NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13501, 27 July 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS.

PROGRESS OF THE TOUR. EMPIRE BOWLING CLUB. [FROM ocp. OW.V CORKF.STOXDK.Vr.]' Lo.troox, June 14. '' Last Monday thr- New Zealand bowlers left London imi route for their tour in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. Though down by a single game (four reverses to three victories), the team certainly experienced no little misfortune. No combination that ha* gone on tour has experienced worse -weather conditions. Owing to the heavy rain* th» tirrl has been exceedingly heavy—in striking contrast to the. keen, true rink* of the- colo-nies,-while,"moreover, the overcast skies have rendered the- light anything hut good. Then, further, to add to their misfortunes, i.a. G. E. Prince is suffering from eye affec- ' tion, though ho is struggling bravely against the infirmity. Had the colonists confined their contests hero to the Strand turf greens, which ar» more after the order of the New Zealand greens (in the way of playing keener than ordinary turf), they would have left London with an even record—three all—hut playing an additional game on a green which has. proved the graveyard of the hopes of a good many visiting teams they journeyed off with a reverse balance. At Banbury, tho first halting place on the way north, the rinks were again heavy, thoroughly soddoncd, and the Homo side/; had an li points' advantage. Mr. Prince'i rink was down by 14 to 22. and Mr. Barnctt's by 24 to 27. Lord Jersey, patron oj;; the English Bowling Association, hud in- *' tended presiding at, the banquet given in honour of the team, but. he was uuable to do so. Mr. Barnett and Mr. Prince responded to the honours done to the health of the visiting players. "Northampton was the next seoue of battle, and hero the New Zealandors opened in sensational style, for though Mr. Barnett was down by 0 to 7 in the first four ends, Mr. Prince for a time piled up points in a, way not a little appalling to the local mind. From a reference to a copy of the score* card it will be. noted that the old champion led off with a six, followed by a three in the next head, while at the eighth end ho had reached 19 to 1. The card of the other rink, which is also copied, and which in addition to giving the order of the points being made, also shows the constitution of the little New Zealand force as well as that ,of their rivals, shows that Messrs. Main, J Court, Wakeman, and G. B. Prince totalled 36 against Messrs. Wheeler, Eynon, Tylor, and Stow for Northampton, who made only 6. In the No. 2 rink the New Zealanders— the Rev. Father Fay, Messrs. Casey, Louis- ■ son, and W. Barnett. —put together a total of 19 against the 21 of Messrs Redhead, Lorimor, Gray, and Panting, of Northampton. The battle over, tho visitors were, entertained at a banquet, when the Mayor of Northampton occupied the chair, and when Mr. Barnett and Mr. Prince again replied to the compliments expressed toward tho visiting team. . •/ On tho day following the" team were shown many of tho sights of the town and they created quite, a little ■ sensation on :J leaving the station by singing in Maori "They are Jolly Good Fellows.' The send-, off was a most hearty one. And so the New: Zealandors proceeded' en route to New-., castle-on-Tyuo to fight their first battle upon ; what is to bo'tho scene of hostilities next month of the English, Scottish, Irish, and, Welsh Associations, for tho championship of: the United Kingdom. This contest took place yesterday at Newcastle, and the New Zealandors pronounced i the turf to lie. tho best they had played on. The rink skipped by Mr. Prince played remarkably well at the outset, though Messrs. Manz and Court were hardly up to their usual standard. Mr. W. Wakeman, who has certainly been one of the successes of the team, and Mr. Prince, however, proved to bo in brilliant form. This rink led by 5 to 3 at the -first five ends, bv 9 to 5 at the tenth end, and by 12 to 10 at the fifteenth end. Then came the turn of the *otlior skip, Mr. J. Moffat who holds a wide repu- •: tat ion for green craft, and on tho end the New Zealanders were down by four shots. ' On the other rink tho Rev. Father Fay especially distinguished himself, playing ia, really great game, while Mr. Barnett, was also in good form. The sides and scores < were as follow: — '. ,» f iNow:. Zealand^—ll. O. Mauz, J." Court, * W. Wakeman, G. Prince (skip)— v. Now-castlc-on-Tyne—W. Simple, J. T. Lano,. James Moffatt, John Moffat (skip)— ' , New Zealandors—M. Casey, Rev. Father Fay, A. Lonisson, W. Barnett (skip)—l3, v. Newoastle-on-Tyne—B. A. Young, J. BaJlantyne, C. Russell, B. Fonwiok (,skip)-32. ■ ' Totals: New Zealanders, 28; Newcastle-on-Tyne, 51. . To-day the- team go to Sunderland. On Monday they will engage Carlisle,: and on tho day following they will make their advent in the Scottish capital. Special interest attaches to the team's tour in tho "Isle of 'Man,■; for never as yet has a bowling combination taken an itinerary in Manxland. * Included in (ho greens of the island is tho pleasantly-situated little ground in Greba Castle, upon which Mr. Hall Caino revels in the recreation. Although nothing has transpired relative:,' to the plan o: operations after the team's £ return to London, a good number of clubs throughout the metropolis are issuing invitations for a. visit, one" of the number being tho St. Albans, t'ho only club in tho South, of England playing upon a crowned green— the pattern ground general throughout lorkshire, Lancashire; Worcestershire, Lheshire, and Warwickshire. • --■.'. In relation to the recent formation of the Empire Bowling Club—especially as a rendezvous for the colonial bowlers'visiting the Old Country— fact has now to bo noted of the English Bowling Association making the Manchester Hotel, Aldorsgatc-street, its headquarters. New Zealand players visiting the Old Country will be heartily welcomed by the 'Empire" members at this wellknown home of sport, which was the headquarters of the "'AH Blacks" when: they were here. -As noted at the time of the formation of tho Empire Club, tho idea and advancement of the movement were mainly a 1!? to the visit to the Motherland of Mr. Albert Robins and his fcllcw-Aucklandere, Messrs. W. Lyons, W. Mercer, and G. Tutt.'