BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 10

BOWLS

RINKS COMPETITION CONCLUDED EXCITING FINAL TO BENEFIELD 'BY iTLEGßArn.— Press Association. Auckland, January 21. The first final match between Benefield’s rink and Stewart’s requires little description. Benefield early went into a lead and always had a comfortable margin. His team played much more consistently than Stewart’s and won by 20 to 10. In the second final Stewart’s rink pulled themselves together and produced much better form A beautitul last bowl gave Stewart three points on the first head. Benefield was lying one, but had no supporting bowls, and Stewart took Benefield’s wood out with a running shot which left the jack undisturbed. Stewart 3, Benefield 0. McMillan placed his two shots right on the jack when leading at the second head. Rowling put his second one alongside and St. John’s was lying three up when the skips changed ends. Benefield added another with his last bowl. Benefield, 4, Stewart 3. Stewart was Iving three on the third head when'Wight got a shot but Bentlev’s next displaced it Stewart got a second with his first and Benefield pushed up another bowl to put Stewart three up. Stewart, 6; Benefield, 4. The fourth was a. scattered head. Wright trailed kitty, but left Dunedin one up. Good drawing put Dunedin two up, Benefield failing to drive out the shot bowl. Stewart, 8; Benefield, 4. On the fifth head Dunedin was lying three, when Rowling got a shot, but Bentley took it out Benefield drove twice without success, and Dunedin scored two on the measure. Stewart, 10.; Benefield, 4. Benefield was in a good position on the sixth head, but Stewart cannoned on to the jack and got one. Stewart, 11; Benefield, 4. Bortunes fluctuated ou the seventh, until Wight rested the shot. Benefield, drawing well, made the score 2. Stewart 11, Benefield 6. Benefield was lying 4 on the next head when Bentley drew the siiot with his second bowl. The position was not further changed and the score was: Stewart 12, Benefield 6. Benefield drove out on the ninth, shifting kitty to lie 2 up. Stewart retaliated with a similar shot, which turned the tables. However, Benefield drew the shot and scored one. Stewart 12, Benefield 7. Bentlev and Wight, the respective No. 3’s, had a drawing duel at the tenth head, Bentley gaining the honours. Benefield failed to drive out the shot bowl in two attempts, and Stewart scored 2. Stewart 14, Benefield 7. Smith sent up a beautiful bowl on the eleventh head. The Wanganui rink was lying three. Smith’s bowl was right in..front of the jack, being sheltered by a nest of opposing bowls, and Benefield could not shift it. Stewart 15, Benefield 7. Stewart was Iving three on the twelfth when Benefield’ resorted to driving, but could not completely shatter the head, and Stewart scored one. Stewart 16, Benefield 7. Smith trailed kitty on the 13th. Wight drove, putting both kitty and toucher in' the ditch about 18 inches apart. Stewart got three on the head. Stewart 19, Benefield 7. lie measure had to be used to decide the fourteenth head, Benefield getting 1Stewart 19, Benefield 8. Rowling drew tlie sho't for Benefield on the fifteenth head and with it put in another good one. * Benefield added 2 more and. was Iving 4 in a well protected position. However, Stewart drove well and saved 3, Benefield scoring only 1. Stewart 19, Benefield 9. Benefield scored a single on the sixteenth head. At the end of it the board read: Stewart. 19, Benefield 10. Nine down with five heads to go, Benefield’s task was an uphill one. Benefield cut out Stewart’s shot bowl on the seventeenth and scored 3. Stewart 19, Benefield 13. McMillan sent down a good first bowl at the 18th, but Gregory responded with a better one. However, Wight again gave his rink a shot, which was retained. Stewart, 19; Benefield, 14. Benefield was lying three on the 19th, when .the skips changed ends.- Benefield improved this to five, but Stewart came in with a second, giving benefield only one. Stewart, 19; Benefield, 15. Rowling came up beside kitty on the 20th head with both his bowls, and St. John’s was Iving two when the skips went down. Stewart failed to disturb the jtead with his last, a running shot, and, with one head to go, the board read Stewart 19 Benefield 17. led a good first at the 21st. However, Smith sent in a better one, Dunedin lying one. Wight drew the shot, St. Johns being one up when the skips went down for the last time. Benefield’s first was next to kitty. Stewart sent tn a drive which improved Benefield’s position to five up. Stewart missed with his last, making the final score Benefield 22, Stewart 19.

OTHER RESULTS. ■ PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPSecond Round.— Pilkington (Hamilton) 17 v. Benefield (St. Johns) 15. Third Round.—Walker (Auckland 20 v. Pilkington 19. Semi-finals.—Walker 22 v. Proctor (Remuera) ; Bell (Hamilton) v. Harrawav (Green Island. Dunedin). G. Walker and Bell will meet in the semifinal to-morrow afternoon. SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP Fourth Round.—Smellie (Greenisland, Dunedin) 15 v. Walker (Auckland) 13; Bell (Hamilton) 19 v Mclntyre (Hamilton) 15. Mclntire still has one lift. Draw for the semi-finals to-morrow morning. Bell v. Smellie; Mclntyre V Clarke (Rocky Nook, Auckland).