BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16591, 14 January 1916, Page 3

BOWLING

DOMINION PATRIOTIC TOURNAMENT. (Pm Uhitbd Punas Association.) GHRISTGHUIICH, January 13. The Dominion Bowling Tournament was continued to-day, when tho sectional winners in the rink competition played off the seini-tinal. Th« results are as follow, the rinks being indicated by the name of the (skip:— First Round. R. Torrance (Ckristchiirch) 19 beat W. Wylie (Newtown) 17. M. Walker (Ponsonby) 25 beat C. R. Smith (Otago) 18. T. M. Laing (Waimate) 17 beat W. Allmitt (Kaikorai) 9. , J. Woolf (United) 23 beat E. J. Hill (Wellington) 13. Byes—J. Laughton (Newtown), J. A. Redpath (Canterbury). E. Fountain (Roslyn), R. Borland (Canterbury). Second Round. Torrance 21 beat Walker 16. Laughton 20 beat Redpath 8. Fountain 30 beat Borland 20. Laing 15 beat Woolf 13. S Semi-final. Torrance 22 beat Laing 12. Laughton 20 beat Fountain 13. The final will be played on Saturday afternoon. A match was also played to-day between teams representing the North and South Islands, the North Island winning by 339 points to 260. (Fbom Oob Own Correspondent.) CHRISTOHUROH, January 13. For the fourth day's play and ladies' day the weather was glorious, and so far as bowling was concerned the various games were in most cases keenly oonte6ted. The surprise of the day was Torrance's defeat of Professor Maxwell Walker's Ponsonby team. Notwithstanding that the Christchurch team was generally expected to make matters warm for any opponents they might meet, when they went out to faoe Ponsonby it was thought that Professor Walker would win. Another game that caused much comment was that_ between Christchurch and Newtown (Wylie). Here again, the northern team failed to close up openings. Torrance never played a better game than ho is doing now, and even if he is beaten out of the first honours, lie must be recognised as. one of the leading captains in Canterbury to-day. Woolf led ITill throughout, being always at least three ahead. It was still anybody's game with five heads to go (16 —13), but Hill got no further chance, Woolf scoring two singles, a 3, and a 2 (23 —13) when Hill retired. This game was undoubtedly one of the best of the tournament. . Hill received more assistance from his rink than Hill did, all his men playing really well. Smith's (Otago) rink started off very groggily against Professor Walker. At the seventh head tho Ponsonby team had chalked up 15, whilst Otago had not made a point. At tile eighth head Slrnith opened his aocount by adding a well-drawn shot to a particularly close head.* Walker endeavoured to save by a firm draw, but was wide. Otago became more confident, and at the next bead, when Ca3ey had made the position look rosy for Ponsonby, the Otago skipper got well into the head with a beautifully played bowl, cut out Casey's two bowls, and notched 4. This was the signal for much applause by the large crowd of spectators. At the next end Ponsonby secured 2, and at the 11th head) the skips failed to improve on a very open head, Walker endeavouring to draw, and Smith attempting to cut out. However, Smith's men had placed some bowls within a yard of kitty, and thus Otago got in a handy score. At the close of the 12th head the score was: Walker 17, Smith 10. After the 17th head it was a foregone conclusion that Otago were to strike their colours, but it was to worthy opponents. Allnutt and Laing had a particularly keen oontcst. Though Allnutt'a team kept a good length and were seldom far away, they were up against a fine combination. Kaikorai perhaps at times were inclined to play a bit short, and this possibly was responsible in a good measure for tho keeping of their score down. Though Borland is recognised as ono of Canterbury's premier captains, opinion favoured Fountain's team, for it was generally expected that they would put up a big fight, and'events justified this opinion. From the commencement of the game Roslyn hunir to the kitty, and Borland was hard pressed right through. It did not make any difference how a head lay when Fountain crossed, as he generally succeeded in either shifting a bowl or adding to an already advantageous end. Except that Borland got in an occasional score, Fountain's team placed ! their bowls so that the opposition had no chance. At the 11th head Roslyn notched 6, and secured a commanding lead (24 — 16). Waimato (Laing) did not appear to have any chance against Christchurch (Torrance). The latter team started away with a single, and kept on until the board showed Christchurch 9, Waimate 1. Then Waimate got a look in, scoring 5. The Christchurch team continued to make things sultry for Waimate, but great credit must be given to Torlese, who, as third for Waimate, generally got near the mark, and materially aided Laing in keeping his opponents from bagging 'big figures. The Christ church rink, taken all in all, is a first-class one. Laughton by sheer merit played his team into the semi-final round, and it was plain from the first head that tho Roslyn combination was not going to have an easy time. Newtown built up their score while Roslyn "felt about" for the green; in fact, for a few heads Fountain and his men were, to put it mildly, "at sea." However, at the 11th head Roslyn were in the lead, 11—8, and the game settled down to "draw, draw, draw." Barnett found the length at last, and consistently planted his bowls on the jack, but Laughton's third was resourceful and sure, and when called on was close in. At the 16th head tho score was Laughton 13, Fountain 12. At the 17th head Fountain played a "Scotch" bowl and made sure of tho single. Still this was the right game to play under the circumstances. Fountain tailed with both bowls at tho 20th head, with Nowtown 2 up. Duff placed one in front and tho other right behind tho jack, and matters looked extremely awkward for Roslyn. Fountain's first bowl was short, and with the next ho drove, saving ono. It was a fine attempt, and narrowly missed tho objective At the last head (Roslyn 3 down) Nowtown found the Jack, and Dey failed to burn, Laughton protected, and Fountain drove out the shot bowl. Still Nwtown lay l , and Fountain decided to drive, but failed. It was hard l-uck for tho Roslyn team, which had won all its gameo in its section thoflo caxiier iir tho day,

to go under at the last moir<ent. Tho team failed jtist at a time when it should havo been going strong. In responso to tho invitations issued by Mr M. Barnctt (president of the association), a great crowd assembled at tho Canterbury Green, .whoro a North Island v. South leland match was played. Afternoon tea was dispensed, and music by a full band enlivened tho proceedings.