BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 18

BOWLING NOTES.

GREENS KEEN AND TRUE. PENNANT GAMES THIS WEEK. THE CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT. BY SKIP. Saturday was such an ideal day for bowling that even the most fastidious had little cause for complaint. With fine weather the greens were running keen and true, and a most enjoyable afternoon's sport resulted. In addition to the many club games, three inter-club matches were played. Remuera and Auckland, in the fixture between these clubs, were each represented by 80 members, and, considering the respective strengths were so spread out, the games were on the whole fairly even and keenly contested. The usual runaway victories were, of course, prevalent, and, strange to relate, the champion, Walker, was one of the victims, his measure being well taken on this occasion by Wooller, Remuera, by whom he was beaten by 31 points to 11. Remuera won the aggregate on both greens, the totals being 418 and 371. Rawhiti and Waitemata had an extremely close match, the latter winning on the total aggregate by 156 to 152. In the match between Mount Albert and West End, the regular skips of both clubs occupied the No. 3 position, and vice versa. Some comment may be levelled at this procedure, but on Saturday, at any rate, all parties seemed satisfied and the experience gained by the members promoted should be the means of ranking some of them more fitted to occupy the position of skip at a future date. West End was a few points up on each green, the totals being 225 and 191. Two big wins by West End teams, skipped by Thomson and Ure, were responsible for the difference. Otherwise, the games wero fairly even. Teams in Christmas Tourney. Considering that the Dominion fixture always interferes with the local entries for the Christmas tournament, when the former event is held here, the entry of 60 teams must be accounted very satisfactory. The six sections comprise some good talent. In section A, Jury, Rocky Nook, stands out. On this occasion he has a very powerful team under his command and, striking three such good greens as St. Heliers, Mount Albert and Devonport, he lias no need for worry on that score. The teams skipped by Findlay, Mount Eden, Kissling, Remuera, and Clarke, West End, are the ones most likely to seriously dispute matters with him. The team skipped by the young player, Mingins, Epsom, is not to be despised. The Epsom skip defeated Jury in the section game at Carlton on Labour Day. Section B has six good teams of about equal strength. An interesting game will , be that between two club mates, Hosking and Truscott, in the first round. Trayes, Mount Eden, is one' of the veterans who shows up well in big company. Mcßobie, Remuera, Wright, Onehunga, and de Launay, Epsom, are the other three who will be forcing the pace all the way. Unless one team is 'exceptionally lucky, it is. long odds that six wins will provide the. winner. The Rocky Nook team skipped by H. Clarice reads well in the C section. The rest of the competitors are fairly even. It is anyone's section. Section D is a shade more classical than the previous one. The two Carlton teams in charge of Cross and Laurenson are both good. Russell, Remuera, Chapman, Rocky Nook, Kenny, Onehunga, and G. Clark, Mount Albert, are four others who all have a chance. Section E is similar to section B. Although it contains Walker, Who must be placed at the head of affairs, yet there are several others who should run him close for the section honours. The last section includes the Ponsonby champion, Parsons. In these lean days of Ponsonby's talent, the veteran skip has not the same "classy" players round him as in previous years. On the whole, this is about the most even section of the six. Every skip there, with the exception of Beaton, of Avondale, whom the writer does not know, has proved himself at one time or another. Hunt, the Carlton skip, is from the Wairarapa and, from all accounts,, plays a fine game. Pennant Match Prospects. The third round of the pennant competition will be played on Saturday. In section A Carlton's 20 rinks will encounter fairly solid opposition from the quotas of West End, 12, and Orey Lynn, 8, that is, if the earlier round performances of the latter are any criterion. In face of strong opposition on this occasion, it will be interesting to see if the leaders in the section can maintain their good position. Grey Lynn, which is fourth in the table, will also be harder put to it next Saturday. Epsom, which is close on the heels of West End, will meet exactly the same clubs as West End met previously. Ellerslie, like Epsom, will meet the same clubs and should do well. At present in third place, it should be easy for the club to maintain that position for this round at least. Remuera will meet Ponsonby, 12, and Edendale, 4, the same clubs that Epsom scored so well' against last time. In Section B, Rocky Nook, at present in the lead, will find the going much harder on this occasion. In Mount Eden, 6, and Papatoetoe, 4, solid opposition presents itself. Auckland (14), second in the list on last round form against good teams, should do well against Mount Albert, 6, and Otahuhu, 8. However, both of the latter clubs are not to be taken lightly. Devonport, 13, and Papatoetoe, 6, which share third position in the table, will meet respectively Onehunga, 6, Stanley, 6, and Rocky Nook, 4, Papaltura, 2. Devonport should put up a good showing, especially against Stanley. Mount Albert, with a 50-50 return last time, will meet Auckland, 6, and Avondale, 4. Auckland's chances have already been discussed, but the Avondale forces will be found much stronger than when they took the field before. This is accounted for by the inclusion of two new players, both skips, in the persons of Topliss, late of Mount Albert, and the Rev. Rankin, late of Cromwell, Otago. Added to this is the fact that Wansbone and Pooley, two strong players who were precluded from competing last time, will play on this occasion. Mount Eden, with the same percentage as Monnt Albert, will play Rocky Nook, 6, and Takapuna, 6. Against Rocky Nook the contest should be even, but a profit should result at Takapuna's expense. Public Service Pairs Pinal. When Gannaway and Wyatt, Telegraph, defeated Eaves and Kelly, Railway, in the. final of the Public Service tournament at Mount Albert last week, they not only put up a record for a double win in this event, but also caused tlhe opposing skip to become a runner-up for the second time. The previous occasion was in the full-rink event in March, when he was defeated by White, Public Works. Th game was a very even one, the score being 'l7 all with 17 heads gone, when the veterans put on three, two, three, to the opposition's one. The successful pair won the initial event in 1921. Gannaway played a fine leading game in the section play and in the final.