NOTES ON THE PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 7

NOTES ON THE PLAY

The most spectacular game in the second round in the morning was that between W. F. Hadwin (Hutt) and J. B. Reid (Lyall Bay), both of whom are noted for their driving skill and general expertness of play. Reid opened with a 3 and was 8-6 on the seventh end. It was 10-all on the eleventh end. Hadwin. although his progress was keenly challenged, then moved to the front to stay there to the end and to win by 20-18. The last end was an exciting one. Hadwin was leading by 19-18 He was 2 down on the head, when Whitcher, his No 3, drew the shot. Howse, of Lyall Bay, took the kitty on with his bowl, and made Reid 2 up. Whitcher cut one off. Hadwin came along with a fast bowl, which hit ?hf kitty!followed it through, and lay the shot. Reid failed to kill. , . • The Hunt (Hataitai) and Middleton Victoria) game was a«on Jor Hunt, who won by 29-11. Mggleton was 5-0 on the third end.. Hunts sensational 7 on the next end gamed oy a drive, had its decided disturbing effect on the opposition, for though hey tied 7-all on the next end, they lever looked like winning. Baker (Hutt) and Wells /Hataitai) led 7-all and 8-all on the eighth end. 3aker then forged ahead to win oy ; O 1g V McWhannell (Hataitai) won against Newson (Wellington) by 20-16, only nineteen ends being played, as he time limit had expired. The Hataitai rink played more consistently. Newson started well, being 5-1 and 8-5 It.was 8-all on the eighth end. McWhannell then moved ahead. Newson wason his heels on the fourteenth end (13-14). but McWhannell's lead could not be overtaken. TT . ,„„. The Hunt (Hataitai)-Hadwin (Hutt) md McWhannell (Hataitai)-Baker (Hutt) semi-final games in the afternoon were full of interest, and the play retained the close attention of many spectators. Each Hataitai four defeated a Hutt four. In the Hunt-Hadwin game there was small scoring up to the ninth end, when it was 6-all. Hadwin's drives to gain the advantage had not been as successful as hitherto. Hunt, whose men were playing very steadily, was 14-6 on the twelfth end. In the fourteenth end, when 2 down, Hadwin killed and got 1 on the replay. Hadwin, on the fifteenth end when lying ■ 2, pressed back two Hataitai bowls and scored' 4 and was 13-14 in the next end. Hunt went off again and was 22-16 in the finish. The Hataitai rink deserved their win by..their more consistent play. The McWhannell-Baker encounter was a battle royal; and it was anyone's match up to the last. The game finished in semi-darkness with only 18 ends played, the time-limit having expired. There were no fewer than five ties, 1-all, 3-all, 4-all, 10-all, and 14-all. McWhannell, with a 4, led by 8-4 on the seventh end. Baker, playing with great vim, on the ninth end drew a fine shot on the jack and scored 2. He killed on the twelfth . end, when 2or 3 down. On the re- | play, when 1 down, he took the kitty back for 3 and added another counter making him 14-10. McWhannell, who was playing cannily and well, with good support, then scored withom , break four I's, a 2, and 1, making him ; a winner by 17-14. Baker, when 2 down in an awkward position in the last end, played a fine fast bowl to take the kitty back for a winning 3, but gained second place only.