BOWLING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 5

BOWLING.

1 THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN | AUSTRALIA. | United Press Association—By Electric 2 Telegraph—Copyright. 5 (Received October 25, 9.6 p.ni.) ’ I MELBOURNE, October 25. | For the match between New Zealand I and Victoria to-day, the weather was I fine, and there was a good attendance, i including many ex-New Zealanders. The green, was in good order. The length of 140 feet, heavily turfed, was i unfavourable to the New Zealanders, ! owing to their being unaccustomed to j long lengths. Prior to the play, the | New Zealanders were entertained at. j luncheon. Mr Wood, president of the • Victoria Association, welcomed the visitors, who were cheered. Messrs Payne and Wheeler responded. In Payne’s rink, Osmond played an extra- | ordinarily fine game at No. 2. Reid | would have stood out but for Osmond’s | | brilliance. Dali outclassed his oppon- | j eut. M’Laren played a “ding-dong” | | game up to the last. Gillies wag not up 3 i to the calibre of the other New Zea- | landers, and was outplayed through- ! out. Against Sneddon, Victoria played j I right up to form. The captain . had j I never been seen to better advantage. | j Bonskill was beaten badly right from ; | 1 the start. Wheeler played an excepB 1 tionally good game, which was one of | the most exciting and closest of the | ' lot. He tied live times, and entering | ! upon the last, and level with twentyI four, .Wheeler had one*- bowl to play I i whon his opponents wore lying two in. I j'With a well-directed bowl, ho drew the I shot, making two in . and securing the I victory by two amid applause. The Ibl- . lowing are the scores: — | NEW ZEALAND. VICTORIA. ! Reid Stephens I Osmond Wi'.rdrop J Smith. Locke a Payne • .28 Waxman .13 n Mowlam Wallace Rankin ' Hdl ■ , AV added pods ■ -.Dali . . ,33 Russell . .14 Lefevre Jlcorison Wa.ters Paikos Buchanan Munro . M/liaren . .20 Hovva . .31 Deo Stephans •ilicgibbou Pascoe 'Lay.or Bentley Gilaes . . 13 Smith . . 42 Bastings Harrison. Scott Ta.chell Keaat ■ Dunham Sneddon. , »16 Nei.l . . 36 Ackhurst Thackeray ■ Ledmgiham Bennett i Hancock Le Coulhard . BonsUl . , . 11 Ccoper . . 86, Black Malone Manning Janies Gardner ‘ . Blanch Wheeler . .26 Ke.ly . . 24 149 189 The Ballarat match has been cancalled, the green being unplayable owing to rains. The New Zealanders will leave for Adelaide on Saturday afterI noon. . | THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S VISIT J TO AUSTRALIA. I (By ONE OF THE PARTY.) j I BRISBANE, October 13, I On the morning of arrival .in Sydney I ' the team were met by Messrs Evans I and Morgans, president and vice-presi-I dent respectively of the New South I Wales Bowling Association, who spared I no pains in catering for the enjoyment I of the party. Those , not otherwise en- | gaged took advantage of a free day # to visit the Art Gallery, Botanical Gars' dens and other objects of ■interest, and I .1 heed not say that they \vere ; won-, i derfully impressed. After consulting - with the officials named above it was deemed adv.sable to cancel the practice match that had been arranged for tire afternoon, the management being of opinion that the game would not be completed in time to enable the team to catch the train to Brisbane in comfort. The Match Committee, to which Mr Ledingham’s name had been added, met during the afternoon, ‘ and selected the following teams, to do baitlo against Brisbane in the open- - jng matches: —Court, Clark, Dali, 6 Mowlem (skip.); Kcast, M’Pherson, - Akhurst, Sneddon (skip.); _ Wheeler, * Thomas, Gillies, Manning (skip.); Reid, ? Jackson, Smith Payne (skip.); Bee, s M’Gibbon, Lefevre, Waddell (skip,}; 9 Osmond, Bouskill, Gardner, Rankin 1 (skip.); Cooper, Scott, Buchanan . M’Laren (skip.);, Bastings, Walters, Hancock, Taylor (ship.). . It was with somewhat mixed feelings •that the team set out.on the rail journey of 700 odd miles to Brisbane, but the excellent accommodation provided in the “sleeping cars ”specially reserved for them, combined with the surprisingly codl weather experienced, especially in the early part of the trip, allayed all anxiety, and what would have proved a really tedious journey under other circumstances turned out to be not ony enjoyable but also most instructive. The übiquitous R. T. Wheeler has worked like a Trojan, and his assiduous attention to affairs of detail has saved the team no end of trouble and worry; in fact, the success of the tour so far is in a great measure due to his untiring efforts. Both ■ he and the president (Mr Payne) have everything at their fingers’ ends, and the individual members of the party place themselves unreservedly in their hands. The country passed through prior to our Teaching the far-famed Darling Downs did not strike one us being particularly fertile,, and consequently did not appeal to New Zealanders. I refer, of course, to the country adjoining the railway. The ccene was changed, however, on reaching the Darling Downs, an immense extent of territory, which offers great possibilities nob only for the raising of " stock of all descriptions but also for ■ agricultural purposes. , , | In the course of their rail journey 1 from Sydney north the New! Zealanders , had again and_ again been, advised by I bowlers at various stations of the unbounded hospitality of Queenslanders, and now that the first games have been played, the New Zealand players are agreed that a more generous and hospitable set of men. corn’d not be fount. the world over. On arriving at Wallahsarra Station, on the border of New South Wales and Queensland, the manager received from Mr Hodgson, secretary of the Queensland Association, the following telegram “ Queensland Bowling Association extend hearty welcome to New Zealanders on arrival in QueenwlamL Then, on reaching Ipswich, some thirty miles i from Brisbane, the team were not -a little surprised to find that Mr M’Nab (president of the Queensland Association), Mr Hodgson (secretary), and Mr I Bell (treasurer) were awaiting our ar- ; rival. Needless to say, this thoughtful . act- was fully appreciated by the travelling team, whose curiooity to hear some'’’ing definite in respect to the arrangements in the northern capital was soon satisfied. The president (Sir M’Nab) is a man after Mr Payne’s heart, and, curiously enough, a lawyer. He is the right man in the right place, and the New Zealanders will not soon forget the cordial welcome extended them by this official on behalf _of Queenslanders generally. On arrival in Brisbane the team were driven in drags to the Australia Hotel, where they are quartered, and where they I were formally welcomed.

The chairman (Mr M’Nab), in the course of his remarks, mentioned that the New Zealand team of All Whites was the largest team of bowlers t. at had ever visited the northern Sta o, and that on this account alone his Association were deeply indebted to the visiters. He also stated that two fourrink inter-club matches had been arranged for. By the time thi® reaches New Zealand the results of the games will -. bo pact history. SuflGo it to say that both games were stubbornly contested, the result being in doubt up to the last head in each case. A feature noticeable to Now Zealanders was the’ small percentage of young players among their opponents —a fact, no doubt, duo to the prominence given to cricket, rowing and other athletic sports. The g-arne, however, is fast increasing in popularity, and I predict, as in New Zealand, the younger class will find their way into the ranks of the bowlers. The Queenslanders proved themselves real enthusiasts and thorough sports, and a most gratifying feature-to the Alaorilanders was the impartial attitude displayed both by players and spectators. The day preceding the team’s arrival a characteristic thunderstorm had prevailed throughout the district, and. as may be imagined, the greens were rather heavy. Sail, they were, on the whole, very true, and visiting players were very much impressed with the beautiful velvety nature of the turf, which consists mainly of a fine couch. The surroundings of the green are of j the very best, and tbo presence of a large number of ladies helped to enhance the general appearance. 1 should have mentioned that as a result if their twenty-nine hours’ journey from Sydney, the team, on arrival, were somewhat tired, and in the opening matches of the tour were certainly not seen at their best. This is easily to bo accounted for, the majority of the members not having handled a bowl since last season, and not a few suffering from the effect of the long continuous journey of some 2500 miles. In connection with the reception tendered thp visitors on their arrival, I should have- stated that Messrs Payne and Wheeler responded on behalf of the team, and in response to a request from the former that the visitors bo allowed to play under their own rules in respect to feet-on the mat, Mr M’Nab and the presidents of South and East Brisbane respectively, assured the gathering that no objection would be raised as to their playing with one foot only on the mat, an announcement that was received with cheers from both local and visiting players. Before closing, I may say that the New Zealanders are more than delighted'with Brisbane. When I; tell you that the population is close on 125,000 it will population is close on 125,000, it will give you some idea of the .size of -the city. There is an excellent car service, which has been liberally patronised by the All Whites, who have thus had splendid opportunities of seeing the various sights in and around the city.. The people generally are most sociable, and every member of the team is loud in his praises as to the kindness shown him, not only by bowlers, but also by the general public. Yesterday, the day on which the first match was "played, was a most trying one to- the New Zealanders- the moist heat proving too much for them. To-day, however, the heat is drier, and more tolerable, and a better exposition of the game should result, -' The Newcastle green having been top-dressed only recently_ the match against that club will be played at Maitland. At the conclusion 'of the game .the All Whites are to accompany their opponents to Newcastle, where they will be the guests of the local club. The following is an account, of the play in the two opening matches: — AT EAST BRISBANE. At first the New Zealanders did not get the measure of the green, and while they were feeling their way the' local men seized their opportunity to establish a good lead. At the end .of the fifth head they had scored 29 points to the New Zealanders’ 9. In the next five heads the visitors held their own, and the conclusion of the tenth term saw the scores: East Brisbane 48, New Zealand 28. In the' succeeding five heads the visitors gained seven points, and in the next term they just held their own. When the final five he: d were entered up, New Zealand were 70 to their opponents’ 83, and there was still a prospect of a close finish. New Zealand’s hopes firmed, as'at this interesting juncture they received news that their compatriots on the sister green at South Brisbane had gained a victory by two- points. The last five heads were remarkable for the skilful work of the visit-are. who drew away rapidly, as some of the local rinks went to pieces. Finally the visitors ran out winners by 'seven points. The following details will show how the game progressed at each of the four rinks. In each case the New Zealand figures arc given precedence:'—No, 2 Rink: 2-6, 8-11, 13-21, 17-23, 22-25. No. 4 Rink; 4-7, 8-11, 13-14, 19-17, 2620.' No. 5 Rink: 0-11, 4-14, 10-16, 1622, 20-23. No. 6 Rink: 3-5, 8-12, 1715, 18-21, 33-26. AT SOUTH BRISBANE. A team from the visiting New Zealand bowlers met a team from the South Brisbane Bowling Club on the latter’s green. There was a very large attendance of spectators, and the contest was watched with keen interest. The play of the visitors met with warm applause. The green was in good order, and looked very well, but owing to the rain of the previous day it played heavily. Tiie clubhouse was decorated with flags and bunting. Afternoon tea was provided by the lady friends of the club. The visitors had rather the best of the play in the early part of t„e game, and at the close of the first live h.eads the scores were:—New Zealand 33, South Brisbane 18. The position of the Queenslanders was imp:oved as play progressed, and after the fifteenth head the score's stood: New Zealand 52, South Brisbane 61. The figures remained fairly even till the close of the game, when the New Zealanders won by 96 to 94. At the close of the game Mr T. W. Bouchard, ALL.A., announced the result, and heartily congratulated the New Zealanders on their victory. Over the South Brisbane clubhouse waved the bowling pennant, but, like good bowlers, they could take a defeat just ‘is they could a victory. (Applause.) Thee hearty cheers were given for the Jew Zealanders. Mr G. J. Payne responded, and said it was a pie. sure to play on the South Brisbane green, witch .vas one of the best he had over visi.ed. [f any Queensland bowlers visited the Lew Zealand tournament ho could as.ure them of a warm welcome. At the Kaiapoi green yesterday af:ornot>n, a two rink game between local players and the Rangiora Club resulted in a win for the latter by 14 points, fhe scores were: — , Rink ' No. I.—Rangiora—Atkinson, Jennings, Bridget and Sansom (skip), 23; Kaiapoi:—Al’Kay, Hayman, Scott and Wylie (skip), 19. Rink No. 2.—Rangiora—Burt, Holcroft, Marshall and the Rev D. J. Steele (skip), 25; Kaiapoi—Revell, Blackwell, Wright and Parnham, can.