BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 23

BOWLING NOTES

PENNANT COMPETITION THE SECTION WINNERS FINE EFFORT BY CARLTON BT SKIP Not without the usual trouble with regard to team deficiencies, the final round of section play in the Auckland pennant bowling competition was decided on Saturday. As has been the case in previous years, when rounds scheduled for decision before Christmas have had to be postponed, the selectors of many of the clubs found difficulty in filling their teams. It says much for tho prowess of the Carlton Club's representatives that tliey won through in section A. In spite of the heavy impost of 30 teams for several seasons past, the club has generally figured at the top of its section. Carlton's success was clue to a very fine record of 21 wins out of 30 games in the final round, coupled with the failure of the nearest club, Grey Lynn, to maintain the good figures previously established this' season. Carlton is to be congratulated on figuring so prominently. It was unfortunate for Grey Lynn that its worst round came at the end of the section play. Two games, which were lost on the last head would have been sufficient to give Grey Lynn a winning percentage. Mt. Eden, which came a very creditable third, also required only a few more wins to gain section honours. However, Saturday's record of 10 wins out of 16 games was a good effort. Closer contact with town clubs by reason of participation in this contest has, certainly worked the Waiuku competitors up to a good standard of play. They are to be complimented on attaining such a prominent position in the competition after a fairly limited experience. The club had a fine sequence of wins against the strong Onehunga Club, proving victorious in all six games played. The Waiuku players, if they are not overcome by the importance of the occasion, should put up a good showing against Carlton in the final game on .Saturday week. Rocky Nook finished strongly in second place. West End did not figure as prominently as was the case last season, when the club occupied the runner-up position to the winner, Mangere. However. West End did well to finish in third position, close up to Rocky Nook. From winners of the competition last season to second to last place in tho section this year was Mangere's experience. The increase in quota from four to six teams appeared to lower the calibre of its teams.

ROTORUA EVENTS WALKER'S GREAT RECORD FOURTH SUCCESS SINCE 1931 The standard of bowling produced in the annual Rotorua pairs tournament was of a high order and the win achieved by the Auckland team comprising Hardie Neil and M. Walker was impressive. The Auckland skip has had a great run of successes this season in open bowling tournaments. His latest win gives him the very fine record of four victories in the Rotorua tournament since its inception in 1931. It also gives him the double record, rinks

and pairs, in one season. These victories, coupled with his win at Christmas in the Auckland Centre rink tournament, indicate that he has lost little of his skill. Walker's associate, Hardie Neil, is experiencing one of tho best years he has ever had at bowls. He is right at the top of form at present.

The pairs tournament revealed a very fine player in Yugich, of Taumarunui, whose entry was forwarded under the name of Mephan. The latter was actually the lead. The Taumarunui skip created an impression by the cool manner in which he effected good saves in tricky positions. The Rotorua skip, Pakes, who showed up well in the rinks, had again to submit to Walker in the second round of inter-section play.

McDowell and Budd were another Rotorua pair which raised the hopes of its supporters for a time. By defeating all save the Auckland nair in the. inter-section stages, the Rotorua players put up a good performance. DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES AUCKLAND CEXTKE'S WELCOME The recent function staged by the Auckland Centre executive to welcome, home competitors in the Australian and Empire Games bowling carnivals proved highly successful. A significant feature of the numerous speeches delivered was the tributes to the able managership of Mr. A. E. Whitten. Another point stressed was the fact that the New Zealand selection, which had given general satisfaction prior to the team's departure from the Dominion, had fully justified this confidence. The winning skip in the Empire Games pairs championship, W. Denison, gave a great amount of credit for his victory to his lead, L. Macey. who, he said had shown Mich versatile form in the Australian tournament that the selection of the team for the Km pi re Games events had been made much easier. E. Livingstone, who won the Australian champion singles title in competition against over seven hundred bowlers from all parts of the Empire, received a fine reception from the gathering when be rose to reply to the welcome. He gave an interesting resume of the tour and said that the standard of play revealed in the two Australian tournaments was exceptionally high. He considered that,' if the Dominion wished to be adequately represented at overseas tournaments, the best team could only he assembled by paying the players' expenses. South Africa had adopted this procedure in the Australian carnivals and, as a consequence, had strong representation in all the events. Replying on behalf of the successful rink, E. Jurv praised the play of his lead, W. Whittaker. of the Carlton Club. He said that Whittaker played remarkably well against strong opposition considering his short playing experience.