BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 16

BOWLING NOTES.

THE PENNANT COMPETITION.

ENTHUSIASM MAINTAINED. FINAL CONTEST ON SATURDAY. by skip. With the round which was played in tho pennant competition on Saturday the section play ended, and just over 1000 bowlers went out of tho competition automatically, leaving 96 players to participate in tho final contest on Saturday. Conditions'were again good, although the dull afternoon did not niako for as pleasant bowling as one would havo liked. It, also had tho effect of keeping the greens on tho slow side. Although from a winning point of view tho interest in tho competition for all but half-a-dozen of the clubs had disappeared, tho various matches were entered into with as much enthusiasm as if tho position were tho reverse. It says much for tho popularity of this particular competition that such a state of affairs exists, and also that every club, including far-away Helensville, which, by tho way, finished last in tho section, fulfilled its engagements. It is a very striking tribute to tho clubs engaged that never docs ono hear of a forfeit. In this respect a word of praise is due to those club officials who are responsible for sending out tho teams. The coinpetition this season accommodated 48 more players than that of tho previous season, and it is quito likely that some clubs may have their quotas increased for next season's competition. West End's Performance. In section A tho greatest interest centred not in what Carlton would do so much as how its nearest small quota rival, New Lynn, would faro at the hands of Hallyburton-Johnstono. New Lynn had one chance, and that a slender one, of winning all its games, but as matters turned out it was hopelessly beaten on the day.

Carlton, tho eventual winner of the section, did not have as successful a time as previously and fell beforo the West End attack in a surprising manner. However, tho number of wins attained, 11£, was quite sufficient, in view of New Lynn's downfall, to enable the club to take section honours with a lead of nearly 7 per c.ent. over West End. It is a strange thing that West End generally does well against Carlton, and Saturday's performance of registering 7J, wins out of 12 games was in keeping with previous efforts. The West End representatives evidently bear in mind the great last-minute win which Carlton achieved over them in the final in 1922, when ten rinks a-sido were engaged, and with one head to go on the average West End teams were up 17 points. Carlton totalled 18 points on the last head and won sensationally by one point. Since that time West End has held its own well with its larger rival. The three clubs which tied for fourth position, Avondale, Otahuhu and Waitemata, had good records on Saturday. The Otahuhu club finished particularly well, and, only for the indifferent showing in tho first two rounds, when three wins were secured on each occasion, it' would have been well in the running. Onehunga Takes Honours.

The smallest club, Buckland's Beach, again failed to gain a win in this round and finished up without registering any percentage of wins for the season. However, the club's members have gained experience by participation in the contest, and should therefore be a more difficult proposition next season. Onehunga this season has been an entirely different club in this class of competition from that in the past few seasons. It has shown something of its truo worth in taking the honours in section B. Two very good opening rounds of nino wins out of 12 games no doubt had a good effect on the members, and although a bad failure occurred in the third essay, when only four wins were secured, they came again with wins of 9 and 7£, which were sufficient to stall off a fine lastminute effort of the runncrs-up, Papatoetoo.

The contest on Saturday between Carlton and Onehunga with 12 rinks a side engaged should bo a good struggle, and, in view of a draw on wins, tho players should note that, aggregate points decide the issue. The fact that so many rinks aro participating in tho final game gives the competition much moro glamour than would be the case if a small club had won ono section.

Papatoetoe, which was considered prior to the opening of the competition to have a good chance of gaining section honours, spoilt its prospects by a very bad opening round, when only 2£ wins were secured out of eight games with St. Heliers, which was one of the clubs with an increased quota. However, in the next four rounds quite a respectable showing was made, and on two occasions six wins were secured. The leeway was too much to make up, but the club must be congratulated on filling the next position to Onehunga. Fall of Helensville. The Auckland Club, which showed up well tho previous season, when its quota was 14 teams, came into the competition this time with an added burden of four more teams. In spite of this handicap, and a moderately good opening record, it finished well up, occupying third place with a very narrow margin over Ponsonby. Both Ponsonby and Mount Eden did very well for two high quota ciubs. Edendalo did nob do as well as was expected and finished well back. Takapuna, too, was another club which was expected to fill a higher position, but iailed to get nearer than seventh on the list.

Helcnsville, which tailed tho section on this occasion, had a sorry fall from tho high position it occupied during the previous two seasons, and only four wins were secured out of 16 games played. Two poor showings in tho second and third attempts, when the club's representatives failed to score a win, were not a very good incentive to do much in the concluding rounds and tho players acted accordingly. Great preparations .are being made by the l'apatoetoe Club's bowlors, who are being assisted by the Croquet. Club, for tho monster tournament to bo held on tho l'apatoetoe greens to-morrow week. The whole of tho proceeds, with the exception of the prize money, will be donated to tho earthquako fund. There is room for 34 teams.

The Public Service bowling tournament will be hold noxt Tuesday on tho Auckland Club's greens. The committee will jneet this evening to finalise arrangements.

UMPIRE TAKES ACTION.

PONSFORD USES WIDE BAT.

W. IT. Ponsford's bat in tho third test match between Australia and tho West Indies was found to bo too wide by tho umpire, Mr. W. G. French. Tho matter was put right by the bat being trimmed down. W. G. Grace's bat was onco found to b9 the same, much to the batsman's concern and amusement to others. Umpire l 1 rench is no mero perfunctory in his work. It was ho who took action in tho £ase of D. M. Blackie and lifting the seam of tho ball.