BOWLING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14169, 18 September 1906, Page 8

BOWLING.

A NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN ENGLAND. [From Our Correspondent.] LONDON, August 11. The New Zealand bowling team, consisting of Messrs G. Tutt, G. Fletcher, W, Lyons and W. H. Mercer (skip) met with a very severe defeat at the hands of a Brownswood Club quartette skipped by that fine player Mr W. S. Carmichael last Friday. The score against the visitors at tho end of the game was 26 to 10. The Home side were an exceptional combination, and gave a flue demonstration in the scientific building up of the head. The colonials wore clearly out-raanceuvred. Mr Carmichael, who is president of the Brownwcod Club, entertained both sides at a supper, when, in addition to the New Zealand rink, there were several other colonial® present, including Mr T. Jones, of the Mount Eden Bowling Club. On Saturday the team proceeded to Brighton, and after being welcomed by and entertained at lunch by the Mayor, proceeded to Hove to play a strong local quartette. The New Zealanders won, but only by 18 to 16. On Monday, at tho invitation of Lord Jersey the New Zealanders paid a visit to the historic bowling green at Middleton Park, Bicester, where in tho misty past lord and ladies revelled upon the rinks when the game of bowls was a society pastime. There, too, the first bowling contest of England v. Australia took place, with Lord Jersey at the head of the homeland team and Mr John Young, president of the New South Wales Bowling Association, captained the colonials. Here the New Zealanders opposed a team captained by Lord Jersey, and met with defeat by 20 to 15. The colonials led at first, but after the third head Lord Jersey’s men boo red in .six successive ends. 'The New Zealanders then put on a 4 and a 2. Thus tho scores at half-time stood at 11 all. His lordship then held the colonials during another three heads, and stood 16 to 11 in his favour. In the nineteenth end the colonials had their reverse score down to 17—15. In the two remaining heads Lord Jersey’s side put on three and ran out a winner ■ by 5 points. .The Earl of, Jersey entertained the teams at luncheon Lady Jersey, before the party left, gave an al fresco tea. In a brief speech Lord Jersey expressed the pleasure which the. visit of the team had given. He was delighted to learn that their tour had been so far a great success. Bowling was a fine old national pastime and it gave him great satisfaction to rind that the villagers of his district wore taking to the sport with much enthusiasm. The New Zealand team had to be reconstituted after the match at Middleton Park, as Mr Mercer and Mr Tutt left for New Zealand this week. Mr T. J ones, of the Mount Eden Club, has, however, joined Messrs Lyons and Fletcher, and the trio hope to get another New Zealander to assist them in the course of the next few days. “ Kia ora, ako ake, kia kaha ” thus the message transmitted by the departing New Zealand bowlers on Tuesday to the Earl of Jersey, their host of the previous day. Mr Mercer and Mr Tutt received a hearty send-off at Victoria Station on Tuesday, when Mr J. Bryant Worth (London Bowling Club), Mr S. Fortescue, Mr J. 'Davis, Mr W. T. Davidgo (of the Hamilton Club, New Zealand), and several other bowlers, bade them good-bye. Mr W. Mercer, in the course of a few remarks before the train left, said that the tour of his rink had been very enjoyable throughout, and it was a most pleasant reflection to find, on the part of himself and Mr Tutt, that, as an outcome of their itinerary, a rendezvous for colonial bowlers had been formed in London. Their reception by the Earl and Countess of Jersey would, he observed, over be a cherished memory of ,their visit, whilst to Mr J. Bryant Worth, of tho South London Bowling Club, Mr W. S. Carmichael, president of the Browns,vood Bowling Club, and Mr T. Drummond, captain of the North London Club, they were especially indebted. Mr W. Lyons, who left for the Continent on Tuesday, with Mr Mercer and Mr Tutt, for a brief tour, hopes to have the reconstituted New Zealand rink ready to accept engagements after Saturday next. Although invitations for the colonials to play over London greens have come in in great numbers, Mr Lyons states that he fears that not more "than ten matches can bo indulged in over metropolitan rinks previous to his team going north. - A bowling development was brought about at a meeting of the New Zealanders at Auderton’s Hotel, on Tuesday, when the decision was arrived at to form a United Colonial Bowlers’ Club, with headquarters in London. Mr W. Lyons presided. In introducing too subject, ho said that any place of rendezvous for bowling men from across the seas was certainly a desirability. Relating his own personal experience, Mr Lyons observed that whereas ho and his fellow-bowlers were lest, as it were, in London, in their endeavour to get “on to the track of a green,” no sooner bad they fallen across men like Mr Bryant, of the South London Bowling Club, Mr W. S. Carmichael (Brownswood), and Captain Drummond, of the North London Club, than they got what they wanted. Tho New Zealanders state that on their return borne they will ardently advocate support of the “ United Colonials’ Bowling Club.” Mr W. T. Davidge, of tbe Hamilton Bowling Club, is paying a brief visit to London, prior to his departure for New

Zealand. He hopes ere sailing to give a taste of his quality as a bowler on a few of our metropolitan greens. Tho annual meeting of the Leeston Bowling Club was held on Friday evening. The president, Mr R. London, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. It was resolved to appoint Mr Smeaton, of Dunedin, the chib’s delegate in that centre. Twenty-seven new members were elected. Trophies won during last season were presented to the winners by the chairman. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Dr Gosset; vice-presidents, Messrs F. Lill and J. A. Cunningham; secretary, Mr C. J. Denby; treasurer, Mr R. Loudon; auditor, Mr F. J. Holley; committee, president, vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer ex-officio, and Messrs F. J. Holley, C. Fisse, H. Neave, S. Johnston and G. L. Peters; Selection Committee and handicappers, Dr Gcsset, Messrs Loudon and Denby. It was decided to open the .green on tho second Wednesday in October. Messrs R. Loudon, J. With ell, Denby, J. A. Cunningham, S. Johnston and F. Lill each donated a seat for the green. _ The chairman presented Mr Denby with a well-filled sovereign case as a memento of the esteem in which ho was held by members of the club. Tho Ashburton Bowling Club is erecting a new pavilion at the new green in tho Domain.