BOWLING CHAMPION

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1935, Page 4

BOWLING CHAMPION

CLARK BEATS DICKINSON

honours of central division. A FAULTLESS DRAWING GAME. Playing an almost perfect drawing game, W. Clark of the Stratford Bowling Club beat A. Dickinson (Avon) by 22 to 5 in the final of the central division bowling championship yesterday, thus qualifying to meet the three other divisional champions to decide the champion of champions for Taranaki. Clark, on the day, was definitely superior to Dickinson.. He stuck to the drawing game and refused to be tempted into fast work or to engage in risky runs. Dickinson, on the other hand was, on a number of occasions faced by a position that demanded speed and precision. He had a “just miss” day and appeared to find difficulty with one hand of the draw. Clark’s bowls required more green than did Dickinson’s but the Stratford man scarcely ever slipped in his length. A large gallery of keenly interested bowlers watched the game throughout. . . After Dickinson had made a single on the first head he failed to score again until the seventh, by which time Clark had run up seven points in pairs and singles. Dickinson then scored another single, and again had a long wa t during which Clark doubled his score (14—2) on the tenth head. Dickinson won the next two heads but only got a single and a two. Drawing faultlessly, Clark proceeded to gather point after point until a three on the 15th head gave him 22 points and rhe championship.

NORTH SINGLES EVENT THREE ONE-LIFERS REMAIN. FREEMAN, COOMBES, CHITTENDEN. At the conclusion of play in the northern Taranaki division of the Taranaki singles bowling, championship, which was commenced on the West End greens yesterday, W. H.. Freeman (New Plymouth), R. H. Coombes (Fitzroy) and J. Chittenden (Waitara) had one life each and will compete in the semi-final and final this afternoon. There will be no play this morning. The greens were in perfect order when the champions representing the Awakino, Fire Brigade, Fitzroy, Lepperton, New Plymouth, Paritutu, Waitara and West End CJubs commenced play. A stiff south-west-breeze- made conditions somewhat difficult durmg'tKe opening rounds. Later the Wind became negligible. Messrs. T. Petty and E. Dingle controlled the- games, which were of 21 points each on the two-life system. Details are:— FIRST ROUND. J. Black (Awakino) 21 v. C. Mickelson (Lepperton) 14. J. Chittenden (Waitara) 21 v. C. W. Reube (Vogeltown) 9. ' P. Mason (West End) 21 v. S. Lovell (Paritutu) 15. W. H. Freeman (New Plymouth) 21 v. R. H. Coombes (Fitzroy) 20. L. Hartley (Fire Brigade) a bye. The score mounted principally in singles in' the Black-Mickelson match until the 'l7th. head, when the score stood 11—10 in Black’s favour. From then on Mickelson drew ahead. After 7—7 on the eighth head, Chittenhen Scored a three, and then continued to advance to 21 by singles; In the meantime Reube managed to gain only two points.' . Mason ' commenced in great style against Lovell and ran to 11—2 at the ninth head.. However, Lovell took the next five heads in a row and brought the score to 11—10, Mason held the upper hand over the later stages and ran out a winner by six points. Even play characterised the game between Freeman and Coombes until the ninth head, when the pair were 7—7. Coombes then forged ahead to 15—8 at the 16th. head. Freeman then settled down to a really fine game and after a pair of singles and a trio of twos took the lead 19—18 <with a three on the 24th. head. He .won the 25th. with a single and Coombes evened with a two. Freeman won the match with a single on the 27th. .head; drawing a perfect shot six inches off kitty.

SECOND ROUND.

Hartley (2);21 v. Mason (2) 16. Chittenden (2) 21 v. Black (2) 18. Freeman drew the bye. Coombes- (1) 21 v. Reube (1) 4. Lovell (1) 21 v. Mickelson (1) 14. The game between Coombes and Reube was a runaway for the Fitzroy player, who ran out an easy winner on the 14th. head. He was in control throughout, scoring threes on the fourth, ninth and 13th. heads.

Lovell looked as if he was going to have a runaway win in his game with Mickelson, leading 14 —3 after the tenth head. However, Mickelson settled down and scored freely, the scores being 17 14 on the 20th. head. Lovell stayed on better to score on the next three heads, running out the winner by seven points on the twenty-third head. With the score 16—3 against him after the ninth head, Black’s chances against Chittenden did not appear rosy. He settled down to better play thereafter and after 20—8 against him on the 16th. he ran to'within two points of Chittenden on the 22nd. The next head saw the end, Chittenden securing a two. There was little between Hartley and Mason, the score being 15-all at the 18th., but Hartley, playin„ a particularly steady game went on to win 21 —16, mostly with singles. THIRD ROUND. Hartley 12) 22 v. Chittenden (2) 19. Freeman (2) 22 v. Mason (1) J 3. Coombes (1) 21 v. Lovell (1) 15. Black (Da bye. Martley and Chittenden had a stern tussle over the final stages,, a two on the 19th. giving the former a win. Hartley appeared as if he was going to have everything his own way, being 15—3 at the eighth, but Chittenden gradually increased his total with singles and an occasional two. He was still behind on the 16th. head, Hartley making the totals 19— with a three. Two threes and a two brought the score to 19-all, but Hartley clinched matters on the next head with a two. Freeman had matters all his own way against Mason, the score standing at 20— in his favour atthe 12th. head. Mason then took a single and a three and Freeman won with a two on the next head. Coombes was always in front until the commencement of the 15th. head, when the score was 12—10. Lovell scored a three and a one and Coombes replied with a two for 14-all. After taking a single each, Coombes went on to win comfortably, a two and a three helping materially. FOURTH ROUND. Freeman (2) 21 v. Hartley (2) 17. Chittenden (1) 21 v. Black (1) 9. Coombes (1) a bye. Playing against Hartley in the fourth round, Freeman commenced with a four. Hartley scored a . two and Freeman ran to 7—2 with singles. After the four-

teenth head the score was 13-all, Hartley making up leeway steadily. However, Freeman was too good and won on the 21st. head with a two after a three on the 18th. Black offered Chittenden .little opposition in the first nine heads, the latter rattling up 17 to one. He was checked momentarily, Black taking a fine three and a pair of twos. Black could not maintain his run and Chittenden won 21 g. FIFTH ROUND. Chittenden (1) 21 v. Freeman (2) 17. Coombes (1) 21 v. Hartley (.1) 20. Freeman, the only player to enter the fifth round with two lives, went under to Chittenden by five points. Chittenden held the advantage all the way and at one stage led 10—3, but Freeman produced his earlier form and over the final stages the competition was keen. On the 22nd. head. Chittenden had a bare twopoint lead. He brought 20 up with a two and his opponent scored a single for 17. The next head saw the finish, Chittenden scoring one.

There was little between Coombes and Hartley and the former had to fight every inch of the way to win by one point on the 23rd. head. Hartley opened with a three and a two and always held a point of two lead till the 16th. head, when he ran on to 17—10. A single and two threes enabled Coombes to get within two of Hartley at the 21st. Hartley scored a one on the next head and the score was 20—17 in his favour. However, Coombes surprised his opponent with a fine four and took the match after being behind all the way.