MANAWATU BOWLING TOURNAMENT ENDS

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 4

MANAWATU BOWLING TOURNAMENT ENDS

Palmerston North Chib Pair Wins Final MANAWATU COMBINATION IN SECOND PLACE In. sunny but windy weaker the Manawatu Bowling Centro’s New Year pairs tournament was brought to a conclusion yesterday afternoon, when in tho final G. Itoldaway and R. Ross, of the Palmerston North Club, defeated J. Kershaw and H. Prcece Manawatu). Third and fourth places went to W. Helsby and O. Christiansen (Terraco End), and P. Bourke and C. Sheehan (.Patea) respectively. Tho games wero played on tho Palmerston North Club’s green, which was a triflo heavy at tho outset, although, later, under the influence of tho sun. and wind, it dried up. At the conclusion of tho play tho trophies'won wore presented by tho centre president, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P. Section Tie Decided. Tho first game in tho morning was that to decide the winners of section B, two Palmerston North Club pairs having linished with an equal number of wins—G. Holdawa.y and R. Ross («.), and G. Gv AVilson and If. Ramsay (s.). A very even game resulted, Foss winning 15 —12. The winner opened his account well and scored six on the first three heads. Ramsay then recorded a two ou tho fourth after two good draws by his lead. Holdaway played excellently on tho next head and Ramsay failed to alter his opponents’ position, allowing them to score four and secure a commanding lead 10—2. Ross added singles on. the sixth and soventh, but at the next Ramsay lay one up on going to tho mat, and drew four beautiful shots to secure a nice five, Ross having failed with his drive. Holdaway played well on tho ninth to lio threo up when tho skips went to tho mat. Ross then added another three to lie six up, but Ramsay drove and took threo out. Ross led 15—7 with threo heads to go. Ramsay staged a recovery by scoring successive twos on the tenth and eleventh heads. AVitli ono head to play ho was still four down, but had a lighting chance. AVilson had ono bowl within scoring distance, but this was insutlicient. Ramsay twice drove in an attempt to burn the head, and onco just missed. Ross won 15—32 after failing to score on the last threo heads. The Semi-finals In the semi-finals Kershaw and Prcece played Bourko and Sheehan, while Holdaway and Ross met Helsby and Christiansen. Tho first gamo opened sensationally, tho Manawatu pair drawing exceptionally well and scoring seven on tho first head. They added singles on tho next two. Sheehan opened his account with two ou tho fourth, but Preeco retaliated in similar fashion and at tho end of the sixth led 13 —2. The Manawatu pair added a single on tho next, a closo head. Kershaw drew a toucher on tho eighth, and tho Manawatu pair were lying three when the skips went to tho mat. AV.ith his first, however, Sheehan trailed the kitty to secure tho shot bowd beautifully. This won him the head with a. single. He just failed with his lust to take out another of his opponents' bowls for five. Bourke drew the shot for I’atca at the next, and then tho skip .wicked :in nicely for another. Kershaw retaliated by drawing the shot twice in succession, to lead 16—3. The Manawatu pair scored another two on the tenth. The Patea lead again drew the shot nicely ou the next. The skips moved the bowls a little, but Patea won tho head, with a single. Prceco was lying two down at the 12th. when he drove and took one out. Patea secured another singlo and then began to make a steady recovery. AVith threo heads to go they were still nine down. Bourke drew beautifully on tho I9th. to He four, and Sheehan moved tho kitty into the nest of bowls with his first. He drew three more and was lying seven when Prccco drove to take out tho kitty and lio ono up. This dashed Patca’s hopes, and the Manawatu pair won 22—16. In the other semi-final Ross began with a single, Christiansen replying with a similar scoro ou each of tho two following heads. Tho Palmerston North pair scored two on the fourth head and Christiansen three on tho_ fifth. The score was kept very close. Ross secured a beautiful four on the eighth, his opponent taking a singlo on the next. AVitli a five on the tenth Ross was well ahead, but ho failed to score in tho following four heads, Christiansen meanwhile pulling up to the extent of eight points. At the end of the 19th. head Ross led 22—16. Ho drew the shot beautifully at the 20th., where Christiansen at first tried to burn the head and then, wicked in to tako two of his opponents’ bowls. Ross drew another and finally secured three on the head to lead 25—10. Christiansen secured threo on tho last head, and Ross won 25—19. Good Scoring by Winners The final gamo did not prove as evenly contested as had been anticipated, Holdaway and Ross running out winners by 32 points to 11. Tho Palmerston North pair were right on their game, and their steadiness and drawing were features of tho play. Holdaway and Ross early established a load, taking threo of the first four heads. The Palmerston North pair scored two on tho first, ono on the second and another one on the fourth, while Kershaw and Preeco notched a single on tho intervening head. The fifth saw Ross, when lying ono down, accidentally knock an opponent’s bowl in for a second point. When the skips went to tho mat for tho sixth head Ross was lying two, and his first bowl mad.o it three. Preece drove, but failed to alter the lie. Ross 7, Preeco 3. Holdaway gave Ross a start of two on tho seventh and the Palmerston North skip, drawing beautifully, added another. Holdaway’s first bowl on the next head was a toucher, and his third also kissed kitty. Palmerston North were four up when Ross went to the mat, and the subsequent play made it five. Ross 15, Preoce 3. Hoad No. 9 saw Holdaway out-draw Kershaw, and Preece, driving, disturbed the lie, but Ross was still two up. Preece look out the lying bowls to finish one up. Holdaway gave

Ross a start of three, with a measure for four, on tho tontli, but Prccco drew inside. With a fino bowl Ross took tho shot out for five, but Preece again drew a beauty for a singlo. Ross 15, Preeco 5. Lying two on tho ldth. head, Ross was a bit strong with his last bowl, reducing his advantage to ono. Ross 16, Preeco 5. Holdaway again drew nicely on tho next head and gave Ross a lead of three. Preeco drew second shot and Ross, with a bad bowl, took out tho shot. With his last bowl, however, tho Palmerston North skip made amends and lay three up. Preeco was short. Ross 19, Preeco 5. The 13th. saw tho Manawatu skip, lying ono down, tako out the shot with his last bowd for three. Ross 19, Preeco 8. On the 14th. the Palmerston North pair were ono down, with ono bowl loft, and Ross, playing strongly, got a wick to take tho shot bowl out and lie three. Ross 22, Preeco 8. Kershaw drew a toucher on the loth, head and Manawatu were three up when the skips wont to tho mat. Ross reduced the advantage to one, and with his last bowd trailed the jack, to lie two up. Preece, with a good effort, drew the shot. Ross 22, Preeco 9. The next head saw Palmerston North with an advantage of three when tho leads had finished, and Ross mnde it five.. Ross 27, Preeco 9. Tho initial, play ou tho 17th. resulted in Korsliaw giving his skip an advantage of three, but Boss drew second shot. The head ended without any material alteration. The next was a long head, and when the skips went to tlio other cud Palmerston North -were two up. Preece got a wick with his first to lie the shot, but Ross’s last bowl took it out to give the Palmerston North pair another two. Ross 29, Preeco 10. AVitli Manawatu wanting 20 on tho last three heads the position was pretty hopeless for Preece, and with a single to him on the 19th the game was virtually ended. The 20th. head, however, was played, three to Ross resulting.

Closely Matched Pairs The play-off for third and fourth places between Christiansen and Sheehan was ono of tho best games of the tournament. Tho pairs wore very evenly matched and both played splendid bowls. Christiansen was level with his opponent or a point or two behind right until the 20th. head, when splendid drawing enabled him to scorn a six and take the lead 22—IS. Sheehan thus required four on tho last head to havo a elianco of winning, or five for victory. Playing exceedingly well, he just failed, notching three. The I’atca pair opened with a brace of two:-, tho Terraco End combination scoring similarly on tho third head. Four singles followed,, being evenly divided. Sheehan then got four and Christiansen three. With nino heads thus gono the score was Sheehan 10, Christiansen 7. On tho 12th. head Terrace End drew level, and the position was again the same on tho 16tb. Sheehan then got three, Christiansen replying with two. One on the 19th to Patea mado the position Sheehan 18, Christiansen 16. Then camo the Terraco End pair’s six, turning the game in their favour. Presentation of Trophies

In presenting tho trophies, Mr. Nash congratulated tho successful pairs, and on his call cheers wero given for them. Two years ago, he mentioned, Messrs. Ross and Holdaway had been the run-ners-up :in the pairs tournament, white Mr. Christiansen had been the centre singles champion. Messrs. Sheehan and Bourke wero last year’s pairs tournament winners. He had heard some talk during tho tournament as to whether it should bo mado into a rinks contest, and doubtless this question "would be settled at tho next meeting of tho centre. Concluding, Mr. Nash expressed thank to all. who had assisted in the conduct of tho tourney—to the umpires at the various greens, to the secretary (Mr. A. F. AVimsett), to the ladies for the provision of afternoon tea, to the greenkeepers and to tho four clubs on "whose greens the tournamont had been played. All would agreo that the tournament had been a success, and he hoped that next year would again see good entries.