BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 15

BOWLING NOTES.

CHAMPION KINK CONTEST.

OTAHUHU TEAM'S GOOD WIN.

TOURNAMENT At AUCKLAND. IIY SKIP. Considerable disappointment was avoided on Saturday when the cessation of tho heavy morning's rain, made the afternoon's ordinary programme possible of completion. So many wet Saturdays being on this season's list it would have been rather heart-breaking to pla/srs if Saturday had gone the same way. The one rink champion contest of the Auckland Centre was carried through successfully. The opening day's play did not reveal anything out of the ordinary, but on the succeeding days, with an improvement in the pace of tho green, the standard was much higher. While it was well-known that the Otahuhu rink was a good one, it was not generally expected that it would win outright. However, the team from lead to skip rose well to the occasion and gave a fine allround exhibition of bowls.

Last season tho Otahuhu skip with a slightly different team just missed final honours, being defeated in the last gamo by Mnston, Auckland. It was a very creditable performance on Gardiner's part to lead a team to victory against highclass bowling talent when one considers bis comparatively short experience of tho game. He first came into prominence in 1925 when, as club champion, ho competed in the champion of champions' contest and although he did not meet .with any great success, yet he showed to those who met him that lie was a player of promise. To-day that promise has been fulfilled and the young skip must be heartily congratulated on his convincing win. Lippiatt's Brilliance. Gardiner all through tho tourney did all that is expected of a good skip, but still he received the able assistance from his team that is so essential for a rink combination to carry through successfully. His third inan, Lippiatt, was more brilliant {ban consistent, but be was generally in evidence when times of stress came about and some of his timely saves were very fine. Lippiatt has competed with varying success with his skip for some considerable time now and a perfect understanding between tho two players was a plank in their recent success.

Sykes, the number two, has long captivated the writer's eye for steady play and on this occasion lie gave those consistent displays for which he has by now made himself prominent. Sykes makes an ideal number two, and although cap- 4 " able of playing higher up with credit, he performs the arduous duties of the minor position to perfection. Cook, the lead, is a player about whom not much has been heard until now, but there is no doubt his leading during the tournament was well up to standard and a big factor in the team's ultimate success. Another surprise was in' store when Ellisdon, the now veteran player from North Shore, brought his team through to the final. Ellisdon's qualities as a bowler and a skip arc well known to the Auckland bowlers, but the members of his team, although they might have won credit in their own club individually, were practically unknown in higher bowling circles. Ellisdon went very close to bringing off the honour, so close indeed that his ultimate position as runner-up carried with it more than the usual amount of The Devonport skip was in evidence in the game at all times and there were very few heads in which he did not take a hand. Evidently the selectors when they made the recent test selection of the teams to play against Canada were fully aware of the Devonport champion's worth, and on his recent display ho entirely justified their good opiuion of him. and he thoroughly deserved his inclusion. A Valuable Number Three.

The ex-West End player, W. Cox. who was at one time an expert at finding the bull's eye at shooting, has all through his bowling career demonstrated his ability to place his bowls on the target, as it werej in the bowling game. Cool and steady at all times he thoroughly sizes up the position before making his final effort to deliver. His work, at number three was of invaluable assistance to Ellisdon on very many occasions. Given the opportunity to compete more often in tournaments Cox would bo soon making his presence felt.

The two senior men of the team, Sinclair, lead, and Watson, number two, demonstrated their ability to draw and they were never very far from the head. Watson rather spoilt his display by an indifferent showing in the final game, but up to then his work was fairly good. Wright, St. Ileliers, and Kcafley, Rocky Nook, who finished next, had \a good tussle. The latter was tho last "two-lifer" left, but the former was responsible for taking the first "life" away in a well-contested game, in which singles predominated. Ivoatley gave a much improved showing over his effort in the Christmas tourney. On this occasion he had ovcry assistance, the veteran WakerltSy especially being responsible for good work. Yeo, lead, and Farley, number two, were a solid front division.

Leyland; Dominion Road, justified the prophecy that his team would do well. As in tho Christmas ovont, flic skip was in fino form. Benson led well throughout, and 'the number two, Kelly, gave good assistance. Dcnison, too, was more or less good, and the whole team was quite well balanced. Tho defeat of the Christmas tourney winners and Parsons so early in the proceedings was a big surprise. Tho Ponsonby team played quite well, but the forcing tactics employed by their opponents repeatedly broke up the heads in the latter's favour. Lethain filled tho number two position with credit, and Parsons himself was in great drawing form. A Successful Tourney.

Tho first big venture of tho Auckland Club on Anniversary Day was a great success, and the tournament was thoroughly enjoyed by the competitors. As a result of the previous wet weathor tho greens wero not running as quick as was desired, tho new green on the Domain ground being rather heavy for good bowling.

The honour of winning tho tourney goes to tho Ponsonby team in charge of J. Dick, who, although he does not often figure in tho winning list, generally makes a good showing. His team members, Oatos, Hill and G. Buchan, played good bowls. The Ponsonby Club representatives figured very prominently on the day, and the three last teams loft in were vory nearly all from that club. Bridges went down to Roylanco, and thus spoilt the sequence. SPECTATOR AND PLAYER. LEAGUE FOOTBALL INCIDENT. A spectator desiring to tako action against a visiting player on the score of questionable tactics is a novelty in football. Such a request, however, was considered recently by the English Rugby League Management Committee. A letter was received from a spectator present at a League game at Huddersiield, desiring permission, through a solicitor, to bring beforo the committee a complaint alleging questionable tactics by a member of a visiting team. The playw complained of is a member of a Laucashiro club, and as no report had been made by the referee the Loague management decided that no further action bo taken.