BOWLING SINGLES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1935, Page 10

BOWLING SINGLES

TARANAKI TITLE DECIDED BUCHAN /OPUNAKE) THE CHAMPION FREEMAN (N.P.) BEATEN IN FINAL. R. Buchan (Opunake) won the Taranaki singles bowling championship as a result of a series of games . played on the Park green at Hawera yesterday. Those who took part were the champions of the four divisions, W. H. Freeman (northern), W. Clark (central), RBuchan (western) and W. J. McDonald (southern). The bowling throughout the day was of a very high standard, and at times was much above the standard. Tire winner’s performances were meritorious and his win was well-deserved and popular. Freeman, who gave fine displays, was unfortunate in not having a bye during the day. The green was in excellent order and the day was perfect, except for a fairly strong cross breeze which at times affected play. The games were played on the twolife principle, 2i points up. McDonald was eliminated in the second round, and Clark, who had the bye in the third round, was put out in the semi-final, in which he went very close to defeating Freeman. The issue was between Freeman and Buchan, and interesting duels between them held the interest of spectators, a large number being present in the afternoon. The final was commenced as the shadows of the low trees to the west of the green crept across it, and at times the long shadows must have'been disconcerting to the players. The last heads were played -with the green clear of the shadows, the final finishing just on 7 o’clock. Congratulations to the players, and in particular to Mr. Buchan, were expressed by Mr. F. W. Mason, vice-president of the centre. He presented the shield to Buchan. Buchan and Freeman responded. Mr. J. Goodwin, president of the Park club, who welcomed the visitors in the morning, also briefly replied for his club. . He paid a tribute to the work of the greenwarden (Mr. F. W. Mason) and the caretaker (Mr. E. Northrop). FIRST ROUND. Buchan 21, Clark 11. Buchan opened up well and scored 3,3, 2 on the first three heads before Clark scored. A two and three singles to Clark followed, the score being 8-5 in Buchan’s favour at the end of the seventh head. Seven points to Buchan on the eighth, ninth and 10th heads gave him a lead of 10 points. Clark scored two on the next head and Buchan collected three singles. It was Clark’s turn to score on the next three heads, which yielded him 4. A three to Buchan on the 18th head gave him the game. Freeman 21, McDonald 5. McDonald, bowling rather strongly, failed to get going in the early heads, Freeman establishing "a 10 to nil lead on the first five heads. Two twos were scored by McDonald on the next two heads. A three to Freeman and a single to McDonald were followed by 3,1, 2,2 in a row to Freeman, making him 21. SECOND ROUND. Freeman 21, Buchan 13. Each scored a single on the first two heads. On the third Freeman had the shot up close to kitty when Buchan drove, leaving kitty op the edge of the green and himself one up, but Freeman put his last bowl in the shot position to lead 2-1. Freeman was 4 up on the fourth head, but Buchan with his last came in between two of them, freeman leading 4-1. Buchan registered a single and then played good bowls for a two to equalise 4-4. Buchan led by one after the next head, a keenly contested short one. Freeman’s consistency on the eighth head gave him a three. He had two in hand on the ninth, but Buchan’s welljudged last reduced it to a single, Freeman leading 8-5. Buchan drew the shot with his second on the next head, but Freeman took it with a toucher. Buchan’s third was a toucher but made no change. He drove with his last but Freeman, remained one up. He scored three on the next head, and was lying one up on the 12th head when Buchan tailed kitty for the shot. With his last Freeman trailed kitty to score a single and led 13-5. With Buchan one up Freeman again took the shot with a toucher, but Buchan drove to regain his single. Freeman played most consistently on the next, a long head, "scoring two to lead 15-6. There was some good play on the 15th, Buchan obtaining the honours with a single. On the next Buchan’s last reduced Freeman’s lead from three to one, but Freeman’s last was a scoring shot, and he led 17-7.. Buchan’s superior play on the 17th and 18th heads gave him a three on each, the score being 17-13 in Freeman’s favour, Freeman was nearest on the next head, the second being decided in his favour by a measure. Singles to Freeman on the 20th and 21st heads gave him the game. Clark 21, McDonald 8.

McDonald scored first and after four heads was leading 3-1. Clark equalised with two singles, and reached six with a well-played three. A two brought McDonald within a point of Clark, but a four and a three put the Stratford man well in the lead. Two singles to McDonald were followed by a four and two singles scored by Clark. Clark at that stage had 19 points to McDonald’s seven. McDonald scored one on the next head, the 16th, but Clark reached 21 with a two on the 17th head. THIRD ROUND. Buchan 22, Freeman 18. Buchan scored 1,3, 1, 1 before Freeman opened his account. On the fifth and sixth heads Freeman registered singles and then Buchan scored another single, giving him a lead of 7-2. Freeman scored a three and a two to equalise at 7-7, but Buchan drew away by good bowls to a 12-7 lead on the next three heads. Both had touchers on the 13th head, Freeman scoring a single. Freeman’s opening bowl just touched kitty and his next was very close, but Buchan’s were not up. Freeman went too far with his third, but Buchan’s next was splendid, the umpire ruling “no head," On the next head Buchan drew the shot with his third, but with his last accidentally gave Freeman the shot. With Freeman two up on the 16th head Buchan drew the shot. Freeman drove with his last, but removed his own shot, to give Buchan one and a four lead, the score being 13-9. Freeman reduced his deficit by two on the next head. Buchan’s last on the 18th head was the shot bowl, the measure giving him a two, and he led 15-11. Buchan's first on the next head was a toucher and Freeman trailed kitty on to Buchan’s second, Buchan scoring one. The 20th head was Freeman’s with a two on the next each played a toucher, Freeman having the shot. Of six bowls within 18 inches of kitty Freeman had three in his favour. Buchan drove with his last, but missed, and the score was 16-16. Freeman’s first on the 22nd head, of full length, was a toucher. He promoted one of Buchan’s bowls into a favourable position, but retained his own scoring position. Buchan just failed to score with his last, and Freeman led for the first time 17-16. Freeman’s second and third were touchers and he was two up. Buchan took one out, but drew the shot with a splendid bowl, equalising again, 17-17. Buchan drew the shot on tire 24th head with his

third, and just retained the single. After his last bowl Buchan was lying two and a measure. Freeman drove with his last, took out his own bowl and moved one of Buchan’s to leave himself two down,’and the score against himself 20-17. Freeman was close on the 26th head with his second bowl, but after Buchan’s last the measure was in Freeman’s favour, the score being Buchan 20, Freeman 18. Buchan drew the shot close with his second and lay two with his third. Freeman just missed Buchan’s shot bowl with his last. SEMI-FINAL. Freeman 23, Clark 13. Freeman’s excellent drawing gave him three and one on the first two heads. A succession of singles followed, Clark scoring three and Freeman one, the score being 5-3 in Freeman’s favour after the sixth head. Freeman played good bowls for a three and a two on the next two heads to lead 10-3. He increased to 11, but all Clark’s bowls were scorers on the 10th head, when the score was 11-7. Clark followed this with a three and was within a' point of his opponent. He evened the score at 11-11 oh the next head. A single to Freeman on the 13th head and two to Clark on the 14th gave Clark the lead, but' Freeman equalised ■on the 15th head. There was fine drawing on the next, Freeman gaining a point on that head and following with a two on the 17th. Clark came again with a well-deserved two on the next head. A single to Freeman and then to Clark kept them a point apart in favour of Freeman. On the 21st head the drawing was close, the measure giving Clark a point and making the tally 17-17. Exchanges of the lead on the next head saw- Freeman play well for two. On the next head Freeman had the shot when Clark took it with a toucher. Freeman just missed the kitty with his last, and Clark equalised again with his last. On the next head Freeman scored with his second and third. Clark's third displaced Freeman’s and Freeman could not score with his last. The score was Freeman 20, Clark 19. Freeman scored with his first and second, which was a toucher, but Clark drove the toucher out, leaving Freeman one up. Freeman’s last was a toucher, but Clark’s drive just missed. FINAL. Buchan 22, Freeman 16. Buchan’s first bowl was a toucher and after his last he Was two up when Freeman drove with his last, sending kittyon to the line. The head was alive with Buchan two up. One the second head Freeman trailed kitty to lie two up. Buchan drew with both his first and second • bowls on the next head, but Freeman came, between them and Buchan reinstated himself with his third, scoring two on the head. Buchan 4, Freeman 2. Buchan had two shot bowls in hand on the fourth head. Freeman’s last was a toucher, but Buchan still had the advantage of a single. The drawing was close on the next head, but with Buchan in the lead Freeman could not improve the position, Buchan getting another two. On the next head Freeman lay the shot with his second bowl, and put both other bowls in scoring 'position.

Buchan was two up. when Freeman drew the shot with his third. Buchan’s drive with his third missed, but hiS fourth ditched kitty and gave him a single. Freeman drew two on the next head, but Buchan drove out his scoring shots and lay two up. Freeman came in with his next, leaving Buchan one up. Buchan 9, Freeman 5. On the ninth head : Freeman scored one, and on the tenth Buchan obtained one. Freeman’s first on the next head was the shot, and after Buchan failed to rest the shot bowl Freeman drew another, making the score Buchan 10, Freeman 8. A three on the next head to Freeman ; gave him the lead for the first time. Buchan was two up on the 13th head, when Freeman rested the shot bowl, leaving Buchan one up and the scores level.

There were changes of fortune on the next two heads, Buchan scoring singles. Buchan 13, Freeman 11. Buchan drew two shots in the 16th head and Freeman lay the shot with a toucher. Buchan disturbed the bowls, but the position remained unchanged, Freeman scoring a single. Buchan’s first on the 17th was the shot, Freeman’s three all being short. Buchan just failed to trail kitty, lying one. Both lasts were short. ' The 18th head began with the disturbing shadows practically off the green. Buchan lay two shots, but Freeman drew his third magnificently for shot, scoring a single. Buchan 14, Freeman- 13. On the 19th head Freeman drew well to score with his second and third Buchan’s third brushed kitty, leaving Freeman one up. Freeman scored with his last, scoring two on the head, and again getting the lead. Freeman 15, Buchan 14. Buchan lay two on the 20th head, but Freeman came between them. Buchan scoi'ed with his third, obtaining two on the head. Buchan 16, Freeman 15. On the next head, which was long, Buchan lying one rested his shot bowl on kitty still to lie one. Freeman’s last running shot missed the head. Freeman’s first, a toucher, was the shot bowl until Buchan drew beautifully with his third and scored. Freeman's last drew second shot to save a possible three. Buchan 18, Freeman 15. With Buchan lying two up on the 23rd head Freeman drove with his last and missed. Buchan 20, Freeman 15. Freeman lay one up after his third. Buchan’s third trailed kitty, but he was still one down. On the next head Buchan’s first bowl was the shot, Freeman failing to get up with either first or second. Buchan's second was closer than his first Freeman drove with his third but missed, and Buchan’s was well behind kitty. Freeman’s last running shot took kitty back and left Buchan two up.