CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 11

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

CLARKE’S DECISIVE WIN IN BOWLING FINAL

WINNER’S SPLENDID PLACING (By JACK HIGH.) It may be advanced that the two players, H. C. Clarke and M. Walker, who were left to contest the final honours in the champion of Champions

bowling competition yesterday afternoon, can be classed among the world’s foremost exponents of the game on the green, Although neither has actually tested his strength abroad. It was natural, therefore, that a large number of spectators gathered on the banks at the Carlton Club to view this classic tussle for final honours. Among the onlookers were his Excellency the Governor-General, the Mayor of Auckland, the president and executive of the Auckland Bowling Centre, Mr. E. Fountain of the Roslyn Club, Dunedin, who won the championship of the Dominion in 1916, and Mr. J. Kilgour, the 1914 Dominion champion, besides representatives from most clubs in Auckland city. Expectations ran extremely high for a well-contested game, but the enthusiastic onlookers were doomed to disappointment. Walker threw the jack on the first head, and bowled a “toucher,” which failed to cling, but was an excellent shot about IS inches behind on a full-length head. However, Clarke followed with another "toucher,” which Walker rested out for two. Thus the first three heads went —the drawing was to inches and the ultimate score 4—3 in favour of Walker. CLARKES CONSISTENCY But, Clarke’s work was so persistently good that Walker was placed on the defensive, with the former countering with protective shots. Walker’s usually brilliant driving was nullified by the splendid “placing” of his opponent; thus for the next six heads Walker failed to score, and the scoring board totalled 4 —13, with nine heads gone. Clarke maintained his wonderful form, his opponent notching a further seven points only. The game was abandoned on the nineteenth head, with Clarke the easy winner by 19—10. The following detailed analysis shows how the game went: SCORE CARD

After the game, Mr. James Pascoe congratulated the winner and the run-ner-up on behalf of the bowlers of Auckland, and his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General presented the prizes. Clarke’s meritorious win deserves widest congratulations. He has shown exceptional ability in the game on the green this season. At the Dominion tournament held in Christchurch in January he was the runner-up for the Dominion Singles Championship, and in 1927 he annexed this supreme honour of bowling in the Dominion, while his latest victory is the second occasion on which he has won the champion of champions singles competition, although he was not champion last year, as has been stated. The honour last season fell to O. Gallaher. Walker has been champion of New Zealand on three occasions and was champion of champions in 1926.

Heads Walker. Clarke Total. 12 — 2—0 2—3 2 —3 3 2 — 4—3 4 — 1 4—4 5—1 4 —5 6 — 2 / 4 —7 7 — 3 4—10 8 — 2 4—12 9—1 4—13 10 1 — 5—13 11 — 2 5 —15 12 1 — 6—15 13— 6—16 14— 6—17 15 1 — 7—17 16—2 7—19 17 1 — 8 —19 18 1 — 9—19 19 1 — 10 —19