BOWLING.

Evening Star, Issue 12163, 6 April 1904, Page 3

BOWLING.

[By Leadek.] Though a large number of Dunedin bowlers went away from home to follow tne game, there were more than sufficient left behind to prevent the weeds getting the upper hand on the greens, and, with the glorious weather we were favored with on In day and Saturday, it was small wonder that the progressive games which eventuated on Dunedm Green should have been so largely patronised by members of other dubs. It j s quite evident that this form o, play is gaining in favor. The main factors to the success of this game are that nobody knows who will be partners in the succeeding rounds until they meet on their respective rinks a moment or so before the bed rings to again commence play, and thus during the course of a day's progressive play one and all are brought into contact, and at the termination of the day—well, everybody has met everybody, and all have played to the best of their ability to help one another. And so on i riday last all those who had participated in the progreshre doubles had no hesitation m _ acclaiming that day one of the most enjoyable spent on a bowl'mg green. Before dispersing, and at the request of Mr J. C. Short (who was the senior officer of D.B.C present), the gathering accorded a hear tv vote of thanks to Mr W. Alloo, who had undertaken the arrangements and piloted through Trrthj such signal success that day’s tourney. It was intended to bold progressive rinks on Easter Monday, but the wet weather put a stop to all play. That bowling has “ caught on ” to a very large degree in this district during the past year or two the big entries at tournaments demonstrate. There are at present sometLmg approaching 1,000 followers of the game between Port Chalmers and Outram (Dunedin district). Although it is a long call from now to January next, I have heard that three teams practically made up to do the trip to \V ellmgton exhibition tournament. The semi-finals for the “ B ” pennant will be played on Caledonian Green on Saturday next-.

It is not often J. Sanders (Kaituna) gets a real knock out” on the green, but lam informed that in his game with C. T. Paterson last week the completed score showed; Paterson 23 Senders 0. T. Sanders met G. B. Dali, but kept up the family’s reputation by defeating the well-known Kaitana skip by 6 points Paterson, however, was out to wm, and, beating T. Sanders in the final, now holds the well-deserved honor of champion of Kajtuna Club.

The first day’s play in the Invercargill Easter tournament saw the only two really strong rinks from this City defeated and thus, so far as the rinks’ contest was concerned, Dunedinites did not look upon things with that amount of interest which success to the local , teams would have inspired. Of course, the rinks I refer to were W. M“Daren's and W. C. Alhmtt’s. While the latter had a more than medium team in the Sanders brothers and Melville he was unable to hold R. Taylor I Southland). The great amount of ram that has fallen, during the last few weeks had made the Southern- greens extremely heavy, and it is said that “straight pokers” revelled .m, the “soft going.” In MfLaren’s ymk CL

Foster and J. Bentley are good enough to play in any position, and though “ Mac’s ” team played a. sterling game, they had no hick, and at the finish of the third round R. Taylor’s rink had “ blown out the light ” for the two scholastic skippers. Going a little way out, w* find Taieri sending down two rinks and Milton one, and at the end of Monday’s play these three teams were in the semi-final along with R. Erskine and Co. The latter rink were responsible for the defeat of R. Taylor’s rink. Taieri, however, were able to dispose of Milton and Invercargill, and I believe the final will be played during the week on a green in the Dunedin district. T. Mackie is too well known as a bowling general to need mention, but T. Neill has only been skipping for a season. He is a steady player, and there are more unlikely things than that he will yet hold championship honors. The Doubles winners are Invercargill men, who played a good all-round game. J. Bentley (M’Laren’s third) brings home the first prize in the Singles.

No less than fifteen rinks frem Dunedin district journeyed to Oamaru, Kaituna supplying five, Dunedin four, Green Island two, Roslyn two, Caledonian, Port Chalmers, and St, Clair one each. The Oamaru greens were very keen. Phoenix especially so. That Dunedin Club still carries a formidable list of players has been again demonstrated in this tourney, for at the completion of the third round of the Citizens’ Prize no less than three Dunedin rinks were standing up, with Sneddon’s (Kaituna) rink as the solitary opposition. The fourth round saw the veteran J. Thomson go under to his club-mate, J. Hunter, who appears to relish the Oamaru greens; Sneddon’s team met defeat at the hands of Sinclair’s rink, and possibly had the game not been postponed when halfway through or. Saturday owing to the bid light, the Kaitnna skip would have been mailing thiners lively in the final Hunter and Sinchur met on Tuesday morning in the final, and at one stage of the game Hunter’s rink were 7 np, hut an unlucky (some assert that it was ill-judged) shot took out one of his own bowls, and Sinclair scored ’a 6 out of the end. This was the turning point of the game, and after a bit of a tussle Sinclair got home by the narrow margin of 1 point. In the Meadowbank Prize (those rinks beaten in the first round of the Citizens’), 0. T. Paterson’s rink were looked upon as probable winners, but Goldstone's (Waimate) team got home with 3 points to spare, Kaituna, however, were not to he denied some of the trophies hung up, for C. J. Payne was going strong, and after meeting Martin (Oamaru), who is possibly the leading player in the white-stoned city and is always a hard man to boat, the Phoenix Prize fell to the Kaituna representatives, which goes a long way to disprove the belief held by some that Payne is only a “driver.” He is an adept in every other department of. the game. Dunedin. Club just missed the Last Try Doubles, Bames and Peake going down to Wright and Goldstone. The latter stands in the proud position of having skipped a winning rink and a winning double at the meeting—a performance seldom equalled and which no one will begrudge the Warmato skipper. Stokes and his ) ntrier were successful in the Association Doubles, an! it may fairly be said that Kaituna have worthily kept their end up. Had Bames and Peake brought home the Doubles prize from Oamaru the win would have been extremely popular, and it is indeed hard luck that they should have gone so near the two events without getting actually in front Both Kaituna and Dunedin Clubs have come out of the Easter tournaments with two wins apiece.

The cause of Oliver and Campbell making such a poor show against their opponents in the semi-finals for the Invercargill Doubles was due to the fact that Campbell was feeling very unwell, and was unable to make anv sort of a show.

It is said that J. Thomson, the wellknown Dunedin Club skip, vent off suddenly at Oamaru, a sudden attack of spasms being the cause. It was a pity, because he was playing well up to liis reputation, A suggestion has been made that T. Mackie and T. Neill (Taieri) should play off the final for the Invercargill trophies on Caledonian Green on Saturday, and thus help to make a fitting wind up to a successful season. It is to be hoped the Taieri men will fall in with the idea, as their presence there would drawi a very large attendance. M. Sinclair has been successful at Oamaru twice, the first occasion being at the Easter fixture two years ago. His team., composed as it was of A. J. Barth (lead), J. Johnson, and A. Gillies (third), was, probably with one exception, the strongest rink that could have been got together in the Dunedin Chib this season.