BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 19

BOWLING.

THE OPEN SINGLES.

A SUCCESSFUL TOURNAMENT. COMPETITORS FOR DUNEDIN. ißy TRUXDLER.) The first stage in the open singles tournament will geiierallv be voted a success, and that is *Jic main feature, for its chief object was not to find the winner, but to give an enjoyable experience to a large number of players who could not hope, to get into the champion of champions more than once in a quarter of a century. That has been done, ana thev all seemed to enjoy it, win or lose, 5 o there will be no regrets that all could not 20 forward, as the losers all got full value for what they entered. 4s 24 qualified for intersection play, an * averace of nearly two for each of the 13 sections, it made quite a good second tournament at Carlton, and it should easily finish thi.= afternoon, if not interrupted by rain. Some of the competitors found themselves rather tired after five rounds on Monday, and those who played five mom yesterday were feeling it still more. However it is difficult to know of a better -H-ay' than playing five rounds on the first day. In the meantime, congratulations av,e due to the 24 who qualified for further plav, and particularly to the four who survived the five rounds yesterday. This afternoon C. E. Hardley (West End), .the onlv two-lifer, is meeting C. H. de i Launav (Epsom), who was runner-up in the Dominion singles championship at Wellington last January, and D. C. fraser" (Mount Eden) meets I. Clarke (West End). If Hardley goes through without a loss, it will take only two rounds, but otherwise three will find the ultimate winner. A Stirring Contest. One of the best and most interesting matches yesterday took place in the fourth round, wiien Hardley met B. Vella (Oneiunga), the only meeting 01 two-lifers. The former got the jack, and threw it for a short head with the same precision as at Wellington last January, ivhen this faculty was so strong a contribution towards the victory of W. Bremner's West End rink. He was drawing with great accuracy, as he always does on short heads, and piled up 16 points before Yella had any. At length the latter managed to get a bowl in, and naturally he threw long heads, the result being that he secured 14 points while Hardley got none. Their fortune then fluctuated round about that position, until Hardley started the last head with two points to the good. Of course he threw a short jack, and he put a bowl almost on it, but Vella got his -bowl just behind, and then trailed the jack a few inches for two. The position was not altered until Hardley ran at the head and drove his front bowl on to Yella's second, leaving him still one down, but lying the game by one point. Vella tried to get it again with his last, but was too wide to add the point he wanted for a tie. Chief interest in the last _ round centred on the meeting of Hardley with Parsons, who had just beaten the other two, lifer, I. Clarke. Hardley repeated his well-proven shortdiead tactics, keeping a.few points ahead until he increased his lead to 8 on-the--19th head, leaving Parsons an impossible task against one who was drawing so well. The meeting -of Hardley and de Launay this afternoon probably will reproduce the short-head tactics, for the latter probably is superior, on long heads, and was getting his bowl away uncommonly well yesterday. Fraser and Clarke should also furnish a splendid game, for the former was noticed early yesterday as playing good bowls, and the latter is just as accurate as ever. The Dominion Tournament. There will be general disappointmentat the small number of entries received for the coming Dominion- tournament, especially when it is remembered that Dunedin has the reputation of having the best greens in the country. Naturally the contrast with last year's entries at Wellington is most pronounced, but the latter were helped with all the visitors from Australia, and the'last tourna-. ment at Dunedin had the double attraction of the exhibition ! and the British visitors to increase the -entries. Coneidering these influences, the following table of entries In recent years will be perused with interest: — Tear, At Singles. Pairs. Kinks. Total. 3925—Wellington 144 158- 139 432 1926—Dunedin... 256 232 134 622 3927—Auckland.. 2V2 230 170 672 192S—Christch'ch 216 204 120 540 1929—Wellington 204 224 130 618 1930-Dunedin... 16S 16S 88 424

However, those who do venture on the trip to Dunedin will doubtless have a good time, and as most of the competitors are sure to be local men, there will he great honour in winning, for 'the best bowlers in New Zealand are located in Dunedin, in the opinion, of quite- a number of people, an opinion which gains considerable support from their records of success in previous tournaments. • Three rinks are going.from. Auckland, "fiz., K. J. Carbines, R. S. Somervell, E. *. Jones, A. Parsons (Ponsonby); C. E. Bardley, T. McAlister, F. Xeedbam, W. (West End), and W. Bates, G. % Gladding, W.. Coltman, H. Jenkin .(Carlton). All these seem to have a really good fighting chance, .being ■experienced and accomplished performers.