BOWLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 15

BOWLING

DOMINION TOURNEY

PLAY IN SINGLES

ONLY ONE TWO-LIFER LEFT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, January 11.

Although the weather was pleasant and the greens were in good order when the second day's play in the New Zealand Bowling tournament began, there was a sharp change early in the afternoon, and progress in the singles championship was delayed by steady rain. Fortunately the delay was not particularly serious, since the competition had been carried through the eighth round before conditions became really troublesome. Piay in the ninth round was interrupted for about 45 minutes, with the result that the playing of the tenth round, in which there will be only two matches and a bye, had to be postponed. The day was devoted to post-section play, and a big gallery at the Dunedin green in the afternoon saw some first-class bowling.

When play began the eight players who had come through the first day were drawn together on the Dunedin green, and the four to continue with two lives were T. Edwards (Temuka), who had been playing up to a very high standard, W. D. Bennett (Hastings), G. C. Claridge (St. Kilda), and D. Gardiner (Dunedin).

Bennett and Gardiner suffered their first reverses at the hands of-Edwards and Claridge . respectively,, and the eight-round game between the two remaining two-lifers was the highlight of the day. Edwards won well, and 'is thus the only two-lifer left in the competition. J. Perrow (Pembroke), T. R. MacGiUivray (Roslyn), Claridge, and Bennett won their games in the one-life division, and remain to contest • the title with the Temuka player.' ' The eighth-round game between the < two unbeaten players, Edwards ■ and Claridge, attracted- a great deal of interest. Some remarkably fine bowls was played by both players, Edwards's i drawing to the kitty being outstanding- ' ly good; Claridge started with three ' singles in a row, but Edwards retaliated • with-2 and 3on the fourth and fifth i heads, 2on the seventh, arid then 4 on t the ninth/ Claridge got 3 and 2 on ' the eleventh and twelfth to trail 11-12, . but Edwards ran away with. 2, 2, 2, ■ and a single in succession from the fourteenth head. A4 to Claridge and then a single left him behind 17-20 when the last head started. A sensational finish was promised when he had four shots and Edwards had the last bowl to play. The latter was equal to the occasion and drew the shot bowl to take the game, 21-17. Edwards, with two lives, had a bye in the ninth round, in which there was ' splendid bowling in all four matches. T. Sharp (Kaitangata) extended Clar- - ldge m a most interesting game. They were level (9-9) on the tenth head after Claridge had established an early lead. A 2.t0 Claridge took him ahead again, but Sharp drew level on the following head and scored a 2 and a single in succession. A 3 on the seventeenth head gave him a 17-16 lead, but he did not score again, Claridge getting two singles and two 2's in a row to win. 22-17. MacGillivray began in top form against S. Devereux (Kaikorai), who was not drawing consistently, and had a 10-4 lead on the tenth end. Devereux recovered to 11-11 on the fourteenth head, but MacGillivray finished strongly, a 3 on the twenty-first end giving him a 20-14.win. ,', The other two matches in this round were won very comfortably. The Pembroke representative, J. Perrow, played most impressive bowls against Gardiner, whom he beat 20-5. Perrow played right up to championship class. The game between Bennett and Dowland resulted in another big win, Bennett playing his steadiest bowls to » finish 23-4. Dowland scored 2's on the fourth and eighth ends, but was no match for the steadiness of the Hast-" ings player. , The pairs competition will start tomorrow, the singles being completed after the rinks next week. The following are the results of the day's play:— Two-life Division. Sixth round: Edwards (Temuka) 18; Dowland "(St. Kilda) 14. Bennett (Hastings) 19; Besley (New Brighton) 11. Claridge St. Kilda 19; Keast (North " End) 13. Gardiner (Dunedin) 15; Longworth (St. Kilda) 14. Seventh round: Edwards 17; Bennett 14. Claridge 22; Gardiner 11. Eighth round: Edwards 21; Claridge 17. One-life Division. Eighth round: Dowland (St. Kilda) 18; Hinchcliff (St. Kilda) 17. Bennett (Hastings) 18; Keast (North End) 10. Gardiner (Dunedin) 16; Davis (Kaituna) 15. Perrow (Pembroke) 23; Healey (Waimate) 16. Devereux (Kaikorai) 19; Dey (Christchurch) 10. MacGillivray (Roslyn) 23; Hunter (Petone) • 18. Sharp (Kaitangata) 21; Ure 18. Ninth round: Claridge 22; Sharp 17. MacGillivray 20; Devereux 14. Perrow 18; Gardiner 5. Bennett 23; Dowland 5, Edwards (two lives), a bye.