BOWLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 8

BOWLING

(By

“Off-Drive”)

TH! SEASON'S PROSPECTS A ROUND OF THE GREENS. The official opening of the season ■o far m the East Coast Bowling Centre ia concerned is scheduled totake place on the Hastings Cub's greens this afternoon. The prospects tor * succeastul season look exceptionally bright as the annual mating was an enthusiastic one. The interclub shield games will be conducted as per usual and if possible it is hoped to make a start with them on the first Saturday in December. Hastings, who were the winners of the shield, will no doubt find that the competition will be keener in the coming season as all the club secretaries are optimistic. The two big tourneys of the year will bo the New Year contest in Napier and the Easter tournament at Heatings and it is to be hoped that the dubs will manifest the same interest, if not more, as they did last year. Officials of the centre sincerely hope that the proposed tour of the Victorian Bowling Club comes off and that Hastings and Napier will be included in the itinerary. Local bowlers mar rest assured that the centre will make every endeavour to bring this about. WAIRERE. The membership of the Wairere Club *• estimated to be somewhere in the vicinity of 50, which will be about the same as last season. Reports about the green indicate that it is in excellent order. Several prominent players have left the district but Mr. Thomas, last year’s champion, will be there to defend bis title, as wil] be the pairs winners. Messrs T. Rowe and G. W. Venables This club provided the winning rink in the New Year tournev so it will be out to retain the honour. It is expected that the official opening of the club will take place on October 15, but no doubt games will be played prior to this date. ST. LEONARD'S. Pride of place wil] have to be given St. Leonard's when this club finalises the installation of the electric light for evening play. According to one player who has sampled turf, the green was never in better order and by the time of the official opening on October 15 it should be in great nick. The membership is expected to be in a more improved status as quite a number of new and promising players have joined up. Competitions for rinks, pain and singles are set down on the programme for the year. PORT AHURIRI. Enthusiasm has been displayed by the members of the Port Club which has a membership of about 45. The champion. A. McGregor, will be in the field again and so will the Forsyth-Taylor combination. This club's rink sprang a surprise bv annexing the championship rink contest last sesson and all four players are anxiously awaiting the day to defend the honour. The club's senior singles and junior handicap singles wil] be held again while the popular tiki games between the members are to be commenced as early as possible. The holders are H. Mayo and E, C. Pirie, so soon they will be swamped with challenges. The official opening of the green is set down for October 16. HASTINGS. All's well at the Hastings Club, where the membership is expected to he in the vicinitv of 90. Several regular members have left the district but more new members have been enrolled. The greens are reported to be the best yet and the Hub has hopes of one being the best in the district. The rinks competi. tion will be in force again this season, which will be officially opened thia afternoon. BLUFF HILL. The “full house’’ sign will he hung over the gate of the Bluff Hill Club, where the limit of 40 members is almost attained. The green here is said to be in better condition than it has ever been. Few changes have been made and some of last year’s "cracks” of the calibre of Somerset Smith. McUennan. Bestal. Newton. McGlashan and Tennent will be laying “Kitty” again. It is hoped to revive the McClure button competition this vear between the members of the club. Owing to the smallness of the green ths club decided l»«t year to work a n innovation in the invitation for the opening dev. This scheme will come into force on October 15 when invitations will be sent to the Napier Port Ahuriri. St Leonard’s. Waipukurau and Havelock North clubs only. Next season the remainder of the clubs will be invited. HAVELOCK NORTH. Bowlers hare already tried out the Havelock North green and find it is in fairly good order and the official opening will bo in the middle of the month. One or two old members have gone but some half-dozen recruits have been enlisted. Last year the pairs competition was not completed so the contest for the vase’ will bare to ba gone on with shortly as the competition is to he closed at the end of November. TARADALE. The youngest club in the district is Taradale and throughout the winter working bees have made fast improvements with the playing area. It is hoped that the membership will be between 40 and 50 but even If these figures are not reached there wjß be plenty of seal and interest in the dub. KU TOA. The green belonging to the Kia Toa Club is said to be in better rendition than it has been before. All the old champions will be toeing the mat while it is expected that when the club holds its official opening on October 8 there will be a considerable increase in the member-