BOWLING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1715, 5 January 1920, Page 7

BOWLING.

MANAWATU CENTRE’S TOURNA. MKNT.

The Manawatu Howling Centra’s tournament, was continued on [Saturday afternoon on too Palmerston North-Club’o green, when play was concluded in Iho eighth round. 'I ho green became keener in the afternoon, but even then it did not draw so well as on the first two days of the tournament. It appeared as ii first place would go to Jolly’s rink at the conclusion of the eight rounds, and (hat he would have an unbeaten record for tin. tournament, 'hut the unexpected, happened,' and Jolly’s rink was just beaten by Pollock’s Levin team, with the result that three rinks were level with seven wins and one loss each. These were the rinks skipped by Jolly, J. A. Nash, and Ramsay The bye was drawn by the first named, and in the semi-final Ramsay defeated Nash. The final will be played between Ramsay and Jolly. ' - The games in the eighth round resulted as followsJ. A. Nash 23 v. Holdawny 15, Nicholson 19 v Laurenson 17, Ramsay 26 v. Brackcnridge 11. Pollock 15 v. Jolly 14, Ransom 28 v. Crump 15, ('alder 24 v. McCormack 19, JamCs 27 v. Rankin, 26, Moulton 22 v. Seifert 21. _ v Particular interest was taken in the game between Jolly and Pollock, and with the former six up on the 15th head it looked as if his list of successes would bo unbroken. Pollock's rink, however, were playing particularly well, and after the 19th head thyv were only one down. On the 20fh Pollock's rink secured a single, with a close measure for second, and the score was 14 all. Pollock elected to have a full length head for the 21st, but Hancock (lead for Jolly) drew two good ones. Pollock drove and made a dead lead. On the head being re-playod. Hancock drew the shot with his second bowl, but this was beaten by de Fossittor (No. 3 for Pollock). Sollitt promoted one of bis own side's bowls to shot, but Pollock ayith his first got a wick and lav the shot-. Jolly with his first trailed the, kitty, but the other side still held the shot’. Pollock’s next did not alter the position, and Jolly failed' with his last and was beaten by one point. At the conclusion of section play the positions of the rinks wore as follows;

Ramsay's rinks was watched by a large number of spectators, and it proved to bi one of the most keenly contested games ol tho tournament. Ramsay opened the scoring with a single, and Nash did likewise on the second head. Ramsay’s rink were play, ing better than their opponents, but Nash •saved repeatedly, and one the 12th head Ramsay was only one ahead. Then he got a single and a two and the score was Ramsay 12. Nash 8. On the 15th Stacey (No. 2 for Nash) drew a beauty six inches from the kitty. Ramsay with his first drew a good second, but this was beaten by a splendid shot by Nash, who then lay two. Ramsay drove and failed, and tlie score was Ramsay 12, Nash 10. On the 16fh head Or,ant, who was leading splendidly for Ramsay, drew two good ones, and Mowlem (No. 3 for Nash) took one of them out with a fine draw, but Needham drew another. Nash, however, played a firm draw on the bowls and secured a single, and was then only one down. On the next head, however, Ramsay secured three, but Nash replied with two. a.nd on the 18th head Ramsay was leading by ]5 to 13. On the 19th head, when he was lying three down, Nash took the chance iind’ drove, making a dead head. On the head being re-played Nash again drove and again the kitty ’wont out of play.. When the head was played for (In thud time Stacey drew two good ones for Nash. Those, however, were‘beaten by Stewart, but Mowlem and Needham also a ten d the position, and when ends were changed Ramsay was lying two Nash drove and missed, and Ramsay‘drew another, maktng the score Ramfiay 18, Nash lo Iho game was, however, not alt over, and on the 20th head W hitehend got in two lor Nash. Stewart and Needham altered the position and Ramsay was Iving throe Nash drove and missed with Ills first bowl, out with his second he was more fortunate and got all three out, scoring two. Ram say 18. Nath 16. W hen the skips changed ends on the 21st head Nash was lying two, and the.position remained unaltered, making the score 18 all. On the extra head being played Stewart got in u splendid shot and lay alongside the kitty. Mowlem got l a second for Nash, who took out the sot bow and lav one. Ramsay drew the shot, and Nash failing with his-last bowl Ramsay wt.a by 19 points lo 18*-

NOTES. 'Jhounji the entries were few in number compared with those received at Easter the tournament was of a very enjoyable nature, and the bowlers, both visiting' and local, spent a very pleasant time. Some of the games were exceptionally close, re•liiinng play ol a very high order by the skips to secure victory. As usual the Ia I mors ton Club s greens were exceedingly keen, and players from other towns where the turf is heavier, found it very hard on Now Year’s Day to keep their bowls out of the ditch. Friday, however lound them getting the distance nicely, and there were many games played which were of great interest to the spectators. Xbci e is no doubt that for tourruiment purposes, the Palmerston Club has the best gr.'OhS Oti this coast. That is the unanimous opinion of first-grade players from the cities, men who are ripe in knowledge and judgment of the game of bowls. The fine condition of the greens is duo to the hard work of the caretaker, Mr Amundsen, who knows his business from A to Z. The green superintendent (Mr F. Mow--Icm) also deserves a word of praise; in brief, ho is the right man in the right place. Some of the competing rinks consisted almost wholly of skips, and therefore, on paper, their chances were considered to he unusually good. Skips wore found playing in Nos. J and 2 positions, but they did not score us well as expected. Three or four skips in one rink is not generally considered a good proposition on account of varying opinions, and it has often been found more profitable to put a gjouplo of good “colts” in a team, with a good drawing man in No, 3 position to support the skip. When a team from a small club is of three or four skips it places the other players who desire to compete at a disadvantage. They can only scrape together a weak rink and are not given the slightest chance of getting in the winning team, » whereas by separating the skips contentment reigns supremo in the club, and the different rinks sent to compete at a tournament obtain better play and learn many wrinkles which would not otherwise he brought under their notice. The point made by the writer is worthy of consideration. _ Some of the older players in the centre wore competitors at the tournament, among those present being Messrs Caklcr (Dannevirkob Ransom (Pahiatua), Nicholson (Wood villo), Pollock (Levin), James (Woodvillo), Webber (Dannovirkc), Lauronson and Brackcnridgo (Manawatu), and J. A. Nash and H. Seifert (Manawatu). . - Another visiting player was Rev. R. Gardener, a member of James’ rink from Wood villo Club. The rev. gentleman, who is a Presbyterian minister, became quite a favourite at the tournament, _ As one Jiowler remarked, “Mr Gardener is a real live fsporf; , you have only to live in Woodvilld a very short time to find that out.” The writer hopes that the rev. gout lonian will lo ng bo spared to compete at tournaments. The arrangements > f ol ' W 0 tournament were all that could be desired, everything working satisfactorily, aitd for tins il ' ar n° measure of praise is due to the secretary, Mr J. 11. Simmons.

Jolly Wins. ] 7 v- b 1 J. A. Nash 7 i Ramsay 7. i Crump 6 ! 2 Laurenson 5 3 Pollock 5' 3 Ciilcler 4 4 . Nicholson 4' 4 Ransom * 4 4 Seifert 4 4 Moulton 3 5 Biackenridgo ... 2 6. • James 2 6 Holdnway 2 6 Rankin 26 McCormack 0 8 The semi-final between J. A. Nash s and