CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 15

CHRISTMAS BOWLING.

IIY SKI I'.

AUCKLAND CENTRE TOURNIEY.

REVIEW OF SECTION PLAY

FIFTY TEAMS FOR REMUERA

Aftef threo days of well-nigh perfect, weather tho section play in tho annual Christmas tournament was brought to a close. It is almost needless to say that tho two hundred and fifty odd competitors spent a very enjoyable period of bowling. Apart from tho beautiful weather tho green conditions wero on tho whole up to standard requirements, and all tho factors mado for ono of the most successful outings local bowlers have experienced for a long time. Tho sudden chango in tho weather mado for rather novel conditions of piny, and the glassyliko surface of the greens caused a lot of careful manipulation in order to get in tho vicinity of tho elusive kitty. Tho players spoko well of tho Papatoetoo green, and, apart from tho strong breeze oil tho first day, it gave the competitors, who wero fortunate enough to play on it, very happy recollections to tako away with them. It w;ts something liko old times to find the Stanley green in uso for a tournament of this kind, as it is a long time since it has been requisitioned. Apart from a few inaccuracies in level, the green was in very fair order, and its keen running qualities had tho majority of the players on the qui vivo all Iho time. Mangero was also in great running order and keen enough to suit tho most fastidious. Tho burning question 011 tho final day, as is generally always tho case, was, would six wins qualify ? While circumstances at times favoured such a happening, yet those who were in jeopardy, so to speak, wero not too optimistic that they would bo fortunate enough to get in the more important stages of the play.

Section Winners, In section A both Clarke and Higgott, Carlton, lived up to expectations and qualified. The writer was with tho third selection, as de Launay, Epsom, failed to gain a place. Armstrong, Pukekohe, who actually led tho section with only one loss, must bo given credit for so fine a performance. Always a prominent tourney player, it does not occasion any surprise to find tho virile country skip occupying such a prominent position. It is hard to account for do Launay's failure, as lie had a good l'ink at his command. Things go wrong oven in the. best of teams at times, and, apparently, that happened to tho Epsom quartet on this occasion—Muston, Auckland, was well down for so prominent a skip ; and lus low position caused somo surprise to the tourney patrons. Wright, bt. Heliers, was anotner skip who did not do so well this time. Pearce, Pocky Nook, did well to break over half tho games for wins. , In section B, Parker, Auckland, just got in, but the other two teams Trayes, Mount Eden, and Bremner, West End, failed to come up to forecast. Short, Pukekohe. and Benson, Dominion Road, both finished ahead of Parker. The former is tho Pukekohe champion, and is becoming quite a dangerous man in tournaments of note. His success, along with th<it of his club mate, Armstrong, is a glowing tributo to the worth of the country club, which is to be congratulated on its 100 per cent, victory, seeing that there were but two entries. Benson was reported to bo playing good bowls and was always an inspiring instrument in Uio team. _ G. Clark, Mount Albert, with but a single win. does not usually figure so low in a section of this class of tournament. Fraser's Tine Record.

Fraser justified the good opinion expressed about hi in for honours in section C, and his B—l record was very fine. Steele and Russell failed to come up to expectations, but only required another win to have got there. The Ilemuera skip had bad luck in the finishing stages of two of his games, otherwise ho would probably have qualified. The two other qualifying skips, Lavland and Boyle, West End, just got in. Tho first-named has by now a happy knack of winning in his section in Centre tourneys. He and his team were reported to be rolling them up in fine style during tho courso of the tournament. Boyle is to bo congratulated on doing so well the first time of asking, and, considering that both he and his team mates,' with the exception of Hill, the ex-Dominion champion No. 2, are so little known, the success which has been achieved comes as a surprise. Boyle is playing as a regular club player for tho first time in Auckland, or in tho Dominion for that ' matter. He is a Scottish player of some standing. Another surprise, but a different one, was provided by Lamb, Carlton, who went forward with eight wins and one loss in 1927, and eventually won the tourney of that year. On this occasion his two wins compares unfavourably with iris previous showing. Pascoe, Devonport, who just finished outside a place was going in great stylo on tho first day of the tournament, but did not keep it up. Tho genial Dominion president was in very good form and quite suipiised some of his opponents by his opportune and sparkling play. Hosking, did not do as well as was expected of him. In section D, the nominated teams in charge of Hardley, Keatley and Truscott all qualified, with Gill, Mount Eden, as well. Tho West End team in Hardley's name, but in reality skipped by I. Clarke, had a great record of eight wins, achieved in a row, tho last game of all being lost to Truscott who soundly trounced the black and whito weaiers. As well as finishing badly the team opened in a like manner, and only squeezed home a winner in the first game after being well down at tho fourteenth head. Keatley,. Rocky Nook, accompanied by a fino team, gave a good display of bowling throughout. This skip pleased the most of any the writer saw in action and should go a. long way in the intersectional play. Aii Even Section.

In section E the going was fairly even, as no fewer than four teams qualified with six wins each. I 1 indlay defeated Parsons in the last round and thereby brought six winners in. ]• indlay and Livingstone survived out of tho selected trio, Walker failing to qualify. Resides theso Turner, Carlton and l'arsons, Ponsonby, appeared 011 tho scene. The team in Livingstone's name was skipped by J. Kerr, tho ex-Masterton player. Turner, Carlton, is fairly successful iri tournaments of this sort, and, considering he did not have a, high-class team to assist -him, his performance in qualifying must bo accounted good. Walker was beaten in the final round by Milner, Rocky Nook, and so just qualifying. Wright, Whittle, antl Dick justified the anticipation that they would como through section F. Davidson, Auckland, also qualified. Wright had tho top score of .seven wins and the others six each. Whittle went very well on the first two days of the tourney, but fared badly at Stanley on the last day, where he opened up with two losses. However, he negotiated tho final game safely and so just got in. It is unusual to find the Grey Lynn skip qualifying with the minimum of wins. Davidson, who had tho assistance of Scantlebury as number three, was the only Auckland skip besides Parker lo qualify. Tho Remuera tourney has drawn the very fair entry of fifty teams which is not up to tho number competing last year. However, (hero is abundance of material present to form quilo a good tournament and no doubt tho opportunity is being taken by many Dominion tournament entrants to have & serious work-out.