BOWLING TOURNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 18

BOWLING TOURNEY.

SINGLES COMPETITION. THE POST-SECTION PLAY. ALLELY IS ONLY TWO "LIFER." | / Post-section play in » the Auckland Bowling Centre's annual open singles tournament was continued on the Remuera green yesterday afternoon, when the. fourth and fifth rounds were, played in perfect weather. The three earlier rounds had eliminated seven of the fifteen players who had qualified for post-section play in the live rounds on Tuesday, leaving eight to continue. Three of these were "two-lifers," having suffered no loss in any of the earlier rounds, and five were "one-lifers," having suffered one defeat. Playing on the automatic draw, the fourth round resulted : R. J. Allely (Mount Albert) 21, v. J. Kerr (Onehuugiv) 10. Norrie Bell'(Takapuna) 25, v. R. S. Higginbotham (Henderson) 18. E. B. Bennct (Takapuna) 20, v. T, T. McAlister (Helcnsville) 12. J. C. Duncan. {Carlton) 22, v. A. J. Lctham (Ponsonby) 15. The meeting of the two "two-lifers," Kerr and Allely.'-.naturally attracted, marked attention, both having shown unusual efficiency during the morning. Kerr is known as an old campaigner, having distinguished himself in Wanganui and Masterton Clubs for many years before settling in Auckland on' retirement a couple of years ago. but Allely surprised even his best friends by his resourcefulness. In an uphill struggle. In the previous round Allely had defeated Lctham by 18 to 12, after being only 6 to 10 on the eleventh head, while, in the second round he had played some remarkable shots, on one occasion turning 3 down to 3 up by a fast drive at the bare jack. The jack -returned to the green after hitting the bank, coming to rest about 18 inches from the kerb", with the toucher almost directly behind it in the ditch, and-it shows what form Allely -had to beat in that round, when it is mentioned that even this toucher was beaten by his opponent, F. Livingstone, the champion of Onehunga. Against Kerr he again required all his available resourcefulness, for lie was 4 down on the fourteenth head, and tied at 19 all on the twenty-first, holding two shots for a win on the twenty-second head.

The other "two-lifer," Bell, the Dominion champion of two years ago, was too proficient a tactician for Higginbotham, the Henderson champion, although the latter had only been defeated by one point when they met in the first round, and in the third round he had defeated F. Kumrner, last year's winner, by 21 to 0. Bell was able to recall similar strategy to what he had used in defeating Parsons in the Dominion championship, his placing being exceptionally sound. Rarely was he content to draw the shot, for lie showed respect for his opponent's capacity by blocking his draw or his drive, as occasion required. These tactics were successful, for he was enabled to notch two fours, as well as an occasional three.

Another surprise packet, except to those who had noted his pronounced improvement, during the last couple of years, was J. C. Duncan, formerly of Auckland, now of Carlton. His friends were prepared for something yesterday, after seeing how materially he had contributed to the club's win in the last Christmas final, but he again demonstrated that he is even sounder as a four-bowl player, for he played some most extraordinary shots. The most uncanny were the many occasions when he got round a bowl or through a port to squeeze in between the jack nud the shot bowl, when almost, touching each other, a performance that' always brings down the house. He actually led Letham by 20 to 6 at one stage, and all that the proved proficiency of the latter could do was to reduce the deficiency bv half.

The meeting of Bennet and McAlister ran very much as indicated by the score, whereas when they met in the first round the verdict went in favour of the Helcnsville ex-champion. This win was worth a good deal to Bennet, for it gave him the bye in the fifth round, as both of the "two-lifers" had already had a bye. Their meeting resulted in rather a hollow victory for Allely, -who was able to combat all Bell's strategy, and this paused most attention to be given to the meeting of the "one-lifers." Duncan and Kerr. Interest rather flagced at first, for Duncan led by 17 to 5 at" the twelfth head, hut when Kerr scored eight in three heads, the attitude changed, and there was not rancn surprise when they tied on the twenty-first head. Dunenn lay two beautiful shots on the plav-off. nnd Kerr used one of them to get the shot, but he hit it too full, and *t followed on with the 'jack, to give Duncan a win. Results :— Allely 20. r. Bell 10. Duncan 22. v. perr 21. Bennet a bye. As Kerr was eliminated, this left Allely to meet Bennct in the sixth round this afternoon, and Duncan to play Bell. Tf Allely goes through unbenten the seventh round will complete the tournament, but if he Is benten In either round, It will take eight rounds.