BOWLS With out BIAS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 9

BOWLS With out BIAS

Without doubt Wellington has been as fortunate .as any part of the Dorqinion' in regard to the weather which has heel) experienced over the holi- , days, arid although morning play was .held up on bank holiday, it cleared up in time to enable a start to bo made half an hour after midday. Since t|ien the weather has not looked back, ahd the Christmas bowling carnival; may' be set down as one of the most/successful and pleasant' yet. It was,.not ia feoord number of entries, but big; entries ,do not tend to the most enjoyable tourneys. ■ * * * The green keepers have vied with each other in their endeavours to bring:-.' the l green's to perfection, and taking, them 'all'-round, the greens were never better. There are three or-: four players; who carry too much avhtt'dupois were not able to get dojvn to deliver .their bowls well, consequently, the Way in which they humped’the'green about a yard beyond the mat’told.its tale in bruised patches. They will'have 1 .to take a eburse of reducing exercises. , t .* There has been some splendid play in* the tournament, and Hataitai has had- a-singularly successful spin. At the time of writing it looks-a fairly’ even chance that three Hataitai rinks may appear in the semi-finals., for two skips. Fielding and Halliday. had not had a Joss, Shepherd had won • all but one, and Brighting had only lost two. No other . club had anything like such a good record. The crack Wellington club skips failed to come to light, and Victoria did not do so well, as expected, although • Tucker is through to post-section play. Lyall Bay rinks were expected to do better. Hale, of Island Bay, was a surprise to a good many, for he secured the scalps of some of the best. Johnson, of Hutt, was somewhat of- a dark horse, and the two' losses he sustained were from fieams which were not expected to win, and which otherwise had poor records.' But such is the luck of' the game. Many : of the oracks suffered losses where least expected. At one time it looked certain that it would require eight wins to qualify for post-seetjon play, but Johnson (Hutt) made another loss in the eighth round, ' which let the sevens in, much- to the relief of many sevens winners, who were afraid that their chance of further play was as good as Buokloy’s. Anyway, it is just as well, for it will not prolong play ; as there are four greens available, and the games ' prior to the semi-finals and finals will be cleared up in timq for Friday. The final day’s play is the opening day of play in the Hutt Valley tournament (December 31st). whioh goes on for three days and has a good lot of entries. Play Starts on the Hutt, Central and Petone greens St 9 a.m. each day. The finals are to be played on the sudden death principle, 21 heads. Play is divided into two sections, which will be seven games of ;21 heads. *■*■ • * , .

Last year the finalists in the Wellington Centre Tournament Were Dick Ramsay (Hataitai) and J. J. Roberta (Wellington), Thi& vear both were incaphbitated; 'one ’through ’a breakdown. and Roberts with a strained leg.'• Diclt Ramsay was’ nwav fishing and h«d a good haul of schnapiper, while ,T. J. Roberts had to be content to watoh his substitute. *•* « ■ S. Potter, of Wellington Club, in

leaving for the Old Country in about ten days’ time,; and will be "away for about a year, if the cash lasts long enough, he says. Bqn .voyage; sure you’ll find a warm welcome on the in the Old Country. Retter ‘try your hand on the Crown greens while you are tfcefe ■ and See how you like them. * • * .

Gyles, past president of Hataitai Club, has joined Wellington Club this season, and wore their colours in too centre tournament. He was most unlucky to lose to Halliday, Hataitai, on his old green. With two heads to go Halliday was six down, and in the last two heads scored four and two to tie. An extra head was played, and when Gyles bad played his first bowl was resting two. ■ Halliday then drove a good shot, taking the kitty through and also two adjacent bowls, all running up to toe end of toe head together. It was impossible to tell what was going to happen.’ but when they came to rest Halliday was resting one, and so won the game. Wasn’t this luck! However, he and his rink' played consistently w@U .throughout the section play.'

Twenty-five players from Wellington Club leave by ; toe daylight “Limited” express next Wednesday for Auckland. They comprise six rinks to visit Carlton Club in quest of the Thomson Shield, which the Carlton Club retained at Wellington last season. Tho Wellington rinks are very strong ones this time, and they feel fairly confident of returning with the honours. The party will he '. accompanied by several ladies. « -» » - • Several members of the Wellington Club, with the secretary, H. Jackman, visited Harry Mayer in hospital on Christmas Day and cheered him up considerably. He was very bright and cheerful, but is disappointed that he will not he in toe party for Auckland. He will be about again- earlv in the New Year. Hard luck to have spend Christmas and New Year on the sick bed. *- * - . • «

All bowlers will be very sorrv to hear of the serious illness of Captain Houldsworth, and also of Mr H. E. Richards, both of Wellington Club, and will wish them both a speedy recovery. • • • * It is pleasing to be able to report that Mr W. H. Grenfell is making excellent progress and is looking more like, his old self. He has had u bad spin this year. May 1 lie new one be brighter" and happier for him in all respect?. Members me ready to a elcome him back on the g-een onto more. •• * ■ In the centre tournament Captain McArthur (Welliauton), nnd H. A.' Shepherd (Hataitai) met ini the first round and tiel on th<- 21>t head. In the extra - read Shepherd' was B J ng the shot; srd llio Wellington r>ip killed toe head. ' Another head was played and this time the Hataitai skip scored a couple and won the gome. Shepherd Ts to -be congratulated upon the consistent form he - showed, in the ■sectiofi play. ‘ " • • - * -. Hataitai, (after holding‘ the. Hill pins and toe Gowan feathers for, set long, lost hoth trophies to Victoria in one week. Brackenridge.toqk a strong ri,nk over ohe day and ' captured the feathers, and then Tucker took his rink over nnd captured toe pips. How long will Victoria hold them?