BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 15

BOWLING NOTES.

CARLTON CLUB'S TOURNEY.

FINE PLAY BY H. CLARKE.

THE PENNANT COMPETITION. BY SKIP. Tho Carlton Club's Labour Day tournament was brought to a closo on Saturday afternoon, when two interesting semi-finals and tho final gamo were played. The home club, with a preponderance of entries, supplied tho winner. 11. Clarke, tho skip of tho successful Carlton team, has somo fino records bohind him in the singles gamo, but this win is one of the best ho has had when in charge of a rink. Ho has struck form very quickly this season, as ho had no play to speak of during the winter. On Labour Day ho was playing in brilliant style and his brilliance was again in evidence on Saturday, particularly in tne semi-final, when ho had to bring all his resources to bear at a critical stage in his gamo against the veteran Wakerley from Rocky Nook.

Apart from the skip's play, mention must bo made of the fine work of the members of his team. Bates, who has a considerable local reputation for showing the way to tho jack, came up to his very best standard and ho gave a very fine display against another noted leader in C. Lamb, of Epsom. Elliott, of whoso play as a number two I am a great admirer, was also responsible for a sound display, although ho can play a much better game when the greens are keener. ( He found in Bruce a worthy adversary. Turner, the number three, was no doubt an important factor in the team's success, all through the tourney. Especially good when hard put to it, he seldom leaves his skip in jeopardy. Steadiness of play characterises his game all tho time. Play of de Launay.

De Launay, liko Clarke, was playing great bowls oil the Monday, but <1 id not attain such heights on Saturday. Hio Epsom player generally lands his team pretty close to tho winning post. Last year lie went out in the semi-final, but "he went one step better on this occasion. By the laws of progression, at any rate, lie should be a strong favourite for the event next year. George. the Epsom number three, was responsible for a fine all-round display. In both games on Saturday ho performed really well and if ho maintains or improves on this showing he will havo a particularly good season. Unfortunately he is precluded from taking part in many tournaments, but when he does participate he generally occupies a prominent place. Bruce, number two, played steady bowls all through tho tourney. The one-time Ponsonby player is a most useful member of a good tournament combination. Lamb, one of the best of local leads, had to exert himself fully against Bates and although lie did not.prevail over his strong opponent as often as he does over lesser players, yet ho placed his bowls handy and in good position. The first bowls in the inter-club penant competition for tho year will be played on Saturday. The proportions of this very popular competition havo now reached a high level, and this season 1104 players will bo actually engaged. This is an increase of 96 (from last season. There are not many sports that provide a competition of such magnitude and it says much for the authorities who have successfully brought about such a position. Despite the huge scale of the competition, the actual working is simplicity itself, with all the details worked out beforehand.

Starting to Time. The elnlj authorities this year should realise the importance of starting the games at the advertised time, two o'clock. It is not a fair thing for visiting players "to be held up on account of a lato start. Some have long distances to travel, while others nearer at hand may desire to return to their homo clubs to play a match. In section A, Carlton, with 20 teams, mods Dominion Road, with 12, Papatoetoc, with 4, and Helensville, with 4. This is fairly strong opposition for the large clubs. Dominion Road will no doubtshow an improved set of teams, due to play on the new green last season. Helensville, last season's winners, will of course bo weaker with four teams, but all the same the township club will have to bo treated with a certain amount of respect. Papatoetoe is also a club that improves every year and with well-known and successful skips of the calibre of ParkerHill can present a solid front to most opposition. doubt the club will concentrate its strength on Carlton and put four weaker teams against Te Papapa. Reniuera is pitted against Mount Eden with eight teams, and Rawhiti with eight, and these games should be very even. The rest of Mount Eden's strength goes against Hallyburton-Johnstone with four teams and Henderson with two. It may make up some percentage against the former, but Henderson is improving and will afford much stronger opposition than formerly. Henderson's other two teams will play Glen Eden, which should be able to place two fair rinks in the field. Kocky- Nook's Task. Rocky Nook, which is now on the 12rink quota, will find the going harder than in the past when only 10 rinks had to be found. Its first round prospects do not favour the repetition of the opening display of last season, when a percentage of 75 was obtained. West End and Mount .Albert, both with six teams, should cause the famous pennant winners some concern. West End's remaining six teams will play Waitemata, while the other six Mount Albert rinks will meet Edcndale. Auckland, 14, plays- Epsom, 10, and Avondalo, 4. The parent club openod with only five wins last season and should improve cm that showing this time, even allowing for tho Epsom opposition. Otahuhn plays, the balance of Epsom and Hillsborough, four teams. A good even scries of games should result. Otahuhn has eight teams to provide as against six last season, when 3J- wins wero obtained in the first essay. Hillsborough opened with 50 per cent, host season, and it will take it all its time to equal that record on this occasion. Dovonport has gone up to 14 teams, two moro than last season, and its first round opponents are tho whole of Onehunga's quota, 12, and Ellerslie, 2. Tho marine club, although happy in placing so many of its members in play, will have to put up with its share of losses as the quota is fairly high for a club of its playing standard. '1 he opposition on this occasion is pretty solid. Chances of Ellerslie. The balance of Ellerslie's quota, six teams, goes against St. Ileliers, and tho latter's other two teams play Manurowa. Most of the other clubs have risen in quota, but Ellerslie remains on tho same mark, 8, as last season, and so its chances of being higher up in thd percentage table are enhanced. Last year tho first round effort produced 5 wins, but this was nof maintained, and the club finished _ well down the list. Manurewa opened with p. 75 per cent, of wins last season, and it will have to play well this time to repeat the performance. Ponsonbv, 12 l.oams. plays Grey Lynn, 8, and Now Lynn, 4. Tho latter two clubs combined should give ample scope for tho old club to play up. Ponsonby will bo stronger in playing quality this season/ Grey Lynn also meets Takapuna, 2, and Howick, 2. Howick did not open its scoring account until the third round last" season, lyjt should do better this season. Takapuna's other six teams meet Stanley. The latter opened very well last' season and made 75 per cent., of wins, while Takapuna reached half wny,