BOWLS Three Two-Lifers Left In National Singles

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28783, 2 January 1959, Page 8

BOWLS Three Two-Lifers Left In National Singles

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 1. Eight rounds of tough competition in the national bowls championships which opened in Wellington yesterday have slashed the 726-strong singles field to a mere 27. Three of these players—W. R. Fleming sen. (Newtown), W. Clayworth (Auckland) and W. P. O’Neill (Carlton) —still have the luxury of two lives, but the others are poised for a sudden drop from the contest when next they lose. However, all 27 will have a few days’ respite for the pairs begin tomorrow and play in the singles will not resume till Monday.

Officials are well satisfied with the progress of the tournament. Conditions were marred slightly y a gusty wind today, but have otherwise been ideal. The greens are all in good order. Many leading players have fallen by the way. P. C. Skoglund, whose singles win caused a big stir last year, was ousted after four rounds though his highly-skilled bowling uncle, T. T. Skpglund, of Auckland, lasted a couple of rounds longer. / C. L. Spearmah, the Christchurch veteran, and Naenae's W. H. Hampton, fared fairly well but were eventually toppled. Some top-class bowlers like 1. Cervo (Naenae) and M. G. Borich and J. M. Morris (Hamilton) scarcely even got going.

The consistent Johnsonville man, F Hofen, has shown outstanding form and did not lose a life till he went down by 19-12 to Clayworth in the eighth round. His first five games resulted 26-14, 29-11. 21-7, 25-8 and 27-6. A solidly built young man from Marlborough, R. Brown, gave glimpses of things to come at last year’s tournament. Like Hofen, his winning streak was not halted till his eighth game. The third two-lifer to lose in the eighth round was Miramar’s T. W. J. Barron, a 1958 Empire Games man. His clash with the determined O’Neill was a grim encounter and tight play resulted in the Auckland man finishing only one point in fronts 14-13. W. R. Fleming, sen., though still unbeaten is almost matched by his son, W. R. Fleming, jun., who still has a life and is bowling with great confidence. Two Australians, B. Palm and H. M. Mackay, were not unsettled by foreign conditions and they both eliminated New Zealanders at a merry rate. Though both the Australians were eventually ousted they impressed as fine bowlers an(i will be a tough combination in the pairs. The 1951 singles champion, R. Graham (Johnsonville) is still among the one-lifers; so is A. Connew (Carlton) who was in the winning four last year. E C. Budd, the former Hataitai player, who now resides in Christchurch, celebrated his return to the capital by beating R. E. Pilkington, of Balmoral, in fine style and reaching the eighth round. Results of today’s play were: TWO-LIFERS Sixth Round

R. W. Cleverley (Berhampore) 17. D. White (Otago) 14; W. R. Fleming, sen. (Newtown) 20, A. Connew (Carlton) 16; N. Donaldson (Ponsonby) 17, A. M. Cousins (Kelburn) 12; R. Brown (Marlborough) 23, J. Hoskin (Pleasant Point) 6; W. Clay worth (Auckland) 16, T. F. Ferguson (Roskill) 12; R. Graham (Johnsonville) 18, J. E. French (Paeroa) 16; F. Hofen (Johnsonville) 15, A. C. Landon (Whitiroa) 11; L. B. Swan (West Harbour) 21, A. Bridge (Onehunga) 20; W. P. O’Neill (Carlton) 16, J. T. Harrison (Auckland) 11; T. W. J. Barron (Miramar) 19, B. Palm (Queensland) 13; E. Pascoe (Blackball) 13, D. F. Stuart (Khandallah) 11. Seventh Round Fleming, sen. 27, Cleverly 7; Brown 21, Donaldson 16; Clay worth 18, Graham 16; Hofen 20, Swan 15; Barron 25, Pascoe 7; O’Neill, a bye. Eighth Round Fleming, sen. 21, Brown 10; Clayworth 19, Hofen 12; O’Neill 14, Barron 13. ONE-LIFERS Seventh Round Conney 17, White 12; Cousins 18, Hoskin 13; Ferguson 29, French 9; Landon 22, Bridge 9; W. J. Cole (Andersons Bay) 17, A. L. Hawkey (Kiatoa) (two-lifer) 11; F. Coley (Balmoral) 17, S. Kuzmicich (Taita) 15; W. D. Olney (Napier) 22, J. T. Harrison (Epsom) 13; B. Palm (Queensland) 19, D. F. Stuart (Khandallah) 17; S. Dellabarca (Eastbourne) 22, A. G. Brown (West End) 17; R. *E. Squire (Kelburn) 18,

S. F. Wilson (Te Kuiti) 13. S. E. Thomas (Ohakune) 21, C. L. P. Spearman (Christchurch R. 17; R. McDonald (Ellerslie) 21. I. Single (Wairoa) 10; J. S. Hanley (Palmerston North) 19. W. H. Hampton (Naenae) 16; D. Gibb (Wairere) 21, B. M. Munro (Auckland) 14; W. R. Fleming, jun. (Newtown) 19, A. L. Albertson (Henderson) 16; J. W. Flett (Point Chevalier) 22, S. Greenhough (Henderson) 16; W. J. Newman (Newtown) 19, G. A. James (Central Cambridge) 18; A. F. Dudd (Elmwood) 21, R. E. Pilkington (Balmoral) 20; E. N. Bromley (Newtown) 21, N. A. Forsyth (Upper Hutt) 12. D. W. Pallot (Balmoral) 19, R. Norris (Elmwood) 14; K. S. Ewing (Balmoral) 18, R. Randrup (Mount Albert) 12; T. K. Walbran (Mount Albert) 18. P. Davis (Upper Hutt I 17; M. A. Marinovich (Oratia) 14, C. S. Hellyer (Caledonian) 13; A. Sunde (Oratia) 15, C. D. Harwood (Johnsonville) 14 M. Yugovich (Beckenham) 14, A. A. Duncan (Wellington D.S.A.) 9; H. Travis (Miramar) 22, H. Hale (Blenheim) 12; F. G. Grattan (Wilton) 18, D. Spiler (Khandallah) 13; S. Wheatley (Canterbury) 19, K. Hansen (Victoria) 16; R. Reay (Carlton) 26, G. G. O’Neill (Marlborough R.S.A.) 15; E. Hollier (Hutt) 24, A. M. McDougall (Kelburn) 11; R. S. S. Gray (Wanganui East) 18. G. H. Jolly (Leith) 13; F. E. Forster (Hamilton) 19, R. G. Morrison (Waihopai) 10; P. J. Trainor (Palmerston North) 22, H. M. McKay (Queensland) 12; J. C. Baxter (Rawhiti) 18, E. N. Kirtland (Rawhiti) 17; M. A. Zenovich (Balmoral) 19, W. J. Walsh (Takaranga) 10; J. L. Michell (Wanganui East) 21, K. Emmerson (Frankton Junction) 14.

Eighth Round Trainor 21, Baxter 13; Michell 20, Zenovich 14; Newman 21, Budd 16; Bromley 21, Pallot 7; Hollier 20. Reay 17; Forster 22, Gray 8; Ewing 20, Walbran 15; Marinovich 19, Sunde 12; Travis 20, Yugovich 12; Wheatley 23, Grattan 12; Dellabarca 17, Squire 10; Thomas 18, McDonald 14; Hanley 16, Gibb 15; Fleming, jun. 25, Flett 15; Connew 21, Cousins 13; Landon 18, Ferguson 16; Clevely 19, Donaldson 13; Graham 18, Swan 14; Cole 18, Coley 14; Olney 17. Palm 16; Hawkey 23, Pascoe 15.