EASTER BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 20

EASTER BOWLING.

FINAL OF THE EASTER FOURS.

WIN FOR EPSOM TEAM.

CARLTON RUNNERS-UP. Entering the final round of the Easter Fours competition with two lives, George's Epsom team seemed to hold a winning position, but it was only after a particularly strenuous struggle that they finally emerged victors by the narrowest of margins. It was Wrightson's Carlton quartet who acted as runners-up, and incidentally gave a superb exhibition of skilful and determined play. In the first game on Thursday afternoon, which proved to be the semi-final, they definitely outplayed the men from Epsom, winning on the twentieth head with nine points to the good. With each team then on level terms, namely, with a life each, the final was commenced, and the Carlton men again held the better position for most of tlie game. At the twelfth, head they had their biggest lead, with the score at 12—6. George, however, was in excellent form. Time and again he saved his side from serious setbacks. His work was characterised more by solidity than brilliance. His generalship was superb, arid in a tight finish his coolness was a chief factor in his team's success. The Epsom Skip was ably supported by Richmond, whose brilliant rallies and general resourcefulness were a marked feature of the game. This pair respectively drew the winning shots on the last two heads. Kendall as lead was usually beaten by his Carlton opponent, but after a spell below form he came to light at the business end of the journey in the second game, and a number of well-placed shots materially helped his side to recover from a bad position. Blackwell as No. 4 was unable to reproduce his best form. Wrightson, skip of the Carlton team, enhanced his reputation very considerably by his fine play and skilful handling of his team throughout the tourney. In the final games his drawing was remarkably sound, and he displayed fine accuracy in wresting out a troublesome bowl. In a strong trio which supported him, probably the most notable was Wicksteed, whose leading in the semifinal could serve as a model for players in that position. In the final he was almost as good, but apparently tired in the closing stages, when he failed on a few heads. Elliott, the second man, was as well placed as Wicksteed was as lead. After this pair had played there j was usually a stiff proposition waiting for Richmond and George. Buxton, too, drew soundly, drove well when called upon,--and directed his skip with sound judgment. •- The Carlton'green was, as usual, in first-class order, and a crowded bankwatched the two games. At the conclusion the prizes were presented by Mr. S. Coldicutt, president of the centre, and both teams were heartily cheered. Results:—

DETAILS OF PLAT. Semi-Final. —Wlckstead, Elliott, Buxton, Wrightson (Carlton) 23, v. Kendall, Blackwell, Richmond, George (Epsom) 14. In the semi-final the Carlton 1 team started off with a single on the first head and notching a five on the third established a lead •which they never lost. On the fourteenth head Epsom were only four down and still had a chance, but a. four and a two to Carlton on the next two heads placed the home players in a safe position. The score card read as follows after each head, the Epsom score being shown first in each instance :—o—l, 2—l, 2 —6, 2—B, B—B, 7—B, 7—12, 9—12, 9—14, 9—15, 10—15, 11—15, 11—19, 11—21, 13—21, 14—21, 14—22. 14-*—23. - Vit Final—Kendall, Blackwell, Richmond, George (Epsom) 16, v. Wlcksteed, Elliott, Buxton, Wrightson (Carlton) 14. Carlton opened their account with a single on a wide head. > Second Head.—Wrightson held three, but George trailed kitty with his first and counted shot. One all. . .. Third. —Blackwell's was the nearest on a close head, and, despite vicissitudes, It counted to the finish. Epsom 2, Carlton. 1. Fourth.—Blackwell again counted in after a fine duel between the two leads, but wasted his second. Buxton drew to kitty and counted two. George took the place of the shot bowl with his second. Epsom 3, Carlton 1. Fifth.—After steady drawing Carlton held three when the skips changed, and Wrightson added a fourth. Carlton 5, EP Steth.—A good lead by Wlcksteed Heft Carlton two counters when the sKlps changed. Wrightson made it three, whereupon George trailed kitty for three. Wrightson pushed one out. Five all. Seventh. —Blackwell drew a nice snot but Elliott got two inside it. , Buxton touched the wrong one andJJ gave opposition, the shot. Epsom 6, Carlton 5. Eighth.—A head of dead drawing with incidents. Blackwell held shot for Epsom but Richmond inadvertently touched, it out. George drew shot with his first ana bumped the opposition in with his next. Sis si 1 " Ninth.— Epsom's front-rankers were overwhelmed and despite good work-, by Richmond and George, Carlton stiU held a brace at the finish. Carltou 8, EpsomO. Tenth.—A fine shot by Richmond gave Epsom shot, whereupon Wrightson, with two superb draws, counted two. George drove twice and missed. Carlton 10, EP Eleventh.—Close drawing all round_left Carlton with a few tap, George drawing second with his last. .< Cart ton, Twelfth. —Wicksteed placed his first, a toucher, within inches of the jack, and his second 18 inches behind. Whenthe skips changed Carlton lay a 'hatful and George did well to run into second shot. Carlton 12, Epsom 6. . ; Thirteenth. —A duel the thirds ended in Richmond's favour, ami' the point held to the finish.. Carlton 12, Epsom 7. Fourteenth. —Kendall found the length this time and drew two pearlers. These held till the skips changed. Wrightson shifted kitty, but Epsom still one. Carlton 12, Epsom 8. Fifteenth. —Epsom came on well- on this head. Kendall counted one, Richmond and George each adding another. Wrightson just failed to save. Carlton 12, Epsom 11. • Sixteenth.—The Epsom lead again. neld two counters close to kitty. Buxton drove one out and Wrightson then drew the "absolute." Carlton 13, Epsom 11. Seventeenth.—Wlcksteed counted two and ■Elliott added another. Richmond rested in for shot, and Buxton drew a better one, which George failed to disturb. 14, Epsom 11. ~ . ■'" ■' '. Eighteenth.—When the skips changed; Epsom were one up, but Wrightson, with a yard-on, squilted in for shot, but George moved kitty and counted in. Carlton 14, A wide head saw Elliott count two, but George, who was by this time thoroughly on his mettle, drew In for shot. Carlton 14, Epsom 13. . Twentieth.—The leads were again wide. Elliott drew a good shot when Richmond shifted without, however, getting shot. Buxton put in a second. Georges first was a few feet over, but he made no miss with his next, and drew "absolute." and Wrightson being short made the score 14 all. .. , . Twenty-first.—Level pegging and the last head to play had the bank on -tip toes for a rattling finale, and they were not disappointed. On a three-quarter head both leads were a few feet wide of the jack. Elliott drew shot, two feet away. Richmond's first was strogn. but he made no mistake with his second, finishing within 15 inches of kitty. Buxton failed to help his skip. George drew on to Richmond's bowl and counted two. >Wrightson's first just ran past, while his second was a fraction short, leaving Epsom winners after a strenuous contest. The score at the end of ea'ch head was as follows, Epsom's score being shown first In each Instance: o—l, I—l, 2—l, 3—l, a—s, 5—5, 6—5, 6—6, 6—B, 6—lo, 6—ll, (5—12, 7—12, B—l2, 11—12, 11—13, 11—14, 12—14, 13—14, 14—14, 13—14.