BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 16

BOWLING NOTES.

REVIEW OF CLUB FORM. SOME VERY KEEN CONTESTS. THE AUCKLAND-HAMILTON TEST.

BY SKIP.

A real bowler's day greeted tho great army of local enthusiasts on Saturday. As on the previous Saturday, the main items on the programmes were club cornpetitions, with an odd inter-club match hero and there. A further speeding-up in the paco of the greens was again noticeable, some of them being fast enough to please the most fastidious. Dcvonport had its first game in the marine pennant competition, engaging both tho Takapuua and Waitemata Clubs. On the home green tho local men won all four games, but sustained three losses away, which lelf therri a game to the good Three wins were obtained against Takapuna at home out of 11 ,o four played. West End repeated its pennant success of the first round by winning 11 games out of 14 against Stanley and New Lynn. 'J he three losses were sustained at Stanley, where the keen greeri had visitors and locals alike guessing all the afternoon Dominion Road secured only two wins against I'ousoubv otit o| seven eames on I the hitters greeri West and Roberts were t lie successful skips. Parsons put up a big score against the Dominion Road skip, Benson. Honours were fairly even on gam6s on tho Dominion Road green, and the aggregate score was also close, the local club being 152 to 150. Ponsonby won on the total aggregate by 297 to 200. Treasurer Yeoman showed a big balance of points to his credit in his match with Crowe, Ponsonby.

Very Even Game, The Mount Eden-Mount Albert contest was very oven, a matter of seven or eight points only separating the teams on each green Mount Albert were seven up on the total aggregate score, 197 100 On the home green tho scores wero 1.03—102 in favour of the visitors. The local competitors who took part in the recent Thames tournament speak in high terms of the hospitality of the Thames bowlers, who spared no expense m catering for tlie wants of the visitors. .Numerically the tournament was not strong, only 18 teams participating, u good percentage of them being Aucklanders The greens were in fair order, and, the weather being good, some line games resulted Hoskitig (West End) went through his section without loss, but on two occasions he was in dire distiess, wanting three to tie and four to win against Cameron (Thames) and Jervis Wright (Epsom). As in these two games, his other wins were attained at the business end after punishing finishes.

In the final game Clark's team (Thames) was too steady for the West End men, and Ilosking had to fight hard to finish on equal terms on the twentieth head. On the last head he was again in trouble, but one of his drives missed the white by the merest fraction. The winning skip, Clark, is a fine bowler. Cameron's number three, Newman, was reported to bo a tower of strength to his side, and incidentally a nuisance to the Auckland skips. , Papatoetoe Tourney, Favoured with fine weather and good greens the competitors in the Papatoetoe Club's tourney had a really good outing. The talent engaged was very good, several of Auckland's best skips competing. St. Heliers bowlers had an enjoyable day on Saturday on the occasion of the chili's At Home. There was just a sufficient sprinkling of visitors to comfortably till the green, with the addition of tho local players. At the present tune, of course, the majority of club members are too busy with home affairs to go visiting. The centre executive was represented bv the president, Mr. Jas. Pascoe, and Messrs. J. W. Hardiey and A E. Whitten. Reference was made by tho president, Mr. E. Knight, to the influx of new members, this being largely tho result of the operations of the sum-mer-time bill. St. Heliers is not alone in this respect, as reports from suburban clubs in particular show allround increases of new members this

season. Winners of Champion Pairs. For the second year in succession Messrs. Butland and Boyne have won tho Epsom Club's champion pairs. The final, which was held over from last season, was played last Saturday. The two successful players are generally asso dated in all open tournaments and once again the value of team-work is demonstrated. A doughty pair in A. Bruce and T. R. George were tho runners-up. To-day tho Public Service bowlers tako the field at tho Epsom and Remuera greens in tho annual inter-departmental pairs touinamont. Competitors from a* far south as Taurnarunui, Rotorua, and Frankton Junction are taking part. Last year the event was won by Messrs. Gannaway and Wyatt, Telegraph, who defeated Eaves and Kelly, Railway, in tho final. A strong skip competing is R. Smith, from Helensville Railway. Ho recently defeated M. Walker in a game at the township. His team at present holds the rink tournament shield won last March. He has struck a strong section in the pairs, so his progress will be witched with interest. Ponsonby is holding a full rink tourney to-day, and has a very good entry for tho event. The calibre of tho competing teams i 3 also good. Inter-House Matches, Ono result at least of the effects of tho ; daylight saving is tho inauguration of intcr-house games in the evening. The honour of starting the games rests with tho Gas Company's office staff, with C. Richmond, the Epsom Club player, as manager. Already several games' have been played, and to-morrow the Gas Company will play the Power Board, and the following week a team from tho Public Service. Such an idea is a good one and it is to be hoped that, many more houses will form teams to play in the evening games. Local bowlers were sorry to bear of the sudden illness of Mr. A. W. Blanchard, who was visiting Thames for the purpose of playing in tho recent tourney down there. Latest reports show that he is making a recovery, and it is to bo hoped tho Epsom crack will not bo precluded from hi? favourite pastime for very long. On December 7 the first item of serious business will come up for decision in the shape of an inter-centre contest for the Ilardley Shield between the Auckland and South Auckland centres. Eight rinks a-sido is the quota fixed upon, and this should provido a really good match between tho eljto of tho two teams, Auckland and Hamilton.