DOMINION BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17217, 21 January 1918, Page 2

DOMINION BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

JUNKS AND DOUBLES COM PI JOTED

BOTH WON BY OTAGO PLA¥KItS.

I , lay in the Now Zealand Bowling Association tournament .vvsis continued, at tho Duijudiu Green on Saturday, when both tho rinks and tlio double*) competitions were completed. 'J "ho weather conditions again left a good deal to-be, desired, ajid a soaking ram which foil early in tho morning made, tho green rather heavy; but by the. afternoon matters showed a considerable improvement, and, with the exception of orio lairly heavy shower that, fell during tho progress of play, the conditions we.ro quite pleasant. 'l'lio ocoaeion wis observed a» ■■ Ladies' Day," and this fact, coupled with tho promise of Bomo intonating games—a promise that was amply fulfilled—was responsible for a very large attendance, especially in the afternoon, when tho green presented quite an animated appearance. Amongst those present during a portion ot tho time were Sir James Allen, tho lion. J A llanan, and Mr T. K. Sidey, M.1.. Tho visitors generally were courteously treated by tho members of tho Duncdin Club, and wore also provided with afternoon tea. A programme of music by Flints orchestra did much to enliven the proceed- I ings Play commenced at 9 a.m., and was , continued throughout tho day; the last game, the final of tho Pairs Competition, not, being completed until dark. In tho Rinks Competition a play-off took place between Kummer, M'Millan, Wilson, and Walker (Ponsonby) and Buchanan, Miller, W. -Smellie, and A. Smelho (Green Island) for third pla.ee. At tho fifth head Srriollie had a lead of 6 to 2, but by the e>hth head Walker had drawn level with a three and a two From this point onwards the Ponsonby rink did most of the scoring until the last two heads, when Smcjjio was four up each time, and the game" ended 24—20 in favour of Walker. RINKS FINAL. The chief centre of interest and.- attraction during the afternoon was the final of tho Rinks" Competition, which was played between Robson, Spinks, Falconer, and C. R. Smith (Otago) and M. Casey, M/Leod, V. Casey, and Parsons (Ponsonby). A further point of interest about the game was that the Otago rink was skipped by tho president of the association, and when his team eventually secured the coveted banner, which has never before been won by a South Island club, their victory was loudly acclaimed. The game, which was watched by a large and intensely interested crowd of spectators, was not a particularly striking one for a dominion'tournament, but it was fairly well contested, and much good play was "seen, many of the heads being built tip very compactly. AH the Otago men played well, but notably Spinks and Falconer, while the skip himself did what was required of him on a number of occasions. Robson's leading also left very little to bo desired on the whole. Tho Ponsontoy team had an uphill fight practically throughout, and they failed to reproduce the fme form that they had previously shown during the progress of the tournament. This may have been due in a measure to a certain amount of stalcness on tho part of M'Leod and Parsons, who had had a fairly strenuous time in both rinks and doubles, while tho state of the green would also have sorao effect on the northern players. Ponsonby scored a sin do on each of the first two heads, but Otago evened matters with a two on tho next head. Parsons scored a single on tho fourth head, but Smith followed this up with a .four, giving him a lead of 6to 3. A single to each side followed and then Smith got two. increasing his lead to 9_4. On the ninth and tenth ends Parsons was three up each thno. and this reversed the positions, putting him in tho load at 10—9. Otago then came away with another three, followed bv a one to Parsons, and the score at tho twelfth head was 12—11 in favour of Smith. The next three heads went to Otaco. with a. one. a four, and a two. and this was practically the deciding point of the same, giving the president s rink a commanding ler.H of 19 to 11 at the fifteenth lieno , . The sixteenth headwas declared " dead." as tho iack wa<s shifted and it struck a spectator, who was pitting on the eritro of the ditch. Parsons then scored two singles, which Otago eoiiahsed with a two. and worn eight: up with three ends to go. A three to Ponsonby ravo them an ontsirlo chance, but two to Otaero on tho twentieth head n"f tho witin beyond doubt. Ponsonbv reoi'h-ing eight to w""n on tho Inst head. They only mimac-ed t« Frnre two. and the game ended: Otago 23, Ponsomy -p ATT?s SWT-TTX'ALR.

I p. the morning tho Pairs match between J M'Leod and A. Parsons (Pontwnby) and W. .Fraser and L Woolf (United) was continued. Thirteen heads had been played on the previous afternoon, and the score, then stood at 14 to 12 in favour of Woolf. On the resumption of play Woolf scored a single on the first head, but after this Parsons had matters all his own way, and ran out a winner by 26 to 15. The eemi-fjnal of this section was then pbiyed between M'Leod and Parsons (Ponsonby) and Atkinson and Brown (United), a delay occurring at the start owing to the late, arrival of Atkinson. The game was an interesting one in many respects, and was marked by sood leading on both sides, but Parsons showed a skill in drawing that Brown could not match. The Poneonby pair scored 1 on each of the first four heads but a 3 and a 2 to Brown put him in the lead. Tho three following heads went to Parsons, increasing his score to 12 and by the time the fifteenth head was reached he held the advantage at 17 to 8. From this noint he had 'the game well in Jinnd, and at the eighteenth head the score read 21 to 10 in his favour. By scoring 5 on the last head Brown materially reduced the margin, making the final totals: Ponsonby 22, United 17. PAIRS FINAL. Late, in the afternoon 'the final was pkveil between hogy and Harraway (Dunedin) and M'Leod and Parsons (Ponsonby). Despite the fact, that the northern players had had an arduous day, they put up a splendid fight, and tho issue of the game was in doubt right un to the last head, a performance that was all tho more meritorious in view of the fact that Parsons and his colleague had just completed their rink game againet Smith. This was in many respects the most interesting match o£ the day It was marked by splendid leading by bcih Hogg and M'Lood and by a stern tussle between the two skips, with tho result .that the outcome of many of tho heads was undecided until tho last shot had been played. Harraway had the scoring all hie own way for the first five heads, ami put on 8 points. In the sixth head there" were some fine drawing shots by Parsons and his partner, p.nd with one bowl to go the Ponsonby skip was lying 5 His last shot was also a " counter,' and tho score read B—6 in favour of Harraway. On the next head Parsons was lying 3 or 4 when Harraway drew second shot, with his last bowl. Oμ the ninth head M'Leod was lying two shots when the skins went down." Parsons got another bowl in, but Ilarraway's last howl was again hoauti.ully laid down, and drew the second shot. Ihe score then read 9—B in favour of Harrnway In the following head there was some fine' play between the leads, and, after M'Leod 'was lying 2. Hogg took them both out, and lay 1 himself. Harraway followed with three nice shots, the last of which proved the shot, and he was 4 up on the head. A 1 to Dunedin followed, but on the 'twelfth head, when his lead was lying 1 up. Parsons played a beautiful drawing howl,'" which lay shot., and gave him 2 on tho head, making the score 14 to 10 m favour of Harraway. The- Diinedm pair then scored a single, and on the fourteenth iioad some fine play was witnessed between tho skins. Harraway was lying 1, when Parsons*took him out, only to bo displaced in turn by Tlarraway. who then lay 2. With his hist lwwl, however, Parsons drew a beautiful shot, and was 1' up. On the three following heads Harraway scored a 2 and a 1. us against a single by Parsons, and tho score read 18—12 in his favour on the seventeenth head. Matters looked nithor hopeless for Parsons, but the Ponsonby players were fighting an uphill game with fine spirit., nnd Parsons- earned hearty applause by drawing 'three beautiful shots on to the "jack: in tho fading light. On tho next head M'Lood w;ls lyinir 1 when the skips went, down, and Parsons drew three good shots, which Harraway was unable'to displace or improve upon, thus giving him the load at 19-18 for tho first timo ""in tho gnme. O'n tho seoond last head M'Leod was' lying 2 when the skips went, down, but Harraway took them both out, and. drawing another good shot, was 2 up. Althoayh there was very little light left., tho last luvul was a close ono, and tho finish proved extremely exciting. Harrawnv's load secured tho shot, with Parsons lying second, whan the Dunodin skin put dowTi i , . short bowl ap a safeguard. This effected its purpose, for when Parsons played his last bowl it encountered the obstruction, and Harrwway was 1 nn. 'the. final sco.ro being 21 —19 in his favour. Following are the results:— RINKS COMPETITION. Pi.AY-m-T fop. Tinitn Plactf.. Kuinmcr, M'Millan, Wilsson, and Walker (Ponsonby) 24 beat Buchanan, Miller, W. Smellie, and A. Smeffi© (Gretas Island) 2Q»

Final. Robson, Spinks, Falconer, and O. R. Smith (Otago) 23 boat M. Casey, M'Leod, V. Casey, and Parsons (Ponsonby) 18. PAIRS COMPETITION. 'lVutli Rolhhl J. M'Leod and A. Parsons (Ponssonby) 26 boat W. Frascr and J. Woolf (United) 15. Klovoritii Kourid. J. M'Lood and A. Parsons (Ponsonby) 22 heat St. G. Atkinson and J. Jkown (United) 17. KIN AT. W. lloßjr and K. Ilanav/ay (Dunedin) 21 boat J. MLeod and A. Parsons (Ponsonby) 19. PRESENTATION OF BANNER. At tho conclusion of tho rinks final Sir James Allen, in a brief and appropriate speech, presented the banner to tho winners. In replying on bclwlf of his team Mr. Smith expressed hLs plcuauro that for the first time since its inauguration four years ago this coveted trophy h;:d been wrested from the North Island. Dunediu was looked •upon in many respects as the homo of bowling, and it wae. therefore, the proper pliice for tho flap;.— (laurlUci-.) 110 thanked Hie members of h» ow-.i team for tlio way in which they had played, and expressed hh pleasure- at haviiiß met the Ponsonby team in tho final. If he enuld not nave won the banner himself nothing would havo given him greater pleasure than to 6eo Mr Parsons's rink, which contained an old and very enthusiastic bowler in Mr M. Gisey, take it away with them.—(Loud applause.) Mr Parsons, who was received with applause, expressed his appreciation of tho kindness that had been extended to tho visitors by the people of Dunodin. He had como down to win tho banner, and that was the third attempt he had made to do so, but ho assured them that when they came to Auckland next time he would have it.H Applause.) Messrs M. Ciisoy and Professor Maxwell Walker were also called on to speak, and both referred in warm terms to the kindness and hospitality that had been extended to them in Dunedin. The latter added _a word of praise regarding the manner m which the tournament was bcimr conducted, and expressed the opinion that, with one? or two slight amendments the arrangements here could very well be taken as a basis for future tournament*?. —(Applause.) Tho ceremony concluded with cheers for the winning and losin«r teams.

WINNERS OF CHAMPION RINKS. The Champion Rinks is. the- blue riband in connection with bowling in New Zealand and generally brings out the pick of the- bowling talent in the dominion. On this occasion 80 rinks entered. This is tnesame number as competed m 1914, when the tournament was first inaugurated under the Dominion Association. On that occasion the event was won by l'ortcous (Wellington), Fountain (RosJyn) securing second position, M'Curdy (St. Kilda) third, # and Stephens (Petone) fourth. In 1915 the contest was hold in Auckland, when 99 rinks participated. J. A. Naeh (Palmeraton North) was the winner. E. J. Hill (Tc Hiwi) being runner-up, Muir (Dominion road, Auckland) third, and Jury (Karangahake) fourth. Christchurch was the scene of action in 1916, when 72 rinks presented themselves, J. Laughton (Newtown) was tho winner, R. Torranco (Christchurch) run-ner-up, and Laing (Waimate) and Fountain (Roslyn) filled the other positions. In 1917 Wellington was the locale, and 136 rinks competed. Tho winners -were: Osmond (Auckland), with A. S. Spiller (United) second. Smart (New Plymouth) third, and Sehauer (Onehunga) fourth. At tho tournament Dunedin had 31 rinks engaged. Christchurch 17, the North Island 22. while tho balance worn drawn from other centres, in tho South Island. TO-DAY'S PLAY. The singles competition will bo entered upon to-day, play commencing at 9 a.m. on nine greens. ,