BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 15

BOWLING NOTES

CHAMPION PAIRS TOURNEY

PROSPECTS IN THE SECTIONS KEEN CONTESTS LIKELY

BY SKIT

Owing to recent rains the ere ens were on the holding side on Saturday, but they rolled out smoothly and what was lost in pace was made up in sweet running. The principal event of the week was an open rink tourney on Wednesday. The tourney was favoured with fino weather and a largo entry of teams. Included in the latter were some strong combinations, which provided keenly-contested games.

Match committees are busily encaged at the moment attempting to finaliso games in the club championships in order to have the winner ready to take part in the champion of champions event on March i! 0. Entries close on March 15, the same day as for the Easter tournament.

This week's main attraction is the Auckland Centre's annual champion pairs tourney. The fixture has proved its popularity by the fine entry of 80 teams, which equals the previous highest total. Prior to the tournament it was surprising to note the number of inquiries whether three or four bowls were to he used. This uncertainty was perhaps brought about by the parent body, the New Zealand Association, adopting the three-bowl method in recent years. The local centre, in the absence of any hint from the clubs, has apparently thought best to let matters stand as they have always been, and before making any change to have a test of feeling on the matter at its annual meeting. Use ol Three Bowls

Tharo appears to be a growing partiality toward the use of three bowls. There is iv. doubt that it saves time and, with fewer bowls on the head, the factor of luck is not so predominant as is the case Tyhen four bowls are used. It certainly makes players more careful when they have only three shots per head, and altogether a cleaner came, with less promiscuous play, results. Of course, for those out for a Rood day's play the use of four bowls no doubt appeals and for this reason the event is popular; .. • i r Seven greens are requisitioned for the tourney and the majority of these are in good order. Section A is one of the hardest in which to estimate the winner or winners. Parsons, Ponsonby, appears to be the likely one, with strong opposition coming from Russell, St. Heliers. Deuison, Balmoral, is also a likely contestant. Higginbotham, Henderson, with the same partner as he had at Rotorua. where he did so well in the recent pairs tourney won by M. Walker, iB certainly a strong possibility for section B. '"Wright, St. Heliers, will probably be his hardest opponent. In section C de Launay, Carlton, and Robertson, Onehunga, will have a great contest when they meet. Another Henderson skip, Poole, will be a strong opponent. Rankin, New Lynn, showed last season in the champion of champions contest, in which he finished as run-ner-up, that he is a good four-bowl ■player and he and -Allely, Mount Albert, should monopolise the goinc in section D. Difficult Section In section E, last season's winnine lead, J. Duncan, Carlton, figures as skip, as his former partner, G. Carter, has gone abroad. Woolley, Auckland, went a long way in the same event last season and it is quite possible that he will do so again, especially as he has the same lead with him, F. Kum<mer. The section is not at all an easy one, as there are several other likely teams in it. McAlister, Helensville, is one, and in the light of his perlormauces in open events during the last two seasons, he will be well in the running for section honours. Section F is a good even one ancl all the starters have a chance. R. Thomas, Mount Albert, js the bestknown skip. McCarthy, West Find, revealed himself as a good four-bowl player in the open singles, and he should be a dangerous opponent. Firth, Glen Eden, should also do well. Section G is a fairly hard one and there will be little respite for anyone in theffroh r o games. Needham, West End, has his recent good form iri the Rotorua pairs tourney to recommend /him, and then there is Short, Pulcekohe, who won the club championship recently. Higgott, Carlton, and Loram, Rocky Nook, are two other good skips who will make their presence felt. Walker, Mount Albert, was the run-ner-up lead last season and commands a team of his own this time. Sutherland, Avondale, generally gives a good account of himself. Former Dominion Ohampionts An ex-Dominion champion pair, G. L. Gladding and S. Jenkin, is found in section H, and the team will no doubt be well in the running. The Pukekohe pair, Burrows and Hosking, arc a good team, and the meeting with the former pair should provide an interesting struggle. Another ex-Dominion champion pair appears in section I, C. E. Hardloy and W. Bremner, West End. This section is, together with section A, probably the hardest of all. Mason, Carlton, has good performances to his credit of late and the Grey Lynn pair also is a particularly strong combination. Mingins, Remuera, is another strong antagonist to overcome. Sykcs and Harper, Ofcah'uhu, are a further good pair, and judging by their display in the Potorua pairs they will bo very difficult to dispose of. Section J is not so hard as some of the others. H. Bray, Remuera, is playing good bowls this season, and so also is that consistent tourney performer, F. Ritchie, Carlton. An easy section is K, with no outstanding talent if E. It. Allen, Remuera, is excepted. Pearse, Mount Eden, is a newcomer in local competitive circles and has tho reputation of being a sound player. Section L is a fairly even section. Layland, Balmoral, and Vivian, Mount Eden, appear to have the best chance. The last section, M, is one of tho easy ones. However, all appear evenly matched, and it is bard to say who will conio out on top. R. Millen, Epsom, is the best-known skip in the , section and J. Hollows, HallyburtonJohnstono, is in good form this season.