SINGLES BOWLING TITLE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 3

SINGLES BOWLING TITLE

' V SOUTH TARANAKI FINAL BOURKE WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. MASON RUNNER UP. Playing an outstanding, game in tin final of the southern division single! bowling championship at the Pari green in Hawera yesterday afternoon P. A. Bourke (Patea) defeated F. Mason (Park) 22—12 and thus qualifiec for the Taranaki provincial champion ship .play-off on March 17. Mason play ed a steady game and had the wea-thei been to his liking the contest woulc have been oue of unusual interest. Tin cold and threatening conditions whicl prevailed were against him, however and Bourke’s aggressiveness and fim drawing were aeoisive factors in win ning the game. Owing to the un (favourable -weather there was a smal gallery of spectators. The play-off be tween the champions of the four club: in the division (details of which ap lieared in yesterday’s late edition y the “Hawera Star”) occupied th( morning and the early part ol tin afternoon and the games were undei the supervision of local representatives of the Taranaki Bowling Centre Messrs. F. A. Quin (Park) and F. E Clarice (Hawera) and Mr S’. Adamsor who also assisted ns umpire. I*l av in the final commenced immediately fallowing the afternoon tea adjournment and on the first head Bourke opened his scoring lead b> drawing two isliot-s wliicli remaineel u.naltered: Bourke 2 —Mason 0. On the second bead Bourke drew the shot with his first bowl and Mason trailed kitty, but remained shot down. He again trailed kitty to be three up. Bourke played too wide and Mason, with his last bowl, drew another to obtain a full hand : Mason 4 —Bourke 9. llourko drew the shot, a. wing bowl over jack high, at the till’d head and fallowed up with another shot. Mason plaved' his last bowl and Bourke again drew the shot, to take three: Bourke s—Mason5 —Mason 4. Bourke threw up a medium length for the fourth and placed his first bowl within two feet of kitty. His next howl, also counted, whereupon Mason changed his hand and rested one of Bourke’s counters., but still remained two down on the head: Bourke 7—Mason 4On medium heads Bourke played w r ell and threw' up another for the fifth, placing his first bowl within two feet of the jack. Bourke obtained another counter with his third, but Mason faced the. shot bowl to remain one down. Bourke endeavoured to face Mason’s second shot, hut' instead drew on to kitty for a “toucher.” For the third time Mason played a narrow howl and remained two down in the head: Bourke 9 —Mason 4. On the sixth head Bourke brought his length down to just short of a medium Mason, with his first bowl trailed kitty to remain shot. Bourke played a magnificent bowl, but ran through leaving Mason still the shot. Bourke again rested the -shot bowl, but was just a shade narrow and Mason stilL lived. For the third time Bourke rested Mason’s shot, but this time he survived, and remained the shot and Mason’s drive missed, a very interesting head: Bourke 10—Mason 4. Bourke threw up a medium length for the seventh head and drew within a yard of kitty just over jack high. Mason drew a “toucher” just on kitty and remained there. Bourke played short with his second bowl and narrow with his. third, but wicked off bis first. into a nice position for second shot. With his Just- bowl Bourke reached within six .inches' of kitty, but still remained shot down. Mason had a nice .shot on for a trail for four, but played a little wide and scored one out of the head: Bourke 10 —Mason 5. For the first time for five heads Mason threw the kitty, but kept a medium length which suited him for he lilaced his second within 18 inches of it. Bourke’s first bowl looked -shot, but the marker signalled a measure. At this stage slight rain fell and made it difficult for the players to hold tlieir bowls. Mason, with his last bowl, rested Bourke’s bowl through and lac two up. Bourke did not- alter the position: Bourke- 10—Mason 7. Ala-son threw kitty up for almost a full length head and dropped just short of it for shot-. Bourke was well short with liis first bowl. With his second bowl .Mason played too strong and accidentally . trailed kitty two yards to still remain two up. Bourke, however, drew second shot. Mason was short and changing his hand he again drew a “toucher” and lay two up. Bourke endeavoured to drive, but faced some front- timber which deflected him off the head : Bourke 10—Mason 7. After being two down on the 10th Bourke came in and drew second shot. Mason settled down to steady drawing and drew another, being two up. Bourke was short with his third and Mason likewise, but- left a nasty, one in the draw for Bourke, forcing him in to the forehand which suited and lie drew the shot: Bourke 11—Mason 9Bourke was just over with his first on the next head and Mason ran through. Bourke added a. second and Mason, not to be denied, swung well out and drew the shot. Again Bourke came in and drew the; shot and with bis fast bowl took another to be two up. Although Mason rested one of Bourke’iS counters he did not save: Bourke 13—Mason 9. A medium length head was thrown up for the 12th. Mason drew nicely to within two fc-et of kitty, just- over the head. Bourke changed his hand and drew a “toucher” to remain shot up. M ason rested him through l'oi one and a measure. Bourke drew sec I oncl shot and Mason remained one up: 1 Bourke 13—Mason 10. Mason lengthened the head on tin 13th, but Bourke out-drew him with his first- bowl. Mason changed his hand for the third bowl and trailer kitty for two, hut with liis last bowl Bourke played a- magnificent trail with which he obtained the- shot ; Bourke 14—Mason 10. For the- first time in the game a short head was thrown up and Bourke put liis first right on kitty-—a beautiful “toucher” which remained. Alason plaved liis third bowl on to the head, where be dislodged Bourke and lay shot : Bourke 14 —Mason 11. Both players had now settled down to some steady howling and to score each had to be .right on the- head. Although Mason’s first bowl in the loth was within two feet of kitty, Bourke drew almost dead on for shot. With liis third Bourke drew another shot, hut Ma-son, with liis fast, dislodged both and remained a “toucher” on kitty—a remarkable! save. Bourke was a trifle thin to rest the .shot howl out: Bourke 14 —Mason 12.

The green at this stage was wet and consequent! v the bowls were difficult to handle the service of two “official wii'crs” being irequired to drv them. Bor ike was first on kitty at the lGth head and Mason had two short howls. his third promoting Bolivians bowl for shot. Bourke, with his third, drew a “toucher.’’ to be tw-o up. Mason with his last was thiii

< and missed the wood. Thu Pateaman with iiis, Inst successfully negotiated one of Mason’s short bowls and trailed kitty for a very handy three: Bourke 17—Mason 12. Bourlce still fancied long heads and for the 17th threw up one of full length. Both players were short with their “sighters” and the first four bowls were very wild, Bourke having the shot some distance away from kitty. After the widest head played so far in the game, Bourlce retained his one: Bourke 18—Mason 12. Bourke. at this stage, was within a .single head’s score of winning the game and. keeping a. medium length, drew within two inches of kitty. Mason played a nice shot, but was two narrow. Bourke again drew nicely for . second shot. Mason was two feet short with his second and put in a . block for a. drive. Bourke again drew . with his third and also his last. Ma- , son was too thin with Ms last and missed the head completely. Bourke retained four to emerge the winner of tire match and the divisional singles title: Bourke 22—Mason 12. Rounds of applause greeted the players as tbev walked on to the bank and on behalf of the Centre Mr. Clarke congratulated the winner and runner-up. He also thanked the four clubs in the division for sending forward such worthy representatives to contest the final. The Patea Club’s success was undoubtedly a popular one and every South Taranaki bowler wished its representative every success in the provincial final. The Park Club was thanked for the use of its splendid green and for its generous hospitality. Cheers were given for Bourke and Mason and also for the other two competitors eliminated in the course of the dav’s plav:—B. Esniner (Manaia) and W. H. Canning (Harwera). As the spectators left the green a steadv rain commenced 1 to fall. 1 '