BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1917, Page 8

BOWLING.

THE PALMERSTON TOURNAMENT.

SOME IMPRESSIONS.

Palmerston N,, April 11. The Easter tournament is now a thing of the past, and the honors have gone to Taranaki. At one period it looked very probable that the final would be played between two Taranaki rinks, but' Nash (Palmerston North) scored a rather fortunate win over Sharp (Stratford) that brought the former into the final game, flay generally was good, and the greens were in excellent order. To the critical th€ Palmerston North green was rather "hard," due to the dry weather. The hospitality extended to the visitors was of the best, and the whole 52 rinks engaged report having a splendid holiday. A great deal of interest centred on the Taranaki teams, and it was generally conceded that Sharp "'(Stratford) and Smart (New Plymouth) were the two best skips engaged. The former rink attracted attention by the artistic manner in which they retail - 1 their lead in the B. section. In thi.- competition three Taranaki rinks were engaged, and it was Spurdle (Inglewood) who had the honor of heading Sharp in one of his eight games. Abbott (Fitzroy) had the pleasure of seeing his rink defeat Spurdle, and then, to even up matters, Sharp defeated Abbott, and with n total of 7 wins out of eight games made Sharp winner of this section. His next game was commenced on Monday afternoon, his opponent being the veteran Nash (Palmerston North), and a win here meant getting in the final game. Twenty-one heads were played, Nash took the lead at the startj and with five heads decided his score was 7 and Sharp's 1. The Stratford skip then started to make up leeway, and shaped to such good purpose that at the 12th head his rink had made 15 and Nash 12, The 13th head was a disastrous head to the visitors, the skip making a bad drive. Had his 3rd mail (Skoglund) requested him to draw the shot matters might have worked better. Nash was lying two, and Sharp's drive removed his third's (Skoglund's) bowl, and Xasb lay ,">, making the latter's total 17 and Sharp 15. The latter scored a single at the 10th head, and with the totals Palmerston North 17, Stratford 10 play ceased for the day.

On resuming next morning Sharp scored 4 at the 17th head, Sharp 20, Nash 17. At the 18th head Sharp's rink shaped badly, and Nash's rink scored a very welcome 5. Nash 22, Sharp 20. Nasii added a single .in the 20th, the- total then being Nasli 23, Sharp 21. Lyons made a perfect shot in his lead, lying a few inches off the jack, In the laat head. Whitehead failed to draw the shot with his last bowl, Foley then got in a beauty, trailing the jack, Sharp thus lying 3. Warden drove and scattered the head, Shanji lying 1 up. Skoglund and Jolly both played close up. When the skips went to play the position favored Sharp with 1 up, His first bowl was perfect In length and direction, lying in front of the jack. Sharp 2 up. Nash drew with his first ball, leaving Sharp 1 up. Wanting 2 to tie, Sharp sent his last bow! to rest Nash out, and just failed. Nash played for safety, and Sharp secured the point, but lost (lie game. Jfash 23, Sharp 22.

FINAL PLAY,

In the final mntcli the teams were.- Now Plymouth i l.usconibe, Hill, Johnston, H. Smart (s) v, Whitehead, Warden, Jolly, 11. N. Nash (s). Smart scored three singles in the first three heads, and 3 in the fourth made the total (I before Nash opened his account, Tlie subsequent play favored the local man, and he tied with Smart with 8 up, Tho next head he scoured 2, and obtained the lead for the first time Smart also totalled 2 in tho following head—--10 all. Small scoring brought the totals at the 18th head to Smart 15, Nash 11. On the 19th Nash lay 2. Johnson had two drives and missed. .Lying 2 down, Smart's first, bowl was a, beauty, and cut one nf Nash's bowls away, Smart's last shof fketV the jack, but Nash's last bowl scored a single in the head. Sipart 15, Nash 12. A single to. Smaft in tjjc 20th gave him a lead of 4 points. Wlieji the final head had to he-played. Nash's men put up a plucky fight, 'and made a. bolj bid fpr victory. They wanted 4 to tin and !j to win, but Smart was takr jng i|o risks, and kept Nash's ir>n frorn tfmifipjf mprp |.lian 3. victory guisy f fl Nw Plymouth Hipp, t||c (jnaj fjgi.-a,- be: ing; Smart 10; Nash id, '''