BOWLING

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1925, Page 6

BOWLING

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

The competition for'the West Coast Singles Championship commenced on the local green in ideal weather, at 9.30 this morning (wrote ‘‘Mat” in Saturday’s Westport “Times”). The contestants were: Blaxall (Westport), Graham (Greymouth), and Clark (Runanga). Hokitika and Reefton were not represented. In the draw for places, Blaxall and Graham play, Clark a bye. Blaxall won the toss and threw up kittie. He scored one on the first head and two on the second head. Play was very even. The third head was very prettily played and the drawing of both players was of high order. None of the seven bowls was more than two feet away from the kittie. On the last bowl Graham played a running shot and carried kittie but not sufficient to take the shot away from Blaxall. Total at third head,' Blaxall 4, Graham 0.

Fourth head.—Another good display of bowling although graham was playing a trifle narrow, Blaxall laying 1 and Graham two seconds, drove to push Blaxall through T and missed. Blaxall 5, Graham 0.,

irifth head. —Both fighting all the wav the score not indicating the keenness of the game. Graham’s last bowl for a running shot was narrow. Blaxall 6, Graham 0.

Sixth head.—Graham’s second bowl was a beauty, and lay on kittie. Blaxall played him off, but not sufficient to take him from the shot. Graham’s next shot counted, but Blaxall drew his last bowl on kittie for shot. A great Lead. Blaxall 7, Graham 0.

Seventh head.—Both players playing carefully. Graham’s third bowl i ! ■ shot. Blaxall played his last and missed. Graham drew another with his last, a good bowl. Blaxall 7, Graham 2.

Eighth head.—Graham short, Blaxall played for shot, both playing narrow and short. A poor head. Blaxall 8, Graham 2.

Ninth head.—Blaxall played a beau, ty on kittie. Graham a bit over. Blaxall playing for position on h : s third bowl he lay two. Graham short and narrow on his third and last bowl. Blaxall 11, Graham 2.

Tenth head.—Blaxall,. in throwing kittie was good. He varied the heads on each occasion. Blaxall’s two bowls counting, Graham played a fast one and took one away from Blaxall, wno was again playing for position. Graham drew a beauty and played on Blaxall, but not sufficient to count. Graham’s last bowl played a running shot on his own bowl and got a beauty. Blaxall 11, Graham 3.

Eleventh head.—Both playing too carefully and hardly there. Graham’s third shot carried kittie for one. Blaxall drove, his last shot and missed his mark, and drove his second shot out, leaving Graham 3. Blaxall 11, Graham 6.

Twelfth head.—Gkahiam wasi )pow playing beautifully, his first shot on the kittie, Blaxall a bit over. A good head, with Graham scoring 1. Blaxall 11. Graham 7.

Thirteenth head.—Graham again on kittie with his first shot; Blaxall also playing his best. Graham pushed Blax. all and lay two. The best head so far. Great play. Blaxall 11, Graham 9.

Fourteenth head.—Graham was brilliant, his first two bowls counting. Blaxall played on kitty, but only sufficient for second shot. Graham drew another. Blaxall 11, Graham 11. The bowling was now of the liigh■est standard, the best seen on the green.

Fifteenth head.—Graham again on kittie, Blaxall a bit wide, but his second ball wicked his own and got shot. Graham was a bit over and Blaxall played another. Blaxall 13, Graham 11. Sixteenth head.—Blaxall short and narrow. Graham counted. Blaxall still short. Graham over Blaxall play, ed shot. Graham played two beauties. Blaxall 13, Graham 13. Seventeenth head.—Graham over, Blaxall played a good one for shot. Poor head, Blaxall laying 3. Blaxall 16, Graham 13.

Eighteenth head.—Baxall played a good shot, Graham over .strength. Blaxall short and narrow, Graham played'shot. Blaxall drew again and got a beauty. Graham played a running shot, but kitty went to Blaxall’s bowl. A good head. Blaxall 17, Graham 13.

Nineteenth head.— Blaxall threw well. Graham wide, but in good position. Blaxall drew again on kitty. Graham drove a fast one and missed. Blaxall drew another. Graham drove again and put one through. Blaxall 20, Graham 13.

The sun was very strong and . the green keen at this stage of the game. Twentieth head.—Blaxall played in good position. Graham drew on kittie and lay. Blaxall was short. Graham drew another. Blaxall was narrow. Graham over, Blaxall played for third shot. Blaxall 20. Graham 15. Twenty-first head.—Graham drew on kittie, Blaxall short and narrow. Graham drew and carried kittie for two. Blaxall over and narrow, tried to play off opponent. Graham drew an. other. Blaxall played a beauty. Blaxall 20, 18. A great game and splendidly contested.

GRAHAM v. CLARK (second round). Graham won the toss and threw up kitty. Clark short and nannw, Graham drew shot and a trifle short. Both players were unable to get the strength of the green* Graham 1, Clark 0. Second head—Graham laying two; Clark overstrength and still feeling for strength. Clark played a running shot and got kitty and lay one. Graham over and narrow. Graham 1, Clark 1. Third head—Clark drew a good one on kitty. Graham wide. Clark, playing well drew for three; Graham ran a fast one and pushed kitty over. He just missed his last bowl. Graham 1, Clark 3. Fourth head—Clark wide. Graham drew shot: Clark placed one on to Graham. Graham narrow; Clarke drew another. Graham a good

one but short. Clark was short with his last bowl. Graham played splendidly, but just a little over. Graham 1, Clark 4. Fifth head—Graham drew the shot with his second bowl. Clark later came to light and drew two, making him 6: Clark 6, Graham 1. Sixth head—Clark drew the .shot. The head proved rather poor till the third bowl by Clark, a lovely shot. Graham again came to light. Clark’s last bowl proved a beauty, but Graham put him out again. Graham 4, Clark 6. Seventh head—Graham again drew the shot in a wide lead. Graham 5, Clark 6. Eighth head—Clark drew the shot. Graham just missed with his third bowl. Graham 6, Clark 7. Ninth head —A long head. Graham drew the shot with his second bowl. Graham again drew with his third bowl. Kitty rolled away. Graham 6, Clark 7. ' Tenth head—Graham scored one. Eleventh head—A short head. Clark drew the shot with his third bowl. He drew another with his last bowl. Clark 9, . Graham 7. Twelfth head—-Clark drew the shot with his second bowl. Graham wide. Head ended : Clark 10, Graham 7. Thirteenth head—Graham drew the shot with his second bowl. Clark’s third bowl was defeating his opponent when Graham drew a beauty on kitty. Graham 8, Clark 10. Fourteenth head —Clark again drew the shot. Graham drew a better one with his second bowl. Graham drew a two with his third. Clark just missed Kitty. Graham again drew another. Clark came to light with his last bowl and trailed kitty and scored two. Clark 12, Graham 8. Fifteenth head —Clark drew the shot with his second bowl, but Graham played a better one. Graham drew with his last bowl. Graham 9, Clark 12. Sixteenth head — Clark diW the shot with his second bowl, Graham touched him off and lay shot. Graham 10, Clark 12. Seventeenth head —Graham touched kitty with his first bowl. Clark fell short, but touched Graham with his second bowl and lay shot. Clark touched kitty over to Graham. Graham did likewise. ■ Clark got 2. Clark 14, Graham 10. Eighteenth head —Graham drew onto kitty with his first bowl. Clark drew a beauty with his last bowl but kitty still lay to Graham. Clark 14, Graham 11. Nineteenth head —Graham again drew to kitty. Clark gone narrow. Graham 12, Clark 14. Twentieth head—Graham drew the shot with his third bowl. A very wide head and Graham lay 4. Graham 16, Clark 14. » Twenty-first head— Graham, drew the shot with his .second bowl. This head ended with Graham 1, leaving the final score: Graham 17, Clark 14. '