TUG-OF-WAR.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19198, 3 January 1928, Page 16

TUG-OF-WAR.

—♦ DOMINION SUPREMACY. DOUBLE WIN FOR TIMARU. By dreisively defeating the redoubtable Enrield team, the Timaru Rowing Club won the New Zealand tug-of-war championship in King Edward Barracks last evening, and, with it a cash prize of £125. The liglit-iyeightVliampionship of Canterbury aiso was won by the Timaru Bovring Club. In spite of the counter attractions in the City, there was 'a large attendance of the public, and although only four contests remained to be decided, all were extremely thrilling, and the crowd was wildlv excited.

In "the first full of the evening, Enfield ("-Ist 111b) had a close call against Woolston Tanneries (73st OJlb), and won by less than half an inch, a last minute" jerk Hashing Enfield's light just as the gong sounded. From the outset Woolston jumped the lead, and when two minutes had gone Enfiied had two make up a leeway of two inches. At four minutes Enfield reduced Woolston's lead to seven-eighths of an inch, and at six minutes 30 seconds, the Enfield men called upon their reserve, and just got home after one of the most exciting pulls of the tournament. The tourney was run on the two-life system, and as the Timaru Rowing Club's light weight team had been beaten on Saturday night, it had to pull the Lyttelton Gun Club's team twice. The Timaru team weighed in 68st B}lb, and the Lyttelton team at 67st sJlb. In the first pull the Timaruvians jumped from the start, and gradually increased their lead to win by a margin of eight inches. The second bout opened sensationally. The Lyttelton team, the members of which had changed positions, jerked a lead of an inch, which it 'held for a minute. With one minute and 30 seconds gone, Timaru set to work in earnest, and in one tremendous heave, it went to the front, and in a frenzied struggle, the performance of earlier in the evening was repeated. In the last 30 seconds of the pull, Timaru increased its lead to five inches. This was held to the finish, in spite of the determined efforts of the Lyttelton men.

The Timaru team was a hot favourite for the heavy-weight title, and after the first couple of minutes in the final against Enfield, the only question in dispute was how much Timaru would win by. As the minutes passed the lead was increased; and when the final gong went, the indicator registered five inches in favour of Timaru. Cheers were given for both teams, after which the prizes were presented. Each member of the winning team received a gold medal. The results of Saturday's pulls were as follows: —

Enfield beat Lyttelton Gun Club. This was a fine pull from the start, but Enfield showed superiority throughout. Enfield got the light and held, and won with three inches to spare. Timaru Bowing Club beat Woolston Tanneries.

This was the most popular pull of the evening, between two of the best teams in the contest. The indicator zig-zag-ged from the start, but Timaru got the light and won after a fine pull, by two inches.

Canterbury Championship. Davis Gelatine Co., beat Lyttelton Fire Brigade. The Davis team was superior throughout, but Lyttelton put up a good pull. There was little to spare between the two teams until the fourth minute, when the Davis etam had a two inch advantage. They held it until time. The Lyttelton team had its share of the light. Lyttelton Gun Club beat Timaru Rowing Club. Timaru got the light at the jump, but Lyttelton quickly got an advantage, and were leading by 1* inches at two minutes. At time they had 3 l-Bth inches to spare. Enfield beat Lyttelton Fire Brigade. In beating Lyttelton, Enfield put up one of the finest pulls in the team's history. At the jump Enfield got the light and held, and hdd 5-Bth inch at the first minute. Lyttelton put in several strong pulls, but Enfield, held well, Lyttelton failing to decrease Enfield's advantage.