WITH THE DOMINION TEAM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13094, 20 April 1908, Page 8

WITH THE DOMINION TEAM.

HOW THE RUBBER WAS WON.

'(BP-SCIAI. to "the rn-ESs.">

New Zealand has won tho rubber from Victoria and the players aro doing their best to keep the elation that they, feel .from getting too broad expression ou their faces. The second game was playedi on the St. Kilda green—lso feet long—and in the two cases where the Dominion bowlers suffered it was markedly noticeable that the jack was continually kept going th-e full length of tho green, and as the sward was nxich thicker than at the last two greens whore the play took iplace, it was a difficult matter to "be up." Goldstono's rink played beautifully, and/it would have been a treat to have seen them against a stronger team. Getting the jack at tho opening head they kept short lengths and each man going well, it was a long time before th© Victorians could do anything. At one -stage New Zealand was 30— 6 at this rink. Ham met Syd. Smith, who beat Ailnutt the previous day, and not a single member of the New Zealand rink -proved equal to tho long heads that were set them. Wallace and Findlay, usually so reliable, were quite off their game, but not to the same extent as the sKip, who seemed quite unable to get a score, and tho game finished- with Victoria leading Ly .50—16. Bentley met Waxman and a' keen, close game resulted. The Dunedin skip was in good fettle, played a cool, determined' game and kept'his team in good heart. His play, especially towards the finish, was very tine. W. Martin, Bastings and Scoukr ali did their part-. This is Waxman's second defeat—a thing rather unexpected and vory unusual. Ailnutt scored a meritorious win against Mason. Johnston (St. Albans) was playing third in this game, and ho kept things very lively and caused general amusement by his enth-.isia.stic ebullitions. He is a groat favourite with all members of the party and attracts tlie attention of all visitors by his expressive attitudes and remarks. Ailnutt got in his first win of the tour and we are all hoping that it will give .heart to his play, and help him to keep on winning. Bishop and A. E. Smith got on as badly as Ham and Co., but (and the "but" is a big one) how splendidly they came at the finish! Thrco rinks finished and tho gamo a tie. Just think of it, and Goldstono and Bishop playing their last end! Goldstone was first to finish. With his last bowl to go, Victoria was lying two shots, and it was a caso of "dead draw.'' '•Can you do it, Charlie?" "Oh. 1 think I can sneak in," came the cool response. Ho played. Our hearts were in our mouths. "He is just going to miss! No; he's got it! A toucher!" Pleaso fill in the rest from your imagination, dear readers, for New Zealand was one point up, with the last* end of only one rink to go. Off went the crowd of ea.ger bowlers. "Sit down in front!" This from the '•bankers," and we'had to sit down. Bishop was lying ono. Ho drew another.,' "Too good" was the remark of Manager Ham. "Harrison can get in off it." The Victorian skip, perfectly cool and collected, played his last bowl, and oh! what a time it took to come up! It rolled up very sweetly, and just missed the kitty. Then there was a furore. Hats, papers, everything went up, and the scene of Maori handshaking was a sight to behold. We had achieved what had been told us was impossible, and dignity had to go. We have received many hearty congratulations, and are now going -to -tlie third match "with an ieasy mind.