SUMMER BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 19

SUMMER BOWLING.

FIVE CLUBS OPENED. EIGHT NEXT SATURDAY. SOCIAL GAMES AND CHALLENGES. (By TRUNDLER.) Conditions on the first Saturday under official summer time could hardly have been better, ho the bowling greens were well patronised, and the live clubs who chose the day to officially open their summer season spent a most enjoyable afternoon. The executive of the Auckland Centre adopted their usual custom in so dividing their forces that they could support each function. The president, Mr. A. E. Whitten, went to Pukekohe, as a compliment to his predecessor, Mr. F. A. Hosking, of that club, and found a great gathering present. There were representatives irom most of the city clubs, from all the clubs in the immediate neighbourhood and. even a rink from as far away as 'i'aupiri, so everything went off with great eclat. The vice-president, Mr. W. J. Truscott, attended the opening of the "baby" club of the centre, Auckland Transport, and others attended Waiuku 1 and Waitemata. Next Saturday Mr. Whitten will attend the Mount Eden opening, Mr. Truscott will be at Onehunga, Mr. Hosking at Mangere, and the other members of the executive will divide between Balmoral, Buckland, Manurewa, Rawhiti and ltocky Nook. There will not bo much difficulty about this, but a week later there will be at least 14 clubs opening. Apart from the official openings last Saturday there were three large social gatherings, although, naturally, the num- j Ders participating in each function were | considerably reduced by the call to attend i the openings. The town and country Odd- j fellows met at Epsom, where they were ! heartily welcomed by the club president, Mr. F. Furnell, and Mr. H. J. Short (Pukekohe) replied for the visitors. The Grammar Old Boys met at Auckland, accompanied by former students of other colleges. King's, Prince Albert and Auckland University, and even including Thames High School and Otago Boys' High School. At the tea adjournment they were welcomed by the club's senior vicepresident, Mr. W. M. Matheson, who commended the organisers for arranging such an opportunity for former school fellows to meet. He was particularly pleased to learn that two of the players had attended Grammar as long ago as 1869, the year the school was opened, these being Messrs. Fred Prime and Bert Forder. As a matter of fact, the presence of Messrs. Harry Davy and Oliver Nicholson for the first time enabled a match to be played between real veterans, for when they compared notes they found that the average age of the eight players was 73Hs years. The other four were Messrs. Alf. Coutts, C. H. Culpan, C. C. Baker and A. F. Hooper. It may also be mentioned that the company included for the first time Mr. George Dean, who renewed I acquaintance with some of his old friends whom he had not seen for 49 years. Mr. Coutts replied for the visitors, and stressed the enjoyment in meeting in these purely social gatherings. He had been just as keen as anyone in strenuous competitive games, so it was quite a treat to be playing where nothing depended on the score. Referring to Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, who had just retired from the headmastership, he wished him long life to continue his activities in the interests of the community. Mr. Mahon also briefly replied, remarking that although he was severing his official connection with the school he was glad to again meet so many who were boys with him at the old school in Symonds Street. He was also pleased to find in attendance some representatives of King's College, Grammar's ino6t formidable rivals in so many other branches of athletic sports. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, a Grammar old boy, sent an apology for non-attendance owing to absence in Wellington on urgent public business. The indoor bowlers paid their annual visit to Ponsonby, where an enjoyable afternoon was spent. In the absence oi the club president, Mr. Grey Campbell, ! they were welcomed by Mr. G. F. Frieberg. The inter-club challenge matches are nearing the end of their season, as most of the clubs interested are now opening for the summer, but three were played on Saturday. Rawhiti lost the Edwin Stars, after four nice wins in September, the score being: G. Buchan, J. Waterworth, J. Rolfe, A. Parsons (Ponsonby), challengers, 25, v. E. E. Leaning, C. M. Culpin, A. Macpherson, W. Chiplin (Rawhiti), holders, 16. The game was very even until the nineteenth head, in whidh Chiplin had the misfortune to brush the jack on the wrong side to give away five. This increased Rawhiti's deficit from four to nine, and Ponsonby settled the issue by getting another on the twentieth, so with the score at 25 to 15, it made no difference when Chiplin drove the jack into the ditch for one on the last head. The next challengers are Rocky Nook, but as their club will be opening next Saturday, and Ponsonby still have one more Saturday free, it will be announced on Thursday if the challenge can be taken up by another club. . Grey Lynn successfully shook off a West End challenge for the Denison Pins, the game being interesting and fairly even for most of the way, although the holders at one stage had established a ''lead of eight: T. Mayson, W. McMurchy, R. C. Caddy, E. E. Buckley (Grey Lynn), holders, 22, v. I. H. McNair, J. Taylor, F. Needham, W. Bremner (West End), challengers, 19. Next Saturday's game will be again played at Carlton, the challengers being C. Piper, R. Richardson, F. McKinstry, W. Somers (Ponsonby), and this will be the last game of the season, as both clubs are opening on the 19th. The holders were also successful in the (Diggers' Badges, the game ending: A. Cutler, W. Matchett, W. Blair, F. Pitt (Carlton), holders, 18. v. J. C. Yeo, R. Ellisdon, A. Farley, W. A. Loram (Rocky Nook), challengers, 17. The next on the , list are engaged for next Saturday; but ; if another club's rink are free it will be i announced on Thursday, and it will be definitely the last game this year.