KEEN BOWLING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 928, 22 March 1930, Page 13

KEEN BOWLING

FINAL OF CHAMPION PAIRS DOMINION HOLDERS WIN By “Jack High” Yesterday afternoon the final game of the annual pairs tournament conducted by the Auckland Bowling Centre was played between G. L. Gladding and H. Jenkin (Carlton) and A. M. Elliott and T. Wetherilt, also of Carlton, the former pair winning in a well contested game by 19 points to 14. The victory of Gladding and Jenkm was particularly creditable, for it also marked the v.’inning of a double event of no mean order —the pairs championship of the Dominion and the pairs championship of Auckland. It was moreover notable that in these two events, these wonderful exponents of the game on the green completed the winning of no less than 19 successive games involved in the two tournaments, thus showing remarkable consistency of their individual and collective play. In the game yesterday therefore the standard of play was necessarily of the highest order. Gladding was easily the outstanding player on the day. In the position as lead he was successful in leaving his skip no less than 30 shots up on the respective heads against his opponents’ 8 shots, thus giving a clear advantage in the ultimate winning of the game and thus showing that victory in the double event must be largely attributed to his skill. Jenkin, however, was not as happy as in the semi-final round against Parsons, although he provided the large bank of spectators with many thrills by his outstanding bowling. In fairness to Elliott, it must be said that he was not on his game. He was seen to much better advantage in the previous games and deserves great credit for his performance generally throughout the tournament. Wetherilt, who was until recently out of form owing to indifferent health, gave a splendid and high standard game in the position of skip. Obviously through the wonderful bowling of his opponent, Gladding, he was placed on the defensive on most of the heads throughout the game. In this work he played a very high standard of bowling. It was, indeed, good to see him at his old-time form again. THE GAME DESCRIBED The first head went to Wetherilt. Elliott found the green and length with his first bowl. Jenkin drew the second shot, which was followed by Wetherilt with a toucher. Jenkin endeavoured to burn the head but failed in this objective. o—l. Gladding found the green on the second head and was successful in leaving his skip three shots up. Wetherilt drew the second. I—l. On the third head. Gladding again drew three excellent shots, but Elliott managed to save by drawing the second. Wetherilt was successful in converting by a trail to two shots up. I—3.1 —3. - The fifth head was splendidly contested by both sides and resulted in one shot for Wetherilt. 2 —4. On the sixth head both Gladding and Jenkin drew excellent bowls, leaving them three up, but Jenkin was unfortunate enough to trail the kitty sufficiently far to give a shot to his opponents

Exceedingly close drawing characterised the following head.. Elliott drew a bowl to bare inches 'of the kitty, which Gladding trailed, obtaining the shot. With exceedingly good position, Jenkin again trailed the kitty for fou*’ shots. Wetherilt, however, managed to draw the third shot. 4—5. Gladding drew two good shots on the eighth head, which was constructed very awkwardly to Wetherilt’s dis advantage. The latter, however, failed to cover. 6 —5 Again on the ninth head, both the leads played well. Gladding drew two excellent shots. Elliott succeeded in trailing kitty for two up. Changes took place frequently with the skips’ bowls and Wetherilt obtained a three score. B—6.8 —6. Gladding was shot on the next head Wetherilt drew the winner. Thir was followed by a drive from Jenkin. who got the shot bowl out cleanly B—B. Gladding came to light again on the 11th head with shot up, which was afterward added to by Jenkin 10 — 8. With Gladding shot on the 12th head, the position remained unchanged by the skips. 11—8. SPLENDID BOWLING The 13th head saw splendid bowling again. Frequent changes in the positions occurred. However, it got to the stage where Jenkin was at a disadvantage, and he burned it for this reason. On the replay, Gladding lay two up. Wetherilt went for a trail, got his objective, but the kitty went to three of Jenkin’s bowls. The position was bad for the loser and he went for a burned head but failed 13—8. The 14tli head saw Elliott’s bowl a toucher. Gladding then burned the head. On the replay Gladding left hi<-' skip three shots up and the position badly blocked for a score to Wether ilt. Jenkin blocked his opponent’s drive. Wetherilt, however, managed to push one of his own front bowls into the shot. 13—9. Elliott drew a toucher on the nex ( head, which Gladding rested off for two shots up. Wetherilt in turn trailed splendidly for two. 13 —11. Glad ding drew two shots on the 16th head Wetherilt drove them both out, then Jenkin again drew the shot. 14 —1.1 falliott gave his skip support with two shots on the next head, which re mained unchanged, 14 —13. The 18th head was without incident. 15 —13 During the progress of the play on the following head was a criti cal time for the winning pair Gladding, although lying second shot, had missed placing for even tualities. Elliott succeeded in trailing for one shot. Jenkin overran with all of his bowls. With the second shot out it meant at least a five score for Wetherilt, who drove for the score but failed in his objective. 15—14. The 20th head saw the runners-up lighting desperately for a score to rake the game out of the fire. Gladding drew a splendid shot which Elliott drew off the kitty. Gladding was not to be denied, however, for he drew’ two more. Wetherilt then drove the kitty to the side of the rink when Jenkin again drew two counters. 18—14. The final head was again a fine example of Cladding’s leading, for he drew no less than three excellent counters and placed his fourth bowl at the back of the head, anticipating a drive. Wetherilt with this consistent opposition tried desperately to drive the kitty' for a burned head. He, however, got two of the counters out in the meantime and failed to get the kitty, leaving the final score 19—14 in favour of Jenkin and Gladding. Mr. S. Coldicutt, president of the Auckland Bowling Centre, after the game presented the prizes to the winners and runners-up and congratulated them on their respective performances.