BOWLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 6 March 1913, Page 3

BOWLS.

THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

D. MUNRO THE 'WINNER

interest was manifested iu the Champion of Champions singles tournament, played on the Wellington Club's green yesterday, under ideal conditions. I here were thirteen contestants representnig a like number of clubs, and as all of them were known as reliable players some excellent games were anticipated, and subsequent! v realised, Plav commenced at 9.30 a.m." Mr. J, J. Roberts was the referee. First Round. The first-round games resulted as follow;— Prince (Newtown) v. Manson (John--25-13; Firth (Petone) v. Routley (Kelburne), 25—17; Brown (Lyall Bay) y. A. Claridge (Ilataitai), 24 —20; Maver (Victoria) v. Pole (Hutt), 24—15; Benzie (le Hiwi) v. Pljininer (Khandallah),. 2 1 *—12; Munro (Thorndon), Gregg (ICarori), and Dall (Wellington), byes. Second Round. Mayer v. Brown, 24-22; Munro v. Gregg, 18—111 Benzie v. Firth, 19—15; Dall v. Prince, 20 r 15. The best game iii this round was that between Mayer and Brown, the Lvall Bay representative fighting it out with the present champion until the last bowl. On the twentieth head Brown was h\;o up, and two of his first three bowls lay counters, when Mayer, with a magnificent shot, trailed the jack and lav tlirc?. With his last bowl Brown drew tiie shot, which Mayer neatly pushed to oblivion, and so lay four. The I'rince-Dall game w'as also a fine' one, but the Newtown champion lvas hardly in top form, ami Dall was dra/iug beautifully. Third Round. Munro v. Dall, 19—12; Mayer v. Benzie, 17—13. In the first game Munro scampered away from the lead, and scored seven on the first four heads to Dall's nil. Then Dall started and scored on the next five heads, when both, were seven by the card. Munro then pulled away steadily from the -Wellington man by consistent accuracy in drawing. 11l the Mayer-Beuzie game the players were six-all on the eighth head and eight-all on the eleventh. Benzie scored a single on the twelfth head, and then stopped for six, heads, whilst Mayer piled the points on in. good style until the eighteenth head showed; Mayer, 10; Benzie, 9. On the next two heads Te Hiwi's champion scored four points, and Mayer got a single on the last .head. ■ The Final. Munro (Thorndon), 25; Mayer (Victoria), 19. This game was remarkable for one of the finest recoveries ever made in the history of championship play in Wellington. The players were live-all on tl.e liftli head, 7 all on the seventh, and 10, alt on the tenth (a singular coincidence). Oil the twelfth head Alayer, by ixcellcnt' play got in a valuable 4; Munro got a single on the thirteenth; and >'ayer scored five points on the next three hi ads —nine points, whilst Munro:-scored only one. But there (lie Victorian chanipioii stopped dead, whilst Munro gave .in exhibition of superb drawing. So consislently was he on the jack that Mayer was forced to play firm shots, but fortune was against him. Muuro got 3en the seventeenth head, 2 on the eighteenth, 3 on the nineteenth, and 2 on the tweu-.. tieth, which madli the score—Munro, 22; Mayer, 19. On the twenty-first head Munro drew a beautiful shot with his first bowl; Mayer played firm to displace, and just missed. Munro drew another good shot, ami then Mayer came up with a firm shot, displaced the shot, and lay. Munro got a yard behind v.ith his next, and Mayer drew a second shot, which Munro beat with his last bowl. As one shot was no good to him, Mayer drove accurately, and dead-headed.. On the play-oft' Munro still showed a superior drawing hand, and lay three, when Jlnyer deaddieaded with precision once more. Playing oil' once more, /Monro drew up and touched the jack .with his first bowl. Mayer aUo touched, but ran a yard over. Both players then put in back buwK With liis third shot Munro drew another shot just behind the jack. Meyer drove and missed. Munro his last a yard at the back, and again Mayer drove and missed, leaving Munro the winner by six points. At the conclusion of the' game Mr. Victor Dimoek, chairman of I he Wellington Bowling Centre,. said that on beliaff of the centre he had much pelasure in congratulating Mr. Muih'u on winuing tliti Singles Championship of Wellington, and he was sure that the members of the Thorndon Club would be delighted at the result. It was the first time ttiey had woii a championship—the first t : me for a long time that they had won an/thing. (Laughter.) He called for cheers I'.ir Mr. Munro. He also congratulated M.r. Mayer on his splendid consistency, that player having won the championship outright twice m succession, and been run-ner-up oil the third occasion, lie deserved three hearty cheers (which were duly given). During the singles ton lament he thought there had been better play on the part of all concerned than ever before. The play of the whole b'edy of those engaged had been more uniform and consistent, which indicated ?hat they were getting better players each year, which was very gratifying to the centre. (Applause.)

Messrs. Munro and Mayer responded, in mutually congratulatory speeches. Mr. Munro said it was only by an eccident lie had played, and perhaps through accident he had won, but he felt very gratified at having done so. Mr. Mayer warmly. congratulated the winner, and said that he had played a very fine game. He thought, with "Mr. Dimoek, that the standard of play was improving.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPION RINKS. The Wellington Bowling Centre is just now very busy finding champions. Yesterday was occupied iu discovering who was the singles champion of AVellington, and to the surprise of a great many he turned up in 1). Munro, of the Thorndon Club, who was not considered by the prophets to have a first-class chance. The popular feeling ran in favour of Mayer, Dall, and ,Prince. The Newtown veteran succunibril in the second round, Dall lasted until the semi-finals,. and Mayer until the final game. On his play, Munro thoroughly deserved his win.• On Wednesday next the champion .rinks of each of the thirteen clubs in Wellington affiliated to the centre will in set oil tlio Wellington Club's greens to settle which is the "best of all." So far only a few of the clubs have found tlteir champion rinks, but all are expected to bo in a position to nominate them with Mr. J. j, Roberts (acting-secretary) by Saturday evening.