SYDNEY HEAT RUINS CHANCES OF N.Z. BOWLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17781, 26 February 1926, Page 3

SYDNEY HEAT RUINS CHANCES OF N.Z. BOWLER.

PARSONS, REGARDED AS CERTAIN WINNER, FAILS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aub. and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, February 23. The bowling carnival was further advanced to-day in flue, hot weather, when the single-handed championship of Australasia was brought to the final stages. The final rounds and serai-finals were played and the final will be contested on Monday. The surprise of the day was the defeat of the New Zealander, Parsons, in the seventh round. Parsons, up to this round, had played splendid bowls and was generally expected to taJ«G the title to New Zealand. In the sixth round lie showed the same form, and Bower (South Australia) who was responsible for his elimination, was not given a chance against the New Zealander. In the seventh round Parsons opened well, and with the score 9-1 in his favour it was expected Bower would be decisively defeated. Play in this match commenced at noon when the heat was terrific. This affected the New y ' Zealander, and in the eighth head, ■''when he led 9-1, his bowling became erratic. He seemed to have no command over his bowling. Once, when playing a short head, his bowl found the ditch, and on numerous occasions he was yards short. On another occasion, when he was lying two ho trailed kitty on to his opponent’s wood, giving the South Australian points. It was unfortunate that the players should be made to play in such heat as there was plenty of time in the afternoon to play the remaining matches. The New Zealander failed on both short and long heads, although on play to date he has not an equal on short heads in Australia. On every occasion Parsons threw the jack very short and twice the measuring tape had to be used. Parsons, however, an each occasion, was a foot over the limit. Parsons had the threw in the opening head and sent the jack down short. He won the lead for one and followed on by taking the second for three. Bower won third for a single, but the New Zealander won five heads in succession and led 9-1. Parsons's play then slumped. Bower held the shot bowl with a wood that was feet off the jack. In the next hea S Parsons had a very easy shot for absolute but sent his bowl on to the brink of the ditch. Parsons, for the remainder of the game, howled erratically, and only added three points to his score. Bower was beaten decisively in the semi-final later in the day. Parsons, by fine sportsmanship, made himself very popular. Scores; — _ Seventh Round. Bower (South Australia) beat Parsons 21-12. >Se.mi-finals. Clarke (Victoria) beat Bower 31-12. Oastler (Victoria) beat Picket (Victoria) 31-22.