Dominion Bowling Tournament

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 17, 21 January 1941, Page 6

Dominion Bowling Tournament

Fours and Pairs Finals To-day CHRISTCHURCH AFTER HAT TRICK Fer Pre&s Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 20. The N.Z. bowls championships will conclude to-morrow. The position in the lours is interesting in that L. W. Bcslcy (New Brighton;, a hitherto unknown skip, has by his own play taken his team into the iinals. He is a member of a club where opportunity for hard competitive bowls is limited. Besley has shown himself capable not only of ranking among tho best players m New Zealand but also of being one of the best skips seen in action in these contests for a loug time past. No matter how hopeless a shot may come up the green from one of his own men he never gets upset but plays each end as it lies- During those important prelinal games that have meant so much to his team he has remained steady all the way through and in the critical stages has been ablo to give them the shot that counted. To morrow Beslcy and his team are facing heavy odds in meeting P. Munn (Canterbury;, in that few cases arc known in which a one-lifer has beaten a two-lifer twice. Munn's team has already had one close victory over'the New Brighton four. Meeting Bosley on Saturday afternoon, Munu had the advantage of skipping a young team against one in which the average age was nearer the sixty than the forty mark. In the gtfme on Saturday Besley’a team admitted they were tired and did not expect to win. The Sunday rest restored them. They had one bye in the eighth, round and will be completely rested when they take their places to-morrow morning.

In to-day’s game with Mitchell (Blenheim) Munn was lighting all the way against a skip who has won high honours during the tournament by his propensity for saving the situation with his last bowL On the last end to-day Mitchell required two to win but Munn's men outdrew tho Blenheim players and gave Canterbury a 19 —15 victor}'.

The times for to-morrow *s games all depend on the result of the 9 a.m. game between Munn and Besley. If Munn wins he get’s the championship and the win automatically releases Williamson and Joseph (Canterbury) to meet Maslm and Ciquire (Haweru) for the linal of the pairs. On the other hand if a second game is necessary between Munn and Besley this will be commenced be tween one and two o’clock and the final of the pairs cannot be played until about 4 o’clock or a little later. The Canterbury pair will meet two players in Maslin and Squire who already hold a New Zealand championshipn their win being at Wellington in 19J3. Wins by Munu in the fours and Joseph in the pairs would mean all three titles being won by Christchurch players, equalling the record established last year when Auckland men took all three. Hay in the fours to-day resulted in Mitchell (Bienheiru) getting third and Masiin (Hawera) fourth. To-day’s results were:— Fours: Eighth round, Munn (Canterbury) 19, Mitchell (Blenheim) 15; Besley (New Brighton) a bye. Fourth prize, Maslin (Hawera) -5, Lire (North End, Invercargill) 18. Fairs: Fifth round, Joseph (Canterbury) 19, Hadwia (Hutt) 18; semifinal?, Squire (Hawera) 24, McClymout (Poqsonbv) 9; Joseph (Canterbury) 22, Caldier (Phoenix, Oamaru) 18.