BOWLING NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4717, 15 November 1917, Page 7

BOWLING NOTES.

(By “.Toucher P)

The first game in the series of five rounds for the club championship of the district, between Gisborne and Kahutia eventuated last Thursday on the green of the latter club. Each club was represented by seven rinks, pile less than last season. In my opinion this is a mistake, for the bigger representation each club lias the bet-' ter it is in the best interests club, though of course, the probability is that such a course would weaken the chances of a certain club securing the honors. But I must hold 1 that the more players participating the less likelihood of disappointment at noninclusion in the games. The greens were in splendid order, and showed a wonderful improvement on those of last season. Of course, bowlers bad to put up with the usual Thursday rain, which on this occasion was not so heavy as on previous Thursdays. I had Seen struck with the improvement noticeable to the surface of the green during the past couple of weeks. Last year this ‘‘nag” was “dead” in every race it started m, and at the conclusion of the season the stewards held an inquiry into its running. The verdict was not made public but I am told on good! authority that the “nag.” itself was “offcolor. ’ Now the green is level—a suggestion that could not be previously entertained. The greens were looking well, and the players keen. It is these opening, matches that “talk” when the season is half over. Many a chance is lost, and a club lias “shot its bolt” on account of the defeats in the early part of the campaign. These first victories on the other hand, give confidence, mild with a run of success at the start a club is able to improve by 'having its morale unshaken. My advice to both clubs is to take no chances with your early matches, as wet greens and tlie unsettled state of the early ; summer Gisborne weather are enough to upset the calculations of the smartest.

The result of the first meeting of tile two clubs, was that victory went the Way of the Gisborne Club by a margin of 38 points, a rather easy win. The total points were:—Gisborne 152, Kahutia 114, In only two rinks did Kahutia secure wins, those skipped by “Monte” Craig and “Scotty’ Coutts, who respectively' defeated Beat.son and Kyme. The Craig-Beat-son game was a good one to a certain point, when Craig’s team got ahead and never looked "hack; 25-13 was the score. Kyme got off the mark early Hath Coutts looking on, and soon had seven points up his sleeve. Then the Scotsman and his braw laddies came to light, rattling on the points while the Gisborne team stood helpless, and put up 13 in no time. Then they' went steadily onward, with Kyme snatching a point now and again, and ultimately Coutts won out by 30-16. In the other five games, all were

runaway victories for the Gisborne lads. Crawford heat Sawyer by 8 points, after a good flutter for the major portion of the distance. Hueston had all the luck that was going in his game with • Martin, and ultimately won by 10 points. The same distance separated Arthur Seymour and Dan Barry in their contest,while Ponstord got the better of Percy Howard by 12 points. W. A. Smith's rink never gave Nasmith’s bids a lookin, for they put up 28 to their opponents’ 4; something must have been wrong somewhere; was it liecause Hookey' played such a marvellously good game for Smith that Nasmith only secured 4? Anyhow I think this is a record for low scoring in an inter-club fixture, so that may be something worth achieving—something accomplished, something done, the dramatist says. To-day the second game eventuates on the Gisborne green, and unless I am greatly mistaken the Kahutia men tvill give a better account of themselves on this occasion. If they don’t, well, it practically means good-bye to tlieir chances for the championship this year.

At this stage it will be interesting to recall the results of past games in these inter-club fixtures. It -His in tile season 1909-10 that the first game between the two clubs took, place. That old veteran, Mr. J. W. Witty, presented a pennant for the purpose of the senior players, while Mi-. J. W. Jeune presented a pennant for the junior players. The results of the Witty' Pennant competition (three rinks aside) are ns under;— 1909- First game; Turanganui 60, • Gisborne 50. Secoud game: Gisborne’ 70, Turanganui 55. Third game: Gisborne 64 Turanganui 58. 1910- —First game: Gisborne 65, Turanganui 56. Second game: Turanganui 74, Gisborne 59. third game: Gisborne 60, Turanganui 58. 1911- —First game: Gisborne 62, Turanganui 56. Second (game: Gisborne 67 Turanganui 53 1912- First game: Turanganui 71,. Gisborne 55. Second game: Gisborne 80, Turanganui 54. 1913- First game: Turanganui 59, Gisborne 53. Second game: Gisborne 65, Turanganui 58. The results of the Jeune Pennant competition are as under:—

.1909-10.—First game? Turanganui 60, Gisborne 50., Second game: Gisborne 66, Turanganui 48Third game: Gisborne 73, Turanganui 44. 1910- First game: Turanganui 61, Gisborne 54. Second game: Gisborne 68, Turanganui 57, Third game : Gisborne 75, Turanganui 44. 1911- —First game: Gjsborne 59, Turanganui 52. Second game: Turanganui 64, Gisborne 60. Third game: Gisborne 57, Turanganui 49. 1912- First game: Turanganui 60, Gisborne 50, Second game: Turanganui 61, Gisborne 57. 1913- —First game: Gisborne 62, Turanganui 48. Second game: Gisborne 71, Turanganui 57. Third game: Gisborne 64, Turanganui 45.

In the season 1914-15 the two pennants were flown together for one competition, and they have been competed for in this manner ever since. The results have been:— 1914- (six rinks aside). —Gisborne 134, Turanganui 103. 1915- (seven rinks aside). —First game: Turanganui 141. Gisborne 134. Second game: Turanganui 139, Gisborne 129. Third game: Turanganui 150. Gisborne 128. Fourth game: Gisborne 146, Turanganui 137. 1916- (eight rinks - game: Gisborne 175, Turanganui 139. Second game: Kahutia 161 Gisborne 163. Third game: Gisborne 169, Kahutia 140. Fourth game: Gisborne 168, Kahutia 153. 1917- (seven rjnlts aside). —jAFirst game: Gisborne 152, Kalmtia 114.

In the season 1911-12 Mr. G. J. Bennett, as president of the T-uran-ganui Club, presented a cup for competition between the two clubs to be won outright in the best two out of three games, and tile trophy was secured by the . Gisborne Club’s two rinks. The results were : First game: Gisborne 56, Turanganui 28. Second game: Gisborne 44, Turanganui 39.

Kahutia’s players on Thursday were very similar to those of last season, no new faces being prominent. Among the Gisborne' men, however, I noticed Mr. Mercer, a southern player, who is now a resident of Gisborne, and! has thrown in his lot with the Kaiti chaps. Mr. Greig was also a participant, having rejoined the white-and-gold brigade. 1 also noticed J. D. Jeune, who has shaken the sand of. Kahutia off his shoes and plods amidst the clay of the Kaiti green.