CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 309, 31 December 1930, Page 12

CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

POST-SECTION PLAY.

THREE ROUNDS YESTERDAY

NOTES ON THE CONTESTS

(By TRUNDLER.)

Renewed interest in the Christinas tournament was created on Monday evening when it was found by inquiry, through the courtesy of No. ,394, Information, that all the rinks with six wins had qualified for post-section play. This was brought about by four rinks having tied with six wins in section E, and that brought in the eight sixes in the other sections, whereas if any one of the four in section E had secured seven wins there would have been only 10 rinks to go forward, instead of 21. The first round was notable for the rather wide -margin with which most of the matches were won, and in several cases it was not necessary to play tiic last head or two. Three of the ten, however, Avere very close, and these were watched with keen interest by an exceptionally large bank of spectators. The grounds of the Auckland Bowling Club are looking at their best, and natural "grandstands' , enabled visitors to watch the play under good conditions, while still in full view of the surrounding trees and . the beautiful beds of flowers.

Whittle (Grey Lynn)' and Lay land (Dominion Road) had about the most even game, very little separating them all the way, but the former notched two counters on the last head, to win

by one point. "*' The other Dominion .Road rink, in charge of Benson, also suffered a loss by one point in the first round, at the hands of Parsons (Ponsonby), but it was only after a great struggle. They commenced the last head level, but Ponsonby got one on the jack, and Benson allowed Kelly to expend both his bowls in getting rid of it. Unfortunately they found the wrong woods, and by the time Benson had driven with his first there was not a single Dominion. Road bowl on the green, Ponsonby lying about live. Nothing daunted, Benson still elected to drive with 'hid last bowl, and this time he hit the toucher, sending the pack dead. Ponsonby again had one on the jack in the replay, with the head too much blocked for a drive, and this toucher won the game.

Turner (Carlton) had quite a. surprising finish against Findlay (Mount Eden), after leading by a fair margin all the way, and commencing the last head seven up. Apparently this made the Carl ton rink slacken off, for their play was so weak in this head that Mount. Eden scored six und very nearly got the seven they wanted for a tie. This is not the first time that a team have been caught napping, after getting into what looked like a very safe position, A Disc Falls Out. Easily the most sensational finish in the second round was that between J. F. Davidson (Auckland) and I. Clark (West End). The last head commenced with the former rink four up, but West End were laying two when the skjips went to the mat, the back-hand almost blocked by Scantlebury. Davidson was just over with his first, and Clarke risked tho block to put in a third counter. Davidson apparently reckoned that Clarke would get the tic with his last bowl for a moral, for he judged the length to a nicety. A surprise was in store, however, for the large disc of his bowl fell out—quite a common occurrence on a hot day—and the bowl went two yards narrow. As it happened Clarke was just a little short with his last, so Davidson won by one point after all, but it must have been very galling for the disc to fall out just when ho was playing what looked like the most important shot of the whole match. A rule describes the procedure when the jack is broken—the head is dead — but there is no provision for a broken bowl, although a bowl is virtually broken when the disc falls out. Apparently the only moral is to see that they don't fall out, and yesterday's warning will doubtless arouse grave fears about similar experiences during the coming Dominion tournament, if the weather becomes any warmer. The Third Rouad. Driving was rather a noticeable feature in the third round, but it seemed to be singularly unsuccessful. A. J. Parker (Auckland) burned the last head when-seven down against Whittle, apparently just for satisfaction, for there was no replay. It would have to be an unusual head to count seven against Grey Lynn,, when they were playing as well as Whittle and his men were yesterdayl A. Parsons (Ponsonby) drove with his last against H. C. Clarke (Carlton), but the jack hit a bowl and bounced back into a bundle of Carlton bowls, so they did not play the last head.

A. E. Layland (Dominion Road) played his usual careful game against Livingstone (Onehunga), and drove with his last, but it took out only two of the three he wanted, so* just failed to ward off- defeat. , A little earlier he played a most extraordinary shot. Onehunga were lying a couple, almost on the jack,, and Livingstone pushed them back, to lie just past jack-high, but apparently touching tie jack. Layland ihad to play a swinging run, to get past short wood, and he actually stopped on the shot bowl for shot, without disturbing the jack. s Probably not one person in a hundred has ever seen such a. shot before, and it may not be seen again.

Details of the third and fourth rounds will bo found elsewhere, and it will be seen that again the sorting out left none to commence to-day's play except Avell-proyed stayers, who have figured in numerous tournaments before. Such is the usual result, when the weather ie fine, in spite of all the luck of the game, and warm congratulations are due to all these veterans.

Among the many spectators yesterday was Mr. Herbert Harraway, St. Clair, Duhcdin, who has been spending a few weeks in the province, and will bo returning home in a few days. He explains the absence of his brother Ernie from the coming Dominion tournament as being due. to rather severe indisposition.- The absence of this famous player was noticed at once, for lie has not missed the biggest tournament in New Zealand for nearly thirty years, and he is the only player who hae figured as a winner in all three sections —singles, pairs and rinks—during the 17 years since the Dominion Association was formed. Another interested spectator for a short time yesterday was the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmaster-General, who has been a member of the Auckland Bowling Club for many years. DETAILED RESULTS; Detailed results' of yesterday afternoon's play are as follow:— SECOND. ROUND. Higgott (Carlton) a bye. Whittle (Grey Lynn) 22, v. Short (Pukcknhe) 14; Parker (Auckland) 17, v. Keatley (Rocky Nook) 15: Clarke (Carlton) 20, v. Wright (Onehunga) 16: Parsons (Ponsonby) 26, v. Fraser (Mount Eden) 14; Armstrong (Pukekoho) 23, v. Turner (CarKon). 10; Leyland (Dominion Road) 28, v. Boyle (West End) 8; Kerr (OneImngii) 24. v. Dick (Waitemata) 10; Truscott (Carlton) 27. v. Gill (Mount Eden) 12; Davidson (Auckland) 20, v. I. Clark (AVest End) 10; Pindlay (Mount Eden) ID, v. Benson (Dominion-Road) 17. The last five losers are eliminated. THIRD ROUND. Whittle (Grey Lynn) 22, v. Parker (Auckland) 10; H. C. Clarke (Carlton) 19, v. Parsons (l'oneonby) 9; Armstrong (Pukekohe) 17. v. Higgott -(Carlton) 12; Livingstone (Onehunga) 21, v. Laylaml (Dominion Road) 10; Truscott (Carlton) 20, v. Davidson (Auckland) 17; Findhiy (Mount Eden) 10, v. Short (PukokoUe) 13; Keatley (Rocky Nook) 25, v. Wright (Onehunga) 14; Turner (Carlton) 23, v. JTrasor (Mount Eden) 14. The last five of these losers were eliminated in this round, leaving eleven rinks to enter the fourth round thi» morning. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. ■' MOUNT EDEN CLUB. At Dominion Rond.—T. Nnirn, Marshall, J. Smith, Gill; Ca/o, Burley. Oatridge, Gatenby ; Farmer, Carruth. Fulton, Hull; Daisley, A. Cornes, Shlrriffs, Trayes; Doull, Gapo, Reid. Jones; Hough, Mackenzie, Middleton, A. Nairn; Crl?hton, Taylor, J. A. Sherriff. Herron; Watson, Kinniburgb, Serjeant, R. Robertson. At Mount Eden. — Delainore, Dignnn, Vivian, Frnser; Miller, Turner, C. Barker, Findlay; Fernandez, Rich, May, Snrman; Brown. Chambers, J. B. Robertson, Elliott; Harland, Wagstaff, Moon, Walton; Bromish, Ferguson, Woolley, Balnbridge; Gregson, Rintoul. Gribble, Tutt: Cordes, Spence, J. 11. Barker, J. E. Comes.

to see I didn't break in.'-. . I've-.spent most of the time listening to tales of the last tenant of your flat who eeems to have been a very quiet young ladyyes indeed. Not like some tenants who make a great commotion." "Wait till you hear how we've spent out last half-hour." Anne ushered the other two into the flat and glammed the door with a noise which echoed down in the basement. "I say, Jean, have you any money? Any carefully hoarded savings that I could borrow?" "I say . . ." Anthony began. "Hush that gentlemanly protest, Anthony. Hβ doeen't think I ought to ask you, Jean." "Why not?" Jean emiled. "I cant see why not. Yes, I have round eight pounds if that's any good to you." ''Listen to her. No questions asked. No security wanted. All tact and generosity. And the supposed to be a tight-fisted lot! _ "We're not really, you know. This was a Bore point with Jean. "Its a libel "Of course it is," Anne cut her short. "Let me tell you why we want_the money. It's for the ehowing-up of Whitnev fund, my dear." Between them, Anne and Antony related their meeting with Rowees son and their ultimate duseovery of his father's address. . "And you want the money to bring him up from Birmingham," Jean put in shrewdly. . • • "Of course It would be far better to have him up here. Well ask him to come up next week-end ii he can. Look here, don't you think Id better write and ask him. I know him, you see. And he'll take it from me that it's a bona fide .business. I won t eay anything in the letter beyond telling him that it's awfully important I should see him. I'm pretty certain he 1 come. He's a disgruntled sort of fellow, but wo always got on.quite well." "That's tho scheme, oh wise young Scot. . . . Jean, you're a sport. . . ." "It's rotten taking your money, though." Anthony was still uncomfortable. • . "I—l'd have been 'fair affrontit' if you hadn't," said Jean quaintly, as she gave him an unexpected affectionate emile. Anne stood up. "You . . would, would yer?" she apostrophised an invisible Whitney in the nasal tones of Mr. Punch. "Ah, yer villain, yer—take that—an' that —an' that " (To be continued daily.)