BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 37

BOWLING.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. Tlie contest to decide who is the champion for the season among the champions 01 -lie various clubs ot the Dunedin Centre was begun on Friday under ideal weather conditions, and was carried to <he end of the fifth round. The two opening rounds were played on the Kaituna and North-East Valley Greens, and the feature of tho play was the close finishes in the first round at the Kaituna ground, where out of the five games played four were won by ordy 1 point. Mr G. Dunn 'delated as -umpire at the NorthValley green, and Mr A. M‘Kenzie at Kaituna! In the afternoon play was on tfie Dunedin green, and Mr W. Wright officiated as umpire. In the third round the only really close contest was between C. It. Smith (Otago) and R. Hovvartli (Caversham), the latter being defeated by only one point. Most of the other games were won fairly decisively. That between J. G. Bentley (Dunedin) and D. Campbell (Roslvn) was somewhat remarkable for a sudden change m the score. At one time this stood at 13 —2 in favour of Bentley, but the latter lost touch and two 4’s by Campbell changed the aspect entirely. Ultimately the Roslvn man won with four points to spare. In the fifih round Veitch (who was up till then unbeaten, and whose chances of winning the championship are favoured by many bowlers) met Ross (Fairfield), and was handsomely beat: n. Only occasionally did he find his length, and Ross was consistently near the jack throughout the game. At one stage the score was 17 —4 in Ross’ s favour, but Veitch improved his position, and with one head to go Veitch wanted 8, so he threw up. the sponge. Smith and Campbell played a ding'-dong game, fortune favouring each player alternately, and when the requisite 21 heads had been played the score was 18 all. Smith won the deciding game, and Campbell thus dropped out. J. Scott proved too old a general for Howarth. and scored a decisive win. Following are the scores: NORTH-EAST VALLEY GREEN. First Round. F, H. Jones (Balmacewen) 15 beat D. Little (Outram) 14. J. Veitch (West Harbour) 22 beat J. Sanders (Kaituna) 16. D. Stevenson (Taieri) 17 beat G. Swift (Seacliff) 14. C. Amtraan (St. Clair) 21 beat J. G. Bentley (Dunedin) 16. J. H. Hardie (Mornington) 17 beat C. Rawlinson (Green Is'and) 16. Second Round. Veitch 20 boat Jones 12. Stevenson 16 beat Amtman 15. Hardie 20 beat Little 15. Sanders 21 beat Swift 18. Bentley 19 beat Rawlinson 17. Little, Swift, and Rawlinson dropped out, having each been beaten twice. KAITUNA GREEN. C. R. Smith (Otago) 15 beat J. A. Hunter (Kaikorai) 14. —. Ross (Fairfield) 15 beat R. J. Penrose (Anderson’s Bay) 14. If. Campbell (Roslyn) 16 beat J. Scott (Caledonian) 15. R. Howarth (Caversham) 25 beat W. Lang (Port Chalmers) 18. R. Aitchison (N.E. Valley) 19 beat D. M. Stuart (St. Ivilda) 18. Second Round. Smith 20 beat Ross 19. Howarth 16 beat Campbell 13. Hunter 24 beat Aitchison 16. Scott 18 beat Penrose 13. Lang 20 beat Stuart 15. Penrose and Stuart, having each been beaten twice, dropped out. DUNEDIN GREEN. Third Round. Veitch 19 beat Stevenson 13. Smith 16 beat Howarth 15. Ross 17 beat Hardie 9. Hunter 21 beat Lang 10. Amtman 26 beat Jones 6. Campbell 21 brat- Bentley 17. Scott 24 beat Aitcheson 16. Sanders a bye. Lang, Jones, Bentley, and Aitcheson, with two losses each., dropped out. Fourth Round. Stevenson 20 boat Sanders 12. Veitcfi 24 beat Smith 15. Howarth 19 beat Hardie 11. Campbell 21 beat Hunter 16. Scott 18 beat Amtman 12 . Ross a bye. Sanders, Hardie, Hunter, and Amtman dropped out, having lost their two lives, and Smith sustained his first defeat. * Fifth Round. Scott 25 beat Howarth 12. Smith 19 beat Campbell 18. Ross 20 beat Veitch 12. Stevenson a bye. MR J. SCOTT SECURES THE HONOUR. The deciding games in the contest to decide who is ttie champion this season among the bowlers who have gained the championship of their own club were played on the Caledonian Green on Saturday afternoon. Interest, in the play was shown not only by the attendance, but by the keenness with which each shot was watched, and applauded if it was worthy. Not only was every seat occupied, but the banks, wherever they afforded a good view of the green were lino with spectators, and many more were standing. The weather was not so favourable as on the previous day, a cross wind militating against accuracy, as it frequently affected moving bowls to the extent of a couple of yards. The greenkeoper had provided an excellent, green, keener than any upon which the contest was held, and the surface was also more tree from bumps. Mr W. Wright officiated as green umpire. The Otago Centre is to be heartily congratulated upon the excellence of the arrangements throughout, which means that the executive officer (Mr R. Hanning) was always in the right place at the right time, and everything went smoothly. The president of the centre was also present, and presented tho medal to Mr .1. Soott, the winner. The contests wore keen throughout, and especially the final, which was won by only one point on the last head. All the competitors in the semi finals and finals played well up to form, and the issue was, in all cases but one, in doubt up to the final head. Following are the results of Sixth Round. D. Stevenson (Taieri) 15 beat A. Ross (Fairfield) 12.

Semi final. C. R. Smith 1 (Otago) 19 beat J. Veit-ch (West Harbour) 15. J. Scott (Caledonian; 21 beat D. Stevenson (Taieri) 14. Final. J. Scott (Caledonian) 16 beat C. R. Smith (Otago) 15. RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION v. DUNEDIN BOWLING CLUB. There was a very large gathering of returned soldiers at the Dunedin Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of their second match with the Dunedin Club. Dr Ha rrison (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association), in a short thanked the members of the Dunedin Club for their kindness in granting the use of their green. The match had been a most enjoyable one, and expressed the hope that it would become an annual affair. He also thanked the ladies of the club for turning out in such large numbers and providing them with afternoon tea. Mr y\. H. Adams (president of the Dunedin Club) replied. lie was very pleased to see such a large gathering of returned soldiers, and seeing that such keen interest was being taken in the game. He also expressed the hope that the fixture would become an annual one. Ten rinks were played, and the Returned Soldiers won by a narrow margin of 4 points. WAIKOTJAITI v. PALMERSTON. A throe-rink match between the above clubs was played at Palmerston on Wednesday. Following are the scores:

Ilutton, Lang, Stewart, Fell .. w. P. 15 Arkle, DavkiS, Galloway, G. Smith Mai loch, Maxwell, Williamson, — 13 Carson 16 Ross, Cameron. Pickett, Lefevre 16 Davis, Smith, Hunt, kludge .. 15 JL M‘Gregor, Atlams, Hilliard, Cates — 37 Totals 46 66