BOWLING

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4262, 23 January 1901, Page 5

BOWLING

WELLINGTON GEEEN,

. THE PROGRESSIVE BOWLING ! _ MATCH. ■ The keenly anticipated progressive .match for the gold medals presented IV ithe president (Mr W. M. Muir) and vicepresident (Mr James Russell) of Die. Wellington Bowling Club was brought to a successful issue yesterday on the club's .green, whicii was graced during the afternoon with the presence of « number of ladies. Progressive bowling matches are an importation from Australia, and the match played yesterday was the first that has taken place in Wellington. The innovation, while likely'to become ex.tremely popular on account of its socia;b“:‘W. can hardly be regarded as a test ;ot skill. By the conditions of the match the president’s medal went to the "leader scoring the most points, and the vice, president s to the most successful ‘'skip." 1 hore was also a third prize, a pair of si 1 ver-moiinted bowls, presented by th* B.C.L. Whisky Company. The green was in the condition known among bowlers as ‘very keen/’ which may be compared _to a /very/ fast”/ wicket in cricket. turfy-eight members entered, and the nineteen pairs among them kept the rinks very lively from 10 o’clock in the morning till 6 in the evening, with brief inter, vals devoted to a well-spread luncheon table in the pavilion. The healths of ,tne president and vice - president were drunk with enthusi. asm. and an amusing reference was made to the fact that both gentlemen had stood out of the contest' to obviate any chance of winning their own medals. During the play, which was closely contested with Jjie utmost good humou?, the pairs engaged used two bowls only, and the games were nine heads up". .When the rounds terminated it was found Diat 34 had scored 7 each or under. These consequently failed to qualify; leaving three "leaders” who had managed to ; score 9 points each to fight it out for the i president's prize and the pair of bowls, ; and! one ‘‘skip/’ Mr Churchward, who i took the vice-president's prize with a i score of 8 points.

In drawing for the semi-final. Mr Andrew Hamilton won a bye. and Messrs E. .1. Hill and C. Smith adjourned to the green to see which was the better man. After a close struggle, in which the efforts of both player* were repeatedly applauded. Mr Smith won by 9to 6. Then as matters stood, if Smith managed to beat Hamilton, the latter and Hill would have to meet fob the silver-mounted pair of bowls. As it happened, however. Smith never had a chance against the more experienced Hamilton, who romped home an easy winner by 9 points to 1. All the bowlers present Toted the day one of the pleasantest in their recollections, and honed that these progressive matches would become an annual institution. - NEWTOWN CLUB. The-following rinks wilT represent the Newtown Bowling Club against the Petone Club on Saturday next at the Thorndon Green:—Blyth, McLean. Nanqarrow, Price (skip): Martin, Morris, Lambert. Bary (skip); Telford. McCumiskey. Underwood. Brightwell (skip); Alpe, Webb, Astill, Prince (skird; emergencies, J. H. Davis and D’Emden.