BOWLING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 January 1926, Page 6

BOWLING.

WAIRAKAPA TOURNAMENT. VICTORY FOR- CARTERTON. One of the most successful New Year tournaments ever held by the Waifarnpa Bowling -Centre concluded in the dusk of last evening, wlien the final issue was conics tod bv rinks ■skipped by Fisher (Carterton) and Kerr (Masterton). Whyte, who skipped the Carterton rink through the tournament, was unable to play on the final day, and his place was taken by Fisher, his number 3 ; 11. Hall being 'substituted for Fisher. After a keenly contested and exciting game, Fisher, one of the least fansf 3:5-0 semi-finalists, won through with handsome play. A CLOSE GAME, The first match oil the day was between Crawford (Karori) and Fielding '(Hataitioa), and produced a standard of play worthy of a Dominion final. Play was very even, with low scoring, to the loth head, -where Crawford led 14 —13. A 2 on the next head gave Crawford an advantage at an important stage of the -game, but the next two- heads produced tliree for Fielding, leaving him Still one point down. Fielding landed four counters -on tlie 20tli head through trailing the “kitty” to the ditch after Crawford had laid the shot. This turned defeat into victory, leaving the Hataitai man 20/17. Crawford was tillable to do better than a, single on the last head, losing the game 20/IS.

BRILLIANT EXHIBITION. The semi-final between Kerr and Fielding was another brilliant exhibition -of bowling. Playing with did team work, the Ilataitai rink put on 10 before-Kerr’s team could settle down, and on the Bth head the M-a.s----terton skip was down 3/10. A 3, a 4 and -a single in the next three heads brought the home team up to 0/10, with half the journey gone. Kerr then had a. .succession of counters, giving him a lead of 15/10. On the 19th head he was 4 up -on the board, and lying 2, but Ola ridge, the Jlataitni three, burned the head. The visitors Were unable, however, to regain their position, and lost by 14 to 10. CARTERTON EFFECTS SURPRISE. A surprise was effected by the Carterton ring in tlie other semi-final, where Ramsay, twice Wairarapa Centre- champion -and winner of the recent Wellington championship, struck his colours to the rink skipped by the veteran, W. Fisher, Ramsay’s rink lacked its usual team work, but the all-round excellence of the Carterton rink’s -play could not be denied. If it was a .draw, a trail, a wick or a turnover that was 1 wanted, one of them had it waiting, and the Ilataitai champion never looked like winning. After

2 ail on the third head, Fisher was practically always ahead. With- II heads gone Carterton were up 11/6. A -single on the 12-th and a 3 at the 14th gave'.Fisher a -sound lead of 15/7. Bollard and Ramsay both struck their game in the next three heads, on which Hataitai 6 cored 1,2 and 2. Ramsay was 4 down on the -board at the ISth. On the 10th Fisher lay 2, but the head was burned by Ramsay, who skittled them with his first bowl. Fisher returned the compliment when Ramsay lay 2 on the re-play, tlie head eventually going to Fisher for a single, leaving Ranis-ay 5 down and two heads to go. Con'si-stent bowling by the Carterton two .and three saw a single gained on the 20th, and 3 -on the- last head, Fisher winning through to the final by 21 to 12. A STERLING STRUGGLE. The final produced a sterling struggle between the Masterton and Carter ton rinks. Fisher’s,;team started off well, and could do anything!asked of them. S.mith lead magnificently throughout, and was ably supported ,by Hart and liajl, who, -excepting the latter towards the close of tlie game, played far too consistent for their opponents. Fisher was also right on liis game, but his task was comparatively easy compared with that set Kerr, who : was seldom supported by His colleagues. ) Practically every head Kerr was left I the work to do, and tlie- defeat can -be ascribed to the accepted theory that a skip cannot do,everything. Thurston was much -below form and only in the latter stages did lie play anything like his usual game. McCalden was a fairly consistent number two, but Mortou, the number ‘three, never found his game. The first half of tlie board was all in favour of Carterton, who Jed by 13 to 6. Fisher led 4/1 on the first three heads. In the fourth, Kerr, with a fine shot, trailed the kitty for two, but • Fisher’s last bowl carried it to the ditch for three, giving him a lead of 7 - to 1. On the eighth head Fisher presented Kerr with three, making the score 10/5 in favour of Carterton. On ' the 13th Kerr drew two good bowls for a three, and in the next McCalden trailed the kitty for two, -but Hall drew

the shot to The side of the rink. This was displaced by Kerr’s last bowl; 1 •up and 10/13 on the board. Better bowls by Masterton in the ,14th head saw a well-earned four marked up for Kerr,-who took the lead for the first time at 14/13. In the next head the Masterton skip played a great running shot for a four, but the kitty wicked and left Fisher the shot, the score being 11 all. Kerr again took, the. lead with a single on the Kith, but a three to Fisher on the 17th placed him again two up. Masterton reduced the lead by one 'in the 18th. Kerr was lying one on the 19th, but in drawing another just 'bumped up an opponent’s bowl, giving them the shot. On the j 20th Masterton were lying two, but j their number three turned in a Carter- > ton bowl for the shot. He redeemed himself next shot, hoy ever, with a superb draw, but Fislier drew inside him, placing Carterton 19/16 with one head to go. Kerr burned the last head when lying two down, but Carter-

ton set up a fine defence in the re-plav, and with a single won the. title. The final score was 20/16. At tlio conclusion of the final, ill-. G. Ilaync, on behalf of the AVairarapa -Centre, presented the prizes to the winners and runners-up. Mr. G. R. -Sykes, M.P., made a presentation- of a jardiniere to Mr. F. Staples, tournament secretary, from the Wellington bowlers, as a mark of their appreciation for his kindness to them during their visit to Masterton. BRITISH LOSE TO TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. The British bowlers met eight Taranaki rinks to-dav, the match resulting in a- win for Taranaki by 17S points to 142.