NEW YEAR PAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 3, 4 January 1936, Page 10

NEW YEAR PAIRS

ISLAND BAY WIN

Play in the Wellington Bowling Centre's New Year pairs tournament concluded at 6.30 last evening, with Hart and Osborne (Island Bay) in first place and Hepburn and Robinson (Seatoun) as runners-up. The semifinals and the final were played on the Hataitai green, which was in excellent condition.

Hart and Osborne first beat Campbell and Hill (Hutt) by 22 points to 19 after a good even game which reached 19-all on the twentieth end. Hepburn and Robinson met Munro and Lawrie (Island Bay) in the other semi-final, winning by four points after a tie on the twenty-first. Lawrie killed the first extra but missed on the next, leaving Robinson with 22 points to his 18. THE PLAY DESCRIBED. Osborne secured an early lead in the final and had the better of the scoring on the majority of the heads. He made one on the first end and Hartput two good counters down on the next and they remained to the finish, making them 3-0. The third end was an open one, some of the bowls being short while others went past so that the jack was in plain view when the last bowl was delivered. Osborne secured three from it, making his lead 6-0. Hart got fairly close with his third bowl on the next end and Robinson wicked in to second place, the subsequent bowls leaving the position unaltered. Hepburn placed two on the next head, but Hart drew to second Dlace with his last, and Osborne drew the shot with his second. Robinson then sent the kitty back for one, but Osborne drew another. Robinson tried to cut him out and sent down a good bowl, but it did not move the shot bowl quite far enough and the score reached 8-0 in Osborne's favour.

Play was interesting on the next

end, Hart securing the shot. Hepburn had a try at moving the kitty back for two but missed narrowly. Robinson then wicked in off a forward bowl for shot and Osborne failed to alter the head. With his last bowl Robinson played a difficult shot perfectly, moving the jack a few inches and resting beside it for three. He shortened the next head and knocked one in with his first for shot. Osborne had a smack at it Iput did not alter the' position. Hepburn placed a beauty on the next end and Robinson drew another to make the score 8-6. The Seatoun pair kept the length down and Hepburn was right on the jack with his first on the next end and put his next two close in. Hart was short and wide with two but got behind with his third. Osborne touched the second shot but ran on. He tried again and knocked the shot bowl out for one, making the score 9-6. A SPLENDID DRAW. Osborne lengthened the next head, but Hepburn was close with his first two, and placed his third behind. Osborne took first place with a splendid draw, and knocked one of Hart's in with the next for two. Robinson sent down two fast ones, but they both went through, and Osborne's lead went to 11-6. Hart placed a toucher on the next end, and it was the only counter, the head being fairly open. He was just inside Hepburn's three bowls on the next, and Osborne drew another. Robinson drew shot just in front of the jack. He drew another right on the kitty, and Osborne missed with his last, the score going to 12-8 in Osborne's favour, with twelve heads played. Hepburn drew two on the next end, but Hart reached second place with his last. Osborne tried to draw it, but went through, and his lead fell to 12-9. Hepburn was drawing well, but Hart got inside him on the next head, and when Robinson ran the jack out he sent it too far, and left the shot against him. Hepburn placed all three on the next end, and Robinson added a fourth, but Osborne cut it out. Robinson placed another, and Osborne drove again, only to take one of his own out, and the score reached 13-all on the fifteenth head. A CLOSE HEAD. There was some good bowling on the next end, most of the bowls being close in Hart drew the shot, but Robinson turned one in and rested another for two. Osborne moved the jack with his last bowl, and took the lead again yvith two. The leads were well on the jack on the next end, Hart being inside. Robinson drew the shot, but Osborne trailed the kitty for four, and then drew another good one. However, Robinson saved all but one with his last bowl, leaving Osborne v. ith a lead of three and four heads to play.

The green was slowing up. and the next end was open with Hart holding the inside position. Robinson drew first place with a wide one but Osborne got inside him, although still fairly far out. and scored two on the measure, making his lead 17-13. Hepburn placed three on the next end, but Osborne drew the shot with a toucher, and made three with his next by turning one in. Robinson sent down a fast one, and rolled the jack over to save two. Hepburn placed two good ones on the next end. but Hart got inside one of them and held the position.

Requiring four to lie or five to win. Robinson called for n short head but Hepburn threw short, and Hart sent the jack well down. Hepburn led off with a good bowl, and placed a second, but Hart wicked inside for shot with a lucky one. Robinson ran through with his first and moved the jack over to give Osborne three with his second. Osborne drew another and Robinson sent his last up wide, the game ending 22-14 in Osborne's .favour.