BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20517, 19 March 1930, Page 18

BOWLING NOTES.

PENNANT COMPETITION. SURPRISES IN FINAL ROUND. AUCKLAND CLUB'S FINE WIN. nv skip. The final round of the pennant competition on Saturday was the most eventful of this season's series. Wliilo it was felt that there would be some changes, it was never generally believed that they would he so drastic. Conditions were well nigh perfect, and a very enjoyable and interesting day's bowling was experienced.

* In section A the Carlton Club had, prior to Saturday, played three rounds of 14 wins out of 20 games, and the fourth of 11£ wins. If the club had been equal to repeating the 14-win record it would have stood a great chance. However, its representatives failed to withstand tho onslaught of tho West End Club attack and only one and a-half wins were secured on the home ground, where good results are generally expected. The net result of 10g wins was therefore the worst of tho series.

On the other hand, Helensville, which has been pointed out as a club to be reckoned with, eamo with a startling rush at the finish, and with a meritorious round of four wins against Mount Eden, made a sufficient percentage to beat Carlton. As it happened, Carlton would have only tied with Helensville if 14 wins had been secured, and therefore a fairly impossible task was sot the big club. Helensville did not start off too well in tho first part of the season, and it was some time before the members worked up the right combinations under The fourrink quota. Helensville simply romped homo in the competition last season under a two-rink impost, and now the club stands a fair chance of winning under the higher quota. It just goes to show what a good chance a small club has in this form of combination if the right kind of players can bo secured. There is no doubt that the Helensville Club can produce these players. Carlton's Quota. Saturday's play proved that Carlton's quota of 20 teams is not too light. Although the club has a largo membership and many fine players, it requires herculean efforts to maintain an average of 65 per cent of wins throughout. In lying second to Helensville tho club has put up :i splendid record and its representatives arc to be congratulated on their showing this season. Remuera, with a 16-rink quota, has done very well to take third place, especially when it is considered that only five wins were secured in the first round. Subsequently, 9£, 11 and 12J, wins were secured, and with Saturday's record of 10 wins the very respectable percentage of 60 was obtained for the season. On such a showing the members can be justly proud and it is pleasing to note that this large club is making its presence felt in competitive play. Waitemata, which was well up for the first three rounds, fell away badly in tho last two, and thus spoilt an excellent chance of taking the section honours. In section B tho parent club, Auckland, has at last come to the fore again. It lias been noticeable that during the past few years the club lias furnished winning rinks in other competitions, and a further step has now been made, when the combined result of tho efforts of 14 rinks is reckoned up. The club had a very even run with records of wins. Balloting for the Final. A special effort was made on Saturday and free play was made at the expense of Grey Lynn and Stanley. The next event on the programme will be the final against Helensville. Prior to that, however, the Auckland Club will have to submit its 14 teams to the centre executive for the purpose of balloting out ten of them to leave the required four teams to contest, the final. Some small amount of luck enters into this, especially in relation to tho calibre of the skips. Manurewa, which was placed third, led all the way, but went down to Hillsborough badly, losing both games. The club only required ono win to attain a percentage of 70, which would easily have taken the section. The club could have packed all its strength into one team, but it took the sporting chance of entering two even teams. Although it lost both games and section honours, yet it had the satisfaction of not only being well up in tho section, but of causing all the other teams anxiety right through the season. Ponsoiibv, second on the list, needed another one and a-half wins on Saturday to take the section with 65 per cent. However, the opposition of Devonport and St. Hclicrs was fairly solid, and the 50 per cent, of wins obtained by Ponsonby was perhaps as much as could bo expected. Hillsborough finished fourth, and had the honour of bringing down 1 lie Manurewa players in the last round and so paving tlie way for Auckland to win the section. Success o! Competition.

The competition, which lias been more interrupted than usual, was just as interesting as in other years. There arc some, however, who are against the competition on the score that it causes jealousy and friction in their clubs. While there may be a few individual cases of players labouring under a supposed injustice on account of non-inclusion in the teams, yet that is no real reason for the stoppage of a competition, which caters for nearly the full strength of every club. r lhe competition is unique in this respect, and ideal, in that it takes only five Saturdays out of the season's play. The trial of strength between Auckland and Taranaki, which took place last week on the Auckland Club's green, provided a series of good and woll-fought-out games. For a touring party tho visitors were certainly strong, and although they did not win outright, they put up a great fight against a thoroughly lcpreseutativo Auckland side. The contesting ground was in fine order for the names, and the* weather conditions bcinu fine, it was not surprising that some brilliant play was witnessed. The Taranaki skip, Lobb, wl<o had a successful run on the tour, was pitted against Wright, who was supported by a very strong side, but he could not hold the local men over the full distance. Lobb has a very fine stylo, and gives the impression of being a high-class bowler. Quite an outstanding feature of the play was the display of- leading by tho Carlton crack singles player, 11. C. Clarke. 11 is consistent length on any sort of head showed great judgment, and altogether his work was a treat to watch. 1 Two Good Records.

Tho Mount Albert Club's championship has been won by H. Dawson, who has not before won the honour, but has been closo to it on occasions. His opponent in the final was t«. Clark, but he was liglii, oft his game, and Dawson had an easy win. The semi-final between Dawson and F. Tomlinson, a young player of promise, was a really good jjanie, the issue being iu doubt to tho last head, lomlinson is a persistent and, on the whole, accurate driver, and lie proves a very disturbing factor to an opponent who is at all temperamental. Dawson is not one of these, however, and goes about his game in quite an imperturbable manner. In connection with tho matches in the pennant competition, the records of two skips, \V. Coltman, Carlton, and 11 Woolley, Auckland, stand out. Both have won the ten gumes played during the past two seasons. Green superintendents and greenkeepers are reminded of tho lecture which is to be given in tho Carlton Bowling Club pavilion this' evening at 7.45 by Mr. \V. 11. llorton, who is an enthusiast on green management.