BOWLING

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14572, 16 January 1948, Page 5

BOWLING

IDEAL WEATHER EXPERIENCED Play During Festive Season Favourable Comment On T auranga Facilities (By “Bowler") The holidays are over and business men have resumed their usual occupations. Citizens who are members of a bowling club, in company with their club mates, should have enjoyed the Christmas vacation this season that is from the weather point of view particularly. It is many a long day, as the saying goes, that such a continuously hot. dry spell of weather has been experienced over the holidays. For days before Christmas, right through the festive season and well into the New Year, brilliant sunshine was experienced, raising temperatures to a degree not often recorded at this time of the year. As a result of such firm weather, bowlers were induced to take part in the local tournaments provided by the clubs, in greater numbers than usual. Visiting bowlers f.o the town were also catered for by invitation to play an ordinary gome, or join in a tournament. The greens of the two local clubs were very favourably commented on by prominent visiting bowlers. When it is mentioned to many of the visitors from the far south, that in Tauranga play is carried on every day of the year, irrespective of seasons — rain permitting of course —they arc astonished, in fact amazed. There are many clubs in the South Island which are only open for play five months in the year, and very few more than six months. so that it will be readily understood that particularly among visitors from the far souih, .Tauranga is considered to be a bowlers’ paradise. “Second To None” While speaking to a Dominion champion bowler, a visitor from the south during the holidays, he expressed the opinion that the facilities available to bowlers in this town arc second to none. During the holidays the Tauranga Club lost one of its respected members with the sudden death of Mr Frank Dickinson. For many pears he was -ti member and committeeman' and had also filled the office of president. It is with regret we record his passing for he was a good bowler and a good sport. The Tauranga Club has completed another club competition—the junioi singles championship. This was conducted on the sectional system, there being four sections and ?A players. Several close games were noted and the winners of sections were as follows:—R. Phelan, W. Feudal I, G. Loutiit, and D. Me-Lachlan. In the semi-finals Phelan met Feudal I and Loutiit D. McLachlan. Both these games provided really good bowls and were of a standard little short of senior play. In the former game Phelan ran Fendall to the last head, but then failed completely in trying to kill the head when his opponent was lying with ihroe nice shots very close to the kitty. In the oilier game Loutiit was successful against his much younger competitor in years and in experience. At the same time McLachlan played very good bowls and by no means allowed his opponent to win without an effort, lbs performance throughout the competition was much above the average. The only game he lost was in Ine semi-final. In this particular game he was without practice during the weeks prior to the match. Incidentally I understand McLachlan has been transferred _ from Tauranga to Rotorua and will be leaving the club. Members will be sorry to hear this from the club’s point of view as ho was a very promising colt and a good member. It would have been a haspy memento of the occasion if he could have taken the Junior Championship Cup with him when leaving. The final game in this competition was played between Loultit and Fendall and after a well-contested game Louttit became the 1947-48 junior singles champion, the score being 21 to 17. The winner must be congratulated on his performance for right through the competition he played consistently good bowls. Likewise Fendall did very well too, as the only defeat he suffered was in the final. Champion ship Fours The Tauranga Club’s championship fours are well on the way to finality, there being only two _or three games to be played in bection The winner of Section A was Cyril Smith’s learn consisting of Barch am (load), James (two), Porriman (three) and himself (skip). Without detracting in anyway from this team’s excellent result by winning five games in succession (the maximum b it 'was not generally expected that it would run-through its section without a loss, for more than one team defeated was up to Dominion standard. _ In the other section, Moran s team lias to meet Lindsay's, if Martin wins he will then have to meet Potter’s team to decide a tie both then having three wins. i Last Saturday the return maten with the Kali kali Club, for the Andrew Shield was played on tno Tauranga Club’s green, and consisted of three teams a side.' ine result N calculated on the number of points scored in both matches irrespective of games won. In the^ first round played m November at Kati--I*oti the scores were I auranga 01. Katikati 38, and in the socona round Tauranga 04,.Katikati 48. iho totals were 145 and 84 respectively, -n the six games played Tauranga won five and Katikati one.