BOWLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 8

BOWLING.

The Auckland Club's green will be formally opened this afternoon, "and, in conjunction with the bowling function, the tennis and croquet clubs' will also open the season. The Grafton green has had the unremitting attention of the superintendent, Mr. Handeock, during the close season and should bo found in perfect order. As usual, the, committee of the parent club have issued a large .number of invitations to representatives of sister clubs, and it is anticipated that with ladies there will be an attendance of between five and six hundred on the charming grounds' at Grafton Road to-day. Guests should present their invitation cards at the gates of the club's grounds. The Mount Albert Bowling and Tenuis Clubs also open formally for the season this afternoon at half-past two o'clock. The greens are said to bo in excellent condition, and everything points to a successful opening being experienced at the beautiful grounds at "Ferndale." Visitors from town are reminded that the train leaves Auckland at twenty minutes past one, and that a 'bus leaves Kingsland at two p.m. Play will be indulged in on the Bemuera green this afternoon, and I am informed by the hon., secretary (Mr. Hogman) that everything will be in readiness for the formal opening of the suburban green next Saturday week (November 17). The handsome new pavilion is now practically completed. The Carlton and Dcvonport greens were opened on Saturday last. I had a roll up on the former club's green, which played remarkably well for an opening day, and am informed by those who patronised the function at the marine suburb that the Devonport green was found to be in splendid trim. The proposal of the Ponsonby Club to introduce a scheme for the playing of interclub competitions among the Wednesday bowlers has been enthusiastically taken up by the sister clubs about Auckland, and the matter is now being pushed forward with all possible speed. The New Zealand bowlers play their most important match of the tour next week (Melbourne Cup week), when they meet picked teams representing the Commonwealth States in Melbourne for the championship of Australasia. The match will be of seven rinks, and New South Wales will be represented by the following players Crouch, Glenister, Love, Harrison (skip). Forssborg, Kopson, Goodwin, Roarty (skip).

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS IN AUSTRALIA. Wherever the Australian greens have been similar to those in this colony the New Zealanders have performed creditably against tho bowlers of the Commonwealth States, but they were clearly at a disadvantage in the match with Victoria, in. which they played on a green 140 ft long and heavily turfed, and were beaten on the aggregate score by 40 points. The long heads puzzled the "All Whites,' and, as the match New Zealand v. Australia next week will presumably be played on the same green, the touring bowlers will be somewhat handicapped, though they will no doubt in the meantime; do everything possible to accustom themselves to long lengths and heavy turf. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on the match Now Zealand v. New South Wales, says:—"The intercolonial match on Saturday was the first played between New South Wales and New Zealand, and the .visitors without doubt showed superior strength on the mat, but as a matter of fact they set the wood rolling on many occasions with both feet off the mat. While such a method of piny is not permissible in,, New South Wales it is quite within the mark on a New Zealand green. Taken all round the visitors were a very * much superior team to our own fellows, who were rather badly placed. _ Several skippers were bunched together in one rink, and men were chosen to play with each other who had not been accustomed to play together. All these tilings had a telling effect on the style of play exhibited by the New South Wales team,'who in the end lost by 15 points; but, after all, this was not a disgraceful beating. It shows conclusively that the New Zealand bowlers arc not to bo trifled with when they are on their mettle. The visitors, having beaten our men. they secured their hat ribbons, and politely informed them that they would have to go to New Zealand to win thorn back again. The Chatswood green was the scene of the contest, and it was played in ideal-weather upon a green that was like a billiard table. "In the opening heads it was evident that the visitors were a strong combination; * "On No. 1 rink Messrs. Payne (N.Z.) and Hale were the respective skippers, and at onco the visiting captain went ahead, until at the end of the first half-hour he had an advantage of seven points. - Mr. Payne finished up with an advantage of 20 points, his side quite outclassing his opponents. "Mr. Sneddon (N.Z.) was opposed to Mr. Fitzgerald (N.S.W.) in rink No. 2. and, notwithstanding his load by a single point at the conclusion of the 15th head, had to bow to the superior play of his opponent, who ran out a winner by 18 point;—a meritorious victory, seeing that for half the game he was fighting an uphill battle. . "In No. 3 rink. Messrs. Wheeler (N.Z.) and Howe (N.S.W. ) led their respective teams, and here it was that the supporters of N.S.W. bad their greatest hope. Mr. Howe wen by 11 points. "In No. 4- rink the plr.y was of an even character, Messrs. Bouskill (N.Z.) and Wilkie (N.S.W.) being the respective captains. As the last period was entered upon, the scores being 19 to 17 in favour of NewZealand, great interest centred in the contest, even pegging marking its progress. Mr. Wilkio was defeated by one point only. "Messrs. Taylor (N.Z.) and Boeder (N.S.W.) at No. 5 rink played another interesting game. After the 10th head it was a ding-dong battle, each side alternately leading, the scores at the end of tho next period being 16 to 15 in favour of New South Wales. Mr. Taylor managed during the fourth half-hour to add six points to his opponent's one, and thus 'had a lead of four points. But by exceptionally accurate and steady play Mr. Reeder ran out a winner by three points. "In No. 6 rink the best of the battle rested with Mr. Waddell (N.Z.). whose opposing captain was Mr. Larbalestiev. The visitors led by three points at the conclusion of the 10th head, but wore one in arrear at the termination of the 15th head. During the next half-hour Mr. Waddell by good play again assumed the lead, and the visitors won by 11 points. "Messrs. McLaren (N.Z.) ami Carrie (N.S.W.) captained the teams in So. 7 rink. Assuming a*lead of five points in the first half-hour Mr. McLaren increased it, and won by 15 points. "Thus Now Zealand won in four rinks, and New South Wales in three, the local captains having that honour being Messrs. Fitzgerald. Howe, and Rocdcr. There was no doubt that the best side won. and their victory was well received. The totals were 172 to 157 in favour of New Zealand—a victory by 15 points. "Mr. John Young announced the result, which was received with _ cheers for the visitors. He said the best side had won and deserved their victory." .' Dealing with the match against Victoria, in which the Now Zc-alanders were beaten by 40 points, a Melbourne paper says: — Recognising tho triumphs achieved by the visiting Maorilanders in Queensland and Now South Wales, it was generally anticipated that the local representatives would have a hard tussle if they were to come out on top. Fortune favours the brave, however, and after a keen struggle, participated/ in by seven rinks at 25 ends, victory rested with the Victorian men, who had 40 points to spare. The green appeared to be in good trim, though a trifle heavy, and con- - siderably longer than those played 011 in New Zealand. A peculiar feature of the' game was that though at the finish of the first five ends the New Zealanders had scored 38 points to Victoria's 30, the latter recovered remarkably well in the succeeding ends, and, getting ahead of their opponents, maintained their load right to the finish. It was early noticeable that the contest between the rinks captained by Wheeler (New Zealand) and Kelly (Victoria) was to be a keen one. From start to finish the scoring of each side was of an even description till at the last end the board showed 24 all. Excitement ran high when Wheeler with a two gained the victory for Now Zealand. This rink was by far tho best contested of the series, Kelly, the Victorian skipper, plaving a ding-dong game, while both captains wore rendered valuable aid by their comrades. Another brilliant Now Zealand victory was scored at. the other end of the green by Payne's rink, which, despite the valiant efforts put forth by Waxman, for Victoria, ran out an easy winner with a score of 28 to 13. The second Victorian rink, which, like the former, started badly, was also outclassed by its opponents, who at no stage of the game gave the others a look in. The play in the third rink was of an even character, the local men, headed by Howe, getting home by four points, after a grand game. Victoria owes her victory to the prowess of the next three rinks, namely, the fourth, fifth, and sixth, captained respectively by Smith, Neill, and Cooper. Half the journey was accomplished by the local rinkers making a good commencement, and the majority of points thus secured early in the

afternoon was not only maintained, but was considerably strengthened as the game went on, making sure the : .victory of the V.B.A. The Victorians, Neill Bentley, in the fifth rink, had things all their own way, the Bendigo man fairly excelling himself in piling up points against his opponents. The Albert Park representative, Cooper, proved his mettle by ending with a score of 36 —11 in his favour. He was ably assisted by the other members of his rink. The play of tho Windsor expert, Paseoe, was considered by some to be the best exhibition during the afternoon.