BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21542, 14 January 1932, Page 5

BOWLING

By Jack.

DOMINION TOURNAMENT Glorious weather in Christchurch enabled the first two days’ play in the Championship Singles in the Dominion tournament in Christchurch to proceed without any itnerruption, with the result that by Tuesday evening the number of competitors had been reduced to five —Foster, Scott, and Hincholiff (all of Caledonian), Tyrrell (Roslyn), and Routley (Kelburn). It certainly speaks volumes for the strength of singles play in the Dunedin Centre that out of the last five remaining in four are from Dunedin, and of these it is remarkable that three belong to one club —the Caledonian. Other Otago players also played a prominent part before they were eliminated, among these being J. Hutchison (Dunedin), H. Gardiner, J. Thomas (Roslyn), and T. Ferguson (Balmacewen). Until they were eliminated J. Hutchison and Gardiner probably showed as good form as any player taking part in the games. The big surprise of ■ Tuesday’s play was the defeat of J. Scott (the only two-lifer at that stage) by his clubmate Hinchcliff. The latter played a remarkably fine game, while Scott showed a big lapse from the form he had displayed in his .earlier games. Scott was never in the hunt and was completely outplayed from start to finish. Earlier in the day Hinchcliff was easily defeated by Maxwell Walker (Auckland); but had the satisfaction later of turning the tables on the redoubtable Aucklander. Walker in his earlier games showed all his oldtime skill, but later appeared to tire and his play then lost much in accuracy. It was regrettable that in the first round of play between the two-lifers on Wednesday, Scott and Foster should have been drawn against each other and that Maxwell Walker and De Launay (third in Walker’s rink) should have been opponents, I think the officials in charge would have been quite justified in making an alteration. ... .. A fine exhibition of bowling was witnessed in the game between J. Hutchison (Dunedin) and J. Scott (Caledonian). Hutchison quickly established a lead and led by 6 —l on the fourth head.- Scott then, put in a strong run and held the mat for the next six heads, bringing his tally up to 11. Hutchison then secured a brace, and Scott followed with a single. Two singles to Hutchison reduced his deficit to one, Scott added two to his total on the fifteenth head, but Hutchison responded with four on the next end. He lay two, but Scott, with a faulty drive, fave him another couple. This put the lunedin man one in the lead, but Scott again went to the front with a brace on the next head. A single to Hutchison on the eighteenth brought the totals level. The nineteenth head yielded two to Scott and, after Hutchison had drawn two on the twentieth, Scott secured the shot. Hutchison just failed by the smallest margin in two excellent attempts to rest the shot bowl out. This gave Scott a lead of three, and the bell went announcing the close of +he game before the jack could be thrown up. Scott then met Routley (Kelburn) and proved much too good for the Wellington man. Routley led off with a lead of 6—6 on the third end, and the next two heads gave three to Scott. Routley continued to hold the upper hand till the eighth head had been played, when the scores were 9—5 in his favour. Scott then asserted himself, securing six on the next four heads. Routley then obtained a single, but a four, three, and two in succession to Scott left his opponent in an almost hopeless position, .the tallies being; 20—10 in favour of the Caledonian man with five heads to play. A single to Routley was followed By a single and a two to Scott. With a score of 23 to 11 against him and two heads to play Routley resigned. The meeting between the Roslyn crack, C. Tyrrell, and Jack (Wanganui) was exEected to produce a hard-fought contest, ut right from the jump the Roelyn man dominated the game. Jack opened with a single on the first head, but Tyrrell then held the mat until eight heads had been completed, when the score board read 13—1 in his favour. The issue was then never in doubt, and Jack retired with two heads unplayed, the score then being 20—10 against him. One of the best contested games on Wednesday afternoon wag that between Tyrrell and Bremner (West End, Auckland), and the result wag in doubt until the final head had been played. The Christchurch green was in fine order, but a tricky wind at times disconcerted the players. Tyrrell opened with a single and Bremner followed with a three. The Roslyn man then drew four nice shots which the West Ender failed to alter, but he responded with a one, two, one and two on the next four heads, and led by 9—5. Tyrrell drew two counters on the eighth head and a single on the ninth, reducing his deficit to one. Bremner improved his position in the next few heads and led by 16—11 on the fifteenth. The sixteenth head was disastrous for Bremner, Tyrrell securing the possible, and he followed up this success with a three and a two on the seventeenth and eighteenth heads. , With a deficit of four points and three heads to play, Bremner was up against it, but he made a gallant effort to pull the game out of the fire. A single on the ninteenth and a similar number on the twentieth left him with the task of getting two to tie or three to win on the final head. His first bowl lodged about six inches in front of the jack and Tyrrell was a yard over. Bremner’e second effort wag a good one, and his wood finished on top of his counter. Tyrrell was again too strong, and Bremner was a little wide. Tyrrell, in his third attempt rose to the occasion, his bowl coming to rest about four inches to the side of the jack. Bremner’s only hope wa« to run Tyrrell’s counter off the head, and this he made a fine but unsuccessful attempt to do, leaving the Roslyn man winner by a margin of three points. The results of each round of the Dominion Singles Championship have not been given in print, with the exception of the fifth and sixth, and in the case of the former round, owing to the omission of five games, it is inaccurate. These two rounds, were played on Tuesday morning, but nothing has come forward about the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds played in the afternoon. It -is known that only five players are left in this event, each with one life—viz., Scott, Foster, Hinchcliff, Tyrrell, and Routley. No information is given about the bye in this round, and as Scott and Foster have each had one, the three other players can only be considered for it. Who is to get it can only be surmised. The meagre information to hand about the last few rounds indicates that apparently Routley and Walker met in the seventh. Walker losing, and that Scott beat Routley in the eighth, and Hinchcliff beat Walker, thus avenging his defeat in round six. The last played round —the ninth —as far as can be ascertained, comprised seven players in Scott (two lives), and Foster, Hinchcliff, Tyrrell, Bremner, Hardley, and Routley (one lifers). Foster had a bye in this round, and Hinchcliff beat Scott rather badly, 21 to 7, Tyrrell beat Bremner 20 to 18, and Routley beat Hardley 17 to 11. Genera] opinion seems to favour Scott repeating his victory of 1928, when he won the title, but many bowlers are holding a brief for Foster to achieve the triple crown. Hinchcliff has come into favour owing to his wonderful feat in eliminating Walker and reducing Scott to a single life, and his chance cannot be discounted in any way. Routley, the North Island player, will have a heap of friends when he plays, and a victory by him would be acclaimed very popular just as much in Otago as elsewhere. Tyrrell is a quiet tip among some of the experts, who think the Roslyn player will prove a hurdle to all the others, and he is certainly a factor to be reckoned with. Altogether, these final five players are certainly quality with a capital Q, and the event is extremely open. A perusal of the first day’s play shows that Lowry lost both games, and Bentley and Dunn likewise. Forster, Ryan, and others also went out early in the day. Bset survived his first, but lost the second and fourth, and Carswell, after winning the first two, failed on the remaining couple. Rigby also failed to live up to his reputation. These three should have gone farther than they did. Players who went well were Gardiner (Dunedin), who reached the seventh round; Ferguson (Balmacewenl, the same round; Mackay (Caversham) and Chapman (St. Clair) —both young players; Jacobsen shaped well, also Adess and Seddon, but Abbott and Anderson should have done better. Hutchison (Dunedin) put up a good performance, and J. W. Thomas showed excellent form up till a late stage. Higginson and Edwards could have done better, but struck bard men to beat. Dunedin Club visits Waikouaiti with four rinks on Saturday, and on its home green four rinks from Roslyn, Balmac-

ewen, West Harbour, and St, Clair will have a friendly match with the mother club. Other clubs ought to visit one another at this season, and should meet some of the outside clubs, and thus cement the social side of the pastime. Saturday week is also open for friendly games should any club desire to utilise it in that way. LEITH CLUB The Leith Bowling Club held a progressive doubles tournament on Saturday, January 9, every rink being filled, and all bowlers had a very enjoyable afternoon’s play. The winners of the trophies were Uren (skip) and R. Ferguson (lead). It is proposed to hold a mixed rink progressive tournament on Saturday, January 23. and all members, ladies as well as men, are invited to attend to make the afternoon a success. A small entry fee will be made, and prizes for winners will be given. Afternoon tea will also be served.