CHAMPIONSHIP BOWLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 15

CHAMPIONSHIP BOWLS

THE SINGLES CONTEST A CHAMPION BEATEN In striking contx-ast to last year, the weather lias been far from kind to the big programme of bowling fixtures this season. Time aftei' time postponements of important events have had to be made. The most recent to meet yith this adverse circumstance is . the important Champion of Cham- : pions contest, which was commenced last Friday on the Devonport and Mt. Albert greens. The day proved an exceptionally . good bowling day. The greens were \ particularly playable, being neither i too fast or heavy, and well suited to fine exhibitions of high standard bowl- ] ing. The 30 players eligible assembled and the play usually displayed in this « contest was well maintained. Splen- ' did contests were the order of the ] day. It was expected on the following day ] —Saturday—that the Champion of x Champions fox* the season 1926-27 J would be announced. Hopes were J dissipated however. Saturday proved 1 wet and impossible. On Monday evening the Auckland Centre Executive ] met and announced that the final rounds would be played on the Re- 1 muera green on Wednesday. The successful club champions left ' in were M. Walker (Auckland), J. t Hosking (West End), T. eGorge (One- < hunga), S. Harper (Otahuhu), C. Addison (Edendale), H. Andrew J (Papatoetoe), E. J. Wilkinson (Ep- 1 som), S. Gribble (Wlxangarei), and O. } Gallaher (Grey Lynn). The play commenced under a heavy _ cloudy sky, with no indication of the r sunshine, that is so necessary to make the green keen for such a prominent contest. On the banks were the usual full muster of spectators which Auck- ] land bowling contests now attract. A Great Tussle The match between Walker (one life) ane G. Hosking (one life) as was ex- • pected became the centre of interest. ■ It yielded more excitement than was anticipated, for the final stages provided one of the most exciting finishes that has ever been witnessed in bowling annals in Auckland. It cannot be said that the former Champion of Champions has this year retained the remarkable form of previous seasons. Even allowing for this dispax-ity, he has much a margin of form to spare that he arrived at this stage of the contest fighting solidly on with one life. » At the commencement of the game lie started slowly, letting his opponent get ahead by a few points. Then he played himself into form as he usually does. On the 2Gth head the score was in Walker’s favour. By the strong play he was exhibiting it looked as if it was impossible, for his opponent to annex the game. But the latter was in really agressive form. Hosking was driving and missing rarely. game. Hosking drove and burned game. Hosking drove and turned the kitty. Walker again lay the game and Hosking repeated his previous performance again. • For the third time Walker lay the game. It looked as if it were impossible for Hosking to repeat his deadly performance, but again he burned it: Four times Walker lay the game. Four times the kitty went out. On the fifth replay Walker was not to be denied. He lay two and drew his last bowl for protection to the back. Unfortunately for Walker it just turned over into the ditch, dead. Hosking had the back wood, drove and scored too. So ended one of the most brilliant and hard-fought finishes that has been witnessed for many a long day in the bowling world. Whangarei Champion in Form. The match between that fine stylist, E. J. Wilkinson, of Epsom, and S. Gribble, the Whangarei champion, was a very even game until the 14th head. Then Gribble forged steadily ahead. On the 18th head Gribble drew a beautiful four and Wilkinson failed to save. The game ended 18—15. The game between C. Addison (Edendale) and H. Andrew (Papatoetoe) was not as one-sided as the score appears—26-10. % Andrew played quite good bowls,' but Addison displayed wonderful dexterity in forcing. If this is the average sample of Addison’s work it is quite safe to predict that much more will be heard of this versatile player’s work. It certainly commends itself to . favourable comment. Andrew’s play is well known. His work is always of a high order. T. George (Onehunga) v. S. Harper (Otahuhu. This game was loose and resulted in an easy win for GeGorge. The Sixth Round In the next round, Hosking v. Harper, the West End champion was slow to stai’t and seemed to have lost form after his splendid battle with Walker. He let Harper get away before he started, but regained and finished one ahead. 11-10. Small scoring. Gribble v. Addison. —The latter lost form completely and the game ended 18-12. O. Gallaher v. George—The latter was easily beaten by the Grey Lynn champion. This leaves three to finalise the championship—Gallaher (two lives), Gribble and Hosking (two lives). The Remuera Club is to be congratulated on the splendid playing surface it was able to place at the disposal of the Auckland Centre for the final rounds of this event. The green is as good as the very best that this big contest of strength has ever been played upon. The rinks are even and the surface as fine as the most fastideous bowler could desire. Taranaki v. Auckland It was Auckland’s turn to visit Taranaki this year to fulfil the fine annual event between these two centres. Forty-four players went South to participate in the generous hospitality accorded by the Taranaki bowlers. Participants are just back and cannot speak too highly of the wonderful reception they had, both socially and on the green. All the greens in Taranaki were visited. In addition to these games were played at Wanganui and Palmerston North. The total games played were 20; rinks won 7;, lost 52; points scored for 2315, against 2250.