BREMNER WINS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 1, 2 January 1945, Page 2

BREMNER WINS

CHRISTMAS BOWLING

UNBEATEN AFTER QUALIFYING

Although he has a long list of championship successes to his credit, including three national titles, W. H. Bremner scored his first win In the Auckland Bowling Centre's Christmas tournament yesterday when his Auckland Club rink beat R. E. Pjlkington, Otahuhu, in the final. Bremner won 28—20 after a keenly-contested game, in which experience triumphed over youth. When the two rinks met in the sixth round on Saturday evening—both as two-lifers — Bremner won easily and was responsible for Pilkington's first defeat at the tournament.

The two one-lifers, Pilkington and J. Griffiths (Grey Lynn) met In the morning round yesterday. Both rinks played good bowls, but Pilkington early established a commanding lead, and, actually, the result was never in doubt, the Otahuhu rink winning 21—12. There was spectacular scoring in the early stages of the final, Bremner establishing two 3's, followed by a 4, and he led io—4 on the fifth head. The next head saw Pilkington score a 4, but Bremner replied with a similar tally. A single and a 4 to Pilkington on the eighth and ninth heads enabled the Otahuhu rink to draw within two points of its opponent's score. Pilkington then struck a good patch, and the scores were equalised on the twelfth end, which was played twice, the Otahuhu skip killing the first by drawing. On the replay Pilkington drew the shot, Bremner this time failing with a drive. Bremner again went into the lead with a 2 on the thirteenth, but Pilkington drew two fine shots on the next head, and honours wers again easy—l 7 all. From that stage onwards the Auckland rink had the edge slightly on its opponents, although Pilkington scored a 2 on the nineteenth end to draw within three points of Bremner. A 4 to the Auckland rink on the twentieth, however, clinched the game. Actually, Pilkington required seven on the last head to tie He killed the head once and resorted to the same tactics in vain on the replay, in which a single to Bremner gave Auckland the match. Bremner was in brilliant form throughout the tournament, while his lead. Robertson, played excellent bowls. Halford, No. 2, and Herrlck, No. 3, were also consistently steady and accurate. Yesterday's play resulted:— Seventh Round.—H. Hotson, A. Carson, H Sykes R. Pilkington (Otahuhu), 21, v.' W. Mincham. W. Fityer, E. Buckley. J. Griffiths (Grey Lynn), 12. Final.—W. Robertson. E. Halford. E. W. Herrick, W. Bremner (Auckland) 28, v. Pilk.ngton 20.