BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22900, 1 December 1937, Page 23

BOWLING NOTES

OPEN SINGLES EVENT INCREASED ENTRY RECEIVED THE COMPETITORS' PROSPECTS

BY SKIP

The popularity of open competition among Auckland bowlers is evidenced by the entry of 156 received for the, Auckland Centre's annual singles championship. This represents an increase of 24 on last season's entries. In the last event .'36 competitors survived the section play and 11 rounds of post-section play were necessary to lind the- winner. Six rounds were played on the final day, as the tenth round game between Letham and Barland resulted in a tie and another full game had to be played to determine the winner. This time there are 26 sections and the Carlton Club, with 21 competitors, has the strongest representation. The Auckland Club will supply 20 representatives. L. N. Thomson, Mount Eden, and H. Richards are the best-known competitors in section A. There are no outstanding players in section 13. O'Brien, Mount Albert, is a newcomer, nnd the young Henderson candidate, Chippendale, is a likely contender. Section C is more difficult, containing as it does such tried exponents as Fookes, Carjton, H. Wright, St. Heliers, and R. Thomas, Mount Albert. Another Henderson candidate is found in section D in the person of R. S. Higginbotham. He is opposed by two other sound singles exponents in Glenister Mount Albert, and Rankin, Now Lynn. Prominent in section E are H. V. Johnston, Carlton, who showed up so well in last season's contest, T. H. A. Walker, Henderson, A. Connew, Mount Albert, and M, Sunde, Glen Eden. Connew should bo difficult to dispose of. He was runnerup to R. Thomas in the Mount Albert champion singles last season. In section F is found the title-holder, A. J. Letham, Ponsonby. If he shows anything like his previous form he should qualify. His most dangerous opponents are Eshelby, West End, who qualified last year and survived four rounds of post-section play, and W. Moors, Henderson. H. 0. Clarke commands attention in section G. However, Colthurst, West End, who qualified last year, is one opponent likely to trouble him. Section H bears an open appearance. J. Hopwood, West End, and J. Taplin, Auckland Transport, should have the best chances. The • former is very steady, while the latter is noted for his daring methods. Bremner, West End, is undoubtedly the selection in section I. Tyndall, St. Heliers, and McPhail, Auckland, seem to be the two players who will give him most anxiety. Section J is another even section. F. R. Letham, a son of the title-holder, has a good chance, while Lancaster, Carlton, by reason of past successes, also claims attention. * INTERESTING SECTION PARSONS OPPOSES MINGINS A. Parsons. Ponsonbv, winner in 1912, 1913, 1933 and 1935, is the favourite in section K. However, he has one yery ,opponent |n J. H. Mih'gins, *of' Epsoni'; "who was runnerup in the last New Zealand singles championship. The meeting of these two players in the first round on the Onehunga green should draw a large crowd of spectators. L. Pitkethley, Auckland, who created a sensation on the opening day last season when he accounted for both Parsons and Livingstone and won the section, should do well in section L. J. Allely, Ponsonby. and J. Higginson, Grey Lynn, are the ones most likely to trouble him. Section M contains the former Dominion champion singles player, F. Livingstone, Onehunga. McMurchv, on his own green, may be troublesome. If E. Leach, Carlton, reproduces his form of last year he should have no difficulty in taking section N. The Carlton player made a name for himself in last season's event and was only put out of the competition on the third day. L. J. Keys, Auckland, and T. D. Anderson, Balmoral, are players with good chances. The honours in section 0 should go to H. A. Robertson. However, D. C.: Eraser, Carlton, and W. C. Franks, Balmoral, are capable of extending him. It is difficult to distinguish between the six players in section P. H. Scott, Grey Lynn, and J. Gifford, Balmoral, seem to have a slight advantage. Tho former Australian and Mount Eden player, Davis, rolls a good bowl and should givrt an excellent account of himself. V. Little, Carlton, and J. P. Mason, Mount Eden, both oi whom figure in section Q, did well last season. Mason went on to the third day and enhanced his reputation as a sound drawing player. This section is undoubtedly one of the hardest. Other contenders are J. Kerr, Onehunga, and J. F. Hosking, Grey Lynn, both being players of outstanding quality. CONSISTENT PERFORMER ONEHUNGA REPRESENTATIVE J. Macklow, Onehunga, is the pick of section R. He qualified 1/ist year with five wins. Another who qualified last year was L Donaldson, Grey Lynn, a solid singles player in open company. Others who also command attention are S. Purd.v, Mount Eden, former holder of the South Paeilic singles title, and A. McKeggie, Balmoral. J. Savin's chances, too, must not be overlooked . F. Atild. the present holder of the Otahuhu Club's championship, and H. Whittle, Grey Lynn, read the best in section S. The former is a newcomer in open company. F. Watson, Remuera, qualified last year, but may find the opposition too much for him on this occasion. Section T is a. fairly solid one, containing as it does such players as C. H. de Launay, Carlton, J. 1-1. Baker, Mount Eden, and A. B. Lawrence, Remuera, who showed up so well in last season's event. Two others who should provide good opposition are H. Tomlinson, Avondalc, and H. Kveritt, Otahuhu. fn section IT H. Sykes, Otahuhu, L. Macev, Remuera, and J. Tomlinson, Avondale, are outstanding. The firstnamed should qualify, as he shows to great advantage in big contests. With such ' players as Woollev, Auckland, Deare, Mount Eden. Myers, Avondale, McAlister, Helensville, Prangle.v, Mangere, and W. C. Young, Remuera, figuring in section V, it is difficult to forecast the leader Whiteside, Waiuku, is opposed in section W. by E. R. Allen, Remuera, and J. Hardie Neil. Auckland. The two firstnamed qualified last season. G. H. Sturgess, Mount. Eden, is another with claims. Section X contains a fair amount of talent, with Walker, Auckland, Ha viand, last season's runner-up, J. C. Duncan, Remuera, W. J. Short, Pukekohe, and W. S. Hunt, Helensville, figuring on the list. Section Y does' not reveal any outstanding competitors. The honours in section Z seem to lie between the young Carlton player, G. Kent, and the more seasoned Auckland representative, H. S. Gilles.