BOWLS FOUR PLAYERS LEFT IN CHAMPIONS’ TOURNEY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27613, 21 March 1955, Page 3

BOWLS FOUR PLAYERS LEFT IN CHAMPIONS’ TOURNEY

Singles champions from 37 bowling clubs affiliated to the Christchurch Bowling Centre met on Saturday to decide who should receive the coveted title of champion of champions. At the end of the four rounds there were only four survivors—J. O. Thompson (Shirley), C. M. Morris (Elmwood), H. Deavoll (Belfast) and E. Fox (R.S.A.). These four will play in the semi-finals next Saturday.

Two rounds were played in the morning on the Shirley and Barrington greens, and in the afternoon all those left in met at Barrington, when a further two rounds were decided.

When play began in the morning the greens were holding on account of the heavy dew, which could still be seen very late in the morning in the shady places. As the day wore on the greens livened up considerably and conditions were perfect and some very good bowling was seen. Of the four left in Deavoll is the only one, who has won the champion of champions title before. J. Huddleston (Mt Pleasant), a very prominent Christchurch player, was eliminated in the fourth round by E. Fox (R.S.A.) in a very close game. Fox in his earlier games had very comfortable wins when he beat Everett (Coalgate) 21-6, and then went on to win 26-4 against Craig (Sheffield).

Some very fine drawing was seen among the colts, in the champion of champions title games. These players are only in their first and second years of bowls. B. Winchester (Elmwood) gave an excellent exhibition of drawing in his first two games. In his third game he was not so steady and went down to A. Stokes (R.S.A.) 19-14. E. Southward (Burwood), who will contest the final with Stokes next .Saturday was in full command of the semi-final against T. Coup (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) and apart from excellent drawing played some delightful up-shots with the skill of an old campaigner. The second semi-final of the champion of champions pairs between F. Jenkins (United) and S. Snedden (Linwood) was also played and although Jenkins held the advantage in the early stages of the game Sneddon gradually overtook him and went into the lead and remained in front to the finish and won 20-14. Results:— Champion Singles First Round.—Huddleston (Mt, Pleasant) 24, Caldwell (Disabled Servicemen) 12; Watkins (Christchurch) 15, Davis (Riccarton) 12; Pirrie (Dallington) 22, Hayes (Amberley) 10; Porter (Ashburton) beat Besley (New Brighton) by default; Fox (R.S.A.) 21, Everett (Coalgate) 6. Second Round.—Huddleston 19, Watkins 18; Porter 23, Pirrie 12; Fox 26, Craig (Sheffield) 4; Schultz (Imperial) 15, Gallagher (United) 10; Lee (Sydenham) 21, Pitcairn (Christchurch W.M.C.) 9; Thompson (Shirley) 17, Gillespie (Akaroa) 9; Robson (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) 26. Wales (Sumner) 17; Arundel (Hornby) 24, Gollop (Cashmere) 16; Sneddon (Linwood) 22. Scapens (St. Martins) 5; Nevin (Opawa) 19, Haylock (Fendalton) 11; Deavoll (Belfast) 22, Yugovich (Beckenham) 13; Bell (St. Albans) 21, Elliott (Burwood) 11; Craig (Woolston) 22, Briefly (Canterbury) 10; Teape (Spreydon) 20,. Tatterson (Rakaia) 11; Morris (Elmwopd) 18, Colville (Edgeware) 13; Cowles (Papanui) 23, Robinson (Barrington) 19. Third Round.—Huddleston 21, Porter 10; Fox 20, Schultz 15; Thompson 15, Lee 10; Robson 23, Arundel 17; Snedden 20, Nevin 6; Deavoll 20, Bell 14; Craib 20, Teape 10; Morris 18, Cowles 11. Fourth Round.—Deavoll 24, Snedden 9; Morris 19, Craib 15; Fox 22, Huddleston 20; Thompson 20, Robson 15. Colts First Round.—Stirling (Papanui) 21, Langford (Canterbury) 16; Jarvis (New Brighton) 22, Churton (St. Martins) 13; Bull (Spreydon) 16, Edwards (Hornby) 15; Hanson (Christchurch) 26, Hayes (Belfast) 6; Story (Shirley) 22, Claydon (Woolston) 17; Winchester (Elmwood) 17 Cogger (Sydenham) 14; Stokes (R.9.A. 10. Dumpleton (St. Albans) 16; Southward (Burwood) 21, Ellis (Disabled Service-

men) 18; Dunne (Redcliffs) 19, Drewery (Barrington) 12; Green (Mt. Pleasant) 17, Taylor (Fendalton) 16; Jones (Leeston) 23, Carpenter (Riccarton) 13; Coup (Kaiapoi W.M.C.) 22, Poole (Sumner) 11; Whittington (Christchurch W.M.C.) 29, Shier (Amberley) 11; Stubley (South Brighton) 20, Purdie (United) 15; Young (Rangiora) 25, Derbidge (Cashmere) 5; Cairney (Edgeware) a bye. Second Round.—Stirling 17, Jarvis 16; Hanson 18, Bull 9; Winchester 20, Story 11; Stokes 22, Cairney 10; Southward 18. Dunne 12; Green 23. Jones 7; Coup 19, Whittington 14; Young 20, Stubley 11. Third Round.—Stubley. 19, Hanson 11; Stokes 19, Winchester 14; Southward 22, Gren 16; Coup 23. Young 19. Semi-final.—Southward 20, Coup 11; Stokes 18, Stirling 13. * Champion Pairs Semi-final.—Snedden (Linwood) 20, Jenkins (United) 14. ST. ALBANS CLUB The following were the winners of the St. Albans Bowling Club’s championships: Singles, W. L. Bell; pairs, R. Vinten and T. J. Edmonds (s.); fours, W. Smith, H. W. Armitage, J. Jeffery, and A. Ball (■.); colts, E. W. Dumpleton.