UNPRECEDENTED ENTHUSIASM

Evening Star, Issue 25699, 24 January 1946, Page 7

UNPRECEDENTED ENTHUSIASM

INTEREST AT FEVER PITCH (Special.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 23. Man for man the West Coasters outplayed their opponents, Armstrong especially having all tho attributes of a great bowler. They were not stylish players, but certainly got results. White is caretaker of the Ruuanga Green, Hillhouse and Pope are mine owners, and Armstrong is a timber mill worker. Armstrong, with Hillhouse, got into the last six of the pairs at the Dominion championships- in Dunedin in 1944. He has won the West Coast singles, pairs, and fours.championships. White has been prominent among the survivors of several Dominion tournaments and the winner of West Coast fours and pairs. Deare had what was probably the strongest team on paper at the tourna-

ment. His third, H. Wilson, skipped the winning four for Linwood in 1934 and 1938. Deare himself won the singles in 1940 and fours in 1931. Mount Eden were not playing the same game as_ they did on the previous day, but White's men were at the top of form. They forced the pace, making Deare fight an up-hill battle from the eleventh end. Spectators who have seen championships for 20 years or more said they had never seen such enthusiasm among the crowd or such a • fine finish. Hats flew in the air and cheers rang out as the winning shot went home. The Mount Eden lead, R. Wilson, was right off his game. Gourley, after being short in the early stages, was seldom afterwards beaten by Pope. H. Wilson was the safest man in the Mount Eden team, 'but he was matched by the cleverness of Armstrong. Deare's play became erratic in the closing stages of the game. Both skips were astray with some of their fast shots, presenting their opponents with points.