NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS IN CHEAT BRITAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 58

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS IN CHEAT BRITAIN.

(Fsoif Oub Own CorbespOjNDENt.) : LONDON, June W. , Last Monday the New Zealand bowlera left London en route for their four, in Sooitwid, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. Though down fey a single game (four reverses to three victories) the team certainly experienced no little misfortune. Never has * combination Hurt has gone on tour experienced wore* Weather conditions. Owing to the heavy yams the turf has been exceedingly heavy, while, moreover, the overcast skies have pandered! the light anything but good. Then, further, to add to their misfortunes, Mr G. iE. Prince is, I regret to' hear, suffering from eye affection, though he is struggling bravely •gainst the infirmity. ' Had the colonists confined their contests here to the Strand turf greens, which are joo**, after ih« oxd«r of ike New Zealand* graeas (in the way of playing keener titan ordinary turf), they would have left London with on even record— three all, — but playing an additional game on a green which lias proved the graveyard of the hopes of a fcood many visiting teams, they journeyed off with a reverse balance. ' At Banbury, the first halting-place oil the way north, the rinks were again heavy, Swing' thoroughly soddened, and the Home jside had an 11 points advantage. Mr Prince's rink was down by 14 to 22, and Mr JBteraeH'e by 34 to 37. Lord Jersey, poiron t>f ihe English Bowling Association, bad intended presiding at the banquet given in honour of the team, but he was unable to no so at tie last moment. Mr Barnett and Mr Prince responded to the honours done to Ac health of the visiting players. Northampton woe the next scene of battle, •ad here the New Zealander* opened in •ensational style, for though Mr Barnett wm flown by 0 to 7 in the first four ends, Mr Friaoe for a -time piled up points in a way not a little appalling to ihe local mind. Biesare Monz, Court, Wakeman, and G. E. Princ* totalled 36 against Messrs Wheeler, Eynon, Tyler, and Stow, for Northampton, who made only 6. In the No. 2 rink the New jZeolanders — the itev. Father Fay, Messrs Casey, Louision, and W. Barnett-^put together a total of 19 againet th* 21 of Messrs Bedhead, Lorimer, Gray, and Panting, of Northampton. The visitors were entertained •t a banquet, when the Mayor of Northampton occupied the chair, and when Mr Barnett and Mr Prince again replied to the compliments expressed toward the visiting team. On th* day following the team were shown snany of the sights of the town, and they created quite a little sensation on leaving ths station by singing in Maori " They are jolly good fellows." The send-off was a most Itearty one. And so the New Ze&lasders propeed en route to Newcastle-on-Tyne to fight their first battle upon which is to be the •een* of hostilities next month of the English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh Associations for the championship of the United Kingdom. This contest took place yesterday at NewSpastle, «nd the New Zealanders pronounced fthe turf to be the best they had played on. The risk' skipped by Mr Prinoe played remarkably; well at the outset, though Messrs jManz and Court were hardly up to their fturaal standard. Mr W. Wakeman, who has ioertoinly been one of the successes of the Seam, and Mr Prince, however, proved to be jn brilliant form. This rink led by 5 to 3 at the irat fire ends, by 9 to 5 at the tenth end, «nd by 12 to 10 at the fifteenth end. Then earn* the turn of the other skip. Mr J. Moffatt, who holds a wide reputation for green craft, and on the end the New Zealanders were down by 4 shots. On the JCiher rink, -the Rev. Father Fay especially.

distinguished himself, playing a really great game, while Mr Barnett was also in good form. The sides and scores were aa follow: — New Zeal/lkdebs. Newcastle-on-Tihi. H. O. Mane W. Simpl* J. Court * . ' J. T. Lane W. Wakeman James Moffatt G. Prince- (s) .. 15 John Moffatt (a).. 19 If. Casey R. A. Young Rev.. Father F*f " J. Ballantyns A. Louisson C. Russell W. Baraett (•) .. IS R. Fenwick (s) .. S2 Totals ... .. 28 51 To-day the team go to Sunderland. On Monday they will engage Carlisle, and on the day following they will make their advent in the Scottish capital. The rinks of Caledonia should, especially if dry, prove more to their Appreciation, though some exceptionally keen players are likeiy to be encountered, while the same applies to Glasgow.' Special interest attaches to the team's tour in the Isle of Man, for never as yet has a bowling combination taken an itinerary in MJanxla«d. Included in "the greens of the island 'is ' the pleasantly-situated little ground in Greba, Castle, upon which Mr Hall Cain* revels in the recreation. Although nothing has transpired relative to the plan of operations after the team's return to Londorf, a good number of clubs throughout the metropolis are issuing invitations for a visit, one of the number being the St. Albans Bowling <3ub> the 'only club, in -£he South of, England playing upon a crowned green — the pattern ground general throughout Yorkshire, Lancashire, Worcester- : shire^ Cheshire, and Warwickshire. ' In relation to the recent formation of the Empire Bowling Clvb — especially as a rendezvous for the colonial bowlers -visiting the Old County— the Manchester Hotel, Aldersgate street, is its headquarters. New Zealand players visiting the Old Country will be heartily welcomed by ihe "Empire" members at this well-known home of sport, which was the headquarters of the "All Blacks " when they were here. As noted at the time of the formation of the Empire Qlub, the idea and advancement of the movement were mainly due to the -visit to th« Motherland' of Mr Albert Robins and his fellow Aucklanders, Messrs W. Lyons, W. "Mercer, and G. Tutt.