THE GAME OF BOWLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 20

THE GAME OF BOWLS

PENNANT COMPETITION WINNERS OF THE SECTIONS CLOSENESS. IN PERCENTAGES BY SKIP The last round of the pennant bowling competition was played on Saturday. The question as to whether or not this particular event should be finalised before Christmas has been frequently debated, as it has of late years been proved that the months of January and February are unreliable from the point of view of weather. Also several bowlers who take their annual holidays during the festive season remain out of town for some weeks in order to participate in competitions in country centres. There were many cases of shortages last Saturday after desperate efforts had been made to fill numerous breaches. One of the large clubs had no fewer than 30 places to fill, and in some instances games of three men aside had to bo played. It was a remarkable thing that the respective winners of sections A and B, AY est End and Buckland's' Beach, should establish winning percentages so close to each other, namely 70.83 and 70.00. The West End Club, with a quota of 12 teams, has done exceptionally well this season and has equalled the performance of the club when it contested the final with Carlton, all the games being played on the lattei s green. On that occasion West End was sensationally beaten after being 19 points up with only the last head to be played by the majority of the teams engaged. Bv reason of its meeting with a smaller club last Saturday Buckland's Beach will enjoy a different experience in that all but two teams of its quota will be balloted out. In the final wins count, but if a tie results then aggregate points will decide the issue. In winning section B the baby club of the centre, Buckland's Beach, has emulated Howick's feat of last season, but, naturally, the members will be expecting to go one better in the final than Howick did against Carlton on that occasion. Buckland's Beach put in a good finishing run, establishing double wins in the last two rounds, whereas the other section winner produced the worst two-round records of the whole five, Saturday's total of six and a-half wins being the lowest of the series. The small club is to be congratulated upon winning its section and no doubt the success achieved so far in the competition will dp much to stimulate bowling in that particular district. 1 In taking second position to West End, only some 6 per cent behind, the Carlton Club has again rendered a fine perforriiance in this competition, and, only for a poor fourth round record of 16j wins, compared to showings of 23 and 21 wins, the club might once again have led the field home in the section. Both the Rawhiti and Mount Albert Clubs are to be congratulated on filling third and fourth places respectively. Mount Albert's showing was extremely good in face of a rise in quota and a fall in membership when the season opened. In the other section Hillsborough finished a close second to Buckland's Beach, Saturday's record of four wins and no losses assisting considerably to swell the previous percentage, which was 59.37. The Hillsborough teams had consistent records of wins throughout. Helensville, in third place, has again done well. Another success in each of the second and third rounds, when two wins were secured, would have given the club section honours. ROTORUA PAIRS TITLE SUCCESS OF AUCKLANDERS By winning the Rotorua pairs tournament L. J. Keys and .W. Smith have brought honour to the Auckland Club for the fourth time in five events. Hardie Neil and Maxwell Walker had the unique distinction of winning three times in succession, from 1933 onwards. The two Auckland Club players are to be congratulated on their success. Keys has a good record of wins in singles events and his experience in that class of game no doubt stood him in good stead during his term of leading in the tournament. Smith, who is somewhat new to Auckland bowling, is a player of the old school, but is one who retains his form in a wonderful way. He has had well over 30 years' experience. This is his first notable success in open company in Auckland, but he has done well in his club's competitions, pairs and singles. Both Graham and Hunt are players of a very young school. Hunt has had only seven years' experience, while Graham has had a couple of years fewer. So these two young players did remarkably well to go as far as they did. Experience in playing before a ■crowd such as graced the banks in the recent tourney is essential, and in this respect the Ponsonby lead suffered most. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITIONS NEARING CLOSE Only five players remain in the champion singles contest of the Auckland Club. J. Vincent has the bye, while A. D. Israel meets M. Walker, and D. Campbell encounters K. S. Macky. All are one-lifers. The Balmoral Club's championship is narrowed down to three, W. Denison, J. Barber and W. Franks. Barber is a two-lifer and he meets Franks in the next round. A. Parsons is the only two-lifer left in at Ponsonby. The one-lifers are W. Best, A. J. Letham, the present champion, F. Coburn and E. Jury. Oughton and Lorain arc both twolifers at Rocky Nook, while Keatle.v has only one life. The two first-named meet in the next round. UNIVERSITY TEAM RUGBY RECORD IN JAPAN The New Zealand University Rugby team, which is at present on its way back to New Zealand, played seven matches in Japan. It won six and drew one, this being the last fixture, which was described as being fast and open and productive of spectacular movements. The huge Hanazono Stadium could scarcely accommodate the large crowd, which was thrilled by the game. At the end of the contest "the players exchanged jerseys in a spirit of friendship and sang "For Auld Lang Syne." The final game of the tour was against a. combined Army and Navy team at Hongkong, this match being won by the tourists by 26 points to 0. The opening match, played en route to Japan, was also at Hongkong, and was won by the New Zealanders by 28 points to 9.