RUSSELL BECOMES SINGLES BOWLING TITLE-HOLDER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 6

RUSSELL BECOMES SINGLES BOWLING TITLE-HOLDER

KEENLY-CONTESTED FINAL BENSON’S GREAT FIGHT Playing soundly and well from start to finish of a keenly-con-tested tournament, L. Russell, of Remuera, won the title of the champion bowler of Auckland on his home green late yesterday afternoon. Undefeated throughout the championship series, he nevertheless was strongly challenged by J. Benson, of Dominion Road, for the final honours, and only a single point separated the p*iir in a great final tussle. J N the earlier rounds yesterday, Russell was showing clearly defined superiority over his opponents, and his last two victories prior, to meeting Benson were to the tune of 22 —7 and 24 —5. Benson, on the other hand, dropped a game to Kilgour in the fifth round, and as a result of Russell holding “two lives,” it was not known when the match between him and Benson started whether it would be the final or not.

BENSON STARTS WELL It certainly looked in th© early stages of what was actually destined to be the final as if Russell would have to make use of his extra “life” to give him a chance in tho final. Benson started off briskly, holding a 7 —o lead on the fifth head, and leading strongly, 10—4, on the ninth. Russell then started to pick up the leeway, showing a p inference for long heads. It was quiet bowls all the way through, but Russell, who was tlie more aggressive of the two, was now starting to wear his man down.

It was not, however, till the 20th head that Russell got on terms with his opiionent. Splendid drawing was a feature of the last head. Benson just missed with fine attempts to draw the shot, and Russell won by a single point, the final scores being 16—15. Although beaten, Benson put up a great fight, and did not have any of the luck of the game. His drawing was excellent. Russell played great bowls right through the tournament, and put up a fine* performance in keeping. his “two lives” intact. Results in the final rounds yesterday afternoon were: Fifth Round. —E. B. Wright Onehunga), 22, v. G. Taylor (Avondale), 16; J. Turner (Mangere), 13, v. H. Everitt (Otahuhu), 37; J. Kilgour (Carlton), 38, v. J. Benson (Dominion Road), 32; E. Mclnnesf? (Ponsonby), 16, v. L. Bayliss (Papatoetoe), 15; L. Russell (Remuera), 22, v. Buckley (Grey Lynn), 7. Sixth Round.—Russell, 24, v. Mclnness, 5; Benson, 18, v. Turner, 15. Final.—Russell, 16, v. Benson, 15.

THE TEAMS’ LIST The following teams have been chosen for inter-club bowling matches on Saturday: Auckland v. Devonport.—At Devonport: De Renzy, Wilson, Mason, Walker, W. J. Campbell, Esam, C. Allan, Scantlebury; Probert, S. Coldicc't, Perritt, D. Campbell; Dadley, Mich* Is, Carr, K. Macky; Darlow, Hodgson, Hewitson, Fraser; L. Whittaker, Jaffrey, Clarkson, Price; Howard, Williams, Aldred, Parker; Hislop, Newell, Daniel, Neil; Harding, F. Whittaker, Graham, Bracklebush; Beaumont, Susman, Hinton, Steele. Firstyear team: Somerville, Hamann, Vickery, Forgie. At Auckland: Messenger, Devereux, Rudd, Osmond; Alexander, Hacket, Bourke, Lyell; Ward, Inglis, Keesing, Duncan; Blades, Robertson, Atkin, Nicholson; Armitage, Matheson, R. D. Gray, McCrea; Forrest, John Carlaw, Dicketts, Davidson; Westphal, Israel, Harvey, Moir; Wyatt, Plummer, Prime, Woolley; Woodham, Frost, White, Fletcher; Matthews, Jury, Pollok, Bailey. Veterans: Moon, Commons, Newbegin, Dingle. Mount Albert v. Grey Lynn.—At Grey Lynn: Nyberg, Imeson. Bennett, Allely; Humphreys, Barton, Stevens, Clark; H. Pattison, Pickens, P. Dawson, Jenkin; Blyth, Henry, Garlick, Holdsworth; Pool. Stewart, Lane, E. Thomas. At Mount Albert: Crowe. Gladding, T. Maxwell, W. Dimerv; Shepherd, S. Dimery, Townley, Blair; Trigg, Blomeley, J. Thomas. Floyd; Daniels, Dc Castro, Cutforth, Walker; Mercer, Wallett, Luke, H. Dawson.

Grey Lynn v. Mount Albert.—At Mount Albert: Laing, O’Grady, Davidson, Liversidge: Hawke. B. Leydon, Walker, Whittle: Snell. Raynes, D. Young, Moran; Kmirali, E. Leydon, Gibbons. F. Preston; Brown, Knight. Thomas. Caddy. At Grey Lynn: Wilde, Molloy, James Lye, Newton; Mclvor, Parnell. H. Reed, J. C. Preston: Puddle, Sigley, Mincham, C. Little: Stewart, Marshall. Binns, Curtis; Christey, Aggers, .T. Reed, Baildon. Takapuna v. Stanley.—Marine Pennant, at Stanley: Kay, Elliot, Wernham, Cutler, Bioletti, Rindon, Bonnet, Brake: Veale, Weston. Knaggs. Wilkinson. At Takapuna: Corf©, Booth, Buckley, Hooper: McMurtri**. Prentice, Somerfield. Matthews: Eade, Ltsk. Butler, Christey. St. Heliers v. Howiek—At Howiek: Robers. Blomfield, Hunt, Lovegrove; Clark. Reid. Crawshaw. Norris. The home teams will be selected on the green. Papakura v. Clevedon.—At Clevedon: Rutter, Punokley, Leitch, Hammo-vl; Mogforrl, Mullins. Dickev, Hope; W. Boagoy. A. O. Smith. McFnW-. Bates: Cornford. McCallum. T. G. Smith. Rowe; Paton. Hunt. McCall. Pice.