Bowling Carnival

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 31 January 1914, Page 3

Bowling Carnival

icoxcuinixi; day. PJILVMA WINS THE SHIELD. SOME FINE PLAY. Interest in tile Taranaki Bowling Tournament was maintained right to its conclusion; indeed, as the afternoon progressed it became intensified. The weather, which on the previous evening looked very had, behaved, on the whole, very kindly. The snn shone out vigorously in the morning, and, after a good rolling, the greens, which had had a soaking, were in good order and played well. There were several slight , showers during the day, but not sufficient to inter/ere with play, though tlie downfall at the luncheon adjournment made the green heavy for /> while. Tlicrwere good attendances at the green' right throughout the day, ami in the afternoon, when there was a very bi" jtuister, the ladies dispensed afternoon tea. l'lay was of a high order, and after keen competition the shield was won by P. Mason, of Pihama, who held it in 1909, A. K. .Smart, of New Plymouth, who won the shield last year, being the runner-up. It was a popular win. Mason has a good record at this tournament, having scored )1 win*, without a defeat. Smart played 10 games, winning nine and losing one.

SEMI-FINALS.' A. K. SMART DEFEATS F. NEWELL. Xew Plymouth.—Lusc.ombe, Medley, Paul, A. K. Smart (s) 28, v. West End— Iloskin, F. Newell, Wood, F. Newell (s) 10.

This game resulted in 1111 easy win for the Xew Plymouth skip. Some yery interesting and close heads were played, but in fifteen of them Smart got the advantage. lie opened his scoring account with a three in the first head. This was evened up by Newell in the second head. A five gave Smart a commanding lead in the third head, and thereafter the issue was never in doubt. Xewell lay one up at the fourth head, when the score stood, New Plymouth 8, West End 4. It was the 10th head before Xewell increased his score from two to six, but meanwhile Smart had scored 14. lie added another 10 before Xewell again scored at the sixteenth head, when the score stood, Smart 24, Xewell 8. Smart lay two up at the eighteenth head, but Xewell burnt it and in the play over lay one up. The nineteenth head also saw him lay one up. Smart had the advantage in the two final heads, and ran out winner ns indicated above.

F. MASON DEFEATS G. SMART. Pihama.—rohi, Harrop, Lambie, Mason (s) 21, v. Stratford —I'orritt, M'Millan, Morisou, N. J. King (s) 15. , Owing to Geo. Smart havirg to attend a court case at Stratford this linkwas re-arranged. N. ,T. King, who had played third throughout the tournament, filled his skip's shoes, I?. McK. Morison, who had skipped another rink, playing third. Interest was concentrated on this game, and it proved very interesting, King making a great recovery towards the finish and nearly pulling the game out of the fire. A feature of the play was the fine work ot the seconds in both teams and the well-judged driving of the Pihama skipper and his third. The lirst six heads saw the score i all. Mason having scored his in the first three, and King on the last three, after Mason had burnt the fifth and sixth heads and thereby saved a lot. A six to Mason on the 7th head proved fatal to King. L'l the ninth head King drew a beautiful ■slioi, and, robbing hi* opponents of three, lay one. Mason gradually forged ahead and at the Kith head the score read 18—0 in his favor. A four and two ones to King commenced to even things up. Mason was one up on the 18th head and the score rend 19—12. On the 19th head Masi n lay three up when the skips went down. King with a beauty put the three Pihama bowls out and Stratford lay 3. Mason's last shot was very \veak, 1.0 12. With two heads to go the excitement grew. Stratford lay three, but Limbic drove and carried the jack to his back wood and lay two. King cut. one oi>t. M won 20, Smart IS. The las! head, a close one, saw the leaders increase the gap by out.

l'\ MASON DEFEATS C. X. JOHNSON. I'ihama. 11aK'li) 23 v. West End—(Putt, Plumtree, J. D. .Soli', Johnson) 15. This jirovidcd a great game, some fine bowls liein" played. There were no fewer than six burnt heads. Heavy rain fell just before resuming play and made the green very heavy "for a start, but as the sun came out it got faster. J»lmson broke away with a lead of eight in the first four heads, and it was not until Me fifth head that Mason opened his account with a two. Johnson held the lead until the seventeenth head, when a drive of the West End skip gave them an extra two, when they were lying tfiree, and the scores were equalised. Front tlen to the finish Pihama never looked back, although in most of the heads the issue was in doubt till the last lmwl was played, and added eight points, winning by i"I to 13. They were awarded a great o\ation on returning to the pavilion. Johnson carried tin- jack and lay one up at the first head. In the second head ■Johnson diote and ■burnt the head at the second attempt, when Mason was laying three. Johnson then got four upon the bead. lie scored a one and a two at the next heads, and the score was S nil. When the skips went down to the next head, Mason lay live, but Johnson saved three. drive by Mason saved two and left Johnson one up—- !•- 2. .Sole burnt tin- next head, when Mason was three up, but the T'ihauia rink were not to be denied, and finished three up. Johnson carried the jack into the diteli and again lay three up. ta.-h skiji scored one in the next two heads, and a! the 1 fith bead the position was, Johnson 13, Mason ti. The eleventh •id '.i.' burnt by .Mason, who scon (wo oil' it, and the twelfth by Sole, whose rink scored one off it. Honors Were easy in the next two heads, each showing some groat play. With seven heads to go the score read, Johnson J.'t Mason '.I. Johnson was lying three wh ' l ; the skips went down, but a drive iy Mason left I'ihama one up and anoth -r '"I'l'l two more W." 1 . End bowls and would have given Pihaina four more. A wick by Sole cut his own howl out. Fihania lay three. Ife, however, retrieved it next shot, as he drew close to the jack and lay <>. Ie hut Ma-on burnt the head. Two fine shots by f.amt.ie and Pihania were lying two. Ma-on lav a beautiful third. ■ Johnson drove, and en, his own two howls out. and I'ihama was five up and the score 13 alt on the Mxteenth hea-i.

i A 2 and a 1 to Pihama gave Jiasin | a lead of three. A good lead by I'ntt I : n tlii! nineteenth head waa maiiih : sponsible for Johnson laying four, until l.anvbie, with his second bowl, drew .stwond shot. Mason, with a brilliant shot,] forced his own bowl through and lay the shot. Two heads to go, and I'ihama were four in the lead. The twentieth head was a beauty: the first eig.it balls were around the jack, and inclmbl two touchers to I'iliama, who lay three, until Sole, with a firm draw, took the jack and lay two. Johnson drew a | third and started the last "head one) down. For the final head both lead were weak. Plumtrce promoted his ow. bowl and hy the shot. Neither of th thirds altered the position, which wa interesting when the skips went down Johnson's first fell short. Mason drov< and missed. Johnson, with his last shot drew beautifully, when Mason cam l with a firm drive and wicked out th shot ball and law four. It was a gam | shot, as West End had a lot of bad timber and shifting the jack might hav given them two or three. 'Mason thu won by 23 to 15.

THE FINAL. V. MASON DEFEATS A. K. SMART, j Pihama (Polii Tito, G. G. Harrop, W. Lambie, and F. Mason) 22, v. New Plymouth (Luscombe, J. S. »S. Medley, S Paul, and A. K. Smart) 12, on the 20th head. The final proved very exciting, and some brilliant bowling was displayed to an intensely interested assemblage, who followed every shot of the game very closely, and rewarded the numerous bouts of brilliant play with unstinted applause. Mason hold the iead from the start, and his men playing brilliantly, he was enabled to maintain it until lie was in a commanding position,when he played a safe game. His second played a most consistent game, though all assisted in the victory, which was in great measure aided by Mason's effective skipping. Smart played a determined, dogged game, and had, if anything, a shade the worst of the luck. He was up in ten of the heads, as was also his opponent.

DETAILS OF THE GAME. Head No. 1. —Pohi started with a very fine shot, but Luscombc beat him with both deliveries. Itarrop's first bowl touched and hung to the jack. Paul's second shot wrested his opponent's bowl, and when the skips went down New Plymouth lay two. Mason's first drew in between the two lying shots and scored. Smart drove with disastrous Results, and Mason lav three. Smart's second bowl went short. Mason 3, Smart 0.

The second head was a long one. Pohi lead with two nice bowls. Medley's first got the shot, saving three. Ilarl'op's second forced his opponent through and lay one up. The position remained unaltered. Mason 1, Smart I-

.Smart burnt the third head when Mason was laying one. Tn the replay Smart scored. Mason 4, Smart 1. In the fourth head neither of the leads were up. Ilarrop lay nicely with his first, Lambic got the shot, and Paul, playing a running bowl, found the ditch. Mason trailed the kitty, and thereby lay three. Smart's bowl was wide. Mason 7, -Smart 1.

The leads were again short in thfl fifth head, whieli opened raggedly. Medley lay the shot. Lambie just missed kitty. Haul went wide and short. Mason's second missed the kitty and ran through, whilst Smart's second promoted his opponent's ball and gave them two. Mason (I, Smart 1.

The sixth was a medium-length head. Polii led well) but Luscombe's second secured the shot, only lo be beaten by a beautiful draw by Ifarrop, who was playing like n, book. Lamhie promoted another, but Paul, with a running shot, carried tjie jack and lay three. His next shot, a beauty, lay fourth. Mason's first went short, but his second was a pearler, flicking the iaek away, and (riving him two, but Smart, with his final, promoted a bowl and finished one ut>. it was a great save. Mason 9, Smart 2. Polii again proved a solid lead. Harrop sent down a toucher; Pihama lay two. Paul almost promoted another. Smart missed kitty by a hair, and Mason drew a third with his last shot. Mason 12, Smart 2.

In the ninth, a long head, Medley drew to the jack, when Pihama lay three, but Harrop came round and got between him and the jack, amidst ap-: platise. Paul drove resultlessly with both bowls. Pi.hama were on-.' up when the skips went down. Mason put up a 1 good back ball. Smart drove and carried the jack, giving Pihaaia two, but with bis final he drew the shot himself. Mason 12, Smart 3. In the ninth head all be balls were round the jack, and Smart was laying one when the skips went down. Mason with a beauty drew the shot with his first bowl. Mason 13, Smart 3. Pohi opened with a toucher, hard up against the jack. Luscombe, wit! a good one, followed him and carried both jack and bowl, (iood shots by and Medley left Pihama two wp. A drive by Paul went between everything by a very narrow margin. Mason drove and cut one of his own out, and Smart drawing beautifully neoucd one. Mason 13, Smart 4. Medley sent down two fine shots, carrying the jack with the first and laying with both. Lambie with a running shot earned the jack and robbed Stuart of three, laying (lie shot liim-i-elf. Both Smart's were short, Masmn, I with a stunning drive, cut, out two bowls [■and left Pihama four up. Mason 17, I Smart 4.

The twelfth head was burnt twice by New Plymouth, after some brilliant plav by both riliks. When th» skips went down for the third time Smart was laying two up, but Mason had good back timber, and by driving cut the New Plymouth bowls out and lay the shot. A nice shot by -Smart just rolled the wrong way, and left Pihama one tip. Mason 1!). Smart 4.

Xew Plymouth wore laying two up, with tlie timber well mixed behind the jacks when the skips went down for the next head. Though both drew well the position was nni hanged, Mason 18, Smart C. In the fourteenth head Pihanu; lay two when Paul, with ;> miming shot, carried the jack and lay two. Mason drew the second shot, ifnw saving on". Mason 18, Smart 7. The green was now gett'ng heavy, and Mason was ploying safety. Both seconds put down great shots. Medley, trailing the kitty, got the shot. Smart just missed removing Tiis opponent's' second ball. Mason tried to draw the shot, but was too wide on the green, which was pulling a little. Mason 18, Smart 8. laisoombe lay with ivotti his shots. 'Medley just missed kitty, Harrop getting the shot, only to be by Medley's second, which fell in the. right direction. just failed to rc-

i j move tiie shot bowl. A hicky wiek 11 saved Smart from removing his own 1 bowi. Xmv Plymouth one up. Jla-on j scored 2. Mason 2(1, Smart 11. I On the seventeenth head Luseomit f carried the jack with his first, and la handy with his second. Pohi was slior' Havrop opened up tlie game and save one. Paul promoted a second, but wit' kis second bowl shifted the jack, am Vinson lay one. Lambie just failed t< draw the shot. Smart drove, and Masoj lay two, also drawing a beautiful third which Smart cut out. .Mason 20, Smar »•

With four heads to go and 1) in arrears, Smart's position looked hopeless. Luscombe got within six inches of the jack, but the consistent Ilarrop carried the jack and cut him out. Smart was laying one at the finish, and, as this was of no use, lie tried to burn the head. He carried the jack to the ditch and scored 2. Mason 20, Smart 11.

Medley lay close to the jack, whica ITarrop carried, but overran. liw Ply I month were one u» and Paul had to I rest on a bowl to secure three, but lie got the jack instead and lay the shot. Lambie, with a great draw, secured the | shot. Smart drove, and with bis second found the ditch, laying two up. Mason 20, Smart 12. A duel between Polii and Luscomhe saw eacli get a toucher, with the latter laying the closer. Harrop got in a fine bowl, but New Plymouth still lay until Medley carried the jack and put Mason, who had nice back wood, two up. Paul',? drive failed. Lambie put up a ,ine covering bowl, and Smart was unable to burn the head. Mason put up a beauty, and'scored two, the board showing 22 12. As Smart was now 10 down, it was useless to play the last head, and Mason's victory was acclaimed with a great burst of applause. Pihama had a well-deserved win, and though the scores do no)t indicate the relative merits of the tijonis, the shield lias undoubtedly gone to the, best of the competing teams.

[ PRESENTATION OF PHIZES. Immediately after the final, the president, Mr W. J. Penn, in a short speech, congratulated the winners, whom, he said, were fine sports. Piliama, he said, was the smallest club In Taranaki, but its members were bowling giants. He then called on Mrs Penn to present the trophies, which she did, handing Mr. Mason the shield, ami giving each member of the winning rink and the run-ners-up a medal. Mr Mason, in returning thanks, said that he thought lie had rather the better of the luck, but Mr Smart deprecated this, saying that he had been beaten fairly and squarely by a better team. Various rounds of cheers concluded the 1914 tournament, which has been a great success from whatever standpoint it may V viewed. SHIELD WINNERS. Since the inception of the tournament the following clubs have had their names inscribed on the shield:— 1900 New Plymouth. 1907 Stratford. 1908 Ilawcra. 1909 Piliama. 1910 New Plymouth. 1911 Opunake. 1912 Opunake. 1913 New Plymouth. 1914 Piliama.