BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 45

BOWLING.

Tho sixth annual visit of Dunedin bowlers, and friends to Otago Central proved a great success. The weather all the time was glorious, and the visitors had a real sun bath. The team wero welcomed on arrival by Mr James Arnott, vice-president of tho Alexandra Bowling Club. A team of Roxburgh players, skipped by Buchanan, met four ot tho visitors, skipped by Thompson, on Thursday morning, the visitors, who dubbed themselves the 'All Straigiits." winning by 28 to 14. Fivo rinke- of Alexandra players then met the visitors, the latter winning by 98 to 87, having a winning margin in four out of the five rinks. On Friday a rink made up of visitors met tho holders of tho Jollv Cup, skipped by G-. Rivera, the latter winning by 20 to 17. On Saturday' morning Campbell and Rivers defeated Hanna and Martin in a pairs game by 20 to 12, while the Alexandra champion rink, comprising M'Donald, Hesson, Marslin, and M'Lean (s), were defeated by one point hj Elder, Passmore, Balk, and Scott (s). In the afternoon a live rink aside match was played by. the visitors against an Otago Central team, winning by 7 points, having a majority of points in three rinks. On Friday evening the visitors gave a concert in aid' of the patriotic funds, tho function proving a success in every way. On Saturday evening the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert by the members of the Alexandra Club, Mr J. O'Kane (the president) being in the chair. An enjoyable evening was spent. WAIKOTTAITI v. PALMERSTON. A two-rink match between teams representing the above clubs, was played on the Waikouaiti Green on "Wednesday. Tie score*

OP CHAMPIONS MATCH. The final stage of the champion against champion bowling competitors was entered upon on Saturday morning, and was completed beforo the afternoon had ended. Gale and AUnuti played a great game in the sixth round; indeed this was probably the game of the competition so far as Saturday's play was concerned. Gale went away day's" play was concerned. Gale eventually won by 20 to 17. In the seventh round Gale met Veitch of West Harbour, and suffered a defeat by 15 to 20, the Kaituna player failing to score after the fourteenth end. Ihe other game in the seventh round was. between Francis and Fountain, the latter scoring 18 to his opponent's 15. .-"The game was a fairly evenly contested one. This left Gale to meet Fountain in the semi-final. Gale had established a lead of 9 to nil at the sixth end, and though Fountain got a three and his whole four howls in at the fifteenth and eighteenth ends, be failed to beat his opponent, who finished up with an advantage of five points. Gale and Veitch then met in the final issue. Four successive games had their effect on Gale, who did not play up to his usual form. There was a big fight up to the ninth end, after which Gale tell away, Veitch running his score of 7 up jto 17 by the time the fourteenth end was reached. The score was then 4—17 in favour of Veitch; a lead too great to be wiped off. At the eighteenth end Gale, with 8 to his credit, and 13 behind, relinquished his claims, and Veitch became the champion of champions. j ■ . Champions of previous years axe: C. J. Payne 1903; F. Smith (Kaituna), 1910; J. M'Fadden (Taieri), 1911; J. M'Fadden (Taieri), 1912; E. Harraway (Dunedin), 1913; W. M'Laron OJumedin), 1914; J. Scott (Caledonian), 1915; D. Cormack (Caledonian), 1916; J. G. Bentley (Dunedin), 1917. ELDERLY BOWLERS' DAY.

In response to an invitation from the members of the Dunedin Bowling Club there was a very large gathering of bowlers from, all pacts on the JJunedin .green on Saturday afternoon on the occasion oi the gathering of elderly ' bowlers. The large number of visiting bowlers desirous to take part necessitated" play starting at 10.a.m. One hundred and twenty players, whose,.-ages totalled an aggregate of 8526 years, took part. The ages of the eight players in the Veterans' Rink totalled GOO years,, an average of 82J years. The green was crowded with visitors, some coming from Auckland, Christchurch, Oamaru, Roxburgh, Alexandra, Waitah'una, Waikouaiti, Milton, Kaitangata, and lnvercurgill. Amongst the players were two past presidents of the New Zealand Bowling Association,, and strange to say, these two were drawn to play each other, Mr P. L. Gilkison, from lnveroargill (president in 1903) and Mr W. - Wad dell, from Oarnoru (president in 1907). Of those who attended the first meeting of bowlers held to consider the question of forming a Bowling Association for .Now Zealand, held at the Grand Hotel, Dunedin, on January 23, 1886, three members were present—Mr (jteo. Uapsuck (who was appointed the first secretary), Mr T. Moodie rruany years the treasurer), and Mr T. G. Young, who is well known in connection with bowl-testing, matters. The whole gathering had the appearance of a meeting of early settlers, and probably the bulk of j the players were amongst the early settlers of Otago. One notable instance was the presence of Mr W. Watson, from Invercargili, who arrived at Port Chalmers with the Philip Lang, in March, 1848. Amongst the players were- Mr Jas. Barr, who was born in Dunedm m 1819, G.' A. iveys, born at Wellington 1819, and Mr J. H. Patrick, who is also a native of Dunedin. Two of the players were present on the opening day of the Otago Bo3's' High School, on August 3, 1863—viz., Mr Herbert Webb and Mr C. Fynmore. The Hon. Geo. Jones, with seven others, motored down from Oamaru. It was a great gatberm"g of veteran bowlers, who were all pleased to renew old friendships. And to the onlookers it was a treat for all. The games were keenly and evenly contested —the play being quite equal to that of any tournament. At the conclusion of the play Mi- T. Cairns (Kaitangata) and Mr Geo. Jones (Oamaur), on behalf of the visitors, thanked the members of the Dunedin Club .for their hospitality. Three cheers, in bowlers' fashion, were given for the Dunedin Bowling Club, and another three cheers for the ladies of the club.

The following were the games played: Aggregate age.

were:- w _ P. Hunt, Templeton, Francis, Carson . 15 Wo'odie. Hopkins, Hilliard, Lefevre — Hunter" "Williamson, Mudge, Fell .. 31 M'Gregor, Cameron, Pickett, Smith — 24 19 48

269--J. Arthur, Campbell, Hatfield, (N.E.V.), Burt (Dunedin) 26 i 284--T. M'Millan, O. Bjorngaard, J. H. Patrick, A. Murdoch (Wai19 267--Mustard ■ (Roslyn), H. Webb (Mornington, Howard (Roslyn), 20 — 268--Sdwumtum (Alexandra), Higgius, Mastorton, Weir (Kai- — 21 330--T. Morris, T. Moody (Dunedin), Turnbull (Taieri), Marks 24 a_a 330W'edderspoon (Taieri), J. Dewar (Alexandra), J Mason, J. Blair (Gjreen Island) .. — 20 293--J. G. Saw-ell, John M'Rae, J. A. Anderson, G. Liddell (Mornington) 17 __ 27S— C MT'cak, AraV, (jai»ii:bell, Captain Sundstrum (Otago) .. 21 280--D. Gillespie, J. a. M'Aiis'ter, It. Coatea, J. H. Hancock (St. Clair) .. .. / . 2a _, 284--W. Taylor, D. G. M'Phersoa, W. Forrester, W. M'Hutcheson (Kaituna) .. .. 23 270--D. L-arna-oh (West Harbour), M. Cohen (St. Clair), U. Fraaer (Dunedin) P. L. Gilkison. (Invercargiil) i& __ 280--W. Bee, Geo. Jones, D. Brown, W. Waddell (Oaraaru) ia 286--W. Duncan, T. Cairns (Kiait'angata), J. Craig (Roxburgh), W. (Kaifcangata) ..- .. 12 _ 279--J. Ingram, M. Pearec, C. J. Thorn, W. Renfree (Caversham) — 13 269--A. Jones, J. Wood, DS Bryco, 22 X W. Murdoch (St. Kilda) _ 277--A. Hosie (Wakari), P. M. Coxhead; C. Fynmore (Otago),, i>. — 22 277--L. Marshall, D. Scott, W. Wilson, A. Matheson (Roslyn) .. 18 __ 288—John Griffiths (Inveroaxgill), Grant, Bailev, Reid (Oaana.ru) — H 270--H; L. Christie (Fairfield), W. Vickery, J. Barr, H.« Barnes (St. Kilda) 15 —. 278--rx. Robertson, J. M'Creary, W. Cowie, J. Hunter (Kaikorai) 19 282--W. Gilbert (Dunedin), J. Scott (Balmacewen), J. S. Hungerford (Dunedin), E. Whitehouse (Dunedin) .. .. .. 19 — 283--B. Not-roan (Otago), Schauniann (Alexandra), Eason (Green Isla-nd), R. Dow (Dxtnia 295--Barber, J. Thomson, Swan, D. Murray (BT.E.V.) .. .. .. 16 _ 298 —G. Capstick, Bastings, Lockhart, W. Moore - (Milton) 13 292--A. Code (Fairfield), W. Watson (Inveroargill), G. A. rLoyi | (Taieri), J. Hunter (Auckland) 18 _ 276--J. Butcher (Caledonian), Scott (Baknacewen), F. Elason, J. Ogg (Caledonian) .. .. . 21 286--A. Wedderspoon (Taieri), H. Webb (Mornington), Keys, Fyn0 13 _ 296 —A Hi nwran ,1 M .. ,,-n ,'^ v ,,..,,, Island)', M. Cohen, W. Emery 14 . 288—J. '.',, Hutton (Dunedin), M. Montgomery (West Harbour), Jas. Smith (Dunedin), Jae. Hunter (Aucklaaad) .. .. 23 . 278—H. "Roiivrison, J. M ''('Vv.htv. V-,'. Cowie, J. Hunter (Kaikorai) ■ — 17