BOWLING REVIEW

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 1 February 1933, Page 3

BOWLING REVIEW

TARANAKI OPEN TOURNEY NEW PLYMOUTH RINK WINS HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY Ideal weather and first-class bowling were the outstanding features of the Taranaki Centro open tournament- at New Plymouth last week. Special reference was made by spectators to the high standard of play seen in the semifinals and particularly by the Te Aroha team skipped by J. Buchan. In the final the New Plymouth rink, skipped by A. Higgs, did splendidly, the skip receiving solid support from every member of liis- team. O’n the other hand the members of the Te Arcilia team, with, the exception of the skip, seemed to be suffering from .staleness and by no means gave of their best. As a. result the skip had far too heavy a. load, seldom having the position in; his favour when lie wont to the mat,j with the result that Higgs was nearly a 1 wav.s able to play for position, making the task of his opponent more difficult, while when necessary Higgs put in brilliant winning shots. Papps, as lead, nearly always heat his man. J. PI. Hill was consistently up and Hooker proved a tower of strength. They were particularly good on long heads. Higgs won by 26 points to JO. This, makes the fourth occasion on which a> New Plymouth team lias won the tournament, though not one member of the present winning rink 'has been in a final rink before. A. K. Smart skipped the three previous New Plymouth Club winners. "West End Club have the neatest number of successes, (seven) and J. Lobb of that club has the record for skipping four successful rinks. F. Mason. Pihama (now of Park), has skinned the winning rink three times. V * * * *

When the tournament concluded on Saturday last Mr A. K. Smart, on behalf of the Centre, congratulated Buchan and the members of liis team on their success, and said this was the first occasion on which a rink from outside the Taranaki centre had played in the final since 1913. He assured the visitors that it would have given a great deal, of pleasure to Taranaki bowlers had they succeeded in winning the tournament. He paid a tribute .to Buchan’s ability as a bowler. He was a young player, and Mr Smart predicted that he 'had a. great future before him, and that it would not.be long before' he figured among tournament winners.

The final of the South Taranaki shield •bowling competition, will be decided when the Parle team, winners i C.f the Wednesday division, plays Hawera No. 9 team, winners of the Saturday Division. It is understood that the match will be played at an early date, the arrangements being in the hands or Messrs F. A.. Quin and F. E. Clarke,; the southern representatives on the Taranaki Centre executive. The. centre executive has drawn the winners of the northern division, to play the winners of the central division on. March 2 on a northern green. The winners of the southern division are to play the winners of the western division on March 1. the green to be left in the hands of the president to decide. .*' * * *

A special meeting of the central division management committee was held in Stratford ]n.st evening to- so arrange future shield howling fixtures that the winning club would be lenown in time to participate in the play-off. After discussion it was agreed that the first games of the second round be played on- Thursday a.s drawn : Stratford No. ] v Avon. No. 1. at Stratford; Stratford No. 2v. Tariki, at Ta.riki; Inglewood v. Elltliam, at Inglewood; Avon No. 2, aj bye. From the date of these matches a committee consisting of Messrs Arne®, J. S. Lyons, 11. O. North, and H. L. Betts will arrange subsequent matches 1 .

Now that the holiday tournaments are over chibs will have the opportunity of completing the singles championship competitions. The Opunake Cllub has made the most progress in this respect, having reached the final stages. Clubs- are reminded that this particular must bq completed bv February 25. 1 * * * * *

One of the most popular competitions conducted bv the Hawera Club tins season has been the percentage fours competition, in which four rounds- have been played in the Saturday Division and five rounds in the Wednesday Division. On au average of 40 players take part in each, game and the results have created the greatest interest and enthusiasm.

A veteran’s team skipped by A. Ambury, their combined ages aggregating 299 years, took part in the Taranaki Centre’s tournament at New Plymouth last week. Tlieir first win was in the the sixth round, when R. W. Green’s rink was defeated by two points.

At meeting of the Taranaki Centre executive last week an invitation from the South Auckland Centre for a. Taranaki team to visit South Auckland was accepted. The tour will take place provided sufficient nominations are received, the team leaving on March 12. Players available for the trip are requested to notify club secretaries. * * » * *

“I. have reached the height -of my ambition as a bowler,” said Mr J. R. Hill at New Plymouth on Saturday when acknowledging on b°lia.ll of the New Plymouth team, the presentation of trophies at the Taranaki howling tournament. Continuing liis remarks, he said he had been president of the New Plymouth Club and champion of that club and now he was a. member ol tiie team winning the Taranaki open tournament.

Bowlers throughout South Taranaki regret the departure from Hawern of A. E. Stone, vine-president of the Hawera, Club and last, year’s singles champion. Mr Stone a,lso was chairman *cf the South Taranaki Easter Tournament Committee and his place will he a. difficult one to fill. Hg was formerly* headmaster of *the < Ta.wihiti School and his successor wiii be Mr N. Murray, of New Plymouth, a., member of the Fitzroy Ctob, who last year

skipped a rink at the Dominion tournament. * T * * *

The Dominion singles champion for 1933—W. XL Pa.rkhouse (Wellington)— was formerly a. resident of Hawera and a member of the Hawera Club. Hi response to congratulations from Hawera friends, Mr Pairkhoiuse writes: ‘‘J was a, member of the Hawera Club for a, (season and a-half and what a good job you, made of me in that short time! I woulcl like to add a word of praise for the great game played by Maslm and Souire to -win the Dominion pairs championship. 1 have never seen a better pairs game; it made me leal very pleased that they were not. in the singles for the winner may have been still residing in Hawera.”

On their way home from New Plymouth last Saturday a Fielding rink consisting of Chadwick, Way, Moore and We nil a.in stepped the week-end in Hawera. Two “friendly” games being played on, the Park green. In one match against Raynor, Brentford, Thurston and Chadwick the visitors won by 24 points to 22, but in tin other against Uro, Oopp, Villars and Mason tlicv lost by 24 to 23. • *<***■*■

The wisdom of an insurance cover over the personal property of cl-uh nicm.ber.s as well as over buildings and plant was •demonstrated ...this week! when the. secretary of the Hawera, Club received advice that a- cla.im tor daiiiages to an innbirella had been met. On aAecent evening during a social at the Hawera Club’s pavilion- an. umbrella haim-ing on t-lie wall burst into ilames apparently as the result of a lighted cigarette butt or pipe, ash dropped accidentally into the cover. The- flames were stamped out, but the frame-work was left intact. The amount claimed will he sufficient to. prbvide the unfortunate. owner with a new cover. *

Members of the Te Aroha team which took part in. the Taranaki open tournament last, week are keen bowlers. Early on Saturday afternoon -after being run-neus-up in t-bc 1 tournament they starred on tlieir motor journey back to Te Are ha. so as to take part in. a oneday tournament there to-day. In order to leave one member of the team a.t Napier they were going home via Hawke’s Bay, u- trip of over 410 miles. *. *■ * * *

On February 4 two rinks representinz the Park Club will visit Pihama for the annual inter-club match in competition for a, trophy known as the (Idsline Plate. This is one of the most popular events of the season so far as ilirse clubs are .concerned and in the past has been productive of good bowls and a hoflßhv spirit of rivalry. On Februnrv 1.2 the club will visit Opunake ami on February 19 a. team from R,apanoi (Wanganui) will visit* Park. This also, is a. mopnlar annual fixture.