NOTES ON THE PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 9

NOTES ON THE PLAY

In the. fifth game Benefield. (St., John's), who had had four wins, went down to H. Wilson (Linwood) by 23----d.6, making him a 4-game -winner also. There was much good play. " The score was 2-all on; the third head, 5-all on the seventh, and 11-all on the thirteenth. On the fifteenth head, when 3 or 4 down, Bonefield killed. Wilson got the jack on the replay, and was 18-12 ou the twentieth heaa, and 22-16 on the twenty-fourth. 'Benefield, requiring 7 .to:wiri,:tried to' Kill tho. last head. His first fast bowl only shifted Linwood's lying bowl.to another Linwood counter and his. second drive took one of his own bowls out.

In the fifth game, Conder (Islapd Bay) had his first win by beating Lambert (TKorndon):. -.. . ' P. MeWhannell (Hataitai), who had had three >tfns, lost by 30-20 against S. E. Harper (Otahuhu), in the fifth1 game. Hataitai -was .10-8 on.the tenth head, but Otahuhu then got a 6 and kept ahead, ''. • - . - . ■

;J. Kerr (Onehunga)' won his fifth game this morning against E. Bary (Palmerston North} by 23-21. was much exciting play on both' sides. There were ties 3-all on the fourth, 5-all on the sixth, 19-all on the twenty-sec-ond, and 21-all on the twenty-fourth. Kei-r got a 5 on the twenty-second head, which-made him a tie, but ho was 21-19 on the twenty-third. When the last head began-the'seores were-equal. Mowlain (Bary's lead) drew two shots on the jack. ' McAlister (Onehunga),- the runner-up in the singles, did not alter the position. Vella (Onehunga) drew with his second, brushing the jack, and opening the lieaa slightly. ' Kerr drew a beauty with his first bowl. Bary ran through with his firsthand was timbered- with his second shot, and Kerr won by 23-21. .■■■-■

.In the. third round the Stratford family rink (T. T. Skoglund, K. Curtis, P. 0. Skoglund, and P. Skoglund), which includes two sons and their father, who is skip gave W; Fielding's Hataitai four a warm time with their all-round play, winning by 26-19. The Stratford lead showed good drawing ability,- and his brother drove effectively, when necessary, and drew consistently. J. O'Donnell (Wellington), In section C, had his first loss on Saturday morning to Dr. J..D. Marks (Christehureh), who scored 36-15. Marks 's men played most consistently. Day, the lead, ana Barnsdale, the second player, quite overshadowed their 'Wellington, opponents. This made it hard for O'Donnell (who had P.- Parkhouse, this year's Dominion singles champion,-as his third man) to effect any headway. The game in the fourth round in section G, at Kelburn, between Whiting (Hutt) and Cooper (Karori) had an interesting, finish. There being a tie on the twenty-fifth head, an extra end had to. be played. Whiting's third 'man trailed the kitty, and Hutt lay two or three shots at the back,- the kitty could just be seen_. Cooper drove without result, but his second driving shot got the kitty fairly, and it ran over to the boundary line. When the umpire put his lino on, he declared the kitty to be just alive. This left it a measure for _ shot on a widely separated head. Whiting gained the verdict, making him 21 to 20, his second win. The sturdy-framed, genial Hutt veteran, although 71 years of age, has taken part and enjoyed his experiences, too, in the singles, pairs, and rinka competitions. ■J. Kerr (Onehunga), in section B, at Karori, had his fourth win by beating Hutchison (Dunedin) by 26-25. There was a fine finish. On the tenth head, Hutchison was leading 13-6. Kcrr, however, steadily pulled up and was two points in front with a head to go. On the last head Kerr was 5 down. It appeared that the only way in which he could get the first or second shot and so savo the game was to rake off an outside bowl which Gardiner,,tho Dunedin third, had played, with tho possibility of getting the jack itself or tho two bowls lying just in front, thus disturbing the jack and making an Onehunga bowl then about five feet away count. Kerr played an up shot, v whieh caught Gardiner's bowl about threo- | quarters full, raked, across, picked up j-tho jack, and finished as second shot '■in an. unassailable position. Kerr thus got home by 26 ; to 25,, The match in. the .fourth round on i Wellington lower green (section E) ou Saturday afternoon, between Mas Walker's last year's champion rink (L.

Keys, Macky, D&.Launay) and the wanganui East four (Gilbertson, Eush, Reynolds, Hutchins)' attracted many spectators who closely followed the strange ebb and-flow in Walker's fortunes. _ Walker had had three wins and Hutchins none..; Walker began badly, and was clown 4-10 on the ninth and 4-13 on the eleventh head. His rink could.not.strike jform, and left the.ir skipper. too much to do. At the tea interval Hutchins was up 18-4. He and his lead, Gilbertson, playing with skill and judgment, were mainly responsible for Wanganui East's substantial lead. On resumption, things began to go Walker's way, and he had better help from his men. He scored 16 shots while Hutehins added 6. On the twentyfourth head Hutchins was 24-20. Walker had collected two'4's after'killing the eighteenth and twentieth heads. When wanting 4 to tie in the last head, Walker failed to get the needed fourth counter by less than quarter of au inch difference in. measurement. Hutchins thus won by 24-23. In 1930 and 1931 Hutchins was the champion of champions singles player of the Wanganui Centre.

A. Eendle (Eastbourne),, with his Centre champion of champions, rink (M. Meo, T. J. Thompson, and S. Johns) had his first loss in the fourth round to Nanearrow (Thorndon), who won 24----23. Nanearrow opened with a 6, and was 9-nil, and 13-5 on the ninth head. Rcndle, however, drew level on the sixteenth head (15-all). The score was 22-all on the twenty-second, and 23-all on the twenty-fourth head. Nanearrow, when 3 down, with his last bowl in, tho game, wicked into" first place from an Eastbourne bowl lying two feet in front.

On Saturday the third man in a Wellington suburban rink, when playing on the Wellington lower green, confidently at a critical stage assured his skip that lie was 7 up, and called on him to draw another which, incidentally, he failed to do.' The measure disclosed, however, that there were only four scoring shots. The skip concerned gently roasted his third man for his unduly optimistic prognostication.

L. Cumming's Australian rini finished Saturday's play witn three wins, tho last one against Bringans (Khandallah) being 36-22.

. Benefield (St. John's) had a battle royal in the -third game against Lambert (Thorndon), eventually winning by 23-22. It was an exhibition of excellent bowls on both sides.' Lambert led by one point when the 25th head was started. Hardie (Thorndon) trailed nicely and converted 2 down to 2 up Wight (St. Johif's). killed. In the replay, when the skips crossed over St. John's lay 2. points and game. Lambert just failed to save!

In the third game Smart (New Plymouth)' met Lawrie (Lyallßay). In contrast witl> his display on the first day, Smart played a fine game. He had changed his bowls in the meantime. At one stage Smart was down 11-5, but with about five heads he tad overtaken Lawrio arid was 8 points to the good. On the 20tli' head Smart c was 7 down, but with his last: bowl he rested out, the .iourtli-lying shot, and Lawrie got 3 only. In the next: head, when Lawrio was lying five counters," Smart drew the absolute.shot eventually winning by 25-20. ■■'■' -"■•:" .-' ■■■

Hutchison (Puiiedin) 'had a big win in the fifth .ganiQ. against "Mona" Thomson (Thorndou)j scoring 35-17. ' .- In tho fifth round, on the Hutt Green this morning Efford; (Edgeware) scored liis i'rfth win by v-. beating Woolley (Hat.iitai) 25-21- in- a very even' brattle. EfCord got an eaTly lead, dropped back, led again, and then dropped back and did not pickup until-the ninth head, when the score was 10-9 in his favour. He kept- ahead of Woolley until the end, though at the twentieth Woolley got to 20 r 21.

Eyan (Lyall Bay) and Gordon (St. John's) provided an interesting game. Eyan led 13-3-at "the eighth and 20-17 at the-eighteenth. -On the next head Gordon produced a.,4,. and took the lead 21-20, but he lost it on the fallowing Bead, when it was "Byan's turn-to- clialk up a four. The score was then 24-21 in Eyan's favour. A three by Gordon on the twenty-first evened the score once more 24-24 ? but on the next head Eyan went 1tp.26-2.4.. It was 26-26 on the twenty-third, head-,-- and Gordon scored a single on each of tho fast two heads and took the game 28-26.

Squire , (Hawera).... lost to Priddle .'(lsland: Bay)," 30-19, Priddle leading all the way. This was Priddle's fourth win. ' Squire appeared to have some chance of winning up to the fourteenth, but on the . fifteenth Priddle's rink scored a 7, sending- the total from 17-9 to 24-9, The. rest was .easy for Priddle, though = Squire recorded a five before the end.. -...'■

Good ■ play in . the last, half of the game gave Collett- (Waimate) a win from Mattar (Foxton). .. Collott was 'down 4-8 at the.eighth, but had o.vened the score 10-10 at the thirteenth. After that he ran up consistently good figures, and won 27-13. ,

Bremner (West End) beat Nalder (Khandallah). After the- first head Bremner load Nalder all the way except on the sixth, when it was 6-6 and the fifteenth, when it was 14-14. From the fourteenth Bremner1 established a commanding lead which he maintained, winning by 29 to 20 on tho twentyfourth head.

In the fifth game on. Kelburn Green Walker (Auckland) sustained his secend loss, A. Eendle (Eastbourne) winning by 29-21. It was a spectacular game, right through: Eastbourne's toam play was veiy consistent. Walker's third man was not at his best. He himself, fought valiantly to avert defeat.. On the tenth head Eendlo was 8-9, but then drew away with a 2 4, 5, 3, 3, and 2, making him 27-18* on the twenty-firat. There was much driving on^ both sides, Eastbourne generally being more successful.

The results of Saturday's play_ are published on page 12. ' ' ""-