CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 18

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S RESULTS. In the fourth round N. Thomson (Rawhiti) 20, beat J. Kerr (Oneliunga) 18. Kerr held the advantage at first, and with the help of a four he was leading by 17 to 10 on the fourteenth head. In one head Thomson missed his drive, and cleaned out all the bowls on the green except two, one on each side of the jack, both belonging to Kerr. However, he was not rattled at this discomfiture, but kept steadily on, waiting for opportunities to score. His best opening was in a head where Kerr was lying three beauties, almost on the jack, but Thomson picked up the white, and trailed it nearly to the boundary, to score three. The other two-lifers were W. Bremner (West l-.na) #and W. J. Johnson (Stanley), whose iinal score was 21 to 14. although Johnson started off well, and was 9 to 5 on the tenth head. The contests of the one-lifers snowed very similar changes. E. Henderson (Remuera) 17. v. A. J. Carson (Otahuhu) 14. These were 7 all, 9 all and 12 all, and then Henderson took command. C. Muston (Auckland) 20, v. W. H. Keatley (Rocky Xook) 13. They were / all on the eighth head, and Keatley was 13 to 12 on the fifteenth, but he never scored again, another instance of the fate that so often befalls those "\vlio reach 13, r. A. Audley (Takapuna) 22, v. J. Tomlinson (Mount Albert) 16. Tomlinson was leading at 8 to 4 on the eighth head, but his driving was not coming off as well as usual in the later stages. R. G. lrangiey (Mangere) 23, v. F. Firth (Glen Eden) _8. This was rather an easy win. H. Bambridge (Mount Eden) 17, v. H. O. Clarke (Carlton) 14. This match was watched with a great deal of interest, but spectators were disappointed when Clarke did not show the form that won him uhc champion of last year. Some were prepared for this, for in the previous round he had been rather easily defeated by Bremner, the score being 23 to 12, whereas in the final last year Clarke beat Bremner by 23 to 10. The .asr five •losers were eliminated in this round.

FIFTH ROUND. Thomson, a bye; Henderson 20, v. Bremner 19; Audlev 21, v. Muston 16; Bain-bridge 21, v. Pran-gley 8; Kevr 17, v. Johnson 14. _ The _ last three losers were eliminated in this round. A good match was expected between Henderson and Bremner, two veterans who had made their mark very promtnentiy in the South Island 'before came to Auckland. However, Henderson scored 12 before Bremner started, the latter making a fine recovery, but he missed his drive with his last bowl., an<i allowed Henderson to hold the winning shot. Muston established a commanding lead on Audley, and was 15 to 10 oil the fourteenth head, but could get only one -more point. Bainbridge led Pranglev all the way, his drawing being particularly steady. Johnson made a good start against Kerr, and was_ 11 to 7 on the eleventh head, after which the ex-Mastei-ton veteran did nearly all the scoring. Both players were driving well. The fifth round left one two-lifer, Thomson, of Rawhiti, to commence this raoruing'e play, and five one-lifers, Henderson, Audley, Bainbridge, Kerr and Bremner. It may be recalled that there weie the same number of survivors after the hrsi day's play last year, but on that occasion there were two two-lifers, Bennet (lakapuna) and Thomson (Rawhiti), the four one-lifers being Prangley, Clarke,, Bremner and McAlister.