ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 955, 24 April 1930, Page 6

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(B'J

JACK HIGH.)

Adverse weather making the greens utilised heavy and difficult of play assailed the entrants in the Auckland Centre’s big Easter carnival. Indeed, it may be said that the major events staged throughout the season, with the exception of two —the champion pairs and the champion fours — have all in turn been met with these conditions, which are regarded as unsuitable for tests of the game on the green. The season in this respect has been very disappointing. However, the same conditions reigned alike for all entrants and those who were masters of the forcing game required on heavy greens came out with the honours,’ while those players whose skill lay only in the exposition of the open game played on the faster greens were left lamenting that they were not similarly expert in both styles. * * # It was unfortunate that the tournament committee decided that the Ponsonby Club’s green should be utilised in the section rounds. Certainly the surface besides being very rough and bumpy was found to be far from true and the results of the games played there on some of the rinks were in the lap of the gods rather than in the players’ ability to win against their opponents. It would have been far more preferable if the tournament committee had included a green in one of the outlying suburbs rather than force entrants t£> play on a green that nulified any chance of a test of the game. It is seldom that six wins in the section rounds have qualified for the post-sectional games. However, this circumstance has occurred on no less than two occasions this season—the previous time* being the Christmas tournament. The happening brought no less than 92 players out of a total of 296—a third of the entrants less three teams in the Easter fours event. This fact, coupled with the voluntary decision of the skips of the teams which went forward to fight out the concluding honours on the two-life principle, instead of the optional sudden death system, made in itself a second small tournament of fair proportions. If Russell’s Remuera team had defeated Hoskings’s Carlton combination in the ninth round of the D section, this would not have happened as seven wins would have been the minimum number to qualify. * * * In the A section. TVaitemata team, including Stewart. Williamson, Blackledge. F. G. Blackwell, put up a line performance, coming through with eight wins to its credit, losing only one life and that to Davidson’s Auckland team. In this game they played good bowls, the latter team scoring on the last two heads for a victory. T. Dick’s Grey Lynn team lost two games. Their defeats were at the hands of Bkickwell and L. Hope, of Papakura. The other team, under Turner, of Carlton, was remarkable for steady play, Holford, the number three, being particularly outstanding for his steadiness and consistency. Section B was prominent for two strong teams qualified—-Clarkson, Chapman, Truscott, Ball (Carlton), and Kendall, Blackwell, Richmond, George (Epsom). It was notable that these two fine combinations of players met in the eighth round, the former coming out winners by 27—16. George’s rink suffered its other loss in a remarkable game on the first day against the Hardley family’s West End rink. The honours of the C section went to Wicksteed, Elliott, Buxton, G. Wrightson (Carlton), the only loss received being against the Hallyburton Johnstone rink under Gibson. This is the first occasion that Wrightson has taken a team out into a tournament for some time, he being mostly content to play in the position of number three. In this tournament he has shown commendable brilliance in the position of skip. * * shin the D section four teams came forward including Brooke, McFarlane, Sheath, Russell (Remuera), Lamb, Bruce, Taylor, de Launay (Epsom), Vincent, Jackson. Chaplin, Macplierson (Rawhiti) and Clark, Carbines, Mat-

thews. Parsons (Ponsonby), all with six wins apiece, this being the section that decided whether six wins would qualify. In the E section Norton, Newton, Kissling. C. Amtman (Remuera) and McKeown. Worsfold. Whitten, A. Thomson (West End) came forward with eight wins each to their credit. Amtman’s combination lost its only game to Ritchie, of Carlton, while Thomson’s team lost its only game to Amtman’s rink. The F section brought in no less than five teams, including Miller, East, Mingins, Graham (Remuera), with seven wins, Daniels, Tomlinson, G. Clarke Sharpe (Mount Albert), Sotliern. Allen, Eccles, Coburn (Whangarei), Farley, Randall, Wakerley, Keatley (Rocky Nook), McGuire. Mc-Farquhar, Macklow. Kenny (Onehunga), with six wins each. Section G saw the following qualify —Caddy, Liversidge, Whittle, Buckley ("Grey Lynn), eight wins; Sidler, Gribble, Roylands, Milner (Rocky Nook), seven wins; Robertson, Clews. Ramsey, Roberts (Dominion Road), TicMaster, Ross, Schnackenberg, Gatland (Onehunga), Conway, Farrow, Hilton, Jury (Ponsonby), six wins each. The first two rounds of the postsectional games was played on heavy greens at the Carlton Club and at the close of the day the teams under the following skips were left in:—George, J. Dick. Ball, Jury, Wrightson, Turner and Milner (two-lifers) and Thomson, T. Dick. Buckley, Parsons, Macpherson, Coburn, Russell, Keatley and Roberts (one-lifers). Amtman, who had made such an excellent showing in the section play, went out of the competition to Russell by one point, and Jury# by one point. Blackwell, another player, had the misfortune to lose again by one point in the second round, but met with solid defeat against the Whangarei team by 21 — 13. a * • Three teams are left in to fight out the concluding honours. The games will be played today, and if the twolifer loses a game, three more rounds will be necessary to find the ultimate winning team. The teams are: Kendall, Blackwell, Richmond, T. 11. George (Epsom), two lives; Blincowe Hill, Buchan. J. Dick (Ponsonby) ; and Wicksteed, Elliott, Buxton, G. Wrightson (Carlton). It is notable that George’s team has only lost one game out of the fifteen played up to this stage, also that he won the event in 1925, and that his No. 3, Richmond, was with him on that occasion, and that the latter figured in R. Milne’s team, which won the event last season. Wrightson’s team is an excellent one, the members individually and collectively playing good bowls. It can be also noted that Elliott was lead for Wetherilt when that pair were the runners-up for the recent pairs championship a few weeks ago. The members of Dick’s team are all playing splendid bowls, the most outstanding being Hill and the skip. The other players, however, support consistently. The fifth round yesterday saw some very fine games played. The Russell v. Wrightson tussle was well contested throughout. Russell was 6 down, with two heads to go. On the semi-final head he scored a three, and on the final head he lay a tie when Wrightson drew a toucher. The Ball v. Dick game saw the former team struggling hard against strong opposition. Truscott, usually a tower of strength in team work, was out of form, although he did some good work. It lay with Ball to save repeatedly. Three heads from the conclusion the score was S —l 4 in Dick’s favour. * Ball got three points on the semi-final head. On the final he ! two good shots, when Buchan drew

shot on the kitty. All efforts failed i to displace this bowl, and the score ended 15 —11 in favour of Dick. * * • The Wrightson v. Turner game saw ' some very interesting bowling. Three | heads from home the scores were even. : when Wrightson sprung a six on to ■ I his opponents. This proved too much for Turner’s team, which failed to make up the leeway. The Milner v. Dick game also proved a good contest. An even tussle characterised the bowling up to the final stages, when Dick got a four score, the game ending 17 —16 in his favour. The honours of the executive fours competition by the good bowling of Bates, Gladding, Kilgcur and W. Arey have gone to the Carlton Club for the fourth occasion, the club liav- | ing won in 1926-27-2 S previously. The i team, no doubt, was of excellent j strength in the front ranks. with ! Bates, Gladding and Kilgour. while the 1 secretary of the club is to be compli- | mented on bringing the combination j through to ultimate victory. It is re- ‘ markable that on the four occasions J. Kilgour has played in the number three position, and his strength shows that he has played consistent bowls throughout the tournaments. The first-year players’ competition is left to be decided between Taylor, Shields, G. Brown, A. Brown (Carlton), and Taylor, Francis, Solomon. M. Renton (Hallyburton Johnstone), the final game being played on Saturday next. It is notable that although the Carlton Club has many" victories to its credit, its first - year players have never been able to put their names on to the honours board of this competition.

TOURNEY AT WANGANUI

Press Association. WANGANUI, Wednesday. In the final of the Wanganui Bowling Centre’s tournament Kirkwood (St. j John’s), 26, defeated London (Wanganui), 9. CAMBRIDGE TOURNAMENT From Our Own Correspondent CAMBRIDGE. Wednesday. The Cambridge Bowling Club’s tournament was continued today with the , concluding stage of post-sectional play : of rinks tourney. Results are as follow: Fourth Round.—Dix (Cambridge), 22. v. Vincent (Edendale), 12: Stewart (Miitamata), 25, v. Perry (Carlton). 7; Hardley (West End), 19, v. Lowe (Devonport), 10; Bruce (New Plymouth), 17. v. Findlay (Mount Eden), 14; ' Mclntyre (Whakatane), 16, v. Parker Hill (Papatoetoe), 15. Fifth Round.—Hardley, IS, v. Bruce. 17: Parker Hill, 17. v. Stewart, 10; McIntyre, 13, v. Lowe, 10. In the semi-final Dix plays Mclntyre and Hardley plays Parker Hill. Hardley still retains his two lives. The following teams have qualified for • post-sectional play in the pairs, commencing tomorrow: Section A. —Petty, 6 wins and 1 loss: Donald, Wooller, and Badeley, each 5 wins and 2 losses. Section B.—Trayes, 6 wins and 1 loss; Smart, 5 wins and 2 losses. Section C.—McMaster and Lobb. each 6 wins and 1 loss; Livingstone, 5 wins and 2 losses. Section D.—Hosking, 7 wins and no losses: Abbott and Miller, each 5 wins

land to take up a Rhodes Scholarship. Several changes are reported in the forwards. Tech. Old Boys will field a strong side. It has a good, solid set of forwards and fast backs. Grammar Old Boys and Training College will provide the “curtainraiser” on No. 1 ground. THE FIXTURE LIST The following matches will be played under the control of the Auckland Rugby Union on Saturday: Senior tirade A.—University v. Technical Old Boys, Eden Park No. 1. 3 p.ni., Nir. G. Peace: Grammar Old Boys v. Training College, Eden Park Xo. 1. 1.45 p.ni., Nlr. F. E. Sutherland; City v. Marist Old Boys, Eden Park Xo. 2, 3 p.m.. Mr. Nr. Kronfeld; Ponsonby v. Grafton, Eden Park Xo. 3, 3 p.m., Mr. C. F. Pauli; Manulrau v. College Rifles, Show Grounds Xo. 1. 3 p.m., Mr. J. G. Gasparich. Senior Grade B.—Xorth Shore v. Mara - thon, Xorth Shore, 3 p.m., Mr. W. J. Thompson; University B v. Otahuhu, Sturgess Park, 3 p.m.. Mr. J. G. C. Wales; Tramways v. Manukau B. Victoria Park, 3 p.m., Mr. C. F. Fowler; FT. NTS. T»n i ! e<l: n v. Ih-rncli. Domain. 3