BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 6

BOWLING

By Jack.

Acknowledged with thank? an invitation tc the opening of the ladies’ section of the North-East Valley Club on Tuesday next. The function is timed to start At 2.30 p.m. The nine rinks selected to tour Otago Central, though not a particularly strong combination, contain quite a' number of players thoroughly representative of the Dunedin Centre, and they can be looked to to give a good account of themselves. The fact that Carnival Week is just at hand, and a'so that a representative team will visit Christchurch shortly, have probably prevented several of Dunedin’s leading players taking part in the trip. An Alexandra correspondent writes as follows : ... "In local bowling circles , the visit of bowlers from the Dunedin Centre is the principal matter of interest just now. Three rinks are to play against the local club on Friday, and as considerably more interest has been taken in the game this season, local players are in hope of giving their visiters a stiff contest. The green; is in pretty good order, and the recent ram will improve it. It is hoped that the weather will again be favourable, as is usual when our Dunedin bowling friends pay us a visit,” It can safely be said that no tour is anticipated with more pleasure by Dunedin players than a visit to Otago Central, where hospitality is dealt out on a lavish scale.

The heavy rain on Friday night and Saturday morning necessitated a postponement of the fixtures set down tor the afternoon. As matters turned out, the greens, though heavy, were playable, but the members of the Centre Executive, who were responsible for the games beimr postponed, decided in the only way possible. The clubs in the Dunedin Centre are scattered over a wide area, and anything pertaining to the arranging or postponing of games must naturally be decided upon in the forenoon to avoid confusion in the afternoon.

By defeating St. Kilda in the Four-rink Championship, the Roslyn players have secured five wins out of six games played, and are now almost certain to win the section, in which case the final game for the coveted honour will be between Dunedin and Roslyn. The game between St. Kilda and was of the keenest nature. The latter established early a serviceable lead, but in the last half of the game the St. Kilda players recovered well, and the final count’ found them only three points in arrears. ,

The final for the Four-rink Championship last year was played between Roslyn and Caledonian, the latter winning after a well-contested game. The Roslyn players have performed very consistently this season.

The following is the result of the match between the Hampden ai.J Palmerston Clubs,' played last week on the Hampde# green:—'

P. H. Arkle, Lang, Adams, Hayes ... 17 Dick. 6. Aitchison. Leith. A. Aitchison T. Cameron, Dr Thomas, R. Cameron. Galloway 22 D. Prain. R. M'Kerrow, Chisholm, Woodley Kennedv, Black, M'Gregor. Smith 31 Davis, Melville, Lang, M'William Totals ;... 70 49

During the afternoon tea adjournment the Mayor of Hampden (Mr W. Nicolson) presented to Private Leslie Leith, on behalf of the residents of Moeraki and Hampden Riding, a framed certificate, to mark their appreciation of his conduct upon active service, and to show their pleasure at his safe return. This certificate, Mr Nicolson stated, was the last of 70 certificates presented to local returned soldiers. Private Leith suitably responded.

At the conclusion of the day’s play Mr Cates (president of the Palmerston Club) expressed the pleasure his team had felt in meeting the Hampden Club on their own green. He moved that a very hearty vote of thanks be extended to the ladies for tho.r hospitality during the afternoon. Mr M William (vice-president, Hampden) replied on behalf of the Hampden Club. Ihe final game in the Singles Championship, between Brackenridge (Newtown Wellington) and Spilier (Sydenham, Christchurch), in the dominion tournament which has just concluded in Wellington, proved a fane contest. Brackenridge was much in .the limelight in the early stages of the game, and with five heads played led by 9 to 1. Spilier then began to creep up, and at the end of the ninth iiead had appreciably improved his position, his score then being 8 to his opponent’s. 10. 'iho afternoon tea adjournment was taken at the end of the 12th head, with the scores — Brackenridge 13, Spilier 9. The Dominion states that with 12 heads gone it seemed as if the end would come quickly, but Spilier seemed to improve during the loth head. He drew within Bin of the jack with his first, but Brackenridge beat the shot and himself got 2, leaving him 3 up.— Brackenridge 16, Spilier 9. The 14th head was not very interesting, resulting in 2 for Spilier; and'at the 15th Spilier lay 2, after dislodging Brackenridge’s second shot.— Brackenridge 16, Spilier 13. The 16th head opened full length, Spiller’s first being short and his second a ditcher; Brackenridge lay 3 on the head. The 17th head opened with a shot by Brackenridge 6in from the kitty on the wing, but Spilier beat it amidst applause, carrying kitty, but holding it. With his third he knocked Brackenridge into the ditch, but still held the shot. Witii a chance of getting 4, Spilier played a yard on, but failed, still winning by I. Brackenridge 19, Spilier 14. The 18th head saw Spilier within 2in of the kitty witii his second shot. Brackenridge missed with his second, but drew second shot with his third. The head ended with Spiller’s second shot counting, although his last bowl missed by a fraction.—Brackenridge 19, Spilier 15. On the 19th Spiller’s first ball fell short, and his second narrow, Brackenridge’s first lying on the wing, within 4in of kitty With his third and fourth he drew two more, making 3, and giving him a lead of 7, with two heads to go. On the 20th head Spilier drew the shot, but Brackenridge beat him, and the game ended—Brackenridge 23, Spilier 15. The 21st head was not played. The Dominion Championship last year was won by E. Harraway (Dunedin) in most convincing style As next week is Carnival Week, there will be no bowling fixtures on Saturday next. This should give the various clubs a good opportunity to push forward their games. On Saturday, February 12, Elderly Bowlers’ Day will be celebrated ,on the Dunedin Club’s Green, and with Mr H. F. M. Mercer at the helm success is assured. The Caledonian Club took advantage of a large attendance on Saturday afternoon to play a pairs tourney, and an enjoyable afternoon resulted. In the winners’ class the successful pair were Elliott and Foster and in the losers’ Farrell and Glasse secured first place.