BOWLING FINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27311, 10 February 1950, Page 8

BOWLING FINAL

FOURS TO SOUTH AFRICA

NEW ZEALAND ELIMINATED PA AUCKLAND, Feb. 9. South Africa won the bowling Fours convincingly. Under N. S. Walker, who was on top form as skip, the South Africans played as a team, whereas their opponents in the final —Australia —were never certain with their shots.

South Africa almost invariably built up a head which opponents little scope to obtain big scores. The first six heads were keenly contested, but on the seventh, Walker's leadership began to assert itself when he drew two bowls within six inches of the jack. The score was then: South Africa 11, Australia 3. On the eleventh head, Australia obtained 3 with well-drawn shots, and in the next three heads took further singles to make the score: South Africa 15, Australia 11.

The hopes of Australia were raised with another 3 at the sixteenth, making the score 16—14 in South Africa’s favour.

The seventeenth was the most exciting end of the match. With South Africa lying 3, the Australian skip, James Cobley, drew a toucher, which was pushed out by Walker’s first bowl. Walker’s bow! was in turn removed by Cobley, but Walker was equal to the occasion and drew the shot with his final bowl. From that stage, South Africa scored steadily by beautiful position play, the game ending on the twentieth head. New Zealand Eliminated South Africa displayed more consistent team-work in the elimination match against New Zealand. The game was fairly even until the ninth head. On the tenth, New Zealand (T. T. Skoglund) secured a 6 to lead by 12—a. When the skips went down this head. New Zealand was lying 3. Skoglund drew another 2, and the South African skip, Walker, wrested out one of his own bowls in endeavouring to save. South Africa drew level with steady play by the twelfth head, and on the thirteenth took 5 with a trial. On the seventeenth, with the score at 19 —15 in favour of the South Africans, New Zealand was lying 3 when Walker drew the shot with a narrow bowl which was deflected on to the jack. This was the decisive stage. New Zealand, while holding its opponents, could not narrow the margin. Official Placings The final placings were:— South Africa 1 Australia * New Zealand «