ONLY TWO PAIRS UNBEATEN IN BOWLS TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28477, 6 January 1958, Page 9

ONLY TWO PAIRS UNBEATEN IN BOWLS TOURNAMENT

Seven Others Retain One Life

After 10 rounds of play. only twn nn«v»a their two lives in the New Zealand ships being held in Christchurch. They are C? G and C. L. Britteni and A. L. Hawkey (Kia Toa)

„ nIv S “l w the runnin * the title but retaining only one life are seven other pairs, including those rtnrtJnr^Tuak® 8 *? 1 n ? tio , nal sin B les champion, j ,rret . Jnr ’ (Tnakau), and a former national singles TSanak’n. Champion ’ M - Squire (wI"K

,^? r the sixth day in succession, rain made conditions difficult on the greens, and Christchurch fand i^m^Uh 6 r ®. Cor< ? of . the tournament in Auck-

As the fours will be played over the next four days it will be Friday before any further rounds of the pairs or singles can be decided. rouno * or

The South Island has five pairs left and the North Island four but of the nine the North Island can lay claim to having the only two-lifers.

Ten years ago at Wellington E. P. Exelby (Frankton Junction) one of the two-lifers left in this tournament, won the pairs title, but not without having to play two games in the final for it In his first game against V. Armstrong and H. B. Kay (Shirley) the result was a draw, but in the second he had a comfortable win His lead then was W. B. Hawkins, who IS now leading for M. Borich (Hamilton), but these two have now been eliminated.

Of the other eight M. J. Squire (West End, Taranaki) is the only one to have won a pairs title. J. Pirret, jun. (Tuakau) is the present singles champion. Any one of the nine could quite easily take the title, but on the standard of play seen over the 10 rounds already played Exelby and his lead, ,CGoosman, appear to have the best chance as they have been bowling very consistently throughout • One of the most interesting encounters of the day was that between V. Rankin and 21-year-old P. C. Skoglund (Northern, Palmerston North), and the St Clair pair, H. W. M. Hogg and A. F. Rawlinson. Skoglund, who was playing his fourteenth game of the tournament, lost his unbeaten record through the clever play of the Dunedin pair. Neither Skoglund nor Rankin showed the form of earlier games and they went down, 25-11. Skoglund’s second life was taken in the next game by R. S. Webster and F. Coley (Rocky Nook), 18-11. In the same round, R. K. Atchison (North East Valley), the skip who won the pairs title in 1952 with E. H. Ravenwood, took Rawlinson’s first life.

The noted Carlton drive expert, W. P. O’Neill, had a close win over A. C. Snaddon (Taita) and B. E. Pilkington (Balmoral)

before losing his last life to Pirret. The final game, which ncluded eight burnt ends, was one >f the classics of the day. The only local players remaining >re G. W. G. Smith and J. A. Irawford, of the Riccarton Racecurse club. The following pairs remain after he tenth round.— Two lifers: C. G. Goosman and P. Exelby (s) (Frankton function), C. L. Britten and A. -■ Hawkey (s) (Kia Toa). One lifers: L L. Turnbull and I. H. Jolly (s) (Leith), G. W. G. >mith and J. A. Crawford (s) Riccarton Racecourse), H. W. M. logg and A. F. Rawlinson (s) St Clair), T. C. Samson and C. S. lellyer (s) (Caledonian). R. 'town and H. Todd (s) (Marlorough), C. J. Rogers and J. hrret (s) (Tuakau), J. Lobb and »• J. Squire (West End, Taranaki). Win to St. Clair Pair One of the few players- in the lurnament using wooden bowls, awlinson was master of the situalon. throughout in the match gainst Skoglund. After eight ea ns, the score was level, 8-all, “d it was evident that neither koglund nor his lead were , U P *<> their high standard ’ Friday. Rawlinson’s lead, H. !: Hogg, could not do a wrong, and consistently ■ ™* up fine draw shots for s "“hers or close shots. By the

JJl i £ t 5 enth head - the St- Clair Pair had drawn ahead to lead 17-9 = as ,‘? n the seventeenth end ♦^™< RaW l llnSon put the finishing WiH^n,2°r> a w , eU -P la yed game. With the Dunedin pair placing four draw shots around the kitty, ?„ ko £H? d ’ aps « d 11 hI » attempts to trail the kitty and was four down. Skoglund burnt the eighteenth three times in attempts to stop certain advantages to Rawlinson, but on the fourth occasion he . missed with his drive to lose 24-11.

Skoglund lost his second life in the next round, against F Coley (Rocky Nook). R. S, Webster, leading for Coley, outplayed his vis-a-vis Rankin, and Skoglund was unable to regain the advantage. The shot of the match was Skoglund’s drive on the twelfth, where he neatly removed Coley’s toucher with his last shot. Coley retaliated on the next head when he was five shots down, but he took the shot with his last bowl. After fourteen ends the Northern pair was only one point behind, but Coley drew away to win comfortably. Connew Eliminated For the second time in two days, J. Pirret jun. (Tuakau) met the Carlton pair skipped by A. Connew. On Friday it was Connew who dealt but the punishment to the New Zealand singles champion, but on Saturday, with Connew and his lead completely out of touch, Pirret was able to eliminate Connew from the tournament. On Friday the two Auckland pairs met as two-lifers, but on Saturday both were struggling hard to hold their remaining life. The game was dour throughout, and considering the reputation of the players, the bowling was not of a high standard.

Connew’s weak point was his usually accurate drives. His draw shots often left much to be desired, and Pirret, taking advantage of the mistakes by the Carl-

i ton pair, was always close to the i kitty for one or two. Connew i rallied at the finish but went down 19-13. I In an earlier game, Connew ended the run of success of the Kilbimie pair skipped by A. G. Grant. It was Grant, who, in the last match on Friday, took Connew’s first life, but- Woods and Connew had learnt by their previous mistakes and won 23-14. The spectators were disappointed when W. P. O’Neill, a former rinks winner, and J. R. Trayes (Carlton) lost to Rogers and Pirret. Apart from the singles match between Hampton and Skoglund, this match was the most dramatic of the day. Only after three extra heads had been played could the Tuakau pair gain a decision in their favour 17-18. The game was a battle of wits throughout As soon as the first head was played, spectators knew what to expect from the colourful drive expert, O’NeiH. Rogers drew with a good bowl to take the shot and Trayes replied with a toucher. Drawing with pin-point accuracy, Pirret turned out Trayes’ bowl to take the shot. There was no question of what O’NeiH would do. Taking off his hat in characteristic fashion, he sent down one of the forceful drives for which he is famous to burn the head.

From then on, neither pair aUowed the other much latitude, and as soon as a head began to build up against Pirret or O’Neill the drive would be called into j . In all, e'Sht heads were killed by powerful and accurate drives—Pirret proving to be almost as adept as O’NeiH. Pirret seemed to be beaten at the eightheenth head when he was down 13-16. However, playing a running shot he trailed the kitty for three to bring the score level.

The next end was the last because of the time limit, and it was evident that another grandstand finish was to take place. Pirret gained a toucher on the first end, and with his last bowl, O’Neill sent the advantage flying with a drive. The same occurred on the next end, and it seemed to be a matter of how long O’Neill could retain accuracy with his drives.

The third end was the finish. Pirret again drew the shot bowl. With his last bowl, after unsuccessfully trying to draw on to the kitty O’Neill wound up like a baseball pitcher and sent the bowl -at terrific pace down the gregn. The shot tore through gaps Inches wide In the end* and failed to disturb any of the other bowls. Luck had again played a major part in the decision. As a preliminary to this match. O’Neill met N. Orange and R. E.

Pilkington (Balmoral), while Rogers and Pirret played the veteran F. Livingstone and F, Harrison (Onehunga). The deadly accuracy of O’Neill’s drives was too much for the Balmoral pair, and they went down fighting, 19-11. Rogers and Pirret thrashed the Onehunga pair. 30-10. The Tuakau pair were never far from the jack with their shots, and they ran up a lead of 16 before their opponents could score. Exelby’s Wins

E. P. Exelby (Frankton Junction), the winning skip in the pairs in 1947, had a very successful day when he retained his two

lives. In his first game against C. H. Hain (Hutt), who had as his lead the grand drawing player, G. G. Littlejohn, Exelby had a very hard struggle over the first sixteen heads, when Hain

led 12-11. On the next head, after C. G. Goosman, the Frankton Junction lead, had drawn two fine shots, Exelby added another to take Hie lead 14-12. This lead was only borrowed for on the next head Hain played a brilliant upshot to spring the kitty back for three shots and take the lead by one point.

Goosman was on form on the next head and at the change over left bis skip two - up. Exelby added another two to give him a lead of three, 18-15. A single on the last two heads to each pair left Exelby the winner 19-16. Exelby then went on to account for S. E. Thomas (Ohakune). in his next game, 24-19. Thomas had as his lead Um Joe. a very able Chinese player. His next encounter was with another pairs title winner, R. K. Aitchison (North-east Valley), who won the title in 1952. This game was 11 of interest from start to finish, with some exceHent drawing by both pairs. Exelby was not up to his usual standard, and had quite a few lapses. Had it not been for his lead, he could quite easily have been defeated in this game. It was very noticeable and fortunate for the Frankton Junction pair that when one failed the other nearly always found form. Exelby’s last game was against the Dunedin Centre president G. H. JoHy (Leith), who in his previous game eliminated R. Cowles (Ashbury). In that game, JoHy did not have it all is own way and the Tlmaru pair extended them fully. Jolly’s game with Exelby was notable for the excellent draw-

ing by both pairs and had the Leith pair played as well in this ”ame as they did against Cowles, they could quite easily have re-

tained their two lives. Jolly had a good lead on the second head 4-0 but the Frankton pair came back and on the seventh head

the score was level at 5. Goosman was outplaying his opposite number, but Jolly was equally as effective as Exelby. After the seventh head Exelby took command and on the tenth head led 11-5. The Leith pair fought back to be within one on the fourteenth. Exelby gave the spectators a great thrill on the twelfth head, when he was one down, he drew a perfect shot to lie on the kitty. To prove it was not luck, he put another in the same place to receive prolonged applause. Had he been a little heavy with either shot he could have lost the head. With four ends left to play, the players left the green because of rain. When play was resumed the green was very heavy and it appeared as if the Leith pair were going to make up the leeway. Had Jolly kept to drawing on to the head instead of playing raking shots, he could probably have held Exelby to a close finish instead of losing 24-18. Results of Saturday’s play in the pairs were:—

ELMWOOD GREEN Seventh round.—One-liters: A. L. Moon (Tepapapa) 19, C. H. Wiggins (Carlton) 10; A. D. Smith (Sydenham) 21, J. Stewart (Putaruru West) 16; F. W. Craib (Linwood) 24, A. G. Linn (Opoho) 13; A. Riach (Leith) 30. H. E. Powell (Kahutla) 10; W. H. Connell (West Harbour) 20, T. Gordon (Southbridge) IS; D. H. Goodwin (Hillsboro) 20, J. C. Baxter (Rawhitl) 15; M. J. Squire (West End, Taranaki) 16, J. Leggett (Northeast Valley) 14; A. I* Taylor (Christchurch) 29, M. Yugovitch (Beckenham) 10.

Eighth round.—One-lifers: Moon 21, A. D. Smith 19; Riach 26, Craib 12: Goodwin 21, Connell 9; Squire 22. Taylor 5.

Ninth round.—One-lifers: Squire 20. Goodwin 14; Moon IS, Riach 10. Tenth round.—One-llfers: Squire 23, Moon 7.

SHIRLEY GREEN

Seventh round.—One-liters: F. Livingstone (Onehunga) 20, W. J. Langlands (Gisborne) IB; K. Batt (Shannon) 27, J. Kerr (Ohakune) 16; J. Pirret (Tuakau) 22, G. Tosh (Balclutha) 17: A. Connew (Carlton) 23, A. G. Grant (Kilbimie) 14: A. C. Snaddon (Taita) 21, M. Wisnesky (Phoenix) 13; W. P. O’Neill (Carlton) ‘ O’Neill (Springlands) 10; C. Trav l s 2». L. J. Hoskin (Pleasant Point) 12; R. E. Pilkington (Balmoral) 15, E. A. Warnes (Greymouth) 14. Eighth round—One-lifers: Livingstone 24, Batt 18; Pirret 19, Connew 13; W. P. O'Neill 22, Snaddon 19: Pilkington 18, Travis 13. Ninth round.—One-lifers: Pirret 30. Livingstone 10: O’Neill 19, Pilkington 11, Tenth round.—One-lifers: Pirret 17, O’Neill 16. OF AW A GREEN Seventh Round.—One-lifers: A. Blakeway (Barrington) 21. S. C. Thomson (United) 17; C. Simon (Woburn) 27, C. Rowe (Opawa) 7; E. N. Bromley (Beckenham) 18, J. L. Barrlball (Fendalton) 17; R. A. Oakley (Hawera) 23. H. Teague (Shirley) 19; W. Fleming (Victoria) 23. W. J. Short (Pukekohe) 7; H. Todd (Marlborough) 23. J. Cowles (West End) 16; J. H. Rabone (Auckland) 22, R. E. McNish (United) 19; M. H. Ponsford (St. Clair) 19, W. Barron (Balclutha) 18.

Eighth Round.—One-llfers: Simon 22, Blakeway 12; Oakley 17, Bromley 16; Todd 20. Fleming 13; Rabone 18, Ponsford 14.

Ninth Round.—One-lifers: Simon 18. Oakley 14: Todd 23, Rabone 12. Tenth Round.—One-lifers: Todd 18, Simon 16.

FENDALTON GREEN Seventh Round.—One-lifers: A. Sunde (Oratla) 24. A. L. Hutchison (Khandallah) 16; L. B. Swan (West Harbour) 18. E. Fox (Christchurch R.S.A.) 14; C. S. Hellyer (Caledonian) 24, J. G. Henderson (Wellington) 18; A. E. Maloney (Papanui) 24, A. S. Wilcox (Patumahoe) 18; T. T. Skoglund (Carlton) 24, G. A. Crowley (Gisborne) 13: H. H. J Robson (Mangakino) 22, T. H. P. Rennie (Fendalton) 16; J. M. Adams (Pukekohe) 20, S. Ozich (Henderson) 20; K, Scott (Bannockburn) 22, W. L. Grace (Rawhitl) 21.

Eighth Round.—One-lifers: Swan 24, Sunde 18; Hellyer 19, Maloney 16; Robson 20. T. T. Skoglund 16: Scott 25, Adams 12.

Ninth Round.—One-llfers: Hellyer 21, Swan 8; Scott 22, Robson 13.

Tenth Round.—One-lifers: Hellyer 20, Scott 15. UNITED GREEN Seventh Round.—Two-lifers: A. L Hawkey (Kia Toa) 28, G. Poweil (Onehunga) 15; W. J. Cole (Anderson’s Bay) 20. T. Duley (Whakatane) 12; S. E. Thomas (Ohakune) 18, J. A. Crawford (Riccarton Racecourse) 16; E, P. Exelby (Frankton Junction) 19. C. H. Hain (Hutt) 16; R. K. Aitchison (North-east Valley) 23 F. Coley (Rocky Nook) 14; A. F. Raivllnson (St. Clair) 25, P. c. Skoglund (Northern) 11. One-lifers: A. C. Kirkham (Carlton) 29, L. J. O'Neill (Mount Pleasant) 8: R. Cowles (Ashbury) IS, A. R. Taylor (Omaranul) 8; F. C. Penfold (Fendalton) 25, H. W. Rule (Christchurch R.S.A.) 15: F. E. Smith (Ashbury) 20. M. Mathieson (Opoho) 10; N. P. Smith (Balmoral) 20, C. G. Lofley (United) 19: T. W. J. Barron (Miramar) 20, R. J. Andrew (Onehunga) 18; W H Cousins (Taieri) 21, J. b. Douglas (Millerton) 12, 8 "

Eighth Round.—Two-lifers: Hawkev 28 ., Cole 6; Exelby 24, Thomas 19; Aitchison 24. Rawlinson 10; G H •four l> Leith) 21 - Kirkham (onelifer) 20. One-lifers: Powell 22 Duley 15: Crawford 23, Hain 9-' Coley 18, P. C. Skoglund 11; Cowles 23, Penfold 21; N. C. Smith 18, F E Smith 17; Cousins 21, Barron 11 Ninth Round.—Two-lifers: Exelbv 20, Aitehison 17; Jolly 18 Cowles (one-lifer) 16; Hawkey a bye Onl? lifers: Cousins 18, N. C. Smith 15Crawford 25. Powell 17; Coley 22' c °>e 1 3; Rawlinson 22, Thomas 11 „. T ? n J, h Round.—Two-lifers: Exelby Haw key 20. Cousins (oneJifer) 19. One-lifers: Crawford 21, Coley 14: Rawlinson 21, Aitchison