THRILLING BOWLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1944, Page 3

THRILLING BOWLS

NEW YEAR PAIRS

TUCKER AND LAWRIE WIN

Deadly driving prevailed over accurate drawing in the final game of the Wellington Bowling Centre's New Year pairs' tournament. Forceful tactics had served J. B. Lawrie well on the way to the final. They made all the difference to the result of a keenlycontested match, played today on the Thorndon Club's green. Lawrie had as his partner W. N. Tucker, and against these well-seasoned and successful tournament players (representing Victoria) were a Seatoun pair, T. H. R. Boon and T. A. Barrow. The result was a win for the Victoria pair by 26 points to 23.

The run of play was made more eventful by strong gusts of wind, which sometimes turned the bowls from their course on the fast green and also caused stationary bowls to be moved. The- sixteenth end was extraordinary for the unexpected movement which took place. The first bowl (by Boon) was well beyond the jack when it turned back and regained some territory. The next bowl (by Tucker) passed the other bowl and turned back to become the shot. Later, Barrow, lying one, drew another shot near the jack, and, as a delivery by Lawrie was blown across the green, the shot bowl was also taken out by the wind. Finally the head was killed by Lawrie, who was three down. Those three shots were needed by Barrow to draw level, and on the replay he regained them—l 9 all.

Further driving by Lawrie was disastrous for the opposition on the next end. Boon had drawn three good shots, but they were taken out by Lawrie, who realised four from the head. On the next end Lawrie was again forced to drive, but Barrow made a fine recovery from three down by drawing a splendid shot. A good running shot took Barrow out of trouble on the nineteenth, but the replay found Lawrie equal to drawing the shot, after which two good shots by Tucker placed Seatoun in an almost hopeless position for the last end, on which the full count of six was required. Boon's first three counted until a drive by Lawrie took one out. That settled the issue, except for an attempt by Barrow to kill the head.

It was a stirring game which kept a large gallery keenly interested. At the call, of the centre president (Mr. J. Norrie) cheers were given for the winners and the runners-up.

Results of post-section play from the second round onwards were: —

Second Round. —Brace and Gillespie (■Thorndon) 18, Gilbert and Gilbert (Kelburn) 17; Percy and Fredericks (Karori) 25, Dempster and Leadbeater (Karori) 20; Tucker and Lawrie (Victoria) 26, Macdonald and Young (Thorndon) 23; Williams and Sherwood (Seatoun) 21, Vaney and Littlejohn (Victoria) 15; Wardrop and Ulmer (Victoria) 16, Morton and Neilson (Kelburn) 11; House and Hazlewood (Lyall Bay) 21, Arnold and Lamb (Wellington) 17; Boon and Barrow (Seatoun) 29, Heath and Bird (Newtown) 3; Fleet and Easton (Central) 13, Harle and O'Brien (Thorndon) 12.

Third Round.—Gillespie 17, Fredericks 13; Lawrie 17, Sherwood 15; Ulmer 16, Hazlewood 15; Barrow 19, Easton 15.

Semi-final. —Lawrie 20, Gillespie 14; Barrow 16, Ulmer 13.

Final.—Tucker and Lawrie (Victoria) 26, Boon and Barrow (Seatoun) 23.