-up in 1933, also 'won two games, as did Exelby (Frankton J'unction) who is the only competitor still in the singles and pairs. Franks (Balmoral), skip of the chanr:ion four in 1939, was narrowly beaten in his second game. Botli tlie Wellington Club's greens were in eommission again. J. T. Pavilt (Fitzroy) had a comfortable win against F. J. Watkins (Whitiora), who was runner-up skip in 1940. H. Wilson (Mt. Eden), skip of the fours national title feam in 1934 and 1938, disjiosed of G. E. Craig (Isla .d Bay) and J. A. Bridges (Frankton Junetion). Une of the best ma'.ehes on this green in the niorning was between A. Dickenson (Avon, Stratford) and J. F. Benson (Balmoral). Dickiiison has won his club singles 14 times, ten occasions 011 end, and has been Taranaki ehampion of cliampions twice. Benson was No. 3 in the winning four of 1939. Today the teams tied four times. O11 the 20th end tlie seore was 17-all. Benson then put I on 2, 2, 1 and 2. O11 the 24th end Ben son's No. 2 drew the shot when the team was 2 down. Dickinson's No. 3 carried tlie jack to give his skip 2 ou the 23th, Benson 's No. 2 got the shot and Dickinson's No. 3 carried the jack for 2. The skip with his lirst bowl hil a bowl six feet t'rom the jack and went off. Benson played a wide bowl and Dickiiison (inally trailcd and lay twu shots. A measure • i'ailbd to give the chird sliot to ensure a tie, so Benson won 22 — 21. Benson was engaged in another sliining battle in the second round, this tinie witli II. D. Curline (Kilbirnie), (.ui tlie ninth end Benson was 22 — 13. Tlie death head was killed by Curline (No. 2). O11 tlie 23rd end Benson was 23 — 20. The 24th was a widely scattered head and the Kilbirnie team got a 5, making a tie. O11 the replay Benson won witli his last boivl 26 — 23. At Hataitai C. Epearman (Christchurch R.8.A.), skip of ihe 1944 pairs winners, ha'd a couple of tall score ivins. At Hutt O. T. Oweii (Opawa) won by 20—16 against W. Gilbert (Kelburn.), who won the Wellington Ohristmas fours in 1943. ' Owcn t'ell in the second round to W. Bremner (Epsom), thc ehampion skip of 1934 and 1929, wlm demonstrated much of his old green-_ craft. . , A11 interesting contest at Island Bay was that in which W. R. Fleming (Neivio\fn) at the head of a stroug four, iucluding A. R. Hastings who was lead for L. N. Naylor's ehampion four 'in 1933, dispOsed of P. W. Emith (Thorudon). Fleming held liis second life. This green also saw the meeting of M. .1. hquire ( Hawera), winner of tlie 1939 and 1941 pairs, and of tlie Shirley 'four skipped by H. B. Kay who has done so well and remains in the pairs. Equiro won 26 — 18. Both he and Kay won their second round games. The singles and fours elianipion of 1939, W. O. Franks (Balmoral), i'ell a vietim to J. Lobb (West End,. -New iTymouth) on tlie Johnsonville green. Lobb, who is a member of the New Zealand Bowling Oouncil, has Zealand Bowling Oouncil, has won tlie Taranaki annual tournament six times. Lobb, howcver, was not equal in skill to W. Bpurdle (Inglewood) who won 22 — 13. Spurdle had already proved liis superioritv over W. F. Hadwin (Hutt)

who ivas third in the Christchurch tournament last year. Defeat met R. Ilaworth (Canterbury nt the hands of T. Adams (Karori) am. H. Robson (Foxton) on the Kelburn green. It was no mean fu-at for thesi foui's. At Thorndon H. F. C. Dickson 'r Khandallah four which reached tlu fiiial 12 in last year's tournament woi. both its games. The second agains. Proudfoot (Paekakariki) proved oue 0! the most gruelling tussles 011 tlie Thorn don green. Proudfoot led 20 — 17 011 th> 23rd end. On the 24th Malonev, Dick son's lead, lay the shot. Peters, No. 7 for Paekakariki, drove and left tlu* ) 'tty two feet from the ditch. Lowry, No. 3 for Khandallah, who" won tlu pairs championship in 1937 for Petone, drew two shots, Dickson adding tw more, and Khandallah led 21 — 20 fo the iirst time in the game. O11 the iina end Dickson weut back two down bu. turned one of his owu bowls in for tlu shot to ivin 22 — 20. Benuett (Hastings), singles ehampion in 1938, lost his lirst game 24 — 17, Im, had a big' win (37 — 13) in liis second also at Thorndon. The Dominion skip of the fours j 11 1940, F. Livingstone (Onehunga) Jiad ;• couple of wins against moderate opiTom tion at Victoria. F. White (Runanga) with the sanu four as won the championship last yeai met Macey (Remuera), who was skq of the winning British Empire. Oameipairs at Eydney in 1938. Up" till tlm 13th end there was little diff'orencn jb the seores. On the 21st end Ma-oy go a four but was still two dowu. \Yhile's team dominated the rest of the ga:.uand won easilv. • T. T. Skoglund (Otahuhu), who won the 1939 and 1'946 Wellington Olirislni.is fours aud tlie 1946 open tournainenl in Taranaki and is one of tlie six left in the championship singles, was beaten at Lvall Bay by W. F. .Sherwood (Sea toun), who played with tenacity an.; coolness. After T. A. Barrow (Seatoun) had aecounted for W. Goodwin (Upper Hutt) at Newtown he wu.beaten by oue point by O. Silber. (Petone). Two easy wins fell to L. H. Rbdgers (Feilding) whose four contains as No. 3 W. R. Wenham, third -j.n tho New Plymouth tournament last month. The runner-up in 1933, 11. B. Jehkin (Carlton), disposed of G. P. Spenee (Victoria) at .Seatoun. Iu the second round very -sti'ong opposition from T. A Fox (Christchurch) wa« overcome by a bare one point. W. Freetli (Maitai), who is the onlv two-lifer left in thc singles, had little difficulty in copingl with F. Redpath (Linwood) who played No. 3 in the 1934 and 1938 winning four. Freeth, howevei, lost a life to W. . Spencer (Epsom) in the secoml round. The fours competition will be con tinued tomorrow.