BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2128, 29 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOWLING.

(By "Toucher.”) There was a very large attendance at the Gisborne Clubs green cii Thursday afternoon, every available green being occupied. In the Handicap Bairs, R. Crawford (sub.) and Corson 29 defeated G. .Aliller (sub.) and F. Bettie (20), and Wilson a lid Cussen (t.2) 30 beat Oman and Brady (6) 28. Only one game was played in the Handicap Singles, in which Robertson (2) 31 outclassed Houlihan (7) 19.

A number of ordinary games were played during the afternoon. The members of the Club are looking Unward to the district shield matches. At xii'esent the various competitions are hung ui) owing to a number of Xirominent players being absent from town," hut a few days should see the competitions going in full swing. The games m the Bennett Cup and championship gold medal competition still hold interest on the Turanganui Club’s green. The issue is being narrowed down ,and it axipears likely that J. J. Alartin will again carry off’ the honors, he having gone through liis games so far without a loss.

A good game was witnessed between A. Sawyer and AY. Ratclilfe. Sawyer played well, and in securing the lead seemed to nfiset Ratcliffe’s play considerably, though the latter player drew within one of his opiionent on the loth head. Sawyer, m winning the game, put Ratclilfe iiractically out of the competition. From liis victory over Ratclilfe, Sawver turned to meet J. J. Alartin. The" latter player, however, nipped Sawyer’s career, disposing of lnni easily, and upholding his own unbeaten record. It was expected that the match would- be a close one, as on a previous occasion Alartin only beat iSawyer by one point, hut on this, meeting Sawyer was defeated by 8 points. , , T The match between B. llnd and J. Colley was expected to result in Colley’s "favor, "hut it proved otherwise. Both players gave their best exhibition of the season and were level on the sth head. From this point, despite good drawing on the part ol Hird, Collev drew steadily awav, and on the ll'th head led by 7. The 12tli saw some lovely play, each bowler m turn resting one another s shot, the head ultimately proving favorable to Hii'd. Keeping tho jack to the 18th head Hird drew level with Ins opppnent—ls all. (Clio 21st saw lin'd with two of a lead and lying two, and Colley walked to the end before delivering his last howl. He lay two behind the jack, and the only tiling to he done was to carry the lack and thus obtain the three desired to "in the match. This essayed, anti with a good howl carried the jack, hut not sufficiently far enough, scoring two and ticing. In playing the extra head Hird played splendidly, getting liis bowls well up, and lying. Colley played liis last bowl a little too wide, leaving Hird the winner by two noints. Colley lias not won any hv ■' ill' g lies pi lytd. Ju unciing i’. AicConneil, it was expected that Alartin would have an case' victorv. and though the latter won hv six points, McConnell gave him ail lie wanted up to the loth head, when the players were 12 all. AicConneil was drawing splendidly, and played equally as well as Alartin, but the latter proved too good a iron oral. Up to the 18th tho game was anybody’s, but Alartin, putting in a 4 on this head, put AicConneil out of the game. AicConneil is to be comiilimented on the good display made. . . ~ , A close and exciting game was that between Ratcliffe and Alartin. Throughout the game there was nothing between the players, the scores bein tr very even; Alartin liut up some good" shots, but Ratcliffe was equal to him in every respect. Ins drawing shots being splendid. The only fault with Ratcliffe was that he got to sea” when Alartin would get a bowl in the draw to protect a shot. This was his only weakness, and his defeatmay he nut down to that reason, the heads witness!/.I were splendid, and would do credit to any championship C °The following is the position of the various nlavers at the conclusion o! the fifth week’s play:— . Flared. AA on. '-.ost, J. J. Alartin 9 9 ° A. Sawyer 10 9 j Nasmith, inr. ~9 ’? f \V. J. P. Gan din o * f \Y. Ratcliffe ” 11 c B. Hird 9 .( D. Hepburn " r AY. 0. Sheet r 1 * C. J. Bennett J 1 f T. AicConneil j .1 “ I>. Hal lam ( 1 ; AL Neill " { 1 J. Colley J P . AL. G. Nasmith 0 0 u