BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 20

BOWLING NOTES

EASTER TOURNAMENT VARIOUS CLUB SUCCESSES WIN FOR EPSOM TEAM BY SKIP The Easter tournament of the Auckland Bowling Centre proved most enjoyable, both from a playing and social point of view. Success in the four events was divided among six clubs. The Carlton Club was second in the open event, tho Easter fours, as well as having a win in the intermediate fours. Hall.v-burton-Johnstono representatives took the minor places in tbe executive and first-year players' fours. The success of Mingins' team in the Easter fours brings the total of Epsom club victories up to five, a clear lead of two wins over the Auckland and Ponsonby Clubs, with three. Single victories stand to the credit of the Onehunga, Carlton, St. Heliers and Rocky Nook Clubs. M. Walker so far is the most successful skip, having had three wins, two in Auckland Club colours and one in those of Ponsonby. He is followed by T. It. George, Epsom, with two wins. Five titles also go to tho credit of the Grey Lynn Club in the executive fours, with the Carlton Club holding a record of one win less. ID. E. Buckley has had singular success in taking teams through to victory. He won in 1924 and 1925 with a break to 1935 and 1936, making four successes. In the new competition, intermediate fours, the Carlton Club, with its latest victory, lias a preponderance of wins —three out of four events. As the president of the Auckland Centre remarked when presenting the prizes to the winners, this success shows what a strong front division club Carlton is, and throws some light on its prominenco in the pennant competition. It remained for the Reinuera lirst-year players to place the club on tho map, for not once in tho 15 years' events does the club show a winner. EASTER FOURS FINAL EPSOM AND CARLTON Although the final score did not perhaps indicate the teams' strength, there was not much between Epsom and Carlton in the final game of the Easter fours. Carlton was a little superior in the front division, while Epsom held the advantage in the rearguard. One cannot detract from the Carlton skip's play, which was well up to the mark, but on the day he met a skip in Mingins whose play was devastating. Mingins exercised ver}' strong control of his team and never permitted any move without a full stud}' of the position. His frequent excursions down to the head were proof that he was not taking any undue risks. It was noticeable also that on the few occasions on which Richmond was called upon for shots above the pace of a draw he took ful! liberty with the instruction to come into the head. Mingins, with a comparatively short experience of the game, compared with the leading skips in Auckland, has two major successes to his credit, and his latest effort clearly proves that he is in the first flight. In the recent final he was the central figure of the eight players. The Epsom skip's .best support came from W'lson, number two, who proved very steady in his play and on many occasions changed what might have turned out serious situations. Richmond has three wins as a number three in this event. Stephens showed up better as a lead in games prior to the final. His immediate opponent, Taylor, gave a fine exhibition of dead drawing. The Carlton number two, M. Elliott, regarded by many as the best in that position locally, was sound, although he was not as deadly in his play as usual. THE EXECUTIVE FOURS BUCKLEY'S ACCURATE DRAWING In the executive fours the Grey Lynn skip. E. E. Buckley, surprised by his accurate drawing in the section play. He carried his form to Carlton and had no difficulty in taking the honours in the final game against Dyson, Hally-burton-Johnstone. The latter skip is to bo congratulated on filling the role of runner-up with such a large entry. He was well supported on this occasion. The final of the first-year players' fours was very interesting. It appeared at one time that the HallvburtonJohnstone rink would defeat Remuera, but the latter's skip, W. H. Whitmore. saved some bad positions. Judging by their position on tho mat some of the .young players had not been instructed in stance. PROMINENT PLAYERS FINE LEADING DISPLAY R. Higgott, who usually plays number three for de Launay, has made a name as a player in that position. He is an able successor to the late Mr. J Kilgour. who long enjoyed the reputation of Auckland's best number three player. Bowler, who led for L. Russell (St. Heliers), played one of the soundest leading games seen at headquarters for a long time. H. Koefoed, of the same club, was also noticed playing well as number three. His play was remarkably steady. It is a long time since an Ellerslie team has come to headquarters and H. Hay is to be congratulated on leading his team through the section with eight wins. Bilke.y (Pukekoho) was the unlucky skip at Carlton. He played well against Jenkins' Carlton team, a badly-played last head by his team costing him victory.