A WORTHY CHAMPION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1938, Page 15

A WORTHY CHAMPION

BENNETT'S CONSISTENCY

(By Telegraph.) I (Special to the "Eveninfl Post") ■ \ DUNEDIN, This Day. The best display of consistent drawing seen in the bowling championships was responsible for the Dominion singles- title going to the Hastings player W. D. Bennett. The conditions were all in favour of-an expert player of hiS type, although the wind which sprang up late in the afternoon became just strong enough to be troublesome, and time and again, he put up beauti-fully-played shots right alongside the kitty. '■■ The final was a battle between players with similar styles, and. although Claridge made a wonderful recovery after being down 5 to 15 on the fourteenth head, there could be no cavilling at the result. Bennett did not have to settle down. He drew a dead shot with the second bowl he sent down, put the next one alongside it, and continued in the same strain until Claridge reached the stage of playing at his bowls instead of at the kitty The St.'Hilda man's game: was most effectively upset, but he found top form on the fifteenth and sixteenth heads, and then got 4 on the eighteenth. He was, playing so well then that there seemed a likelihood of Bennett getting rattled in turn. However, Bennett was still drawing steadily, if not so consistently as previously. Claridge could not maintain his run, and on the last two heads neither played his best. , Bennett proved himself the steadiest singles player in the tournament, his only loss being to the Temuka veteran T. Edwards. It was the worst of luck for the latter that he injured his knee in the section play,of the rinks championship. -,H6 had to withdraw from his rink, and itwas; apparent in his serruVfinal' "against Clandge 4hat his knee was still hot right. His form was