FOURS BOWLING TITLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 20, 24 January 1946, Page 3

FOURS BOWLING TITLE

WHITE’S RUNANGA TEAM WINS

LAST BOWL DECIDES EXCITING CONTEST D3MMON TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES (P.A.) Christchurch, Jan. 23. Amid intense excitement the Runanga team won the Dominion Bowling Association’s champion fours, this being the first occasion on which that prize has gone to the West Coast. When, with his last bowl, F. White played the deciding shot that put him from bne down to one up there was a scene of enthusiasm, the like of which has neyer been equalled on a Canterbury green. The final score was: Runanga (F. White) 18, v. Mount Eden (G. A. Deare) 17.

The final was played on the Edgeware green, and about starting time a heavy south-west shower fell, making a short postponement necessary. Then the sun shone and, except for another shower when the game was nearly finished, the weather was fairly good. Naturally the green lost its former keenness and this was against the chances of the Aucklanders, who are used to fast greens. The Aucklanders were at another disadvantage in that their second, J. Gribble, had been compelled to return north the previous day, his place being taken by T. R. Pope. The teams were: Runanga: W. Hill house (lead), J. Gourlay (No. 2), J. Armstrong (No. 3) and F. White (skip). Mount Eden: E. J. Wilson (lead), T. R. Pope (No. 2), H. Wilson (No. 3) and G. Deare (skip). In the first end, when Deare was lying one, Armstrong nicked in for shot. White ran through the head and Deare failed to disturb it. Runanga 3, Mount Eden 0.

Deare lay two shots on the second end till Armstrong knocked one of his own to the jack. White drew another, taking his score to s—o. Wilson drew a toucher on tdhe third end but Gourlay cut him out. H. Wilson then then ran through for shot and the end finished with Runanga 5, Mount Eden 3.

Deare was lyin£ three on the fourth end till Armstrong disturbed the head and lay fine, only to be cut out by H. Wilson. White missed with a firm shot but got the jack with his last and the shot, and the board read, 6—3.

Hillhouse threw a long head on the fourth end and put his second bowl into the ditch. It was a wide head till Pope drew to within a foot of the jack. Then Armstrong got away with the jack and sent it into the ditch lying within a yard of it, making the score, 7—3.

On the sixth end Runanga lay two till H. Wilson cut them out by resting the shot bowl. Deare drew another with his last bowl—7 to 5. Pope got the jack with his first bowl and lay a good shot which H. Wilson improved to a pi/.r, r i— 7. E. Wilson sent down two good ones on the eighth and Pope drew another. White failed with his two firm shots, leaving Mount Eden up, 9—7. In the ninth end Pope and H. Wilson each drew nice ones leaving White with a well-covered head against him. His last bowl was a good one, but it still left Deare one up, 10—7. In a wide end Armstrong drpw a single and White nicked in lor another, 10—9 in Deare’s favour. In the eleventh end the leads were short. Then Armstrong drew a toucher, leaving Runanga three. White trailed to the jack and gave one aWay, 11—10 in Runanga’s favour. Runanga-was one up on the twelfth end, thanks to a nice draw by Armstrong, and H. Wilson turned another in lor them. By a firm shot Deare cut one out but Icit Runanga still one up. By a splendid firm araw on the thirteenth Gourlay cut two Mount Eden bowls out and lay a good one. Then H. Wilson cut the shot bowl out and lay two, but White shifted the head and got two. E. Wilson drew a nice one on the fourteenth; only to be cut out by Gourlay. H. Wilson shifted t<? shot bowl and lay three. White was short with his second but Deare turned a Runanga bowl in for shot.

Gourlay drew a good one on the fifteenth but H. Wilson cut it out. Both skips failed, leaving Mount Eden one up, 15—11. Early in the sixteenth end Gourlay shifted the jack and Deare was two up. Then White drove into the head and by a lucky shot scored one. Runanga 16, Mount Eden

Hillhouse drew two nice ones but E. Wilson got inside them. Then Gourlay sent down the Shot, only to be displaced by H. Wilson who burnt the head.

Deare lay one on the seventeenth and got another on lhe eighteenth end. Pope drew one but Gourlay cut it out. A. Wilson drew to the jack but Armstrong pushed it out and took its place. He also drew another. Deare sent down a good bowl and cut one out. The score was Runanga 17, Mount Eden 13 with three ends to go. Mount Eden lay shot but Gourlay cut it out with a beauty. H. Wilson tailed to alter the head. Deare pushed the jack away and then drew one, 17—14., Hillhouse drew one on the twentieth in a loose head, and Gourlay improved the position, leaving Runanga two up. i-’eare missed with his drive, but w?h his second shifted kitty. White d.-ove and got the jack which sprang forward and left Mount Eden three un U.’-a!I with one end to go.

On the last, Hillhouse drew shot but w«.s beaten by Pope. i-i. Wilson tnen nre'-v another, short, aiid Gouriay just ■ auea to rest him out. When the skips v-. ent down Mount Eden was lying one wiJiin a loot ot the jack. White s first uowl was narrow, but with r.is second ne put tlie shot out and iay one, taking