GAME OF BOWLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 16

GAME OF BOWLS

CHRISTMAS TOURNEY UNPLEASANT CONDITIONS POST-SECTION PLAY DELAYED BY SKIP Christmas tournaments during the past few vears have certainly not lieen favoured by the best of weather conditions. The recent tournament was attended by exceptionally bad conditions, and there was really only one good day's play. The survivors from the section play had the worst of the weather, play being delayed for three days, and when the post and section play was finally proceeded with conditions were not conducive to good bowling Once again six-winners qualified. On previous occasions it has not been evident until the final round that sixwinners would qualify, but on this occasion it was known quite early that such would be the case. However, there was a chance of those with six not going forward, for, had C'richton, Onehunga, beaten Parsons, Ponsonby, and Baker, Stanley, beaten Melville. Devonport, in the last round, the section would have provided a five-game winner SECTION HONOURS A NUMBER OF FAILURES In section A, de Launay, 7 wins, and Dick, 6 wins, both fulfilled expectations. McMastor, Stanley, however, showed unexpected form with his new team and secured an eight-win record, which was meritorious. Lundon's Devonport team, skipped by Hessey, gained seven wins. A\. E. lay lor, Mount Eden, was the section failure. Parsons and Melville also played true to form in section B, but Mingins, Epsom, failed on this occasion. Two rinks, Benson, Balmoral, and Dyson, Hallyburton-Johnstone, finished one win ahead of Keatley, who was the popular choice for section C honours. Bilkey, Pukekohe, and Whittle, Grey Lynn, did not perform up to expectations. Four winners came forward fro?u section D. Besides Scott, Grey Lynn, who was expected to qualify, the two Carlton rinks skipped by Gordon and Clinkard, as well as Eoubister, Epsom, got through. Blaekwell and Ramsey were the section failures. Jenkin, Carlton, and Pilkington were among those selected for section E. The former won with eight wins and Pilkington secured six wins. Denison. Balmoral, and Cross, Onehunga, both of whom secured six wins, exceeded expectations. Walker, Auckland, and Carson, Otahuhu, failed to justify the confidence placed in them. R. Thomas, with seven wins, piloted his Mount Albert team to victory in section F, but the teams of Fookes, Carlton, and H. Wright, St. Heliers, did not reveal their best form. E. B. Wright and E. W. Taylor did well to tie for section honours.

OUTSTANDING PLAYERS FINE DISPLAY BY C. KING Dick, Ponsonby, did not play after the opening day owing to illness. Somervell took his place as skip and carried on successfully. C. King, lead for Denison, gave a fine exhibition of drawing to the jack throughout the tournament. Pilkington, Hamilton, showed much of his old-time form. His drawing was as .good as usual, but he has slowed down in his driving. He had a good front division in Parkhouse and Anchor. Both players were steady in their respective positions. D. Hessey, who skipped Lundon's Devonport rink, was in great form and hardly ever let his team down. I his team was sound in all departments, the two front players, Tyson and Wrigley, giving pleasing displays. I. Rolfe was a tower of strength to Parsons. The Ponsonby skip would have been hard put to it without his assistance. It was pleasing to note the return to tournament play of the* Balmoral representative, J. F. Benson, who has been absent from the game for some seasons. It was still more pleasing to find him among the section winners. H. Jenkin, Carlton, had a great team ahead of him, and after going through the section plav with only one loss it was a surprise to sec the rink put out in the third round of intersection play. The success of R. Cross' Onehunga team was the reward of consistent effort. Cross put up a determined fight all the way and he was ably seconded by H. McKenzie. whose support was always forthcoming. Walker, Auckland, although not as consistent as in the past, was drawing well at times. However, he does not seem to have the luck with him nowadays.

CAPABLE LEAD FORMER HUNTLY PLAYER R. Thomas, Mount Albert, seems to have found a very capable lead in Connew. He is a former Huntlv player, and, judging by his plav in this tournament, he should be in demand for future events. McMaster's team seemed to be overawed by Pilkington's Hamilton combination in the third round of intersection play. Not one player in the team was up to form. The HallyburtonJohnstone team, skipped by Bromley, had three good wins on the day, the final one, against do Launav. being the most meritorious, Baskiville led well for the Carlton team. Kcatlev's Rocky Nook team, although holding only one life, still has a good chance in the remaining play. Scott, Grey Lynn, who was a section winner, is an improved player. Parsons was not drawing nearly as well as usual. His fine sense of weight was not in evidence in this tournament. Denison, Balmoral, who is still in the running, drew some remarkable shots at times, but failed when easy positions presented themselves