FINE CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 12

FINE CONTESTS

MINGINS OUTSTANDING FINALIST IN SINGLES PONSONBY RINKS TEAM BEATEN [by telegraph—speciai, reporter] WELLINGTON, Thursday Some fino contests worn witnessed and the Ponsonby player Mingins, by his defeats of Hadwin, Evans and Dickinson goes into the final of the singles. His play has been outstanding. In his rinks game with the Stratford team, which was one of the five twolifers at the commencement of the morning play, Mingins, on the 11th head, when 8-all on the previous end, was unfortunate in losing 5 up. To this stage the game was very even, with twos and singles. Only the full hand was conceded in a rather unfortunate way. Ponsonby lay one and its opponents had tho back wood. Skoglund's run was a, foot off tho objective, hut was deflected hy a bowl to pick kitty up and take it to the ditch. Later on Mingins had no opportunity to throw up the, jack and his opponents ran up a few, putting him down l'i —8. Tho winners went on to put Ponsonby out of the competition.

The afternoon saw Mingins in a singles against Hadwin (Hutt). who yesterday was the conqueror of Bremner. With a four early Mingins was B—-1 on tho Hutt player. The Aucklander ran out 21—12 on the 19th. Good Drawing Display Mingins then met Evans (Hamilton) in another singles. His opponent had also been performing well throughout and in a very fine exhibition of draw play, which commanded a bank of several hundreds, Mingins. with bis last two ends, decided tho game. His last head especially saw beautiful draw play to deprive Evans of the shot and trail to his own bowls. Engebretsen got away too well on Micholl (Whitiora) with four pairs running. Although Michell landed the possible on the 13th, tho leeway was never made up and Napier's win was well deserved. This loss put the South Aucklanders on.tho bank.

Engebretsen's defeat of Dickinson and his partner was a. sterling performance. The loser was very deadly in his drawing in the early stages and the Napier player had a struggle to equalise on the 11th. ■ From then on the game see-sawed apd the last end saw Dickinson lying shot with a toucher when Engebretsen turned the head. The replay saw Engebretsen draw a safe shot for a well-earned win. Haworth too Strong

Haworth, the present pairs titleholder, was too good for London (St. John's) and he and his partner were very much at home on the green. On seven heads they piled on 12 to Wanganui's one. A four on the loth was only a "flash in the pan" and the Canterbury players were easily the best rink on the" day's plav. With a bye, Haworth, with two lives, met Silbery in the lest match, going down and losing a life by having 22 —12 scored against him. The afternoon play was very exciting and some last-end victories wore recorded. Bremner and Hardley commenced their pairs in the mid-after-noon, their opponents being Hazlewood and partner (Lyall Bay). From the ninth head the "West End pair went all to pieces and Lyall Bay had no difficulty in recording a win at 24 —17. Deare (Carlton) met Edwards (Temuka) and two threes in the early stages and a four on the 11th put the South Canterbury players ahead on the 13th at 14 —9. The game became very interesting in the latter stages, when Deare, down two on the final end, drew one and the umpire measured for a tie to be docided against him. Edwards then met Perry (Thorndon), both one-lifers, and in a tight game the Thorndon team proved three points too good. Stirring Match The Gray—Gilbert clash, both twolifers, was a stirring game, and tho Karori skip only lost his game on the last end. Some fine drawing play was witnessed in this match. Dickinson met Reid (Lyall Bay) in the rinks. Tho latter, an aggressive player, scrambled into qualifying with five wins and three losses. He went down, 15—20, tho loser scoring on only seven ends.

Dickinson then met J. Best (Otago), who, after his defeat by Spearman (Sydenham) yesterday morning, has waited for his next game. This match was very evenly contested in the ' early stages. Tho Otapz ex-title-holder in 1925 was down a few, some of his drawing shots just failing to save on three different occasions. Best, however, cropt up, and was 12 —6 on the 14th. Dickinson gob within a few of best, and on tho 20th he lay three. Then with a great shot he pressed bis opponent's bowl back for a four. On the last head the Taranaki player was one up. With his last Best got the white cleanly, but it came up the green from a back wood, and lay for three shots to Dickinson. Defeat of Dickinson Dickinson next had a singles against Mingins, which was the semi-final, and was definitely in the Aucklander's favour from the first, throw up. Dickinson never had a chance, going down rather although he was fully expected to extend the Ponsonhv crack. The winner now goes into the final, and has to wait three sections ahead for his probable opponent. The defeat of McWhannell (Hataitai) at the hands of Wilson was a great battle. The ]!J34 title-winner owed his success to his partners' steadiness. Henderson, who has Lock as lead, played Manning (Timaru) in the pairs, and the latter combination went away too well in the first few ends. The winner gave his opponents no chance, hut the South Auckland men made a vain effort in tho last three ends to get within throe of their opponents. With Mingins in tho singles final and Needham and Wynyard (West End) and Livingstone and Macklow (Onehunga) in the semi-final of the pairs, Auckland has a great chance of capturing both titles. In the singles, Engobretsen (Napier) plays Brackenridge (Lyall Bay). The winner plays Thomas (Napier) in the fifth round, tho winner then plays Sjiearman in the sixth round, and tho j winner plays Mingins in the final.

Livingstone (Onehungal plays .Manning ('I irnarti) in the pairs to-morrow, and Needham (West End) plays Lowrv (Petono) in the rinks. Gray (Kclburn). two-lifer, plays Perry (Thorndon), and Haworth (Canterbury) plays London (St. John's). Silbcry (Petono) has a bye.