FEATURES OF THE PLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20156, 17 January 1929, Page 14

FEATURES OF THE PLAY.

SOME EXCITING CONTESTS. CARLTON DEFEATS PONSONBY PARSONS' TEAM ELIMINATED. [BV TEI.EGRVPH. —OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

Brilliant weather was tho good fortune of bowlers for the first day of postsection play in the rinks competition. All teams were quartered on the two Wellington greens, which were playing keen and true.

Bell (Hamilton) was drawn against Ronnie (Christchurch), and they had a splendid tussle for 13 heads, when the score was 11 all. Bell then monopolised the scoring for six ends, adding another 11 points, which left Ronnie 11 down and two to play. Bell finished up a winner by 22 —16. The whole team was playing very steadily. Walker (Auckland) went down to King (Hastings). It was a very closelycontested game, with King just keeping ahead all through. From 12 all on the 15th head King scored six points on end, when Walker added a single and a brace, leaving him three down on tho last head. King, however, was not to bo denied and, scoring a single, ran out a winner by 19—15. Findlay v. Bartlett.

Findlay (Mount Eden) made no race of his game with Bartlett (Nelson), being 24 to 10 on the 12th head. Bartlett. then had a run of singles, Findlay keeping the heads safe, and won comfortably by 27—21. Hosking (Carlton) had a good tussle with Langley (Caledonian) till the 18th head, when he was four down. Injudicious driving on the following head gave the Southerners a five, and another single settled Hosking's chances. He was not up to his usual form. Langley played a sterling game, repeatedly changing the head from a bad position into a serviceable score for his side.

Bremner (West End) defeated Bell (Seatoun) in a very small-scoring game. Up to the 13th head only three twos had been scored, with Bremner a couple to the good. He then scored for five heads on end, making him 10 up and three to play. Bell scored five points on the concluding heads, but could not overtake Bremner's commanding lead. Parsons (Ponsonby) went down in his first game to Lowry (Kelburn). The Ponsonby skip went steadily ahead from the commencement, being 10 to Lowry's four on the 11th head. A five to Lowry then altered the game, but he did not overtake Parsons till the 18th end. when he was one up. He then added a brace and a single, leaving Parsons requiring four to tio on the last head. He. however, managed to score only a couple, and went down 20—18. Walker's Battle Royal. In the second round Walker was drawn to play Edwards (Temuka), and this was a battle royal. All through the game Walker was fighting an uphill game and managed to tie 14 all on thf> 17th head. Six points to Edwards on the next three heads made him six up on the last, end, a position too hopeless for Walker to successfully overcome. This eliminated him from the competition, but with anything like his old form he would have pulled the game out of the fire against Edwards. Parsons had a comfortable win against Grifiin (N'.S.W.), /or, although the score was 16 all on the 15th head, several big scores put Parsons in an easy position. He won by 25 19. Hosking had a dingdong go with Rennie (t'hrislchurch). Level scoring all through saw the two teams 16 all on the 18th bead. The four final ends saw Hosking score a single each time, the last head being made safe by C'oltman trailing the jack into the ditch, leaving the position impossible for Rennie. Bell Defeats Findlay. Bell (Hamilton) was just too good for Findlav (Mt. Eden), although they had a level game until the 17th head, when a three to Bell, followed by a brace, made him five up. Findlay was four down playing the last and had a chance to trail for four. He played a good shot, but managed to score three only, and went down 22-21. Bremner (West End) never left the issue in doubt in his game with Naylor (Thorndon). A sterling tournament player, he had scored 19 to Naylor's five on (ho 15th bend and ran out an easv winner by 20 14. Irving Clarke was playing especially good howls as number three, giving Bremner the maximum of assistance.

For the third round it was unfortunate that two Auckland teams should meet, when Hosking was drawn to play Parsons, fho Carlton team produced good howls and gave Parsons a very hard task indeed. Twelve to 11 in Hosking's favour was She score on the 13th head, but nine points in the neAt five heads made tho game very safe. Parsons had no opportunity of making a big score, and suffered defeat by 21-17. This eliminated the Ponsonbv team.

Bell (Hamilton) maintained his unbeaten record when ho defeated Lowry (Kelburn) by 18 16. The game was not as close as the scores indicate, for on the 19th head Lowry was 10 down. lie had experienced a stern chase right through the game, his team not being able (o copo with the steady play of the Hamilton men. An Interesting Contest. The game between Biemner and King (Hastings) had the spectators on tip toes all along. After a modest couple of singles -to Biemner King replied with a six and maintained this advantage until tiic 13th end, when lie was five up. Bremner's men were fighting hard, and, afier getting within two of their opponents, scored a beautiful five, Bre inner being responsible by pressing out the only saving bowl King had on the head. A couple to King was replied to by a single and a brace to Biemner, making him four up on tho last end. King managed to score two shots, leaving Bremner the winner by 21-19. It was a game brimful of incidents, both sides playing beautiful shots, with Irving Clarke again standing out with his accurate play. Findlav (Ml. F.den) made no mistake:-, in his game with Naylor (Thorndon). Me assumed a commanding le;id from Ihe start, being 21 to Naylor's 9 op the 14th head. Steady play prevented Naylor liom scoring more I ban a single point or two and Findlav finally won, 24 16.