CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 11

CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

REVIEWING THE RESULTS. CABITON'S GREAT SUCCESSES. OTHER SOUND PERFORMERS. (By TRUNDLER.) Three Christmas tournaments in succession have now been won by the Carlton Bowling Club, and this must be regarded as a proud record in a city like Auckland, even for the club which is admittedly the strongest in the centre, and probably the strongest in the Dominion. It is only a few weeks since the club won its section in the pennant competition, carrying the great quota of 26 rinks, an indication of exceptional quality in its great membership, but a victory in three successive Christmas tournaments, with totally different rinks on the three occasion*, must surely be taken also as a sign cf individual capacity surpassing any other club in the city. Not only are there these twelve proved performers, whose names were published yesterday, but there was only an interval of three years (during which the tournament was won by St. Helier'ts, Ouehuuga and Grey Lynn) since Carlton had a similar run of three wins. Brittain, Gladding, Coltman and Lamb won in 1027, and the previous two tournaments were won by Clarkson, Coutts, Ball and Truscott. With only one change, the same rink had won in 1922, and a different rink in 1021, so the club lias won eight of the last thirteen tournaments.

The president of the Auckland Centre, Ml". Raymond Sheath, in presenting all the trophies yesterday, drew attention to the fact that since the handsome champion banner was instituted the club had now won it thirteen times, so he supposed there would now be a better chance for some of the other clubs. Doubtless he had in mind the many instances dining the present tournament where a rink met its downfall on reaching the unlucky number. In the final both rinks dodged 13, Carter by scoring 4 on the fifth head, to reach 14, and Eraser by drawing the sixth counter with his last bowl on the fourteenth head, also to reach This was the only six scored in the final or the two semi-finals.

The 25 rinks who qualified for postsection play were very representative of the 23 clubs competing, as they were members of 15 different clubs, whereas last year only 12 of the 24 clubs competing had any representatives in the postsection play. Contrary to the usual experience of Carlton providing the largest number—there were seven Carlton rinks last year—on this occasion Carlton had only three. The four Onehunga rinks were the largest number from any club this year, but they all went out in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. The sixth round also saw the last of the only Epsom rink to qualify, Richmond's, and the only Remuera rink competing, the president's, with J. 11. Mingins as skip, an unusual feature being the heavy deficit of the losers in all throe matches, thereby requiring only 20 heads to be played. Strange to say, the four matches in the previous round had been much the same, the smallest margin being eleven points and the largest nineteen. Recalling the great victory achieved by Carter in the final, when his rink defeated Eraser's by 30 to 17, and on'.y 20 heads were played, 20 heads .similarly being sufficient to win by 23 to 15 in the seventh round, it is hard to explain why the margin of 19 points in the fifth round was also between Carter and Frascr, but on that occasion in favour of Fraser. The other Carlton rink to reach the semi-final, that of Walter Hills, a former champion of Onehunga. with M. J. Gordon as skip, is well entitled to a word of praise', for they played excellent bowls, as did also their front division, W. Blair, a comparatively new member of the club, and H. Harrison, a rocent arrival from Whangarei, who promises to be a valuable acquisition to the club. Incidentally it may be worth mentioning that the bank could not help noticing a pronounced difference between the two halves of tin; rink; the two front men were absolutely silent, an occasional smile being thenonly expression of feeling, whereas there was never any difficulty in finding where Hills and Gordon were. Nobody was surprised at Mingins piloting the president's rink to the sixth round, for he is a former champion of Epsom, and has been very successful since joining Remuera, notably during the past winter, when ho won eleven matches on end for the Edwin Stars. In most of their matches they were also well supported by L. L. Macey, who thereby effectively signalised his recent return after spending several years in Dunedin, and by their sound Ao. 2, Geo. McMillan. By common consent, however, the real surprise packet of the tournament was R. Cross (Onehunga), who was only put out in the sixth rottno. by Hills and Gordon, after some very notable victories. Handicapped by three losses the first day, he qualified by getting six wins on end, and did not reach the sixth round of post-section play by coming up the soft side of the ladder. He first defeated the president s rink and then that of Ramsey (Balmoral), but Parsons (Ponsonby) beat him in the third round by 29 to 16. He hung on to his remaining life bv defeating Russell (St. Holier s), after leading all the way, and then met Parsons again, but this time it was the ex-champion of the Dominion who made only 16, the unknown Cross making 27. However, Cross has always been willing to play for anybody in a minor position, thereby setting an example that several others might do well to copy, and he has been careful to profit by the experience of a few tournaments. He was loyally supported by Geo. Keeling and C. H. Skinner, two comparatively new members of the club, and by H. R. Mackenzie, a. former president of the club, but probably better known by his connection with racing and the Auckland Harbour Board. An unfortunate feature in the two rounds rushed along on Friday afternoon in a gale of wind was the disappearance of so many proved players Everybody knew that two rounds would entail the elimination of six rinks, but probably not "ingle person would have ventured on the astounding suggestion that the six would be those of H. Whittle, R. McMflster F A. Hosking, R. Thomas, W. H Keatley and R. S. Higginbotham However, there were two reasons to account for anything happening on Friday The first was that there was no weak rink i," the whole 25 who qualified, and the second was a gale that would have been nuite normal in Wellington but hopeksslv out of place and quite disconcerting of finrlton With that one exception the comp titers will l-obably look back upon the tournament as an enjoyable week for their favourite sport.

ONEHUNGA TOURNAMENT. i . i The Onehunga Bowling Club's New Year full-rink tournament was continued jester lav when section play was concluded and the semi-final games decided. Winners : — Section A.—R. Smith, C. Brown, T. R. George, A. Brown. Section B. —Geraehty, Keeling, E. J. Gatland A. R. Gatland. Section C.—G. McKcndrick, Farnsworth, Gosling, E. V. Sutherland. Section D.—Criehton, Flowerday, McFarmihar, Livingstone. In the play-off, Gatland heat Brown, and Sutherland beat Livingstone. The final will be played on a date to be arranged. AUCKLAND CLUB. The Auckland Bowling Club held a pairs . tourncv yesterday. The winning leads were White and Biuns, while (he successful skips were D. Campbell, llardie Neil and Spackman. MOUNT ALBERT CLUB. Fourteen rinks were engaged in a pairs tournament held at the Mount Albert • bowline trrern on Monday, the winners being D. Henry and W. Hbldsworth. Sixteen rinks were engaged yesterday, when the winners were i. Harrison and A. Cutfortli. '

TOURNEY AT REMITEEA

THREE MORE ROUNDS XESTERDAY. The Remuera Bowling Club's New Tear tournament was continued yesterday in ideal conditions. Additional results : — SECTION A. Fifth Round. —Proud, Harvey, Hoad, Fookes 10, v. Putcrson, Haslam, P. Thomson, N. Thomson 12; Stewart, Walker, Ulely, Sage 33, v. Dunninghrim, Fouhister, Cnllaghan, Burton- 10; Mason, Goodiug, Melville, Pasc»e 23, v. Hill. Braithwaito, I'at'Tson, .1. Killing 10; Grinter, McCullough, Buektnn, Parker Hill 17, v. Cruwslraw, Brake, Buckle, Sainty IG. Sixth Round.—Kissling 21, v. Parker Hill 10; Burton 12. v. Sainty 10; Fookes 21, v. Pascoe 13 ; Thomson 0, v. Sage 0. Seventh Bound.—Fookes 21, v. Sage 10 ; Thomson 15, v. Burton 10 ; Pascoe 24. v. Parker Hill 5, Kissling 18, v. Sainty 15. Summary.—Fookes, Pascoe, 5 wins. 2 lossrs; Thomson, 4 wins, 3 losses: Sage. Sainty, Burton, Parker Hill, 3 wins, 4 losses; Kissling, 2 wins. 5 losses.

Fookes won the section. SECTION B. Fifth Round.—Mahoney, Mnhon, Harvey, C. Kissling IS. v. Murray, Howies, Jackson, Lundon 17; King, .Sawyers, Vincent, Dcnnison 1-1, v. Blomelcy, Edmunds, McConncll, Thomas 13: Wyatt, Haslam, Rish, Moncrief 14, v. Stanfield, fenny, McLaren. Connor !> ; Graham, Bruce, Wrightson. George 13, v. Lockey, Miller, Frater, Snoad 12. Sixth Round. —Connor 28. v. Snoad 25; George 25. v. Kissling,7; Thomas 10, v. Moncrief 14: Dcnnison 15, v. Lundon 11. Seventh Round.—Lundon 20. v. George 12: Thomas 20, v. Connor 10 ; Kissling 17, v. Snoad 7. Summary.-—Thomas, 0 wins, 1 loss; Dennison. 5 wins, 2 losses; Moncrief, 4 wins, 3 losses : Connor, George, Kissling, 3 wins, 4 losses; Lundon, Snoad, 2 wins, 5 losses. SECTION C. Fifth Round. —WllHnms, Battershy, Barker tire 20. v. Robertson, Gale. Hitchen, Cnsworth 10: Allen, Savin. Sanders. Freeman 15, v. Ridings, Armitnge, McFarlane, Newton 12; Snider. Buchanan, Blackburn, Cox 15 v Vincent", Harrison, Rurchor, Mellars 12 : Whitaker, Elliot. Jenkins, Lancaster 24, v. Elltsdon, Brown, Bain, Keatley 0. Sixth Round. —Lancaster 10. v. Cnsworth 5: Keatley 18, v. Freeman 11; Cox 10, v. Newton 13 ;' TJrc 12, v. Mellars 11. Seven lb Round. —Keatley 10, v. Newton 15- Mellars 22. v. Cnsworth 8: TTre 20, v. Cox 17 ; Lancaster 24, v. Freeman 10. Summary.—Lancaster. 7 wins; Keatley. TTre 5 wins, 2 losses; Freeman, 4 wins, ,5 ■ Cox, 3 wins. 4 losses: Cusworth, 2 wins, 5 losses; Mellars, Newton, 1 win, 0 losses. SECTION D. Fifth Round. —Il.nrle. Weir. Allnort, Sanderson 18, V. Finlay. Nlcld, Silver, Nield S; Mortloek, Garelja. Lisle, Higfflnbotham 17. v. Keves. Rut timore, McMillan, Uren 0; Markhani, R"es George, Morgan, Layzell 10, v. Faire, Clarke Hardley, Rremner '.) ; Jones, Baker, Johnson, Monasters 15, v. Wright, Johnson, Sykes, Turner 0. Sixth Round.—Nield 20. v. Hlgginbotham 18- Lavzell 10. v. Uren 15: MeMnster 32, v 'Sanderson 0; Turner 19, v. Bremnur 10. Seventh Round.—Rremner 18. v. TJren 15- MeMasters 2S. v. "Nield 5: Iligginbothara 18. v. Layzell S; Turner 10, v. Sanderson 11. Summary.—Rremner. Lnyzcll. MeMasters. 5 wins 2 losses; Hlgglnbotham, Uren, Turner, 3 wins. 4 losses; Sanderson, Meld, 2 wins, 5 losses. Bremner won the section. SEMI-FINALS. Thomas 17, v. Lancaster 7; Rremner 20, v. Fookcs 0. The final between Thomas and Rremner is to be played at 2 p.m. on Thursday. ST. HELIER'S CLUB.

Sixteen teams competed In a full-rink tournament held yesterday by the St. Heller's Bowling Club. The section winners were as follow : — Section A.—Mlnchnm, Tcnguc, Llversldgc, Whittle (Grey Lynn). B Section.—P.. Yeo, Daxter, Milner, Eoylance (Kocky Nook). In tlie play-off, Roylance beat Whittle by 19 points to 0. TE AROHA TOURNAMENT. Twenty teams are competing in the annual bowline: tournament at To Aroha. The plav, which commenced on New Tear's Day has been favoured with line weather. It is exnected that the tournament will terminate this evening. Later results:— SECTION A. Third Round. —Evans 22, v. Callaghan 14 • Dunstan 28, V. Donaldson 20 ; Kriskovieh 22, v. It. Buchan 18; Edgar 24, v. C. Stuck 23; Adamson 22, v. Chalmers 10. Fourth Round.—Edgar 25, v. Chalmers 21; Kriskovich 24, v. Dunstan 20; Adamson 30, v. Stuck 14; Callaghan 21, v. E, Buchan 20 ; Donaldson 21, v. Evans 20. Kriskovich is leading in the section with four wins, and Dunstan is second with three wins. SECTION B. Third Round.—McGonagle 22, v. Barnes 17 ; Cornish 23, v. J. Heathcote 14; Schell 17, v. Bath 10; Malngay IG, v. Peebles 15; Henderson 21, v. Griffin 17. Fourth Round. —Henderson 25, v. Barnes 17; McGonagle 22, v. Schell 20; Comish 25, v. Malngay 9 ; Heathcote 23, v. Griffin 10; Peebles 21. v. Bath 10. Peebles, McGonagle, Cornish and Henderson have throe wins each. THE GAME IN NORTHLAND. The Kensington Bowling Club's annual full-rink tournament was continued yesterday. The final was played between Woolege, Marwick, Armstrong and Cowper .(Whangarei) and McGregor, Clark, Everett and Cliff (Kensington), resulting in a win for the former by 22 points to 17. Results of yesterday's play:— Section A.—Fourth round : Cowper 22, v. Blanshard 21; Englund 80, v. Jones 12 ; Tibbits 19, v. C. Stringer 18. Fifth round : Tlbbits 23, v. Englund 10; Cowper 34, v. C. Stringer 10; Jones .24, v. Blanshard IS. Cowper won the section with five wins. Section B. —Fourth round : Huyton 24, v. Curtis 18; Cutforth 23, v. T. Stringer 18 ; Cliff 22, v. Piggott 10. Fifth round: Huytion 23, v. T. Stringer 22; Cliff 28, v. Cutforth 10; Curtis 20, v. Piggott 14. Cliff and Huvton tied with four wins and one loss each. _ In the play-off of seven heads Cliff won by 13 to 3.

OTHER PROVINCIAL CLUBS. A pairs tournament conducted by the Waluku Bowling Club was won by J. Blake and \V. Munro, of l'ukekoke, who defeated the runners-up, C. B. and 13. S. Barriball, of Waluku, by 15 points to 7 in the final. With a margin of a single point, a Franklon team successfully withstood a challenge from a Ngaruawahia rink for the Smith-Clarke Shield. The result was: — Hawkins, Wheeler, Lucas, Little (Frankton) 23, v. Rogers, Rowe, McFarlane, Blewden 22. Playing at Whitiora, a rink skipped by C. W. Wycherley deprived W. Choat's team of the Mason Stars, which they had held for several weeks. The scores were:— Smith, Cook, Duff, Wycherley 21, v. I'. Ibbotson, H. Ibbotson, Booth, W. Choat 17. The Hamilton and Claudelands Bowling Clubs' tournament was advanced a further stage yesterday. Winners:—Section A: Conradi, Curteis, Rowe, Astle (Hamilton). Section B: Sayers, Stephens, Darlington, I'aterson (Claudelands), tied with Lambie, Stevenson, Hawken, Yeainan (Hamilton). Section C: Murchie, Hitchcock, Crawsliaw, Chapman (Hamilton). Fourth round: Ha rues, Booth, Irvine, Taylor (Whitiora). The finals will be played at a later date. The Francis Cup bowling competitions were commenced on the Whakatane Bowling Club's rinks on New Year's Day. Glorious weather prevailed and there was a renord number of players on the green, which were in perfect condition. The final will be decided to-day. Later results : — Fourtli Bound. —Rae 18, v. George 15; Palmer 10, v. Kempster 14; Foy 21, v. Kloano 19 ; Lindsay 30, v. Burrett 20; Kowe 22, v. Moody 12 ; Shaw 20, v. Persey ]7; Loaue 30, v. Day 0; Bertram 27, v. Tabb 13. Fifth Round. —Loano IS, v. Rowe 14; Day 22, v. Bertram 17; Persey 24, v. Tabb 12; Shaw 23. v. Moody 10: Sloane 23, V. George 15; Lindsay 23, v. Foy 15; Palmer 31, v. Burrett 20; Kempster 22, v. .Rao 12. Sixth Boxinrt.—Bertram 25,' v. Sliaw IS; Lcane v. Persey 14 ; Moody 20, v. Day 10; Rowe 24, v. Tabb 15; I'aimer 21, v. Sloane 17; Kae 22, v. Foy 12; Burrett 25, v. 1 George 20; Kempster 27, v. Llndbay 22.