BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 4, 5 January 1910, Page 7

BOWLING.

Several of the Auckland bowling clubs held tournaments on one or more j days during the holidays, and despite, powerful courter attractions, there was, no lack of entries from members. The I greens are all very fast now, after the scorching by sun and wind during the past fortnight, and some keen and interesting play took place. Several teams from local clubs journeyed up to Te Aroha for the annual tournament at the inland towns, always a popular resort for bowlers in the holiday season, Auckland, Carlton, Ponsonby, Rocky Nook, Grey Lynn. Onehunga, and ilt. Albert Clubs" all being represented. The Northern Bowling Association's tournament at Wellington next week promises to be a big affair, and productive of 50m. interesting issues, particularly in the 'banner match, for which no fewer than 89 teams have entered. From Auckland alone half a hundred or more of bowlers will be present, and although the experiment of the "open door" system finds small favour with a number of the affiliated clubs, yet the phenomenal list of entries points, at all events, to a general concurrence that it shall not fail for lack of support. A feature of the "open door" system that gives many thoughtful bowlers pause as to its ultimate success is the undue advantage home clubs are likely to obtain. One of the Wellington clubs has on this occasion entered half a srore of teams in the competition for the banner. Each team wins or loses on its individual merits certainly, but ■ they are all pulling at the banner for the honour of their club, and on the face of thing* that particular club obtains an altoeether di?- proportionate advantage in the odds for the capture of the coveted trophy. The argument raised in favour of this innovation was that small clubs who were only able l to put one team into the field would i in proportion get just as good a chance ; as the bigger dubs, but it is clear that none of the distant clubs, however important in size and strength, are likely to send ten or the half of ten teams to do them battle. It is not in reason. Wherefore disappears at once the claim of proportionate representation, and ' there becomes introduced in its place a series of tourneys, in which the home .clubs will have such a preponderance j,of bowls, that outside clubs will have a minimum chance, and gradually in- . terest in such a contest will dwindle | j till reconstruction becomes necessary, j Before such a blight falls upon the banliner contest, it would be well for the 'affiliated clubs to consider before oomhmiting themselves to the system. RathI er than an indiscriminate overloading jjby one or two of the chief matcn clubs, ''it would be better to make the banner

conrpetiiionr one for single- teams —the champion combination of each, participating club. Such a course would at least ensure- the maintenance of interest and keenness of rivalry which might come near being ultimately smothered; by the unlimited, syateai. OTAHUHU GREES. The matches played on the-Otahuhu bowling green during the week ended Saturday last resulted as follows:— Rink. Competition.—Atkinson, Hay.ward, BeU, Sheppaxd <s)—l3, v. Day. T. Wilson, McMullen. May (s)—l7; Sturges, Rogers, Whlteley. Grant (s)—ls, v. May, Carson, Scott, Dick- (s)—ls; T. 'Wilson, Havtward, Wills. Mclndoe-(s).—l3, v. Whitmore,- Bell, Fearnley. Ferguson (s)—10; Day, McMullen, J. Wilson. Hai-butt (s) —13, v. Jenkins, Dr. Rowley. Robinson, Burton (si—lo. Championship Singles.—Whitley, 19, v. Ferguson, 21; Wllkius, 19, v. Harper, 20. Champion Pairs.—Scott and Harbutt—l3, v. J. Wilson and Mclndoe—l>. Boxing. Day Pairs Final.— Wilis and Mclndoe—2o, v. Whitmore and Grant—7. EPSOM GREEN. The following games were played on the Epsom green during the holidays:— Club Championship.—Watkins, 16, v. Roberts, 14; Scott beat MeDougall; Walton, 10, v. Williams. 15; W. Smith, 18, v. A. Jones, 17; W. Smith. 20, v. Roberts, IS: Walton, 10, v. ,T. Wright, 18; A. Jones, 30, v. A. Smith, 20. Pairs Championship.—Brook and W. Smith—24, v. Plnson and Priestley—l 4; ,Ta'•omb and A. Smith—3o, v. and McDongall—2G. Handicap Singles (Rendell trophy).—J. Wright. 22. v. a. Watkins, 16: Foubister, 20, v. Anderson. 17; Anderson, 28, v. Bolton. 24; Plnson, 20, v. JlcDougall, 10. Handicap Singles (Watkins trophv).—J. . Wright. 20. v. A. K. Smith, 16. Stewnrt Dawson Shield.—McDongall, 17, v. A. Jones; 15. Non-r winners' Trophy.—Foublster, 17, v. Roberts, 14; Bolton, 22, v. E. Young, 19. TB AWAMUTU. The tournament In connection with the: Te Awamutu Bowling Club for the president's trophies was held on the green on Saturday;. January 1. After a most exciting, day's play the tournament closed in favour 1 of Messrs. Stewart and Clement, sen. On Monday. January 3. a second tournament was held for trophies purchased by the olub. The result of the day's play was: Carpenter and Woollass (s) 82, Irvine and Leslie (sl 76. Wallace and Stewart (s) 75, P. Clement- and Brown (sj 74, Davies and Bryant (s) 64, A. Clement and Collins (s) SS, Phillips and Miller (sl 51, Brown aud Clements (s) 50. During the day some very exciting play was provided, and visitors and players were kept fully interested In the tourn-ument. The winners have every cause to be congratulated on the victory, as the contest was a hard-fought one. TE AROHA TOURNAMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TE ARDHA, Tuesday. The following are the scores of the second and third days of the bowling tournament:— ilourth Round.—"A." section: Rotorua No. 1, 20, v. Waihi No. 1, 12; Grey Dynn No. 2, 27, v. Carlton No. 1, 22. "ti" suction: Roroma No. 2, 21, v. Ponsonby No. 1, 15; Karangahake, 111, v. Waitete, iti; Rocky Nook No. 2, 24, v. Paeroa No. 2, 22. "C" section: Grey Lynn No. 1, 2c>, v. Auckland, 25; Walhl No. 1, 26. v. Whiuora, 18. "D" section: Mount Albert, 30, v. Paeroa No. 2, 14; Te Aroha. 22, v. Carlton No. 2, 17. Fifth Round.—"AY section: Carlton No. 1, 22, v. Onehnnga, 21; Grey Lynn No. 2, 20, v. Walhl No. 2, lti. "B" section: Rotorua No. 2, 24, v. Waitete, 23; Ponsouby No. 1. 25. v. Rocky Nook No. 2, 13; Paeroa No. 2, 27, v. Karangahake, 15. "C" section: Whltiora, 27, v. Grey Lynn No. 1, 11; Walhl No. 1, 21, v. Ponsouby No. 2, 11. "D" section: Te Aroha, 21. v. Rocky Nook No. 1, 12.; Carlton No. 2, 26. v. Paeroa. No. 1, 21. The tics in the sections were decided on seven heads, as follows:—Te Aroha, 8, v. Carlton No. 2, 6; Walhl No. 1, 6, v. Grey Lynn, 3. Semi-finals.—Te Aroha, 22, v. Waihi No 1. 20; Rotorua No. 2, I*3, v. Rotorua- No. i,

Final.—jßotorna, No. 2, 30, v. Te Aroha,