BOWLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1999, 5 March 1914, Page 6

BOWLS.

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP OF TSE CENTEE. CRAWFOS3 WINS. Perfect weather prevailed yesterday for the elected singles . nominees (o* ehnminoiis) of tho various clubs affilinted to the Wellington Bowling Centre' to decids who shall be regarded as tho Centre's clumpion for the season, Tho games' wero played on -the Wellington jn-eon on the sudden-death principle. Tho following' arc tho results of tho play':— First Round. Crawford (Karori) boat Hol-lard (Hutt), IT—ll. Mansmi (Joluisonyilje) beat Stephens (Petono), 19—17. Ballinger (Wellington) beat M'Arthur (Khanclaltah), 23—8. Bolton (Vie-tom) t>eat Benzie (To Eiwi), 17—15. Ferguson (Otaki) heat M'Coll <Eelburiis), 23—16. Jldnis (Eastbourne) boat Claxton (Lyall Bay), 35—18. Drmoek (ThomSon) beat 'Wyli.er (Newtown), 19—18. ';'■• :'" Barnes (Hataitai) heat S. Hill (Seatoun), 26—13. ' . Second Round. Crawford beat Hanson, 23—9. Bolton boat BalUngcr, 26—18. Barnes best- ftimock, 19—14. " Ferguson beat Morris, 20—9. Third Bound. Crawford beat,' Baltriß, 18—14. Barnes heat Ferguson,-18—17. Final. Crawford heat Barnes, 17—14. MOTES ON THE PLAY. In tho first round t-hc.ro *vere .some escithuj finishes avid eood play, 'In tlio same between Bolton (Victoria) . and Bems'io (To Hiwi) there was a tjo on the lasi head, and in tho play-off Bolton, who played a remarkably fine, drawing game, imma-;sd to .get in two shots. TWo was a fine finish] too, be* tWD'oa Dimoek (Tilorndon), and Wylie (Newtown), tho former just getting home by a single shot on tlic last head. In tho game, Ballinger (Wellington) and M'Arthur .(tvn&iidalkh), tho Termer scored 23 to Ms opponent's 8. Manson (Johiisonville) had a- twepoint win from Stephens ■(ketone): In the second round, Crawford (Karori) showed excellent form, and by his splendid and consistent drawing he'earae ■a favourite for final honours. Ho played aj! ever Hanson, tho final head finding him an easy winner iv.jfh a nvarfjiij of 18 points,.' Ferguson <otalci) she-wed good form in his- ga.ao with Morris .(Eastbourne), winning 'J.'hefo wore, no close finishes in tho round. _ That could not bo said of the third imind. This game between Crawford and Bolton was very well contested right up to the- last bowl. On tho' twenty-first head tlio Victorian colt had to got three to tie and four to win. Crawford failed to got closet than a couple of Jcet of. the. jack, whilst Bolton Steadily drew shot after shot until he lay tho wlwio four, with his opponent to play one bowl. There was. only ono thing to do, and Crawford did it. Ho played a fairly firm draw' on to ono of his opponent's bowls, and that took tho jack back to within an inch or two p| his (Crawford's) bowl, and ho lay the shot- It was hard luck for Bolton "(who is only a second year player), but there was us denying' th<> skill witn whieh Crawford played a very difficult shot. Barnes looked like a good winner from Ferguson, but a. nice four by tho Otaki man brought his total within olio of tho winner, ■ - ,

Crawford* was tho favourite at the . start of tlie final game, but appeared to bo playing with'less care than ho had shown in tbo other games, whilst Bariio3 played cansistentjy well. The sixth round saw BsriiesNwlh 6 to his opponent's 3. • Aftw tlvaix Crawford steadied down, and, drawing.'aecqrately, got ahead 0.11 the tenth roi-md (S-—7). Crawford, scored singleS i oa tho- nest, two heads, and Barnes responded with a 2on the thirteoiitu head. Crawford pot a single ah t!ie nest head, and, through Barnes's propensity for driving, a. 3 cm tho fifteenth head, which made tho scores 15—9. On the tlireo following heads Barnes piled on five points, leaving liim' only one behind, with two heads to go. Crawford continued to draw the shot, a.iid Barney tried to scatter them -H-itli drives, which Sometimes ■came off, bat tho end of tho twentfeth head found Crawford lying tho shot. Tho last head saw Crawford draw tho shot behind tho ]»«&• Barnes tried to rest it oitt with his. last tw'o bowls,. missing by inehes on each occasion, leav- j ing Crawford, of Jtardri,. tho winner—i 17-14,

FINAL OF PENWANTS. Tlia final match for tho Sonicf. Pennants between Poton© a.n'd Nowto'wn is to bo played o.!i tBo Wellington Club's green on Saturday aftenwou nest, commencing at 2.13 p.m.