N.Z. BOWLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 14

N.Z. BOWLS.

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. TITLE-HOLDER ELIMINATED. LIVINGSTONE TWICE BEATEN'. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON*, Tuesday. The New Zealand bowling championship tournament was continued to-day, when the first two rounds of post-sectional play were completed. The weather was misty and overcast, and the atmosphere humid. Rain set in during the progress of the second round, with the result that the players and greens received a good soaking. Further play was abandoned later in the afternoon. The Xew Zealand champion, Frank Livingstone (Onehunga) was eliminated, losing to A. Dickson (the Christc-hurcli player representing Wellington Club in the tourney), and W. Hampton (Sumner). Left in are Evans, of Hamilton, with two lives. Firth (Ponsonby), Mingins <Ponsonby), Loveridge (Matamata), and Breniner (West End), all with one life. The competition will be continued as soon as opportunities occur. Best (Otago) and Foster (Caledonian) 1 two old champions, are still unbeaten, and with Bennett (Cpper Hutt) and Evans (Hamilton) comprise the two-lifers. Carswell, Engpbrcteen and Braekenridge have still a chance to add to their 1.1111 els with a life left. There are 26 still left in the singles competition. W. Bennett, a two-lifer, was for some time at Thames, where he was holder of the champion singles, and was president of his club last year. The pairs championship will commence to-morrow, and four games will be played instead of three. This is necessary in order to make up for the time lost in the singles to-day. There are 250 entrants in the pairs, and the Auckland 'district has a large representation. History Repeated. This is not the first time that rain has held up the Dominion tournament, probably the most conspicuous occasion being in 1917 or 1921, when there were so many long interruptions that the tournament in Wellington ran into three weeks. However, it will not necessarily delay matters if the weather holds good, for the decision to play four rounds in the pairs to-day will mean that the fifth round can finish tomorrow in time for an early lunch at 11.30. after which at least the three remaining rounds in the singles can be played, if not four, provided the players are not still hehl up in t'lie pairs. Auckland hopes were considerably reduced by the two rounds played before heavy rain prevented further progress. The first round resulted in the elimination of L. «T. Keys (Auckland) at the hands of S. C. K. Smith (North End, Invercargil-1). The latter is a new member of the Xew Zealand Bowling Council, elected last June as one of the seven South Island members, whereas previously the Southland Centre had always nominated J. H. Loudon, and he was always elected. The others defeated were J. Eaves (Remuera), E. Leach (Carlton) and M. Walker (Auckland). The second round was still more disastrous for it entailed the disappearance of H. Bockett (Auckland), H. A. Robertson fOnehunga), G. A. Deare (Carlton), L. F. Macey (Remuera).- J. Macklow (Onehunga), and F. Livingstone (Onehunga). This left four to continue to-morrow afternoon, if free from the pairs. .T. H. Mingins (Epsom). F. Firth (Glen Eden). W. Bremner (West End), and L. W. Bourke (Auckland). Third Round. Matches in the next round of tl:e singles will be:— Two-lifers.—Evans v. Best, Bennett v. Foster. One-lifers.—Dickinson v. Stephenson, Spearman v. Loveridge, Haworth v. Carswell, Bremner v. Hampton, Hadwin v. Brooke, Dempster v. Field, Ratehelor v. Mingins, Engebretson v. Firth, Dowland v. Braekenridge, Drummond v. Thomas, Smith v. McCormick.