BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 52

BOWLING

DOMINION TOURNAMENT.

PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP.

AUCKLAND WINS PAIRS, f AUCKLAND, January 17. The Dominion bowling tournament was - continued to-day in dull but fine weather. A commencement was made with the pairs drampionship, in which the entries total - SSS. SECTIONAL GAMES. AUCKLAND, January 18. The pairs championship was continued to-day. Five rounds o£ section play completed and all section ties decided. Thereafter some matches to decide green winners were played. The system adopted is that the winner of section Al plays the winner of atction A2 to decide the winner of section A, and so on 'throughout the other sectfoas. This means that 19 pairs will enter ike post-section play, which will be on ■he sudden death principle. SECTION WINNERS. The section winners were as follows: —• Section Al —Chapman (Rocky Nook). Section A2—Addison (Edendale). Section Bl—Ryan (Remuera). Section B2—Walker (Auckland). Section Cl—Scrivener (Wanganui East). Section C2—lnglis (Epsom)! Section Dl—Trayes (Mount Eden). Section D2 —Torrance (Ponsonby). Section El—Bell (Hamilton). Section E2—Fraser (Auckland). Section Fl—Daniels (Remuera). Section F2—Chapman (Ponsonby). Section Gl—J. D. Smith (Dunedin)-. Section G2—G. Clark (Mount Albert). Section Hl—Proctor (Remuera). Section H2—Caughley (Kelburn). Section ll—Kilgour (Carlton). Section 12—Atkinson (Kahutia). Section JI —Nairn (Mount Eden). Section J2 —Livingstone (Onehunga). Section Kl—Radford (Manawatu). Section K2—Jack (St. John’s). Section Ll—Pollock (Newtown). Section L2—Harrawav (Green Island). Section Ml—Gordon (St. John’s). Section M2—Rownsley (Papatoetoe). Section N1 —Truscott (Carlton). Section N2—Armstrong (Pukekohe). Section 01—Benefield (St. John’s). Section 02—Spiller (Wellington). Section Pl —Allsopp (Dominion Road). Section P2—Naylor (Thorndbn). Section QI —Wakeley (Rocky Nook). Section Q2 —Hutchison (Dunedin). Section Rl—Pilkington (Hamilton). Section R2—Roulston (Pukekohe). Section Sl—Shillito (Timaru). Section S2—White (Hastings). GREEN WINNERS. Green wini ers were found in the following instances: — Section C —Scrivener 23 beat Inglis 15. Section F—Daniels 24 beat Chapman 20. Section G—J. D. Smith 25 beat G. Clark 15. Section H —Proctor 20 beat Caughley 16. Section I—Atkinson 26 beat Kilgour 20. Section K—Jack 23 beat Radford 20. Section O—Benefield 21 beat Spiller 16. Section Q —Hutchison 27 beat Wakerley 19. Section S —Shillito 18 beat White 16. January 19. GREEN WINNERS. The additional green winners found in the pairs championship are:—Chapman (Rosky Nook), Torrance (Ponsonby), Bell (Hamilton). Livingstone (Onehunga), Gordon (St. Johns). POST-SECTION GAMES. The post-section games played resulted Ms follows: — FIRST ROUND. Hutchison 26 v. Shillito (Timaru) 14. Jack (St. Johns) 18 v. Naylor (Thorndon) 15. Atkinson (Kahutia 22 v. Daniels (Remuera) —. SECOND ROUND. Hutchison 24 v. Jack 23. Atkinson 23 v. Gordon (St. Johns) 18. Proctor (Remuera) 20 M Scrivener (Wanganui) J 7. The play is on the sudden death principle. January 20. In the pairs championship the last four green Winners to go forward for postsection -play were found as follows Section B: Walker (Auckland). Section L: Harraway (Green Island). Section N: Apnstrong (Pukekohe). Section R: Pilkington (Hamilton). POST-SECTION PLAY. The post-section play in the pairs resulted SECOND ROUND. Bell (Hamilton) 17 beat Torrance (Ponsonby) 16. Livingstone (Onehunga) 29 beat J. D. Smith (Dunedin) 18. (P?kekahe) y i2^ Une<^' heat Armstrong (Rockynook) beat Chapman THIRD ROUND. Proctor 22 beat Atkinson 20. Harra,way 25 beat Livingstone 9. Bell 17 beat Hutchison 14 n h m on °.'y ing are now le *t in the pairs: Bell (Hamilton). Walker (Auckland). Harraway (Green Island), Pilkington (Hamilton), Proctor (Remuera). Benefield (St. John s). -r, January 21. hollowing are the results in the pairs championship games:— SECOND ROUND. Pilkington (Hamilton) 17 v. Benefield (St. John’s) 15. THIRD ROUND. " (Auckland) 20 v. Pilkington SEMI-FINAL. Walker 22 v.' Proctor (Remuera) —. Bell (Hamilton) 18 v. Harraway (Green Island) 9. Januarv 22. FINAL. A. Brackebush and M. Walker (Auckland) 22 v Bell, senior, and Bell, junior (Hamilton), 13.

THE RINKS CHAMPIONSHIP. AUCKLAND, January 19. Chief interest in the bowling tournament to-day centred on the post-section play in the rinks championship. As a result seven rinks are left—namely, Stewart (Dunedin) two lives, Hayden (Takapuna) two lives, Walker (Auckland), Benefield (St. Johns, Wanganui), Laurenson (Carlton), M'Robie (Remuera), Pilkington (Hamilton), all with one life. The result of the postsection play was:— ‘ FIRST ROUND. M'Robie (Remuera) 22 v. Jenkin (Rockynook) 14. Elvey (Devoriport) 21 v. Truscott (Carlton) 15. ' Hayden (Takapuna) 24 v. Laurenson (Carlton) 16. Stewart " (Dunedin) 19 v. Hosking (Carlton) 16. P. Jury (Fitzroy) 15 v. Dee (Maitai) 14. Pilkington (Hamilton) 21 v. James (Cambridge) 12. Scrivener (Wanganui East) 17 v. Gordon (St. Johns) 14. Harraway (Green Island) 20 v. Kerr (Masterton) 12. Findlay (Mount Eden) 14 v. Everitt (Otahuhu) 13. J. D. Smith (Dunedin) 28 v. Beynon (Petone) 10. London (New Plymouth) 21 v. Parsons (Ponsonby) 17. Trayes (Mount Eden) 22 v. Morison (Epsom) 13. Walker "(Auckland) 24 v Stephens (Kelburn) 19. Bell (Hamilton) 24 v. Woolier (Remuera) 15. Benefield (St. Johns) 21 v. Smart (New Plymouth) 19. SECOND ROUND. MTRobie a bye. Hayden 23 v. Elvey 19. Stewart 18 v. P. Jury 13. Pilkington 23 v. Scrivener 16. Harraway 19 v. Findlay 15. Smith 21 v. London 15. W’alker 23 v. Trayes 15. Benefield 23 v. Bell 16. Truscott 32 v. Jenkin 26. Laurenson 15 v. Hosking 12. THIRD ROUND. Stewart a bye. Hayden 20 v. M'Robie 19. Pilkington 21 v. Harraway 18 Walker 29 v. Smith 15. Benefield 27 v. Truscott 15. - Laurenson 25 v. Elvey 13. . January 20. ine toruney was continued to-day in hoi weather. The rink championship has been narrowed down to Stewart (Dunedin) two lives and Benefield (St. John’s, Wanganui) one life. The following are details of the results: — FOURTH ROUND. Stewart 18 beat Hayden (Takapuna) 12. Benefield 21 beat Walker (Auckland) 19 Laurenson (Carlton) 25 beat M'Robie (Remuera) 10. Pilkington (Hamilton) a bye. FIFTH ROUND. Pilkington 28 beat Hayden 13. Stewart 16 beat Laurenson 13. Benefield a bye. SEMI-FINALS. Benefield 22 beat Pilkington 6. Stewart a bye. Owing to Stewart having two lives Benefield will have to beat him twice to win the championship.

. January 21. One of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the contests resulted in Benefield (St. John’s, Wanganui) capturing the rinks championship at the Dominion bowling tournament to-day. The weather was brilliantly fine, and the green extremely fast. Benefield s rink met Stewart’s (Dunedin) rink in the final. Stewart, however, had two lives. In the first gaihe Benefield had an easy victory by 20 points to 10, but the next game, which followed almost immediately after, was much more stubbornly contested. Stewart’s rink showed all-round improvement, and led until the last head. At the end of the thirteenth head Stewart led by 19 points to seven, but never scored again. Slowly Benefield crept near, and when the twentieth head was played Stewart was only two up. Benefield was lying two on the last head - when a shot by Stewart gave Benefield three more, making the final score: Benefield 22, Stewart 19. •The rinks were: M‘Millan, Rowling, Wight, Benefield (St. John’s); Gregory, W. Smith, Bentley, Stewart (Dunedin). SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. AUCKLAND, January 20. The only match in the singles championship was that in which Clarke (Rocky Nook) 22 beat Maher (West End) 9. Besides Clarke the following are still left in:—MTntyre (Hamilton), Bell Junior (Hamilton), Walker (Auckland), Smellic (Green Island). MTntyre is the only two-lifer. January 21. Fourth Round. Smellie (Green Island, Dunedin) 15 v. Walker (Auckland) 13. Bell (Hamilton) 19 v. MTntyre (Hamilton) 15. MTntyre still has one life. January 22. SEMI-FINALS. Bell, junior (Hamilton) 17 v. Smellie (Green Island, Dunedin) 16. H. Clarke (Rocky Nook. Auckland) 27 v. M Intyre (Hamilton’ -7. FINAL. Clarke 24 v. Bell 11. NOTES ON THE GAMES. SOME STIRRING STRUGGLES. . AUCKLAND, January 17. The Pairs Championship opened in fine but dull weather. There was an absence of wind, but the greens were slower by a lot than last week. * There ”were the usual reversals of form in a few instances by good teams, but on the whole the reputation players have come to The top. Nearly all the sections provide three winners, and it is recognised that to do any good at all this record must be obtained the first day. Notwithstanding the hard games many of the players have been through the previous week, they lined up looking fit and well for the first round.

The garden party given by the president, Mr J. W. Hardley, on Saturday evening at- the Ellerslie Racecourse was a huge affair, the turnstiles registering an attendance of over 4000 people. The illuminations were very pretty and the hundreds of bowlers had a free and easy evening. It is believed to be the largest thing of its kind _ ever held in the Dominion by a sporting body. The harbour excursion on Sunday was well patronised, the ferry boat being filled to its fullest capacity. In to-day’s play Lambeth (Balmacewan) went down in three games to the youthful Mingins, (Epsom) 28—14, to Chapman (Ponsonby) 23—15, and to Tilley .(Wanganui) 29—13.

Buchan, of the same club, won all his games—against .the Rocky- Nook champion (Keatley) 19 —18, Haldane (Wellington) 22—17, and Ives (Canterbury) 18 —17. Lindsay (Caledonian) had three losses—to Mitchell (Hamilton) 23—18, Walker (Auckland) 27—19, and Dee (Maitai) 26—20.

Ferguson (Balmacewan) had two wins and one loss. He beat Osmond (Auckland) 21—19, and Land (Whitiora) 28 —15. and lost to Rowell (Devonport) 19 —10. Bentley (Dunedin) had two wins aud one'loss. He beat Hills (Onehunga) 20 — 12 and Efford (Edgeware) 24 —16, and lost to Trayes (Mount Eden) 25 —17. Callender and Shillilo (Timaru) lost a game to Fossetti (Victoria, Wellington) 26—14.

Stewart (Dunedin) won his first two games and lost to Fraser (Mount Eden) by 24—20. J. D. Smith (Dunedin) won his three games He beat Piggott (Auckland Club) 29 —18, Millin (Epsom) 25—16, and Smith (Kelburn) 18—16. Langley (Caledonian) lost his middle game. He won from Fonbister (Epsom) 29—18, and Franks (Masterton) 27 —18, and lost to Proctor (Remuera) 26 —17 Thomson (Southland) won two and lost one game. He went down, in >.?’s first game by a narrow margin to Glendinning (Wellington) 22—21, beat Bray (Remuera) 20—15, and Suhan (Palmerston North) 24—18.

Edwards (Temuka), the former champion of 1923, lost his first game after a keen tussle with A. Nairn (Mount Eden). He beat Harkness (Nelson) 21 —15, and Martin (Kahutia, Gisborne) 30 —20. Smellie (Green Island) had three wins —28—20 against M‘Arthur (Wellington), 28—17 against Hooper (Takapuna), and against Higgott (Whitiora) 26—21. S. Hbtchisdn (Dunedin) had two wins and one loss. He beat Porteous (Wellington) 28—14, and Radford (Manawatu) 23—11, and lost io Sherriffs (Mount Eden), 23—22 after a game struggle. Harraway had three wins—27 to 7 against Dunecan (Wellington), 21—16 against Boulton (Takapuna), and 22—14 against Wallace (Te Aroha). J. Hutchison (Dunedin) had throe wins—23—ll against Potter (West End, Auckland), 26—11 against Keith (Pukekohe)! and 25—20 against Johnson (Lower Hutt). Sullivan (Dunedin) lost his middle game on the Papatoetoe Green to Roulston (Pukekohe —28—20, but won against Englund (Whangarei) 28—17. and 25— 19 against Campbell (Lower Hutt).

January 18. Lambeth (Balmacewen) beat Hosking (Carlton) 20 —12, and Kelly (Dominion Road) 20—9, a total of two wins and three losses.

Buchan, who had three wins the first day, fell badly the second day, losing to Gould (Carlton) 27 —18, and the Rev. Ryan (Remuera) 24—14. Lindsay (Caledonian) broke the ice when he won his last game against Mason (Auckland Club) 27—14. He lost the previous one to Morgan (Devonport) 20—17. Ferguson ’ (Balmacewen) lost to Scrivener (Wanganui), who won the secon,,by 19—17, and to Bremner (West End) 32 23, a total of two wins and three losses. Bremner (West End) dil not qualify, his record being three wins and two losses. Edwards (Temuka) did not repeat his 1923 success. He won only two and lost three games. He lost to Fookes (Carlton) 23 20, and to Hosking (West End) 19 —18. S. Hutchison (Dunedin) won three and lost two games. In the fourth round he lost to Woolier (Remuera) 19—11, and 22— 17 Uffin (Carlton ) in tlle last Same Harraway came out a section winner with four wins and one loss. He beat Duncan (Wellington) 27—7, and Boulton (lakapuna) 21 16. He did not play off for green winner on account of the other section playing off ties. .•J- D. Smith (Dunedin) with four wins with four wins and one loss. He beat Russell (Remuera) 23—21, and lost to Eagleton (Rocky Nook) 22—16. Langley (Caledonian) made up for his three tosses previously by beating Kent (Carlton) 28—23. and Hopwood 22—20 and finishing with two wins and three losses - Thomson (Southland) beat Donald (Auckland) 17—16 and lost to Kilgour (Carlton) 19 —12, his record being two wins and three losses. Bentley (Dunedin)/after losing his first game, -went on to win his next four. He beat Bell (Carlton) 24—16 and Goldsmith (Dominion Road) 20—19. He did not qualify for the section. (timaru) won two games and is 8 !.?! 1 ree ‘ j H i e ? eat Everitt (Otahuhu) 18—17 and lost to DunI °P (Epsom) Stewart (Dunedin) did not have the same success as in the rinks, his record being three wins and two losses. In the fourth round he lost-to Frost (Remuera), t M e ?’W 1 ' ,n ? to P. mar *, and beat Hardley (West End) m his last game by 20 —19. Hutchison and his lead (Rigby) came out not only as section winners, but green winners as well by defeating the singles finalist Harry Clarke, an- his skip, Wakerley (Rocky Nook) by 27—19. 1., the fourth round they beat Millars (Remuera) 23— and in the next game Keys (St. Heber’s) 21 —13.

Sullivan (Dunedin) won four games and lost one,- but .ve wins won the section, He scored an eight in the game with Campbell (Lower Hutt). Needless to say, he won the game. In the fourth round he beat Colthurst (West End) 26—23, and in the fifth round he defeated Senior (Waihi) 20—18. Hutchiso.fi is drawn to meet Shillito and O’Hagan (Timaru), another green winner,

in the morning in order to square up the number of competitors. J. D. Smith came out a green winner. He defeated the other section winner." G. Clark (Mount Albert) 25—15. — , January 19. The resumption of play in the nnk 3 and pairs on the Carlton green saw the games contested on a dead surface consequent on a watering the previous evening and a dull day. A light drizzle, the first rain during the tournament, came over’ the green at 3 o’clock and made the going decidedly slower. The two greens at Carlton presented a great sight, with the various contestants hard at work and -the great crowd of spectators which lined the banks and every point of vantage. There were many exciting moments during the day, but the air was electrical during the concluding heads of the Harraway-Pilking-ton game. The large crowd gave unstinted applause to every player in turn. Harraway met Kerr (Masterton) in the first game and held the upper hand all through, winning by 20 to 12. He met Findlay (Mount Eden), the ex-Southland man, in the second game, which was a very even one. Good drawing by Fastier and Smellie paved the way for Dunedin s win. .

Everybody was full of expectation when the draw came out showing Harraway against Pilkington in the third round, and it was a groat and grim struggle to preserve the one life. Victory went to the Hamilton rink after a series of brilliant sets-to. Harraway was driving in brilliant style .His fast shot on the last head, when be took the kitty to the ditch, was a hard-luck one. for instead of his getting two shots—his own toucher and Smellie’s back wood—he still lay two down, as the kitty rebounded from the bank back on to the green about four feet. Both sides opened with singles. On the sixth head Hamilton was 6 to 2, and on the seventh Dunedin were lying when Pilkington came with a lovely trail up a narrow port and took the kitty to four of his own woods, which, with his own, made five. 11—2. Duneedin came to light on the next four heads with two singles and two twos. 11—8. Hamilton got a brace of singles on the twelfth and thirteenth heads —13-8. The next two heads went to Dunedin for a single and three, which reduced the score to 13-12. The sixteenth head was really the turning .point in the game, and Pilkington’s fine play was again in evidence. Dunedin lay well, and Hamilton had most of their bowls behind about 3ft. The Hamilton skip with his last bowl neatly brought the kitty back for four, a feat which not only moved the stentorian MTntyre, but also the crowd. Harraway’s last bowl failed to save. A nice two went to Dunedin on the seventeenth head, and the next head was sensational. Dunedin lay well, but Pilkington drew right on to the kitty on a full-length head. Harraway sent down a great drive to pick him off, and lie four. Pilkington drew fourth shot, and the score now was 17 all. The nineteenth head was stubbornly contested, but the Hamilton front division beat Dunedin. The Hamilton lead beat Best, and got in two beauties. Fastier had two drives, but missed. The Hamilton No. 2 put in two more. Smellic drove and missed with his first, and put his second at the back near the edge. Hamilton got three out of the head, making the score 20-17 with two heeds to go. On the twentieth Harraway drew the shot, and the last head ’ was entered on with Dunedin two down on the board. MTntyre blocked the run with his first, and got behind with his second. Harraway’s first drive just missed, but he got it with his second, with the aforesaid result. So ended one of- the toughest fights ever seen in Auckland. Best was not good at lead, and made repeated failures. Fastier was of great assistance to his skip. He drove and drew well. Smellie was only medium, and did not play a good No. 3 game. Harraway was a liust in himself, and but for his and Fastier’s efforts the game would not have been the good one it was. Pilkington was the hero of the game, as his well-judged trail shots meant quite a dozen points to his side. Besides that, he drove well and burnt many a nasty head. MTntyre was, like Smellie, a bit off colour, but Jones and Robinson, the Hamilton one and two, were very good. J. D. Smith Lad a runaway victory aaginst Beynon (Fetone) in the first game. The who'e team played well, and the score was 28 —10 in ’-is favour. The second game against London (New Plymouth) was a very stern fight till the last four heads. ’mith >t four on the seventeenth and was three up. On the twentieth he was five up. London’s lead lay shot on the twenty-first, with Dunedin a goo second. London essayed a trail with his last bowl, as he had six at the back, for Smith had failed to get position. London should really have gone "or the bare kitty, because his trail just missed. It was a great game. In the second game with Maxwell Walker it looked -ike being a close thing, but Dunedin faded away at the finish, and Walker won easily. On the fourteenth head the score was 16—15 in Walker’s favour, but Dunedin did not score again. Walker meanwhile put on two singles, a four, a two, .md a five, making his score 29—15 v ith one head to go. Stewart, who, with Hayden (Takapuna) . is the only two-lifer left, had a stern fight with another two-lifer. Hosking (Carlton), in the first game. The Carlton skip just failed 'o take out the shot bowl to make a tie on the twenty-first head, and Stewart won by thre’e.

In the second game Stewart met Jury (Fitzroy), a brother of the ex-champion, and won by four. At the seventeenth head the scores were level. Stewart played two beautiful shots, which put him two up and on the twenty-first Jury wanted four to .tie. He burnt two heads in succession and on the replay lay three but Stewart with his last bowl rested the shot and lay one. Jury rattled the head, but the result was the same, and Stewart won, five fin. >

In the third round Stewart had a bye. Rigby and J. Hutchison, green winners in the pairs of the previous day, played Q’Higen and Shillito (Timaru), bur carried too many guns, the game ending on the twentieth heijd with Hutchison 12 up. Rigby led weli. In the second game against Herd and Jack (Wanganui) the Dunedin pair established a good lead, being 17 —11 on the twelfth head. Herd then found the kitty, and, holding Rigby off, a • ding-dong go resulted. On the twentieth head the score was 19 all.- The next head saw Rigby put one right on the kitty, and it was never shifted. Hutchison tl.us won a great fight,

and one full o f interest. Hutchison is now. well ahead of things, as some of the section winners have not played off for green winner. January 20. " Another fine day greeted the finalists in the concluding stages of the tournament. Up io 10 o’clock the day was dull, but the sun, coming out quickly, livened the greens a fine degree of running. Stewart and Hayden (Takapuna), the remaining two-lifers, met in the first round. The southern team opened * its account early, and at half-way had got into a comfortable position, leading by 14 to 3. The Takapuna team fought back well up to the sixteenth head and made up a lot of the leeway, getting to within four of the opposition. Dunedin then drew away and finally won by 18 to 12. The Dunedin men all bowled splendidly. Gregory, the lead, was, as usual, in good form. The second round game with Laurenson (Carlton) was a hotly-contested one. A feature of the game was the closely-packed heads. Stewart was two up on the twelfth head. Bentley, No. 3 for Stewart, who played a fine game all through, was responsible for a nice three on the seventeenth head, and so put his team in a good avinning position. The game ended on the nineteenth head, when the bell went, leaving Stewart- four up and game. The Carlton skip was greatly exasperated at the slow tactics of the Dunedin team, and early in the game warned them that time was the essence of the contract. However, Bentley and Stewart persisted in frequent long discussions. The kitty was thrown on the nineteenth head, and Laurenson, learning that time was up in three minutes, kicked the kitty out of the rink and refused to play further. It was rather a pity that the game did not go the full distance in the circumstances. As it was, the game was a treat to watch, the various shots being cleanly and cleverly brought off.

Walker (Auckland) had his back to the wall in the first round game with Benefield (Wanganui). Over the final stages he repeatedly- turned bad lying heads into profitable returns by the accurate displacing of shots. He was compelled to drive at the last head, and although he got the kitty it went to one of Benefield’s bowls and he lost by two. The last round game between Benefield and Pilkington was rather one-sided. The Wanganuites played such a fine game that the combined efforts of Pilkington and MTntyre were of no avail. Benefield hardly missed a drive, and this got him out of the few difficulties he was placed in. His No. 3 was in great drawing mood, and short or long heads were all the same to him in finding the kitty. In the pairs championship Higginson and J. D. Smith (Dunedin) went down badly to the Onehunga pair skipped by Livingstone, the score being 29 to 18. Best and Harraway made no race of Middlebrook and J. Pollock (Newtown). The Dunedin pair combined beautifully and left very few loopholes for a score. In the lust game Harraway had a fairly easy win over Livingstone (Onehunga). The two leads were pretty evenly matched, but Harraway was deadly in drawing and aiiving. One minute he would be (our ox five down, and then would come with an unerring drive to erive him shot or shots. Harraway, in the second round, beat Armstrong (Pukekohe) by 24 —12. His score included two fours and a three.

Rigby and Hutchison, who were expected to do well, were eliminated at the hands of the father and son combination, the two Bells of Hamilton. There were many good rallies in the game, and the Dunedin pair appeared to hold a good winning chance up to the fifteenth head. From then on. however, Bell senior played great bowls, and he drew away and won by three. There was only one singles game played, Clarke (Rooky Nook) defeating Maher (West End). The former was right on his game whilst the latter was clean off. He retired on the eighteenth head with the score 22 to 9 against him. January 21. The first match between Benefield and Stewart requires little description. Benefield early went into the lead and always had a comfortable margin. His team played much more consistently than Stewart’s and won by 20 points to 10. However, in the final game Stewart’s rink pulled themselves together and produced much better form. A beautiful last bowl gave Stewart three points on the first head. Benefield was lying one but had no supporting bowls and Stewart took Benefield’s wood out with a running shot which Ipft the jack undisturbed. Stewart 3, Benefield 0. M'Millan placed his two shots right on the jack when leading at the second head. Rowling put his second one alongside and St. Johns was lying three up when the skips changed ends. Benefield added another with his last bowl. Benefield 4, Stewart 3. Stewart was lying three on their third head when Wight got the shot but Bentley’s next displaced it. Stewart got second with his first and Benefield pushed up another bowl to put Stewart three up. Stewart 6, Benefield 4. The fourth was a scattered head, Wight trailed tho kitty but left Dunedin one up. Good drawing put Dunedin two up, Benefield failing to drive the shot bowl. Stewart 8, Benefield 4. On the fifth head Dunedin was lying three when Rowling got the shot but Bentlev took it out, Benefield drove twice without success and Dunedin scored two on a measure. Stewart 10, Benefield 4. Benefield was in a good position on the sixth head but Stewart cannoned on to the jack and got one. Seewart 11. Benefield 4. Fortunes fluctuated on the seventh until Wight rested the shot. Benefield, drawing well, made his score two. Stewart 11, Benefield 6. Benefield was lying four on the next head when Bentley drew the shot with his second bowl. Tho position was not changed and tho score was: Stewart 12, Benefield 6. Benefield drove in the ninth, shifting the kitty to lie two up. Stewart retaliated with a. similar shot which turned the tables. However, Benefield drew the shot and scored one Stewart 12, Benefield 7. Bentley and Wight, the respective number threes, had a drawing duel at tho tenth head, Bentley gaining the honours. Benefield failed to drive out the shot in two attempts and Stewart scored two. Stewart 14, Benefield 7. Smith sent up a beautiful bowl on the eleventh head. The Wanganui rink was lying three. Smith’s bowl was right. in front of the. jack, being sheltered by a nest of opposing bowls, and Benefield -could not shift it. Stewart 15, Benefield 7.' ~

Stewart was lying three on the twelfth when Benefield resorted to driving, but could not completely shatter'the head, and Stewart scofed one. Stewart 16, Benefield 7.' Smith trailed the kitty on the thirteenth. Wight drove, putting both kitty and toucher into the ditch about 18in apart. Stewart got three on the head. Stewart 19, Benefield 7. A measure had to be used to decide the fourteenth head, Benefield getting one. Stewart 19, Benefield 8. Rowling drew shot for Benefield on the fifteenth head, and Wight put in another good one. Benefield added two more, and was lying four in a well-protected position. However, Stewart drove well and saved three, Benefield scoring only one. Stewart 19, Benefield 9. Benefield scored a single on the sixteenth head; and the board read: Stewart 19, Benefield 10. Nine down with five heads to go made fienefield’s task a difficult one. Benefield cut out Stewart’s shot bowl on the seventeenth and scored three. Stewart 19, Benefield 13. M'Millan sent down a good first at the eighteenth, but Gregory responded with a better one. However, Wight again gave his ■ rink the shot, which was retained. Stewart 19, Benefield 14. . . Benefield was lying three on the nine- . teenth when the skips changed ends. Benefield improved this to five, but Stewart came in with a second, giving Benefield only one. Stewart 19, Benefield 15. * Rowling came up beside the kitty on the twentieth head with both his bowls, and St. John’s was lying two when the skips went down. Stewart failed to disturb the head with his last' a running shot, and with one head to go the board read: Stewart 19, Benefield 17. M'Millan led a good first at the twentyfirst. However, Smith sent in a better one, Dunedin lying one. Wight drew the shot, St. John’s being one up when the skips went down for the last time. Benefield’s first was next to the kitty. Stewart sent in a drive which improved Benefield s position to five up. Stewart missed with his last, making the final score: Benefield 22, Stewart 19. January 23. The closing scenes of the 1927 Dominion tournament were enacted before a large and interested crowd of spectators in beautiful weather and on a green that was delightfully keen and demanded rigid attention ■ for every bowl sent down. The proceedings opened with the semi-finals of the singles at 9 a.m.. •», The general opinion was that Smellie, on his showing against Maxwell Walker, would account for the young Hamilton player, Bell. However, he must have been weary after a fortnight’s solid going. Bell rose' to the occasion and gave a very good display against the seasoned Otago player. It was a case of having to, for Smellie was playing right up to form. The turning point in an evenly contested game came when the scores were 11 all and 16 heads gone. Bell got a well-played three on the next head, and followed it up with a two on ’the next, making the score 16 to 11 and the game fairly safe. Smellie got two on the nineteenth head, and was three down and two heads to go. A hard-earned single went-to Bell on the twentieth head, and the Otago player had to get four to tie. He made a desperate last effort, and was lying three with one bowl to go. However, he' failed to get the possible, and retired from the contest beaten by one. Smellie was unfortunate on at least two occasions, when different tactics and a shade of luck might have turned the tide in his favour.

The other game, between Clarke (Rocky Nook) and MTntyre, was a runaway one, and the Hamilton player thus had two losses in succession. He was obviously stale after playing every day since the tourney opened. Clarke was 14 to 4 on the twelfth head. Both added three singles each on the next six heads, and MTntyre then shook hands, and Clarke was sent into the final. The final game was a fine one up to a stage. Both players were drawing well, especially Clarke, whose bowls seemed to curl always at the right moment, and the discrepancy between them was made up by Bell’s accurate drives. Clarke only had one firm shot, which took out Bell’s shot bowl’ for three at halfway. Bell had a bowl to go. but was a bit tender and failed to save. Clarke gradually drew away, and was 20 to 9 with four heads to go. Both got a brace on the next two heads, and Bell gave up the game with two heads to go. the score being 24 to 11 in Clarke’s favour.

Clarke is no new exponent of the singles game, and although’ he has done no gooo in the previous Dominion tourneys in other centres he has a good local reputation. He has won his club’s singles on three or four occasions, as well as holding the title of champion of champions for one season. Ybung Bell, who as a crack amateur golfer, put up a good performance in being runner-up in his first time out in a. Dominion tournament, .Were it not for staleness he would nerhaps have gone further. MTntyre suffered severely also in this respect, for he had a royal chance with two lives. Being in the semi-finals of the other two competitions—rinks and pairs—entailed a deal of strenuous play, which was too much even for the wiry Hamilton player. Walker, too, had a strenuous time for he was in everything, but went out sooner, thus enabling him to recuperate for the final struggle in the pairs, which he won after a great game in the afternoon agajnst the Bell combination. His lead was much too good for the now very tired Bell, jun. In the early stages Bell got away with a lead of 7 to 1, but great driving by Walker gradually made up the leeway as well as lowering the morale of the Hamilton pair, who faded away. By his win Walker adds double for' Dominion events. Previously he had been only a singles winner. He has yet. to win the rinks to equal Harraway’s fine record. The President (Mr J. W. Hardley) closed the tourney in the same happy manner as he opened it a fortnight ago, but to some of the competitors it seemed about a year ago SATURDAY’S GAMES. Tho following are the results of Saturday’s matches: — OTAGO v. ROSLYN. (Otago names first.) C. Crawford, M'Glashan, Rose. Owen 22, Sparrow’, Gavan, Munro, Woods 14; Ellison, Cook, Weir, Beasley 17, Robbins, Mac-

kay, A. Crawford, Campbell 17; Mitchell, Higgins, T. Scott, King 21, Stout, Waginer, Morris, C. Anderson 19. Otago 60, Roslyn 50. Hall, Callon, Telford, Watts 36, Lynsky, Shepphard, Haycock, Thomas 7; Peacock, Calverley, Young, Walker 23, Wilson. Armitage, Harraway, Todd 21; Dod, E. Cameron, Gilroy, Smith 17, Parkinson, Boyd, J. Cameron, Don 16. Otago 76, Roslyn 44. Dixon, Gascoigne, Henderson, Hamilton 13, Findlay, Torrance, Worthington, Jones 30; Braithwaite, Sligo, Lficas, J. M'Kinnor 21, MTvor, Greenwood, Morrison, Kennedy 22, Fraser, Dixon. J. Scott, Nicholson 17. Otago 56, Roslyn 66. MORNINGTON v. CAVERSHAM. (Mornington names given first.) . Hcpworth, Taylor, Ford, Smith 24, Kenr.ard, Lowry. Harraway, Forrester 17; Brown, Hollingsworth, Hockey, Vance 35, Farrant, Thomson, Shand, Hanning 16; Hope, D. Scott, E. Scott, Cunningham 20, Melville, Dempster, Forester 15. Mornington 7-J. Caversham 4 3. M'Meekin, C Scott, Connell, Thomson 13, Blackwood. Seddon, Giles, Ball 20; Stanley, Gossage, Paton, Barclay 28, Lousley, Scott, Cranston. Mitchell 14; Beattie, Reay, Wood, Hobbs 17. Johnstone, M'Caskill, Wilkinson, Will 19. Morr.ington 58, Caversham 53. Anderson, White, Bell, J. Hardie 8, Walker, Anderson, Thorn, Thomson 36; Walker, Rio, Wallace, Whelan 15, Todd, Howes, Walmsley Blackwood 23; Evans, Charnley, Cooper, Holeate 28, Paine, Beecroft, Stubbs. Todd 23. Mornington 51, Caversham 82. KAITUNA v. BALMACEWEN. (Kaituna names first). Oswin, Miller, Webster, J. Sanders 25, Simmers, Young, Stables, Walker 11; Iloddinott, Le Strange, Briton, T. Sanders 21, M'Rae, , Benny, Glover 25. Totals: Kaituna 46, Balmacewen 36. Knight, Collier. Elvidge, Lambourne 20, Beebv. Smith, Ritchie, Balk 25: Duncan, Flaveli. Paterson, Campbell 11, E. Adamson, Swan, Morrison. J. Adamson 29. Totals: Kaituna 31, Balmacewen 54. At Balmacewen. (Kaituna names first).— ' Anderson, Cooper, Ross, Mirams 25: Tupper, Cumming, , 14; Reid, .Glen dinning. Robertson, Payne 20. King, Rigby Miller 21. Totals: Kaituna, 41. Ba, 1 macewen 35. Smith, Kilroy, Crawford.. Abel 16, , Riach. M'Arthur, Baird 17; Mills. Henderson, kellan. Allan 13, Ornand. Johnston, Adamson, West 25. Totals: Kaituna 29 Balmacewen 42. FOUR-RINK CHAMPIONSHIP. St. Clair v. Taieri, at Taieri. on. Wednesday.'—Smith, Foster, H. W. Jones, Seddon ; Smart. Scryrngeour, Coull, Shore; G. Crawford. Kilpatrick. Longworth, Fast : -?r; Bishop, MTntosh. Thomson, Harraway.