BOWLING NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 10

BOWLING NOTES

THE EASTER TOURNAMENT.

PALMERSTON CLUB’S SUCCESS.

(By “Trundler.”)

The 1929 Easter tournament of the Manawatu Bowling Centre proved a triumph for tho Palmerston NormClub whose rinks filled first, second and third places. This was a record for the centre and probably for the Dominion, and it is hardly likely to be equalled in the near future. Though the tournament closed with only 38 entries compared with 50 and more in past years, quality was a noticeable feature, several well balanced rinks from other towns being present. At the end of the second day every rink had sustained one or more losses and the greatest number of wins recorded was seven, five rinks, W. Crump, N. H. Nash and C. Picn.ering (Palmerston North), Norwood (Victoria) and Wardrop (Woodville) emerging with these figures. The defeat of Crawford (Karori) by Suhan in Section B in the final match on Easter Monday brought in all. with six wins, and it was from these that tne winner and the runner-up were found But for this defeat there would have been only five rinks in the post-sec'.»jn play. THE POST-SECTION PLAY. The first round on Tuesday saw the elimination of two good teams in Reid (Lyall Bay) and Brackenridge (Victoria). The latter in their match had the advantage ot playing Kerr (Island Bay), their lead being called home, but the display of the rink was a long way below that of last year which enabled them to win tho North Island championship at Palmerston North. Nevertheless, Kershaw (Manawatu) certainly caused a surprise when lie emerged the winner over Brackenridge, but on his play deserved his success. - lteid failed to hold off Norwood (Victoria) who is a great supporter of the Manawatu tournament, and many loyal bowlers 1 would have been pleased to see success come his way. He aiid his three players were among the most popular in the tournament. Probably, the best game in the tourney was seen in the second round when Nash and Crump, the two Palmerston North skips, were drawn against each other. The latter scored early, but after lunch Crump, who was then in great form, driving most accurately, repeatedly took out opposing bowls to secure a commanding lead. With only four heads to go, Crump still was well in, front, but his opponents, with their skip in excellent form, were fighting every inch of the way and a great game saw the scores equalled ou the 21st head when Crump narrowly escaped defeat, almost turning in an opposing bowl for second shot. THRILLING PLAY. The extra head was full of thrills. Tattersall for Nash drew a shot jack high ten inches from the kitty, but Kerslake for Crump came inside of it for the shot. Nash's number two narrowly failed to trail the jack for shot, coming to rest behind it with a good position bowl. The head was not altered until the skips went to play when Nash came in off an opposing bowl to momentarily lie shot, but hie wood fell back and Crump maintained his advantage. His first did not alter the position and, with a splendid running shot, the veteran skip took out the lying bowl. Crump decided to drive and his aim was most accurate. He struck his objective -with force and his bowl jumped back, stopped for the fraction of a second, and then, continued on. As it passed the kitty it touched it ever so slightly, but it was sufficient to turn victory into defeat for an opposing bowl immediately at the rear of the kitty was now shot. It was a dramatic ending to a sensational game, and the winners were congratulated on their great finishing effort. . . , Meanwhile, on adjoining rinks, Skogland had defeated Kershaw and Ramsay had eliminated Norwood, while Crawford (Karori) was the only visiting rink left in by virtue of beating Wardrop (Woodville). The semi-finals were commenced between Skoglund and Nash and ltamsay- and Crawford, but were adjourned till Wednesday after only a few heads had been played. Tuesday afternoon was bitterly cold and only an hour remained for play, yet the centre officials decreed that play should continue. There was little to commend this decision and the players participating in the four matches who might have been consulted, to say the least, were certainly not in favour of it, especially 'as the time available that afternoon was so brief. In the Rotorua tourney which the writer has visited, the club officials in such cases call the skips concerned into consultation and leave it to them to come to an. agreement, failing which they decide the matter. "This procedure might commend itself to the Manawatu Centre for future tournaments. , i ... , , , Skoglund, who had played great bowls during the tournament, continued on his winning way by defeating his club mates who did not display their form of previous matches on Wednesday morning. It was a tight game, nevertheless, and only four points separated the teams at conclusion. Ramsay had an easy win over Orawford. and w©nt> to tli© final with Skoglund. A RUNAWAY VICTORY. Unfortunately for the many spectators who were anticipating a keen match, the final proved a runaway victory for Ramsay, whose opponents showed a striking reversal of form. It must-be some time since a final in the Easter tournament has resulted in euch a runaway victory. A much better game was the contest for third place between Crawford and Nash. With the final completed interest ran high as to whether the Palmerston North Club would provide first, second and third prizewinners. The penultimate head of his match saw Crawford reduce a deficit of four to one. On the final end the Palmerston North lead drew two. touchers, the second of which drew off the opposing shot bowl. Crawford’s number three rested one off for second shot and, though the Karori skip tried hard to turn the shot bowl off for two points, he failed by a narrow margin and Palmerston North won by'two points after a keen and rather exciting finish. , The Palmerston North Club was heartily congratulated on the outstanding performance of its players. Of eight rinks in the tourney five wont to the- post-section play., , In connection with Ramsay’s sue-, cess, it is interesting to note that when play commenced on-Easter Mon- i day the team had sustained three losses. Prior to this Ramsay had been playing three, i but lie went : up to skip. His play improved wonderfully, and the rink went steadily ahead and did not lose another' game, a rather remarkable performance for which it deserves every-er'edit, Skoglund w as a l so number three.for G. Wilson, but the latter could not continue qn Good Friday owing to indifferent health. Skoglund skipped the rink and, with Wilson resuming life position on Sat-

urdav, performed excellently to go through to the final. . } UNWIELDY' EXECUTIVE. One point in connection with the play on Good Friday caused much comment. The showers of the morning gave way after lunch to a steady drizzle, which continued all the afternoon. Despite this, the players had to continue and in some cases the bowling became well nigh’ a farce, it .being .impossible to hold the bowjs. Good drawing teams were at a disadvantage and visiting players who got wet did not hesitate to condemn the action of the centre executive in not calling off the last round and giving each rink a bye. In fact, one good supporter of tne tournament said he would not hesitate for a moment in considering his decision to return again but for.the fact that he always enjoyed coming to Palmerston North at Easter. This draws attention to the fact that tho programme for the tourney contains as the executive the names of twenty-seven people. This is far too unwieldy a number and the centre should appoint a tournament executive of five or seven who can be relied on to be present and decide matters such as that which arose on Good Looking at the names of the gentlemen referred to above, one is impressed by the fact that they contain several who are never seen at the Easter and New Year tournaments and their places could be filled by others more interested. CHANGE IN SYSTEM SUGGESTED. In view of the fact that Easter invariably falls very late in March or in April, the writer thinks that the sections in the tournament should be won outright and the winners only should go forward to post-section play. This would obviate the number of games' which usually are necessary under the present system. Again, a skip playing his last section game under the present system and assured of a place in the post-section play, does not usually care, if the play is. tight, if he is defeated. If he had to win his section outright, lie would have a greater incentive in trying to beat his opponent in the final game of section play. Despite the cold and miserable conditions which prevailed this Easter the tournament was quite a success and was enjoyable, though the absence of sunshine was felt on most days. One little point cropped up on the last day in connection with the changing of skips to threes. One visitor contended that this was not permissible, but he was confusing the rule which says that a substitute shall not be allowed to play as skip, with the change of players in a rink. The latter has never been' seriously challenged and occurs at practically every tournament, for it is quite customary for a rink, if not doing very well, or for other causes, to change the order in which the team, was originally entered.