BOWLING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 7

BOWLING

TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. SEMHJINALS. ► ' - / . INTERESTING CONTESTS. The Taranaki Tournament was continued yesterday, the weather still favoring Ithe players, though the temperature made conditions scarcely comfortable for IhOM concerned. There was a little delay at the commencement owing to a question being raised as to some bowls Saving teen played with which did not bear the official tester's stamp, but the Executive decided at that stage to take JM» action in the matter. There ' were .many apectators present throughout tho FOURTH ROUND. Bary and Elliott, the two skips "wlio bad not had a loss in the inter-section play, mit and fought out a stern contest, irliicit eventually went in the latter's favor by two pointp.The first four heads V(Bt to Elliott, at which stage he was 8 up, when the next -three heads gave one on each, and the eighth saw his t&tal at 6. Elliott put oft one at the next head, and the following three went io Bary, the board showing 11-9 in his favor. Elliott carried his score to : 19 at the 17th head, at which stage Bary was 12. The next two heads gave him 15, and at the 20th head Elliott added another point. Bary was 3 up on the laat head, which left Elliott the winner by 2 points. This was Bar/s first loss in the tournament.

' Flower and Castle met in this round, the latter estaiblishing a lead in the early stagtt of the game which his opponent WW nevef able- to catch. The first head vu in Flower's favor, but he did not score again until the ninth head, when lit added one, but at tliat stage Castle was 11. Flower's rink played gamely, but hi* opponents forged ahead, and the final figures were 20—14 in Castle's fafor.

One of the keenest and most exciting matches in this round was between McNeill and Foy. McNeill put on 7 in the Jfrlt three heads, and Foy made one on Ihe 4th head. The next two heads increased the Fjtzroy skip's score to 12, ■while the Hawera rink added 3 and 1 on the two following heads. On the 9th head they were 3 up, and 4 on the tenth, while at the 14th head the score was 15—14 in fayor of McNeill, who added 1 and 3 on the two succeeding heads. The next four heads went to the Hawera rink, making them 21, and 3 to McNeill on the 20th made the score 22—21. Foy drew the shot on the next head, making a tie. The extra head was an exciting contest, both rinks playing with judgment and skill. The umpire's measure had to be resorted to at the end, and the decision gave the shot to Foy by the merest fraction.

The results were:— Elliott 20 v. Bary 18. Castle 20 v. Flower 14. Foy 23 v. McNeill 22. Ford a bye. FIFTH ROUND. The- fifth round was commenced after lunch. Elliott, the unbeaten, met Castle, to whom he succumbed in a fairly close contest by 2 points. He drew the shot on the first head, and Castle scored two on the next, but remained on that mark until the 9th head, when he added another point. In the meantime Elliott hai reached fl. The nlxt head gave Castle another two, and Elliott drew the shot on the Uth, and the next three heads went to his opponent, and the board read 11 all. Castle added son the remaining heads, and Elliott was only able to get 3 more to his total, the final tcore being: Castle 16, Elliott 14. Bary and Ford, each of whom had had one loss, fought out one of the most evenly contested games of the inter-sec-tion play. Scores were registered alternatively, and at the Bth head the rinks were 6 all. Bary added one on the 7th and 4 on the next head. On that head Bary had two bowls resting on the jack, and the third and skip of the Waitara link attempted drives with both bowls, but went wide. Ford again evened up the score at the 12th head, and a sucjtession of alternate scores saw the rinks 20 all at the 20th head. Ford drew the shot with his last ■ wl, and won the game by one point. Ihe scores were:—

Castle 16 v. Elliott 14 Ford. 21 v. Bary 20. Foy a bye. SIXTH ROUND, It was after 4.30 when the sixth round vru commenced, Elliott meeting Foy, and putle playing Ford. The rink pegs were altered half a rink, and the sun being off the green, made play in the early stages Hther puzzling, but the teams soon adjusted their deliveries to the new conditions, and some first-class play was witnessed in both games, in every way yorthy of tournament form. FORD v. CASTLES. '■ ford (Waitara) obtained the advantage at the outset, scoring 8 before Castles (Eltham) obtained' a single, which in the two following heads he increased to 4, then Ford carried his score to 9, <CSastl«s adding another single, the score at the eleventh head being: Ford 12, Castles 5. From that point onwards pasties only added three singles and a {(wo, the game ending:— Ford 21, Castles 10.

U. The opposing leads (Sampson and pDrayton) gave a very fine display of ac"curate drawing, but Ford had a most. pufnl and reliable third in Wyllie. One pi the best shots of the afternoon was inada by Oastlea at the 15th head, when Pie wag 5 down, and a blocking bowl in pome measure protected the scoring prood, but Catties made a most effective Air* an the back hand, scattered the bowls, and got the shot, evoking from an . pnlooker the remark: "That was a real »Trfnpty-tummer." The losers played Kell, but the winners were certainly the itter team op the merits of their play. EXUOTT v. FOY. A very close and keen contest took place between Elliott (Patea) and Foy {Hawera), the issue being in doubt up to ♦ta lait delivery by Elliott. Up to the bead, Foy had the best of the mm with 7 up against 3, but on the jlth head the board showed 9 all, and 4b» Uth head 14 all. Foy then increased tfj»~2Qth isad- to

the next and final head, Elliott was 2 up, but he wanted three to win. Foy, with his second delivery—a grand shot—got second place, Elliott being faced with a very difficult problem, the only solution of wbich, owing to the position of the head, was to drive or trust to luck. His drive just missed the mark, and the game ended:— Foy 17, Elliott 15. FINAL TO-DAY. The tournament championship has to be decided this afternoon on the New Plymouth green between Ford (Waitara) and Foy (Hawera), and on yesterday's play these opponents should be fairly equally matched, so that an interesting and exciting contest should be' Witnessed. CITIZENS' MATCH. The remaining rounds and semi-final in the Citizens' Match were played at Fitzroy yesterday, it being almost dark before the last bowl was delivered. The result of the section play was as follows: SECTION A. Fourth Round.—F. J. Hill 17 v. McGorrery 15; J. R. Hill 18 v. Nixon 12; Green ?1 v. Benton 17. Fifth Round. —McGorrery 27 v. Nixon 13; J. R. Hill 25 v. Green 17; F. J. Hill 29 v. Benton 24. SECTION B. Fourth Round.—Bowater 18 v. Humphries 15; Sole 30 v. Sutcliffe 14; Rennell. 19 v. Scrivener 17. Fifth Round.—Rennell 21 v. Humphries 16; Sole. 18 v. Bowater 10; Sutcliffe 19 v. Scrivener 18. SEMI-FINALS. ■ In Section A, McGorrery, F. J. Hill and J. R. Hill had each 4 wins and a loss, and in the play off McGorrery de-, feated F. J. Hill by 20 to 18. Hill had a bye, and then met McGorrery, a keenly contested game ensuing, the issue being in doubt up to the last delivery. On the 20th head the score was 20 all, and when Hill's third man (Fookes) played his first bowl Hill was two down, but Fookes drew the shot. McGorrery failed to alter his position, and Hill put in another scorer, which was not displaced by his opponent, the game ending: Hill 22, McGorrery 20. THE FINAL TO-DAY.

In - Section B, Bennell won all his five games, and will meet J. R. Hill in the final', to-day,. when interesting, play shdujil .be witnessed. ,