BOWLS WITHOUT BIAS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 4

BOWLS WITHOUT BIAS

Pennant Sections Nearing End WINNERS IN SIGHT (By Armada.) The positions of the teams in the Wellington Pennant competition are as follow :— SECTION A. Points. Kelburn 16 Lyall Bay 8 Hataitai .......... 6 Petone 6 ■ Newtown 5 Hutt Island Bay «> Thorndon 3 Wellington 3 Porirua 1 SECTION B. Victoria 8 Island Bay 7 Seatoun 6 Central 6 Khandallah 5 Wellington 5 Woburn ■ 4 Johnsonville 3 Karori 3 Newtown Hutt 1 SECTION C. Eastbourne I<> Wellington 9 Kelburn 5 Thorndon 5 Hataitai 3 Island Bay Petone 3 Victoria -2 SECTION D. Karori 16 Lyall Bay 6 Thorndon 6 Hataitai 5 Seatoun 4 Hutt 3 Khandallah 3 Victoria , 3 One round only remains to be played in the sections. The teams which go to post-section play are those which win their section or tie for p win in it. Two points are awarded for each win in section play; and oi|e for a draw, so that the prospects of the various teams are fairly clear. In section A. Kelburn would have to be beaten by Porirua, and Lyall Bay would have to beat Newtown, which appears an unlikely combination of events, for Kelburn and Lyall Bny to draw. Karori has practically won section D. Eastbourne and WeHingfiton, the two leading clubs in section C, which are separated by one point only, will meet in the final round. If Wellington defeat Eastbourne they will win tho section, but a draw will not he sufficient to displace Eastbourne from the lead. It is the most interesting section at the moment. The result is least certain of all in section B, in which there are three teams within two points of the lender. However, Victoria, the leaders, will meet Karori. who are well down the list, in the final round, so that the prospects of the former maintaining their lead appear good, although Island Bay has a fighting chance, because they are within one point of Victoria, and will meet a team which has won, on the average, only half its games. If Victoria does not win there is a possibility of any of the four leaders remaining in the competition.

Country Peiuuint. The position of the Wellington centre country Pennant competition, in which two rounds remain to be played, is us follows :—

Points. Otaki •• . 6 Plimmerton 5 I’aekakariki -" I’araparaumu 2

Eighty-fourth Birthday. At the Island Bay Bowling Chib pavilion recently the 84th birthday of Mr. J. MacKay was celebrated by a special afternoon tea, for which a birthday cake was provided, It was a coincidence that a visiting rink from the Victoria club, skipped by Mr. R. Herron, president of the club, was present for the occasion. Mr. Mac Kay, although a foundation member of the Island Bay club, had previously been a president <>f the Victoria club.

Air. D. -Munro extended to Mr. MneKay birthday greetings on behalf of the Island Bay club, and Mr. Herron for the Victoria club, The guest’s health was drunk with mqsical honours and three cheers. Mr. Mac Kay replied, expressing thanks for the great pleasure he had derived from the kindness shown him not only on that occasion, but also at all times -by his fallow bowlers.

Farewell to Mr. M. J. O'Connor. On Saturday last, at a gathering of of the Victoria Bowling Club, a fellow member, Mr. M. J. O’Connor, was farewelled, and the president (Mr. H. E. Herron) made reference to the 'loss the club was suffering owing to Mr. O’Connor's impending transfer to Auckland. Reference was also made to the departing guest’s outstanding qualities as a bowler and a sportsman. He was congratulated upon his promotion to the inspectorate of the Education Department, and the best wishes of the members for his future Happiness and prosperity were expressed. In his reply, Mr. O’Connor stated that he bad greatly enjoyed his five years’ membership with the club, not only on the green, but also in the friendly and social atmosphere which he had experienced during the whole period of his connection with the club.

Returned Soldiers. Entries will close next Thursday for the returned soldiers’ tournament, which is to be held on February 14. There has been some misapprehension concerning the rules governing entries for this event, the chief mistake -being that all players in one team must be members of the one club. This is not so. Players from viWioas clubs may enter as a team. In fact, the secretary has offeretl to arrange rinks for those players who cannot make them up themselves. Some would-be players last year refrained from entering through ignorance of this. Mr. L. McNabb, secretary of the centre, is acting as secretary of this tournament, which is not a centre event.

Mr. C. J. B. Norwood Returns. A Viatoria club member recently welcomed back from an extensive trip abroad was Mr. C. J. B. Norwood. Mr. Norwood joined the club in 1900, and has taken a keen and active interest in the conduct of its affairs since that date. He was president of the club for the seasons 1912-13. 1921-22. 1923-24.

He has skipped many club rinks to victory. and has a worthy record in the annals of the club. He won the club rinks as skip in the season 1908-9. the others in his team being W. 11. Madeley, A. Markmann. G. N. Baggott. in 1911-1“ as skip for IV. H. Madeley, J. G. Chapman, and A. Markmann, in 1914-15 as skip foi- T. Jamieson, G. H. Blackburn, and W. N. Tucker, and in 1925-26 as skip for R. S. Ross, W. Johnston, and J. G. Duthie. Mr. Norwood also won the club pairs for the season 1911-12. his lend being I). McLeod.

Island Bay Club. A letter was received by the Island Bav club at its Inst monthly meeting from the Manawatu centre, asking the club if it would be prepared to play a friendly game of four rinks on the morning of February 6. The request was acceded to. Members owning motor-cars are asked to assist in meeting the train and conveying the visiting bowlers to the Island Bay club on that, morning. Votes of thanks to Mr. A. Priddle for work done on the selection committee during the holidays and to Mr. W. Finch for services in connection with the recent art union held on behnlf of the club were passed. The secretary was instructed to convey congratulations to Messrs. Lowrie (skip) and Craig (lead), who were win-

ners of the pairs tournament at the New Year tournament held by the Wellington centre.

The green superintendent reported that the green was in good condition in spite of the dry weather and that the recent rain had been very beneficial. The match committee reported that the games were well in hand. The holidays had interrupted the players somewhat, but now thejv were over a start would be made to get the competitions on the way again.

Anniversary Day at Victoria. The Anniversary Day tournament at the Victoria Bowling Club took the form of a full day progressive pairs competition, Members .expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the match committee, many commenting that the day was the most enjoyable they had experienced this season. Five rounds of 10 heads were played, several pairs being successful in winning three of the five games. The only two pairs to win four of the five were C. H. Pritchard and T. Forsyth (skip) and A. Dixon and IV, N. Tucker (skip), who played off in the final. A hard fought game ensued, although th.e scores were consistently in favour of Pritchard and Forsyth, who won by a comfortable margin, and received the acclamation of the onlookers.

An agreeable surprise was furnished by Mrs. M. G. Phelan on Anniversary Day when she kindly entertained Victoria club members to afternoon tea. Mrs. Phelan had cooked a lavish supply of cakes and scones and other dainties for the occasion. Mr. C. J. B. Norwood on behalf of the members present expressed their thanks. Notes.

Mr. R. J. Reuouf, president of the Hawke's Bay Bowling Centre, who visited 'Wellington last week, bad a roll up at. the K4lbu i-n green. Mr. Colin Campbell made a welcome reappearance on the Victoria green on Anniversary Day, and actively participated in "the pairs progressive contest. Despite his long absence from play he showed great form, and the excellence of his drawing to the jack kept his opponents consistently worried. It is hoped that he will be a regular attendant on the green for the remainder of the season. The Upper Hutt Bowling Club intends to hold a one-day rinks tournament at the Central green, Petone, on February 12. Five games of nine heads eaeh will be played. The Central club’s ground is within easy reach of all parts of the Wellington district, and thus entries from those who are able to indulge in the game during the week should be large, thanks to the generosity. of the Central club.

The mutch for the Hill Pins which was scheduled to be played last Wednesday between Wellington and Victoria (holders) was won by the latter by default. Jory. Laker. Tucker and Watts (skip), of Victoria chib, continue in possession of the pins.

To-day is the annual day 'set aside specially for bowlers over 70 in Wellington. Thirty-two rinks, 128 players, have entered for the Veterans’ Day tournament, which consists of one game commencing at 2 o’clock. The team beating the team it happens to be drawn against by the greatest number of points is considered to have won the tournament—not a very fair system, but one which provides the necessary sporting basis for what, is essentially a social occasion. NEW ZEAL.AND SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. The Blue Riband of New Zealand Bowls was won this year by Mr. A. Engehretscn. of the Napier Cmb, who proved to be the outstanding player of the tournament. Mr. Engebret'sen plays with HENSELITE BOWLS, the most perfect bowl. made. Irispeel the latest shipment at Briscoe. E W. Mills and Co., Hunter Street, Wellington — P.B.A.