FINAL GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 11

FINAL GAMES

BELL" WINS SINGLES

PILKINGTON THE PAIES

(By Tetearaoh.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") ' ' AUCKLAND, This Day. Under perfect conditions the Dominion bowling championship was brought to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon, when finals of pairs and singles were' "Both decided on Carlton greens. Tho feature of the contests was the success of Hamilton bowlers, who emerged triumphant in both events. In the morning Brackebush and Walker (Auckland), champions in 1927, met Moffatt and Jack (St. John's, Wanganui). The local pair were fancied, and they played good bowls, but the Wang anui couple were at;the top of their form, and having . obtained a few | points' lead early in the game, they hung grimly to the advantage, and ultimately won'" 19 to 16. All four played excellent bowls, and the final issue was always in doubt. This left the Wanganui pair engaged to meet Kilgour and Casey (Carlton) in the semi-final. The game started at 12.30,' in the presence of a large gathering of spectators, who were treated to a skilful exhibition and a. sensational . termination. The green was fairly keen, and the visitors had the touch so ■well from the commencement that with six heads gone they led 1G to 2. This included a' 7 secured in tho fifth head, when Jack trailed with the last bowl. From the seventh head the Carlton panstaged- a great recovery. Jack Kilgour, who won the Dominion singles championship in 1914, was playing great.bowls, and Casey was forcing the pace and getting the points. A trail by Casey for 2 on the nineteenth head made the score Jack 23, Casey 21. On •the twentieth head Moffatt drew the . shot, but Casey rested it with a toucher for three, and Jack beat them all a draw. Casey drew and scattered, the head, the shot and other bowls going out, leaving him two counters. Jack went narrow, with two attempts to save. 23-22. ,-On the twenty-first Kilgour put his second almost on the jack, and Moffatt just missed saving with a fine toucher. Kilgour drew a second, ■ which remained when Jack removed the shot "bowl. Casey drew a measure on the wing, and this remained until Jack ■used it for a guide in a firm draw, to rub in on the shot bowl, and stay there for a most sensational win against doughty opponents,, who. had made one of the finest recoveries ever seen at an important stage in first-class bowling. 24- 92. ■ ' ! THE FINAL. j After about a quarter of an hour's j spell the Wanganui pair were called ' upon to compete in the final, ana were at a definite disadvantage through having already played two hard games whilst their opponents, Lovoridge and Pilkington (Hamilton) were resting. Chief features of the game were, the solid drawing of Lovcridge, who had Moffatt well beaten from start to finish, and ten herculean efforts of Jack to keep down the deficit with heads almost always against him. <- Moffatt was-obviously tired and unable to do himself justice. Pilkington had an easier task than usual, but played with his customary soundness and resourcefulness. On the first two heads the Haunlton pair underestimated the keenness of the green, and St. John's led 6 to nil, but Loveridge then got the strength and thence forward was practically unbeatable. On the seventh head, with the board showing Jack 8, Pilkington 7, Hamilton lay 5 after their skip had •played his first bowl, whereupon Jack dead-headed, but on the replay the opposition secured a brace from a well protected bed. On the tenth Loveridge crowded all his bowls round the kitty, and both visitors commenced driving. When Jack went to play his last bowl he was seven down, but changing to a draw he earned rounds of applause by . curling into second shot —a great Bave. However, do what he would, and play never so brilliantly, he could not keep the score from mounting adversely and the game ended, on the.2oth head with the score: Pilkington 22, Jack 12. \ THE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Simultaneously Norrie Bell, of Hamilton, was fighting out with Arthur Parsons,'of Ponsonbyj, the final of the Dominion singles championship, which ' proved one of the finest contests in the . history of the association. Playing conditions were ideal, and the specta--1 tors were treated to an exhilarating exhibition. Parsons's name is known throughout the Dominion as a well seasoned performer, and Bell acted as run-ner-up to Harry Clarke in the same event in 1927. Both were at the. top of> their form. For most of the game the Ponsonby veteran was drawing with machine-like precision, but 801 l varied his play with venturesome drives when heads were going against him and in evpry instance but one hife runs met with success. . There were occasions, when failure, in a forcing shot ..would probably have cost Bell the match, for it was a neck and neck contest throughout, but his runs were mado with skill and, confidence —and they came off. Bell won by 18 points to 14.