CHAMPIONS PLAY OFF

Opunake Times, 28 February 1933, Page 3

CHAMPIONS PLAY OFF

FOR WESTERN DIVISION. J. WILSON THE WINNER. The weather was of an unsettled nature when the singles representatives of bowling clubs in the Western Division met on the Opunake green on Saturday last. Although the rain kept oft', a strong wind made conditions ’ hard for the competitors who K nevertheless gave exhibitions of bowling that would do credit to a Dominion tournament. Play was held up at the commencement owing to Kaponga being unable to decide who should represent their club. Two players, Williams and Tyack, had arrived, both claiming the honour. After discussing (he matter, it was decided to play seven heads, a close game being won by Williams. Auroa were unable to send along a representative, this leaving a bye in each round. Some excellent games were witnessed during the day, but the final will long remain in (he minds of bowlers fortunate enough to witness it. as a match par excellence. Both Riley and Wilson deserve the highest praise for their respective exhibitions, the match being in the balance right up to the finish of the last bowl. We have furnished a write-up on this game, bowl for bowl, in which those interested will gain a very fair idea of the exciting nature of the match. The Play. Riley threw a medium head for the first and was well short with his first bowl but drew a nice one with his second. Wilson, after being narrow with his first, drew shot itself with a beauty—a toucher —with his next. Both got into short wood with their next, and Riley just failed I) rest shot bowl cut with his last, leaving Wilson one on the head. Wilson threw a medium length head and was narrow with his first bowl. Riley drawing the shot with a short one. Both failed with their seconds, but Wilson drew a fine shot on kitty with his third, Riley just failing to draw it off. He was wooded with his next and Wilson failed to draw another. Wilson threw another medium length head and drew two good ones with his first two bowls. After being wide with his first Riley drew a perfect toucher for the shot itself. Both were narrow with their thirds. Riley failed to draw another whilst Wilson just failed to rest the shot bowl out. —Wilson 2 —l. Rilev threw a medium length head and drew a good one with his first but improyed with his second, drawing a beauty—a toucher. . Wilson’s first was short, and in a good attempt to draw, turned one of Riley s' bowls in closer, with his second. With his third Wilson made another great attempt to draw and just missed picking up the jack, but drew third shot with his last. Rirev. however, after being short with his third drew another toucher to be two. up. Riley 3—2. Riley tbrejc a medium head but was astray with his first two shots, Wilson drawing two fair ones. With his third Riley drew the shot itself about two feet away. Wilson drove with his last but just missed the shot bowl and kitty.— Riley 4—2. Riley threw another medium head but his first two shots were mediocre, AVilson drawing the shot with his second. Riley made a good attempt to draw with his last, aiul Wilson could not draw another and lay one up on the head. Riley 4—-3. AVilson elected to have a medium head and drew a nice one for his first, but was short with his next two. Riley’s first was his second was a good one for second shot, but with his third he rested out AA r ilson’s shot to lie two up. Wil son played a running shot with his last and nearly disturbed the head with a wick. Riley failed to draw another. Riley tj—.3. Riley threw a slightly longer head but his first three shots were just ordinary, AA T ilson after drawing a beauty with his first, drew two more. Riley’s last bowl was a good dhh and trailed the jack but lost it. Wilson drew a perfect shot with his last tc He one up. Riley 6 —4. Wil sou threw the jack to the ditch and Riley threw a short one. Both played weak bowls, Wilson drawing the shot with his last bowl. Riley 6—5. AVilson threw a medium head and after a fair first drew a toucher to lie on the jack with his second, Riley, after a weak first, made a fine attempt to draw tin; shot bowl off. AVilson drew two more good ones, but; Riley, with his last, rested the shot bowl oft to lie one up. Rilev T—s. Riley threw a medium head and drew a good one with his second shot, AVilson, after being short with his first two bowls, played a yard on with bis third but missed the shot bowl. Riley drew another with his last, (nit AVilson played another firm shot and, hitting some short bowls, was rather luckv to get the shot. . Riley 7—-0. . Wil son threw another medium head but failed with his - >■ first two, finally drawing the his third. Riley playgood one to rest the shot bo&l but just missed, leaving Ills opponent one up T—T. AVilson threw a medium length for the next bead, and after both bad played weakly, Rilev scored one. Riley B—7. Riley threw a medium bead for the next and drew a f'ood oue, hut AVilson s was a better one for shot. Riley’s second was perfect to lie two inches away from the jack for shot. .Wilson’s third, though a good

one, failed to alter the position, and his last was wide. Riley failed to improve and finished one up. Riley 9—7. Riley threw a medium length bead and drew two with his first two bowls, AVilson being astray with his two but the" latter drew a beauty with his third to touch the jack. Riley essayed a yard on shot for his last but was row and although AVilson mane a good attempt to turn a short bowl in, he finished one up on the head. Riley 9—B. AA ilson threw a short head for the next and with his second trailed the jack witli a beauty, but Riley, with his second, turned his first bowl in for shot. AA'ilson, witli his last, again trailed the jack with a nice bowl, but lost it to lie one down. Riley kept away from tlie bead with his last. Riley 10 —8. Riley kept to a medium head for the next and both failed with their first two bowls. Riley drew a perfect shot with his third, AA T ilson making a good attempt to rest it off. Riley drew another with his last, but AATlson sprang the jack with his last hut lost the shot. . Riley 11 —8. Riley again threw a medium head and drew a lovely toucher with his first hut AVilson also drew a beauty to rest Riley off and lie shot. Riley made a fine attempt to rest his opponent off witli his second hut failed. AA 7ilson’s second was a good one. AVith his third Riley played a wonderful shot to trail jack for shot. AVilson endeavoured to regain shot by turning his own in but just failed after a good attempt. Riley put his last behind and AA r ilson was narrow with his last. Riley 13—8. Riley threw another medium head and drew a beautv but AVilson was equal to it and drew shot with a perfect bowl. Both played their remaining bowls weakly'and no .change resulted Riley 13—9. AVilson then threw a long head for the next and drew a good one with his first but Rilev rested him for shot. AA T ilson drew the shot again with his third, Riley just failing to better him with his {bird. AVilsou’s last bowl was good, coming to rest three inches from the jack, Riley failing to rest it off. Riley 13—11. AA’ilson elected to have a medium length head for the next and drew a toucher with bis first and drew another with bis second. Riley tried to rest off the shot with bis third and tried to run it off with his last but failed with both, AATilson drawing another with his last bowl to lie three up. Wilson 14—13. AVilson threw a long bead for the next and lay three up with his first three bowls but although his last two bowls were good Rilev could only save one and AVil son failed to draw another with bis last. AA T ilson 1G —l3. Wilson kept the next head to a medium length and drew a good one but his opponent trailed the jack with a beauty to be shot. Wilson’s second was a toucher, but failed to bold it. Riley made a good attempt to rest out AAGlson's third shot with his third and AAhlson. after being narrow with his third made a ' fine attempt to rest out the shot with bis last. Riley drew another with bis to lie two up. ( Wilson 1G —15. Riley did not alter the length of the next head and drew two good ones with his first two bowls but AAGlsou’s second bowl drew the shot. Riley’s third was a toucher but failed to trail the jack and Wilson drew another with bis third. Riley played a good firm shot with his last and disturbed the head but AVilson’s bowl bung to the jack, and the latter kept clear of the head with his last. AA 7ilson 17 —15. . AVilson threw a medium bead for the next and failed with his first two bowls, Riley drawing two good ones

with bis, and trailing the jack with bis third, lay two up. Wilson failed with his last two bowls and ibo scores were even 17—17. Riley threw a medium head for the next but had to play bis third to be a measure for shot. AVilsou’s first two were counters but lie turned Riley in for shot with Mils next. Riley drew another but Wilson’s last was a good one and fell over on its side to give Wilson shot. AVilson 18—17. Wilson kept io a medium head for the next and diew a good one inches from (be jack with bis first. Riley made a good attempt to rest it off with bis first and drew a second -shot with his next. His next two were yard-on shots but failed to alter the position. AVilson failed to improve with his last, two bowls and be lay 19—17. AVilson threw a slightly longer bead for (be next and drawing well, lay three up but Riley’s last bowl was a good one and secured second shot. Wilson 20—17. AVilson threw another medium head but be failed with bis first three bowls, Riley drawing the shot with his first. AVilson played a firm shot witli bis last but tailed to rest out the shot bowl and Riley drew another to make two up. Wilson 20—19. Riley kepi to a medium bead for the next and drew three fine shots all round (lie jack (nil A\ ilson kept (he game alive witli his last bowl by drawing second shot when in a seemingly bad position. 20—20. Riley kept the next bead short of medium length but was astray with iiis first three howls, AVilson drawing a good one with his first and adding another with His second. Rilev drove with his last, but missed a difficult shot, leaving AVilson up and the winner by 22—20. Air. C. E. Brooke was umpire.

ELIMINATION GAMES. SOME GOOD CONTESTS. Following is a summary of the earlier matches which provided some interesting and close con-

tests. In several games, the Ballot u representative, R. Inder, gave an excellent display but the cioss wind troubled him in the game against AVilson. Round 1. AVilson (Opunake) 21 v. Inder (Rabotu) 9. AVilliams (Kaponga) 20 v. Riley (Pihama) 21. Brooke a bye. Round 2. Brooke 3 v, Riley 21. Inder 21 v. AVilliams 19. AVilson a bye. AAAHiams eliminated. Round 3. AVilson 21 v. Rilev 13, Inder 21 v. Brooke G. Brooke eliminated. Round 4. Wilson 21 v. Inder 8. Inder eliminated. Final. AVilson 22 v. Riley 20. Presentation of Gup.

At the conclusion of play, Air. Frank Julian, AVesteru Division member of the Taranaki Centro, presented Air. J. AVilson with, the handsome silver cup which is donated to the winner of this division each year. He wished to congratulate both winner and runner-up on their excellent display, AVilson on having achieved the honour without a defeat and Rilev on bis great fight which for a young player, was extremely creditable.

During the ciglit years that these matches had been played on the Opunake green, the Centre had loft arrangements in his hands and he wished to thank the,Opunake Bowling Club for the very valued assistance given each year. The green was always in perfect order, morning and afternoon tea was provided and the necessary umpires were always forthcoming. Hard games were ahead of their representative, hut he felt sure he would uphold the honour on the big day. After Air. AVilson bad responded, cheers were given for the finalists.

Taranaki Final. The final games for the Taranaki singles’ championship will he played at Stratford on Saturday, March 11th. Playing bowls of the standard set last Saturday, the Western Division representative, 1. Wilson, should give a very good account of himself in the big event.