BOWLING TOURNEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 9

BOWLING TOURNEY

HATAITAI BEATEN

A FRANKS V. DEARE FINAL

BALMORAL TWO LIVES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 20. The great interest being taken in the New Zealand Bowling Association's championships was evidenced at the Carlton green today, when more than] 1000 spectators, many of whom were accommodated on a special stand bor-{ rowed from the Auckland Tennis Association, *waited till after 6 o'clock to witness the closing stages of the competitions. Fine weather and the absence of wind were conductive to good bowling and added greatly to the enjoyment of the spectators. The final of the pairs event was decided today, J. S. Anchor and W. Robinson (Hamilton) defeating L. Balfour and I. Stephenson (Gisborne) by 25 points to 16. The contest was close up to the sixteenth end, but after that the Hamilton pair asserted themselves and moved to an easy victory. A great struggle was witnessed in the seventh round game in the singles between W.. Franks (Balmoral) and J. S. Martin (Ellerslie), and both were frequently applauded for shots of outstanding excellence. There was little to choose between the players up to the twentieth end, where Franks secured an advantage and w6n by a two-point margin. In the semi-final A. Connew (Mt. Albert) secured a runaway victory over H. Cowper (Ponsonby). Franks and Connew, both onelifers, will meet in the final tomorrow. The seventh and eighth rounds of post-section play in the fours event were also decided, and Franks, two lives, and G. Deare, Carlton, one life, will contest the final tomorrow. The former has given a brilliant display throughout the tournament, and has recorded an outstanding effort in surviving to the final stages in two of the competitions. THE PAIRS FINAL. The first excitement in the pairs final came on the third end when Stephenson drove and took the jack into the ditch for four shots. Robinson was equal to the occasion, however, and drew the absolute. Stephenson's driving, which is a feature of his play, was again in evidence on the fourth end when he removed the Hamilton counters with his last bowl to score two. The Hamilton pair opened up a gap of seven points when four was secured on the seventh head. Balfour was failing to hold Anchor. Robinson saved well on the tenth end when he drew in to cut out three Gisbome shots. The Gisborne lead, Balfour, had by now found the better length, and was matching bowl for bowl with Anchor. Stephenson continued to drive accurately, ard on. the eleventh end chipped the shot bowl out for one, to make the score 13-10 in favour of Hamilton. Robinson got a useful two on the next end by means of sound drawing. Fast work was again resorted to by Stephenson on the thirteenth end, and he picked up two points. With only six ends to play the Hamilton Pair's prospects were bright the score standing at 19-12 m their favour. Stephenson, in driving at the head on the nineteenth end, removed 55 his own woods, and left three of tiie opposing bowls on the green. Robinson drew in a fourth with his last bowl, making the score 25-16. Only one more end was played; it produced a good leading display and held the shot 14 times to Balfour's six. It is noteworthy that a Hamilton pair has won the title on the last three occasions the Dominion tournament has been held at Auckland, Loveridge and Pilkington winning in 1931 and 1935. HATAITAI'S ELIMINATION. Franks has done remarkably well to reach the finals in both the singles and rinks. His play throughout the tournament has been a model of consistency. He has received splendid support in the fours event, but his individual brilliance has been patent in the singles. The fours contest between the twolife teams, Deare and Franks, this morning saw the Balmoral combination playing its usual steady game, and it was evident fairly early what the result would be. Deare's team played well at times, but was no match for the Balmoral rink. ©righting's Hataitai rink, which is skipped by Naylor, was always in the ascendancy in the game against Evans (Hamilton). The Hamilton team did not combine with its usual efficiency. Both Naylor and Brighting played good bowls. The eighth round in the fours saw the undefeated Balmoral team pitted against Hataitai. The Balmoral rink lost no time in gauging the qualities of the green and opened up a good lead. Disaster came to the Hataitai rink when one of Naylor's drives took out all their bowls and left Balmoral with seven points. The Hataitai men came strongly over the closing stages and required four to tie on the last head, but the task was too much for them. Cowper, who was the last undefeated player in the singles, lost his last life to, Connew in the semi-final. Connew was altogether too steady for Cowper. The seventh round singles game between Martin and Franks resolved itself into a great tussle, Franks prevailing in a close finish. Both were almost continually on the jack, and it required a superlative shot to chinge the position of a head. The following are the results of the day's play:— FOURS. Seventh Round.—Franks (Balmoral) 21, Deare (Carlton) 7; Brighting (Hataitai) 26, Evans (Hamilton) 10; Lobb (West End, New Plymouth) 24, Tongue (Rocky Nook) 19. Evans and Tongue were eliminated. Eighth Round.—Franks 19, Brighting 16; Deare 27, Lobb 15. Brighting ahd Lobb were eliminated. PAIRS. Final.—J. S. Anchor and W. Robinson (Hamilton) 25, L. Balfour and I. Stephenson (Gisborne) 16. SINGLES. Seventh Round.—W. Franks (Balmoral) 19, J. S. Martin (Ellerslie) 17. Semi-final.—A. Connew (Mt. Albert) 21, H. Cowper (Ponsonby) 11. Franks, a bye. .