N.Z. BOWLS TOURNEY

Evening Star, Issue 21007, 22 January 1932, Page 14

N.Z. BOWLS TOURNEY

APPROACHING FINALITY MAXWELL WALKER UNBEATEN IN RINKS DEARE MEETS HIM IN FINAL [Per United Press Association.! CHRISTOIi UIiCH, January 21. It is expected that the tourney will end to-morrow. Ualder's rink had given such excellent exhibitions in the previous rounds that many were tipping him as a potential winner. It came as a surprise, therefore, to find him going down to Papanui. The local rink made a great beginning, running up 13 points in the first five heads. Bhosnix replied with eight in the next three, Papanui retaliating with threes on the ninth and fourteenth heads, the visitors meantime getting two singles and a two. With one head t 0... go Phoenix wanted seven to tie, but two was the best they could do. Moyes put up a good fight against Gray in a low-scoring game. The Timaru men scored on eleven ■ heads, but were three down at the finish.

Gordon scored a popular win when he defeated Dowland. The local men had the better of things almost throughout, Dowland being compelled to send down a lot of running shots in an endeavour to save the position. Much interest attached to the meeting between Bremner and Walker, and the Aucklanders gave a magnificent exhibition of every variety of shots—drawing, trailing, driving, and resting out the opposition woods with almost machine-like precision. _ Bremner provided fireworks, but his fast ones did not always improve his position. He missed a fast one on the last head when he had a big target to run into, but it was probably the worst shot he played during the game, and then he only missed by inches. Not even the most ardent supporters of the Linwood team could anticipate their defeat of Deare’s Dunedin combination, every member of which is a finished exponent. The scores were level at the fifteenth head. A three and a single to Dunedin seemed to put them in a winning position, but in the final four heads Linwood put on a two and three singles, and got home by a point. Gray and Edwards staged a game in the afternoon that brought rounds ot applause from the gallery. The scores were level, and commencing the last head Kelburn wanted four to win, but the best they could get from a widelyscattered head was a single, leaving them two down. It was a splendid game throughout, particular features Being the forceful and accurate driving of the Kelburn No. 2 and the delicate draw shots accomplished by both teams.

Dears and Bremnei had a stern battle, marked by surprising fluctuations of fortune, Bremner commenced driving on the first head, and was particularly unfortunate in finding any narrow port on each occasion. Bremner secured a five on the third head, Deare retaliating -with a similar count on the eighth, with a further five to Auckland on the next head. The scores then read 15-11 in favour of Bremner. A two and a four in succession put Deare in front, Bremner drawing level at 18 all on the fourteenth head. A four on the next put him in a very favourable position. A two to Deare and three to Bremner made things look unpromising for the Dunedin men. The eighteenth head saw some fireworks. Gardiner burned the head, and in reply the Dunedin men were lying two when Hardly smashed into the head with his firsthand drew the shot bowl with his second. Bremner added another, but Deare, with a beautifullyjudged fast one, again ■ burned the head. In the second replay Dunedin managed a single, but a four on the nineteenth head made the scores' 25 all. Deare won the game by two points. In the semi-finals Auckland quickly assumed control of the game against Canterbury, and were in the ascendancy almost throughout. In addition to the fine play of the northern men, they were favoured by an appreciable element of luck on more than one occasion. On two occasions when Canterbury were lying Walker drove and met with success, the jack springing amidst the Auckland bowls. On the nineteenth head Gordon lay three when Walker cannoned off a front bowl on to the jack and lay shot. Deare and Edwards had a strenuously contested game, and the issue was in doubt until the final bowl was rolled down. A one on the nineteenth head and a four on the twentieth left Deare wanting two to win, and his No. 3, Gardiner, proved equal to the occasion. The continuation of the pairs at St. Albans, attracted a fair gallery, and some very interesting play was witnessed. Haworth is maintaining his consistency, and promises to play a prominent part in the decision of this event. He and his partner gave a very fine exhibition against M'Whannell. The local men started slowly, but came at the right end. Wilson had a very exciting battle with Currie, a point only separating the scores. The singles were advanced a further stage, when Tyrrell met another Dunedin semi-finalist in Foster. They found the Wind rather tricky, but both showed themselves past masters at the game, Tyrrell securing a win by a single 'point. Details:— RINKS. —Fifth Round.— Walker 23, Sprosen 5. Gordon 20, Bandy 18. Edwards 20, Gray 17. Deare 27, Bremner 25. —Semi-finals. — Deare (Dunedin) 22, Edwards (Tcmuka) 20. AValker (Auckland) 24, Gordon (Canterbury) 13. PAIRS. POST SECTIONAL PLAY. . —First Round.— Buist 24, Hutchison 15. Haworth 25, M'Whannell 22. Wilson 21, Currie 20. —Second Round.— Haworth 19, Buist 11. SINGLES, —Fourth Round.— C. E. Tyrrell (Roslyn) 18, W. Foster (Caledonian) 17. J. J. Hinchcliff (Caledonian), a bye.