BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 5

BOWLS

FINAL OF EASTERN SUBURBS TOURNEY WON BY GLENDINING

The final game in the Eastern Suburbs’ bowling tournament between Lyall Bay (Gilbert) and Wellington (Glendining) was played in cold, dull, blustering weather on the Hataitai Club’s green on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large number of spectators from the various clubs. The conditions were far from ideal —a treacherous wind, blowing strongly from all quarters, as often as not negatived the best-laid bowl, and, sometimes a badly-laid,, bowl would be held .■p by the wind and run into a good position. So the game was a steady nhig qii both sides, with luck playing a big part in the game. Wellington had slightly the better of the points for the first few heads, but we twelfth, fourteenth, and sixteenth heads saw the scores level. On the whole the steadier drawing power of Glendining and his men gave them a slight advantage, which was nullified on three distinct occasions by Gilbert’s splendid driving. On each of the three occasions Wellington was ly.ng two shots, and each time Gilbert, with deadly accuracy, cleared them out. The most interesting head was. the fifteenth. Wellington was lying four when the skips wont down, but Gilbert, with his first ball, carried the kitty back to three of his own bowls and lay four, but Glendining, with his final bowl drew the shot itseif dead, behind a forest of wood. From that out it was a struggle for Lyall Bay. Wellington scored a single, on the seventeenth head, two on the oghteenth, a single on the nineteenth. Lyall Bay notched a solitary point on the twentieth, making the score 1.7 —14 in Wellington’s favour. Wellington had drawn two shots when the skips went down. Gilbert essayed to turn the head, but only succeeded in driving one of Wellington’s shots out, the game ending. Wellington—Davies. Higgins, Carey, Glendining (s.), 18: Lvall Bay—McGill, Pears, Bradley, Gilbert (s.), 14. For Wellington, Davies played a very sound leading game ; Higgins got a good one in now and again, but Carey was not so reliable as usual. Glendining, playing his usual steady drawing game, saved time after time, and to him must go the honours for the victory. McGill did not lead so well as on Tuesday last. Pears was consistently thereabout; Bradley was off his game; and Gilbert played sterling bowls throughout. At the conclusion of flip game Mr. Geo. Holliday (president of the Hataitai Club) presented the gold medals to the winners (with the assistance of his daughter, Miss Holliday), and certificates to the winners. He complimented the winners on the steady play which had made them the winner’s of the first Eastern Suburbs Tournament. He also expressed his thanks to Mr. Charles Bary, and his able assistant, Mr. C. E. Bennett, for the manner in which the tournament had been conducted. There had "been some comment about allowing the final

to be played oit Tuesday last, but he did not think they were at fault in allowing the game to be commenced at a quarter to four with two and a half hours daylight to go. In any case it was a matter for the respective skips to decide. If one or both of them had come eitner to Mr. Bary or himself and suggested playing the final game later it would have been acted upon at once, but thev had elected to go on with the result that they tied on the hist head. He had to admit that the conditions under which the last three heads were played bordered on the farcical, but it could scarcely have been avoided under the circumstances. Mr. S. Potter (acting-president of the Wellington Chib), who was called upon to speak, sa.d he was proud of the fact that a rink from his club had come out on top, and he wished the Eastern Suburbs’ Clubs all success in their future tournaments.

WELLINGTON CLUB Grenfell and Potter defeated Manly and Kinvig in the semi-final of the club pairs, 34—If This means that Grenfell and Potter have to play off with Mayer and Hill in the final, but as the latter already have one leg in, Grenfell and Potter will have to beat them twice to win. HATAITAI CLUB Tnb club pairs at the Hataitai Club were won bv B. T. Martin and Ardell, who on Saturday afternoon defeated Cathie and J. A. Martin, 18 —15. The game was an even one, the scores being level on the twentieth head. THORNDON CLUB

There was a large gathering of bowlers and lady friends at the Thorndon bowling green on Saturday afternoon, the club having decided to close its season on that day- A special match was arranged by the president. (Mr. G. Johnson), the composition of the teams being fixed by a draw. Four trophies were donated by the president for the winning team, to be decided by the team eecuring the most points over its opponent. Twelve teams entered for the competition. The green, though worn in places, played very true, and some excellent individual play took place. A stiff wind interfered with the play at times, but otherwise the game was a most enjoyable one, and the match was a great success, creating much enthusiasm and keen competition. Thomson’s rink, which played against Hardie’s, won the trophies, the scores being 27, as against 16, none of the other irams winning by such a large margin. Afternoon tea was provided in the pavilion by Mrs. Johnson (wife of the president), and was much appreciated by bowlers and the many visitors present. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers. Excellent musical selections were rendered by a gramophone lent for the occasion by C. and Co. Ltd. At the conclusion of tho game Colonel It. J. Collins, C.M.G-, made a few remarks, making reference to the kindness and hospitality of the president and his wife, and thanking the ladies who had assisted in dispensing the afternoon tea. The results of the play was aS follow Stanford 20 v. Allen 16; Wilson 20 v. Buckeridge 14; Thomson 27 v. Hardie 16; Loughton 20 v. Dodds 16; Kilgour 25 v. Upham 22; Hutton 22 v. Munro 17.