BOWLING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19379, 31 December 1932, Page 4

BOWLING

TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED. T. EDWARDS WINS SINGLES. The completion of the singles competition, in which T. Edwards, of Tcmuka, defeated J. Gray, of the Kia Toa Club, brought the South Canterbury Bowling Centre’s Christmas tournament to a successful conclusion yesterday. When play commenced on the West End green yesterday morning, there were four players left in with two lives, and four with one life. The remaining games proceeded in fine weather, but with a gusty wind which did not provide the best conditions for bowling. There were some exceptionally close games, and in two or three instances extra heads had to be played to decide the winner.

Edwards, who won the championship last year, went through without a loss, although once or twice he had close calls, gaining the decision only on the last head. He played consistently good bowls throughout, however, and thoroughly deserved his second successive win in the championship. Gray also Is deserving of a word of praise on his good form throughout the tournament. He put up a good fight in his first game with Edwards, but in the final was outclassed, and was so far behind when rain came on that it was not worth his while continuing. The tournament was well conducted throughout, and visiting bowlers spoke appreciatively of the treatment accorded them. At the conclusion of the final, Mr H. Carlton, in the absence of the president, presented the prizes to the winner and runner-up, for whom cheers were given. Following are the results:— First Round. Edwards (Temuka) 17; Latimer (Kia Toa) 13. Second Round. Edwards 21; Haworth (Canterbury) 13. Third Round. Gray (Kia Toa) 16; Ingram (Wellington) 15. Bradley (Timaru) 16; Denholm (Meadowbank) 15. Haworth 21; Manning (Timaru) 16. Fourth Round. Haworth 21; Bradley 9. Edwards 16; Ingram 15. Fifth Round. Edwards 18; Gray 17. Semi-Final. Gray 18; Haworth 16. Final. Edwards 22; Gray 7. Details of Matches. In the first game of the morning, T. Edwards (Temuka) again met J. Latimer (Kia Toa). The pair had met the previous evening, Edwards winning, and he again proved successful in the second clash by 17-13. A four to Edwards on the seventh head gave him a lead of four, but by the time the twelfth was reached Latimer had reduced his opponent’s lead to one. Edwards took three on the 13th, the next four heads being halved. Edwards was three up at the 20th, and he gained another shot on the last head. Edwards next met Haworth (Canterbury), whom he defeated 21-13. Edwards scored nine on the first six heads, his opponent then notching a win on four successive heads, on which he took seven. A two and a three to Ec! wards saw him again lead by seven, but Haworth reduced this to six on the 14th. He took three on the 18th, but a one to Edwards on the next finished the game. In the next round, Gray (Kia Toa) and Ingram (Wellington), both two lifers, met, and- the spectators were treated to some excellent bowling. At the end of the first seven heads Ingram had a lead of two, and at the 14th the score was Ingram 13, Gray 7. From this on, Gray staged a fine recovery, and a three on the 19th saw him one up. Ingram equalised on the next, but Gray took out the shot bowl in the last to lie one up. A draw was possible, but Gray preferred to run the shot bowl out, and th’is he did cleanly. Haworth had little difficulty in defeating Manning, this loss putting the Ashbury player out.

Bradley (Timaru) and Denholm (Meadowbank) fought neck and neck

over the 21 heads. At the seventh, Denholm had a lead of two, but at the 14th he was one down. He scored singles on the next four heads, and Bradley notched two on the last, making the scores 15-15. On the extra head, Bradley secured the deciding point. Bradley was eliminated in the next round by Haworth, who was right on his game, Bradley being twelve point* down at the finish.

Ingram and Edwards then met. and a fine game resulted. At the seventh Ingram was one up. but at the 14th Edwards had an advantage ol two. At the 17th the scores were even, and when the last head was commenced, Edwards had an advantage of one. Ingram took one on the head, however, necessitating a further head. Edwards was lying the shot when Ingram sent up his last bowl, and he* just failed to turn out the shot bowl. This left Gray and Edwards with two lives, and Haworth with one. Edwards met Gray after lunch, Edwards again being successful on the last head. The score was 17-17 at the 20th, and Edwards was lying two, when Gray drove to burn the head. The position was a difficult one on account of a short bowl, and he failed with his last two bowls. The semi-final between Haworth and Gray produced a great finish. Gray went away at the start, and at the seventh head had a lead of eight. Over the next seven heads, Haworth reduced the margin to five, and at this stage he was playing much better. At the 20th. Haworth had a fighting chance. He was lying one and had to draw a second with his last to tie, but he knocked one of his own bowls out. leaving Gray one up.

The Final. J. Gray (Kia Toa) then met T. Edwards (Temuka) in the final, Edwards having two lives and Gray one only. Edwards led off on a fairly short head, his first being heavy. Gray was too short, but Edwards’s second was much better played. He got another with his third, and his last made three, but Gray drew the shot nicely with his last. Gray’s first in the second was a lovely toucher, but Edwards managed to burn the head with his last bowl. Gray made the replay a long head, his first being well up. This remained the shot until Edwards sent up his last and with this he ran the shot bowd off to lie three. Gray was lying two in the third, but Edwards drew the shot with his last. Gray endeavoured to run this bowl off, but was too wide. Gray took one on the next head. On the fifth Edwards was lying two, and Gray played a great shot to pick up the white, missing by the narrowest of margins. Edwards put his last right on the white to make three on the head. Edwards took the white back nicely for two in the sixth, Gray just falling short in an effort to draw the shot. Gray was lying two in the seventh, and Edwards just failed to pick up the white, Gray adding another with his last, to make the scores: Edwards 9, Gray 5. Gray took one on the eighth, Edwards going through the gap after trying to pick up the White for a saver. Gray was in a nice position in the next, but Edwards just got up with his third to gain the shot, Gray being too short with his last to do any damage. In the tenth Gray was lying two, Edwards having the back bowls. With his third he played to take the white back, but missed. He achieved his objective with his last, however, taking three on the head after Gray had failed to get up to the shot bowis. Edwards scored another three in the eleventh, Gray missing with a drive with his last bowl. Edwards was playing the better bowls, getting almost everything he played for. Gray appeared to have gone right off his game. Edwards registering four against him on the twelfth, giving himself a lead of fourteen. Gray was barely jack high for shot in the next, but Edwards stopped right on the white, taking one on the head. Gray's task at this stage was an almost impossible one. as he would have to score two on every remaining head to have a chance. Edwards was lying three in the 14th. when Gray drove. He picked up the white but failed to burn the head. Edwards gaining one, making his lead sixteen. Gray managed to get one on the next, and at this stage, on account of rain coming on, and as Gray had no chance of winning, the game was concluded. The final score was: Edwards 22 Gray 7

WELLINGTON TOURNEY CONCLUDED.

By Telegraph—Fresa Association WELLINGTON, December 30

The Wellington Centre’s bowling tournament was won by the Lyall Bay rink—Mclntosh, O’Gorman, Hastings, and Lawrie—against McFarlane, Springhall, Gapes, and Crawford (Karori), by 31-19. In the semi-finals, Lawrie defeated Naylor (Lyall Bay) 19-14; and Crawford beat Thomson (Thorndon), 26-13.