BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 16

BOWLING NOTES.

L_ TOURNAMENT AT HOTORTJA. TAKAPUN A ? S NEW GREEN. CHAMPION SINGLES CONTEST. BY SKIP. The Rotorua bowling tournament, recently concluded, retained the popularity of past years. On this occasion the weather was at its best and the greens were fairly good, although not up to the standard of some previous occasions. Six years have elapsed since Dillicar, Wallett, Duffin and G. R. Hosking succeeded in winning and placing Carlton on the roll of fame for the first time since the tournaments commenced in 1903. Since then, of course, several Carlton teams have been knocking at the door, but it was left to 11. Clarke and his team to break the spell, and add the second victory for the Carlton Club. The winning team at Rotorua was a very evenly balanced one. In Millar there was a capable lead who, although not yet a thoroughly seasoned player, put in good work all through. This .player . has not been long at the game, but has made more than ordinary progress, and has, in addition, that keenness which counts for much in a player's early career. The No. 2, Buxton, was well tried and played a sterling game every inch of the way. A good lead in a team is of paramount importance, but a No. 2 who does his part well—and this is not too easy at times—is a veritable godsend. Buxton has a good reputation as a front division man at Carlton, and when that is said it can be realised ho is one of the best. Of Kilgour, who played No. 3, little need be said. In this position he usually makes a good showing, and his experience alone is of valuable assistance to his side. He and the new Dominion champion singles player, Clarke, worked well together, and whatever was required in time of stress, one or the other usually supplied. Kilgour's win on this occasion is some slight consolation for his failure to win the event last year, when he was the popular "fancy." Ho notched his second win, the previous occasion being when he played No. 3 for the New South Wales team in charge of V. Casey in 1925. The successful skip has certainly made a good beginning for 1927. To win two important events in such a short time is a good performance and stamps him as a fine all-iround player, since it is evident he can handle two bowls as well as four. Having started so well, he may repeat his performance of the season in which he became champion of champions. In that year he won about seven local and outside tournaments. Takapuna's At Home. * The Takapuna Club members were fortunate to secure such a fine day for the At Home on Saturday. The large local attendance was considerably swelled by the presence of players and visitors from Auckland. For some time it has been a matter of conjecture as to where the Takapuna players have been getting that practice which enabled various of their representatives to perform so creditably in recent events It was said they had only half a green, during the time the new one was being prepared. A glance at the club's property on Saturday showed that this was so. There is no telling to what heights the club's players will now rise, seeing that they are now in possession of a new and delightful running full-sized green. The president, Mr. J. W. Hayden,_ by his showing in the Dominion and previous events, has proved himself to be a good bowler, but one had only to. listen to the various speakers at the ceremony on Saturday to learn that he is also a good president. The club was always blessed with a large area of ground—too large, in fact, for such a population —and matters gradually drifted until a scheme of reorganisation was necessary. Mr. Hayden set about the task in a business-like manner. Clubs' Singles Championships. At this juncture the position of the singles championship of tho various clubs will be interesting in view of the approach of the meeting of the ultimate winners. At Epsom two two-lifers and 11 onelifers remain in. In the former class are Wilkinson and Foubister. The_ former player is an ex-champion and is wellknown to all bowlers. Foubister is reported to be playing in fine style this season and, with his present good position, should be difficult to defeat. The one-life division comprises such good players as Kendall, A. Jones, C. Lamb, Miiigins, A. Bruce, Nash, But!and, J. Wright, I. R. George, R. Millen and H. Jenkin. Avondale has a long way to go before a champion is found, but in a small suburban club like this the practice of devoting a Saturday or two to the competition soon expedites the reaching of a decision. The two-lifers number five, namely, Wansbone, Johnston, Brookes, Wells and Witham, while the one-lifers are the Rev. Rankin, Somerville, Anderson, Young, Topliss, Porritt, Pooley, Nunn, Gilberd, Darfow, Darrach and Jones. The competition is well -advanced at Takapuna. Brake, the present champion, and Codd, a former champion, are the only two-lifers. The one-lifers are Aud» ley, Boulton, Arrowsmith, Matthews and Cutler. A remarkable state of affairs exists at Remuera, where the survivors are all twolifers except one, the Rev. Ryan. Daniells, the present champion, Blanchard, Garrard, Russell and S. Kissling are the twolifers. Here again the remaining six players are all men of calibre, and a very interesting tussle for supremacy will no doubt ensue. West End has the competition well advanced, the survivors being Needham, Garry, J. Hosking, Whit ten, R. H. Scott and Bremner. The two former are in the seventh round. After Hosking plays Whitten and Scott plavs Bremner only four players will remain. Carlton Competition Well Forward. The Carlton competition is also well advanced, seven players remaining, namely, Truscott (two lives) and Deare, Guy, Fookes. 'Perry, Kilgour and Percy (one life each). The Devonport survivors are as follow Stapleton, Layzell, Sullivan (two lives), Morgan, Bay ley, Bailey, Rowell, Mills, Melville and Blackie (one life). Edendale still has a good number left. The position is as follows: —R. Smith, Echvai'ds, L McLeod, BrOwnette, Addison and Vincent (two lives); Bleakley, Goldsmith, S. McMahon, Horspool, Bradshaw, L. Butler, Culpan and Stilhvell (one life). The Auckland Club has four two-lifers and five one-lifers left-, namely, A. D. Gray, Scantlc-bury, Walker, Moir (two lives); Hardie Neil, R . D. Gray, G. J. Mackay, Woolley and P. Wyatt-(one life). Mount Eden has Turner and Traves with two lives and Gill, Cornes, Nairn, Middleton, Gribble, EL Walton and Oatridge with one life. At EHerslie the two-lifers are F. Osborne, W. Osborne, Dickson, Coppins, Watson and Campbell. One-lifers are Godfrey, Taylor, Gavey. Diggens, J oil. White," Reed, Crosher, Holland and McKelvie. Wood, Macklow," Flyger and Thompson. This is a fairly large number for a small club at this stags of the season. Ponspnby is .also, somewhat .in arrears. The two-lifers are J. McGregor and Letham. The one-lifers are Rofle, Valentine, Dick, Crowe, Farrow, Hilton, Chapman, Bnch.m, Patefson, McTnness, Parsons, Bhneow, Simpson, F. Carbines and Richardson. At Meant Albert J, Wallett, H. Hawk?, J. Dar.n, J. Patterson and J. Rowe have two lives. There are several one-lifers. Wallett was the winner of last season's handicap singles and J. Darm is the present champion. Hawke is in good - form at present and Clarke is always difficult to defea| in ths final stages*