BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20842, 8 April 1931, Page 13

BOWLING NOTES.

AUCKLAND CENTRE TOURNEY. GOOD STANDARD OF PLAY. SECTION MATCHES REVIEWED. The four hundred and fifty odd bowlers who participated in the three events of the Auckland Bowling Club's Easter tournament had a really enjoyable time during the first three days' play. Although the weather was unfavourable on Saturday morning, it held up sufficiently well to allow the games to continue and to be completed almost to schedule. The various greens in uso were in good condition, and, although some were better than others, there was no cause for complaint. The standard of play was very good and there were many close and exciting games played. Walker, Auckland; who qualified in section A, justified the confidence reposed in him to come through, but Fookes, Carlton, and Whittle, Grey Lynn, were found missing. Gifford, Dominion Road, also went forward with Walker. The Dominion Road player had to defeat Walker in tlio final game in order to gain a place. Gifford is a young and virile player who has been knocking at the door for some years now, and at last he has made his presence felt. New Aspirants. Section B provided two winners, Miller, Mount Eden, and Woolley, Auckland, both new aspirants. Miller usually occupies a less responsible position in open tourneys, but on this occasion ho took charge of ft team himself and much of the success which came his way was due to his own fine play. Cave led well for him, while Gatcnby, as third player, rendered good assistance.

Woolley went through with two losses, received at the hands of Hodd, Carlton, and Kissling, Remuera. Ho gave a good showing throughout the journey and was ably assisted by his lead, J. Duncan, who also did his work right through in a pleasing manner. In section C there was an utter rout of those who were supposed to have a chance. Graham, Remuera, Hosking, Pukekohe, and do Launay, Epsom, all failed to gain a place, while two newcomers in Carter, Carlton, and Rummer, Auckland, filled the places. Carter came into prominence the first season ho bowled in Auckland, when he skipped a team which went far in the Christmas tourney of that year. Since then, however, he has not been so prominent in open events. Usually the Carlton Club supplies a good many section winners, but on this occasion Carter is the sole representative out of the eleven starters from that club.

Kummer, of the Auckland Club, is to be congratulated on his showing, as this is the first occasion he has skipped a rink in open company in local events. His number three, W. Ure, is a wellknown tourney player, and his number two, W. Fletcher, has been a prominent player for many years. His lead, Israel, is new to big tournaments, but, prior to and during the course of the recent event, he played a fine leading game. Russell, Remuera, proved to be the sole survivor of Section D. Such teams as those of Ritchie, Carlton, Benson, Dominion Road, and Keith, Pukekohe, failed to find a place. Russell had his old associate, P. Macfarlane, with him, but his other two men were newcomers. A Solid Section.

Wright, St. Heliers, emanated from section E as the winner, but he just got there, as it was touch and go in his match with Pascoe. Had Pascoe won there would have been four teams to go forward, and all good ones at that.. This section proved to be a solid one, and there was a good deal of varying fortune for some of the ultimate leaders. Ball, Sheath, Livingstone and Pascoe were among the failures, but all were well up. Ball was a popular choice for his section and he was regarded in some quarters as having a big say in the final stages. Livingstone, .who had a good side, was also a favoured skip, but, like Ball, he just failed to get there. Pascoe did very well in such good company to be with the leaders. J. he winner, Wright, had good support, especially from his number three, P. Norris, who is in great form at present. The Stanley team in charge of McMaster . won outright in section F and left behind such good skips as Hosking, Carlton, antT" Wakerley, Pocky Nook. The winning team has achieved something to be proud of, as the selection of good tournament players in this small club is somewhat limited. Johnson, who played third to McMaster, was in good form in the recent champion of champions contest, and he has kept up that form during this tournament. Muston, Auckland, the sole survivor of section G, was the only undefeated skip of the section play. In the final game he was nearly beaten by Brown, Edendale, who tied with him on 21 heads, but 'lost on the play off. Huston's team consisted of two well-known players in Lyell, lead, and Dr. Moir, number three. His number two, Small, is a recent airival from Hawke's Bay and a good player in his late club, Napier. Muston generally does well at a late stage of the season, and once again he has come to the fore.

Honours Well Distributed. Although the Auckland Club monopolised the majority of the section winners, the rest of the honours were fairly widely distributed. The Stanley Club represented the clubs over the water, while St. Heliers did duty for the eastern clubs. Remuera,. Dominion Road and Mt. Eden represented the inner belt. It is significant that clubs like Onehunga, Epsom and Rocky Nook did not appear on this occasion. On the western side the Fonsonby, West End and Grey Lynn clubs also'failed to place a winner. The Waiuku team, consisting of the members of the Barriball family, with Williams as skip, went very well in its section for the first two days, but on the Inst- day's play did not produce the wins to qualify. The Waiuku skip played well all through. The knowledge that only actual winners or those lieing in sections could go forward for inter-sectional play on this occasion had a careful influence on the contestants, who, for the most part, made every post a winning one. The number of teams which qualified was small compared with that brought forward under the minimum rule winch operates over the Christmas tourney. , i The final of the club's executive fours competition lies between Rocky Nook and St Heliers, the former team being skipped by Keatley and the latter by Philip. Both teams came through with but one loss each, which is a good record. Keatley lost a game early in the play but Philip had a sequence of eight wins on end, losing his last game to McMahon, Edendale. The final between the two teams should provide a very oven contest. The smaller clubs provided the section winners in the first-year players contest. Both Samson, Waitemata, and Drake, Hillsborough, came through with a good record of eight wins and one loss. The final game on Saturday will no doubt provide a good contest with two such apparently good teams competing..