BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1918, Page 8

BOWLING.

TARANAKI PAIRS TOURNAMENT. WON BY BRANCH AND MORTON. The Easter pairs tournament was concluded at Stratford yesterday afternoon, Branch (Inglewood) being successful in the final contest with Sampßon (Waitara). The semi-final was between 6. Morton and R. Branch (Inglewood) and C. Jackson and ,1. S. Rowe (Stratford). There was a keenly contested game, each side alternating in the scoring. Burnt heads were numerous, Branch burning three and Rowe one before the 7th head was decided. Here both were 5, and at the 14th head Branch was 12 and Rowe li. The latter held the lead—l6-10—at the 18th head, but in the next three Branch ran his total to 20, while Rowe got to 17, victory going to Branch by a margin of three points.

THE PINAL. After refreshments Calder and Sampson (Waitara) met Morton and Branch. Playing short heads, Sampson scored in the first four, making him 0 before Branch could get going. The next head saw Branch three down, and he burnt the head. In the next effort Morton's second shot was a toucher, which Calder trailed. Branch wrested this away with his third, his fourth also scoring, and the head finished, Branch 2, Sampson 5. The next head was the first long one, Branch drove and cut out both, but Sampson's last ball rested on kitty. Branch 2, Sampson 6. Morton's second bowl trailed kitty, and his third was also a toucher. Sampson drcve and carried kitty back, lying 3. Branch's third ball ran through and scored, making Branch ,1, Sampson C. At the next head Sampson secured two, then Branch scored a single, following this up with three, which would have been four bad he not displaced one of his own bowls with his last shot, but at the eleventh head he equalised the score —S all.

Branch in the next two heads got two at each. The 15th head was disastrous to Sampson. Morton got in two touchers with his second and third shots, while his 4th was a beauty. Calder just missed kitty, and "ditched." Branch got one in, making four. Sampson made a fine attempt to cut out kitty, which was well sheltered. He cut one out, only to see Branch get there again,' and the score was Branch 18, Sampson 10. From then onward to the close of the game Branch scored at every head, the final score being Branch 25, Sampson 10. Branch thoroughly deserved his victory for throughout the tournament he had been playing well, his driving being commcndably accurate, and though at times he had the better luck his play was certainly up to championship form. CHIVERS WINS PITZROY CHAMPIONSHIP. The final in the Fitzroy Club's singles contest was played yesterday between Oxenham and Chivers. Although Oxenham had a lead at the start, Chivers, who was drawing well, soon caught up to and passed his opponent, winning the championship by 21 to IG—a very popular victory. The score in the Te Hiwi (Wellington) v. Stratford match was 20-17 in favor of the visitors, not 20-7 as previously stated. The Stratford single championship was advanced n further stage yesterday, when Biekerton defeated Sharp and Harris, and C. Jackson also won from Harris. Bickerton, Sharp and Rowe are now leading for the championship.