BOWLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1926, Page 3

BOWLING.

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. AUSTRALIAN AND N . 7,. CHILE ASSOCIATION (Received this day at 8 s.m.) SYDNEY. February 25. The bowls carnival was continued in fine and cool weather, when the third, fourth and fifth rounds of the singlehanded championships of Australasia were played. Sixteen howlers, including Parsons (N.Z.) remain in the competition, hut to-morrow night the numbers will he reduced to two. The date of the final, which was to have been played on Friday, has been altered to .Monday. Melbourne Orchard was unfortunate to draw his countryman Parsons in the fifth round to-day. The match was closely eont'fs.ted. hub .Parsons was superior in the drawing shots which decided the issue. Orchard had shown good form from (he early stages of the carnival and it, was expected that ho would he in the sixieen to contest tomorrow’s somi-linals. lie won his matches in the third and fourth rounds in a convincing manner and it is a pity the Association could not place representatives of the States and the Dominion in a different section of the draw.

Parsons continued bis good form yesterday and registered a praiseworthy feat liy defeating, in the third round, T. Harrison. one of the best singles jdayers in the State. The most points that any player bail scored against Harrison to this stage was five.

Parsons opened in brilliant form against Harrison. He won the first six beads and led thirteen to love. The New Zealander played short heads and his drawing shots wore splendid. Harrison won the seventh head and threw long ends which disconcerted Parsons and Harrison scored eleven points before Parsons found bis length in the fourteenth bead. The New Zealander then forged ahead to win by 23 lo 13. Tlie green was slow which interfered considerably with Parsons’ play and his howling, under the circumstances, was remarkably good. In the semi-final to-morrow Parsons meets SY. Barr (Victoria), who was runner-up in tho event in 1922. Tf Parsons succeeds in this match ho should have an excellent chance in this event.

There wore several surprises to-day

Gustafson (the present holder of the title) was eliminated by Cosiler (\ ietoria) in the fourth round. Costler is now considered Parsons’ must formidable opponent for this year’s title. With the exception of Westrnlia and Tasmania all the States and the Dominion are represented in to-morrow’s demi-seini-finals. The following are the scores: THIRD ROUND. Parsons (N.Z.i heat Harrison (N.S.W.'i 2:1 to 13. Orchard (N.Z.) beat Brown (South Australia) 21 to 12. FOURTH ROUND. Parsons (N.Z.) beat Gabriel (N.S.W.) 21 to 7. Orchard (N.Z.) heat Pickard (N.S.W.) 22 to 10. FIFTH ROUND. Parsons (N.Z.) heat Orchard (N.Z.) 21 to 19. MELBOURNE. February 23.

At the animal meeting of the Australian Bowling Council all States were represented and decided the much vexed question of the standardisation of howls in regard to shape and weight. The recommendations of the Australian Bowling Council Bowls Standard Committee wore adopted unanimously and a resolution was also carried that the rules should come into operation i)i three years time from the present date. The Council also decided that the next Australasian carnival he held in Melbourne at ’Xmas, 1927, and the following one hold in Tasmania if the Tasmanian Association is prepared to oarrv out the event.