BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 28

BOWLING

DOMINION TOURNAMENT.

THE RINKS CHAMPIONSHIP.

FOSTER AND EDWARDS TWO LIVES.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 19

The Dominion bowling tournament was continued to-day in fine but windy ■weather. Only three rinks are left in the championship, those skipped by W. Foster .(Caledonian), M. Walker, (Auckland), and T. Edwards (Temuka). Walker has ®nly One life and the others two. It is »iot expected that finality will be reached till Saturday. The singles have been narrowed down to the. following:—Scott (Caledonian), Ferguson (Balmacewan), Muston (Auckland), Edwards (Temuka), and' Clarke .(Carlton).'

In the pairs, Smith (St. Albans), Menzies (Ashbury), Brightling (Hataitai), Logan (Maitai), Fielding (Hataitai), Clarke (Carlton), and Chambers (Sumner) remain in.

To-day was President’s Day on the Can--terbury green, where a North Island v. South Island match was played. A large crowd of visitors were the guests of the president (Mr A. - J. Benzie) and Mrs Benzie. CALEDONIAN WINS RINKS. ' THE PAIRS TO MAITAI. CHRISTCHURCH, January 20. The Dominion bowling touranment was continued to-day in beautiful weather. Finality was reached in the Pairs and Rinks, and the following were left in the Singles:— Edwards (Temuka), two lives. Muston (Auckland), one life. Clarke (Carlton), one life. The finals of the Pairs , was contested by Maitai (D. Murphy and G. Logan, and Hataitai (J. Kershaw and W. Field ing). Logan scored a single on the first head, but the next two went to Fielding with singles on each. Logan drew away, and on the tenth was leading, 9—3. Feeding reduced the scoreby three on the next, but Logan countered with a four. Two went to Feilding on the next, but on the eighteeth the score was 19—9 in Logan’s favour. He scored on the remaining heads, and ran out a winner by 26 points to 9. In the Brinks final Caledonian (F. Kettle, V. Langley, D. Hutchinson, and W.’ _ y os ter) 1/ beat Temuka (J. Gourley, L. Hunt. W. M'Callum, and T. Edwards) 14. Foster was one up on the fourta, but Edwards scored singles on the next two, but did not score on the seventh and eighth. The ninth gave him four. With three heads to go Temuka were 2 np. On the nineteenth Foster scored 4 and took the lead, which he maintained, running out a winner (19 —15) in a game which was marked by good bowling and the number of heads burnt. 1 WINNERS TO DATE. RINKS. 1914 — (Wellington Club) : W. Grenfell A E. Erskine, W. J. Thompson, J. Porteous. 1915— (Palmerston North) : N. H. Nash S PL xon ; F ’ Tasker - J- A. Nash. 1916— (Newtown) : C. Davis, A. E. Davies, B ‘ Duff - J- Laughton. - 1917— (Auckland) : J. a. Ryrie. A. R. ColtColtlnan ' G- B- Osmond. 1918— (Otago) : W. Robson, J. Spinks, E Falconer, C. R. Smith. 1919— (Karangahake) : A. J. Andrew. W Given, O. Gallagher, E. J. Jury. 1920— (Wanganui) : H. Brookfield, F. L. Anrson - H : Tilley. A. p. London. 1921— (Karangahake) : B. Hilton, A. Bell O Gallagher, E. J. Jury. 1922— (Taieri) : J. A. M'Kinnon, W. B. Allan, W- Allan, W. Carswell. 1923— (Ponsonby) : R. Somervell. J. Hosking - v - Casey, A. Parsons; 1924— (West End): H. S. Hill, W. Ure, G. Maher. W. Bremner. 1925 (Hamilton) : H. J. Wernham,. P. T. Wilson, A. C. MTntyre, R. N. Pilkington. 1926— (Dunedin) : J. Best, H. Siedeberg, M Cullough, E. Harraway. 1927— (St. John’s Wanganui) : M'Millan, Rowling. Wight, Benefield. 1928 — (Caledonian) : F. Kettle. V. Langley, ,D. Hutchison, W. Foster. PAIRS. * 944 —(Dunedin) : J. Johnson, E. Harraway. 191o—(Green Island) : G. A. Blackwood, A. Smeilie. —(Thorndon) : V, Dimock, C. Parata. 1917— (Turanganui) : A. Sawyer, J. J Martin. 1918— (Dunedin) : W. M. Hogg, E. Harraway. 1919— (Gisborne) : J. B. Rosemon, W. J Hueston. . 1920— CSydenham) : J. Turnbull, W. Soiller 1921— (Wellington) : W. A. Grenfell. S Poti ter. 1922— (Newtown) : J. Brackenridge, J. M Brackenridge. ’ 9 ?3 —(Temuka) : W. M'Callum, T. Edwards. 1924— (Canterbury) : Jas. Angus, J. A. Redpath. 1925— (Newtown) : C. Davis, J. W. Sexton 1926— (St. Kilda) : W. R. Todd and E Tamblyn. 1927— (Auckland): A. Brackebush and M Walker. 1928— (Maitai) : D. Dunphy and G. Logan. THE FINAL STAGES. CHRISTCHURCH; January 20. The Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association’s tournament has .now reached its final stages. The good weather that ushered in the has continued without a break. To-day’s play was again favoured with pleasant conditions, which were appreciated by the Competitors and spectators. The sun, which had not been particularly strong m the morning, came out brilliantly after mid-day, as a result of which the green played trickily, this accounting for the general falling off in the standard of play. After the conclusion of the rinks championshin final Mr A. J. Benzie (president of the New Zealand Bowling Association) presented the championship shield to W. Foster, skip of the Caledonian team. In congratulating the team on winning the coveted trophy, lie said that, it seemed that other cities got a loan of it only occasionally, as it had gone to the Southern city on more than one occasion.

Two years ago it had been won by the LUnedin Club, and now it was the Caledonian Club’s turn. They appreciated the very fine bowls of the winning rink, which had given them a lesson on how bowls should be played. The losers, though beaten, were not disgraced. . “ I hand over the shield to you for a year, arid ask you to bring it to Wellington next year,” said Mr Benzie, “ as I shall be taking a rink there myself.”' At My Benzie’s request cheers were given for the winners and the losers, ana for Maitai and Hataitai, who fought out the-final of the pairs competition. Mr Foster thanked the association, and those present, for the way they had received the winners. “Ours has been a mixed rink,” he said. “It has been said that our lead has never won a first prize but we stuck to him, and made him our mascot. We have had good games. I enjoy bowls and only wish I could get my living out of them. I am proud to take the shield back to my club.” Mr V. Langley, who is vice-president of the Caledonian Club, said that he felt very proud after fighting since 9 in the morning. “ I consider the true game of bowls is the two-bowl game,” he said. ‘‘Any team which can win the Dominion Rinks Championship has put up a most creditable performance.” His rink had come from the G section, which was a verv strong one, in which three teams had tied for top place. “We put our backs to the wall,” he said, “ and we stpod together as a team. Our post-sec-tional games were very strenuous, but we had a fifth man with us all the time. His club was the second oldest in Dunedin. The winning of the shield would give bowling an impetus in the south which would probably send more- rink teams to the next Dominion Championships. He would like to see it a little lighter for the bowlers at the tournament. Three games with only a scratch lunch was a very strenuous day, especially for the older men. They were indebted to the council for the arrangements. The greens had played well. St Albans had been well prepared, but had been hard to. play on during the day, owing to the wind. - ®

In what was undoubtedly the most and exciting struggle in the tournament Auckland lost its life, and with. North Island’s chance of winning the Rinks Championship for 1928, when it went down to Caledonian in the first game of the morning. Even if Foster had been beaten his rink would still have had a life left. It was a game of lost opportunities for Auckland, and was characterised by a sterling uphill struggle, which gradually wore the Northerners down, and gave Dunedin a well-deserved victory. On all of the critical heads in the second half of the game the southerners played superior bowls, and man for man were in the ascendency. It is safe to st Re that a good proportion of the large crowd who watched the game from all angles of the green had never imagined that so much excitement could be infused into what is generally regarded as the most placid of pastimes.

Dealing with the players individually, North Islanders will admit that Kettle, the'southern lead, had Marriott beaten all the way, and when the second man started to bowl the advantage nearly always lay with Foster. Langley (Caledonian) was undoubtedly playing the best bowls in the game. His opponent, Heys, made few mistakes, and was very consistent, but he was meeting a man who had judged the pace of the green to a nicety. Time after time Langley’s bowls were almost touchers, and the way •in which his draw shots curled round through the other timber demonstrated to what a science bowling has been developed. On some of the heads Muston was unsurpassed, but he seemed to lose his confidence with variations in the length of the heads, and failed at the critical time. Like Foster, Hutchison was exceedingly steady and consistent. Naturally, with his men beaten individually Walker always found that he had the lion’s share of the work for his two bowls, and on the last head he was faced with a task well nigh impossible. It was a head which could n v be burnt, and when Foster saw that Auckland was out to trail the kitty he not only sent down some good back stuff, but spread his bowls all over the head, so that no matter where the jack went his rink could not possibly lose shots. The green was rolled at the luncheon adjournment, and after the strong sunshine of midday was much more tricky and difficult. Not nearly the same interest was taken in the second game if the Rinks Championship between Caledonian (W Foster) and Temuka (T. Ed wards) as in the game between Foster and Walker, it being 1 generally anticipated that the Dunedin rink would win. Moreover, both of these rinks still had two lives. If anything Edwards wa? playing a better game than Foster, but the same could not be said for the Temuka skip’s other three men. His third, Hunt, was decidedly weak, and wat no match for Hutchison, while Langley, although not quite so good as in the previous match, was a hard nut for the Temuka man to crack.

The results of the three games played by Caledonian were as follows.

Caledonian (F. Kettle, V. Langley, D. Hutchison, W. Foster) 17 v. Auckland (F. E. Marriott, J. L. Keys, C. Muston, M. Walker) 16. Caledonian (W. Foster) 19 v. Temuka (J. Gourley. L. Hunt, W. M'Callum, T. Dd wards) 14. Caledonian 19 v. Temuka 15.

When the final of the rinks began Foster had two lives and Edwards one. The Temuka rink opened with a score of two, Caledonian replying in the next head with one. In a game which was characterised by many heads being killed,

Edwards added another in the third head ffom a tightly-drawn position, but in the ri'ixt Foster went to four, making him one up at the end of the fourth head. In each of the next two Edwards gained a point, but he did not score in the seventh or eighth. The skips’ supports were playing some strikingly good hots, with the result that both skips found themselves faced with difficulties in making a great margin in the score. The ninth head was a particularly-good one for the Temuka rink, in which they added four points, giving them a margin of that lumber. Edwards added another in the tenth head, in which the play was not so accurate as in that preceding it. The eleventh head added another two points to Foster, up to which time no fewer than four heads had been burned. The southern skip tried a drive with his last bowl iu the twelfth, leaving Temuka with one up. The leaders on the thirteenth head were well astray. M'Callum, who was .playing well, secured the shot, and Temuka were lying three when Hutchison cut out two with a drive, and curled in prettily for second shot. Foster got a single out of this head. Again M’Calliim drew shot on the fourteenth, but Hutchison drew right up to the kitty. Later in the head Temuka lay two, and Foster, with a perfect draw, trailed-the jack slowly through and lay shot. He got one up on the head. The green was slower, and the bowling better than earlier in the afternoon, the leads in particular being much improved in their play. M'Callum was right on his game for Temuka. He once more got the' short on the fifteenth head, but the opposing skip with his last bowl reversed the head in favour of his rink. Hutchison knocked in a Temuka bowl, and gave them shot on the sixteenth, and did the same thing with another ball. Both of the skips were well astray, and Temuka held the advantage. With three heads to go Temuka was still two up. Of the first eight bowls on the nineteen .a head Kettle’s was the closest, and Temuka were three down. Hutchison drew in to the shot position with a beauty and Foster ran in for second. Then Foster sent in another counter, and Caledonian gained four on the head. Edwards was lying one on the twentieth, when Hutchison ran across with his second, touching Kitty and making Caledonian lie two. With his last Hunt sent the jack to the edge of the ditch from a cannoned bowl. Foster drew to within 2ft of it, but did nothing with his second bowl, while Edwards put one of his in* the ditch, leaving Foster one up. The final head was exciting. Kettle lay a bowl 2ft away. M'Callum failed badly with both of his. Hunt tried to trail the kitty, but left it near a bowl of Huchison’s, and Edwards failed with his first attempt to drive, touching nothing. He was cheered when he burnt the head with a fast and true drive. Shadows were now falling across the green. Langley now ran in for shot, and M'Callum knocked him a bit closer. Hunt was narrow with his first bowl. Foster took the shot position. Edwards once again tried to burn the head, but missed. Foster’s last bowl disturbed the head a little, but still left him lying one, and the Temuka skip did not succeed in a final attempt to smash up the head. Foster took a point and won the game by four. SINGLES. In his game with Auckland (C. Muston) T. Ferguson, who represents Balmacewan, won a keen contest by five points. His lead commenced on the third head, when the score was 3—l. Muston was ahead for a very short while, but lost his position when Ferguson scored a four on the sixth. The southern player went ahead with three singles, a pair, and then two more singles, making his margin nine at the thiiteenth head. With a pair and a three Muston cut it down to four, although he could not hold Ferguson, who came to light with a pair on the sixteenth. Muston responded with the same score on the seventeenth head. On the eighteenth head he drew the shot, ana on the next head Ferguson drew a beauty right on the jack. Muston played a good shot, but was a little thin, and Ferguson drew another, lying two. Muston’s drive shifted the head, but he failed to get the shot. Ferguson drew another good one. Muston required four to win on the last head. Fergusons first was well behind, and Muston was not up, and the only way out was to burn the head. He drove off one of his opponent’s bowls. Again Muston drove, and he missed. Ferguson’s bowl was well behind the jack, and he won with one shot. The final scores were 20—15. Contrary to expectations the game between J. Scott (Caledonian), and J. B. Reid (Lyall Bay) was very one-sided, the Wellington man being in the lear on every head after the eighth. Reid led 5—3 on the sixth head, and Scott drew level on the seventh with a four, followed by a run of four pairs. Scott made his advantage 11 points by the thirteenth head, while his opponent did not score on seven successive heads. The Dunedin man secured a single, and a three on the sixteenth, after which his total ran to 24, while the Lyall Bay player remained stationary at eight. SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. ANOTHER WIN FOR CALEDONIAN. CHRISTCHURCH, January 21. The deciding rounds in the “Singles Championship were played to-day. The players remainiug in the competition were:— _ Edwards, Temuka, two lives. Clarke, Carlton, one life. Scott, Caledonian, one life. Ferguson, Balmacewan, one life. Muston, Auckland, one life. The following are the results of the last five matches j —

ELEVENTH ROUND.

Auckland (C. Muston) 21, v. Temuka (T. Edwards) 12.

TWELFTH ROUND. ,™ Ca^ on < T ’ Clarke) 21, v. Temuka (T. Edwards) 18. - SEMI-FINALS. Carlton (H. Clarke) 26, v. Balmacewan (r. Ferguson) 13. Caledonian (J. Scott) 22, v. Auckland (C. Muston) 8.

FINAL. Caledonian (J. Scott) 19, v. Carlton (H. Clarke) 14.

WINNERS TO DATE. SINGLES. 1914— (Carlton) : J. Kilgour. 1915— (Ponsonby) : M. Walker. 1916— (Roslyn) : E. Fountain. 191 7— (Wellington) : C. R. Ingram. 1918 — (Caledonian) : W. Foster. 1919 — (Ponsonby): M. Walker.’ 1920— (Dunedin) : E. Harraway. 1921— (Newton) :J. M. Brackenridge. 1922— (North-East Valley) : J. C. Rigby. 1923 — -(Ponsonby) : M. Walker. 1924— (Taieri) :W. Carswell. 1925— (Dunedin) :J. Best. 1926— (Caledonian) :W. Foster. 1927— (Rocky Nook, 'Auckland) : H. Clarke. 1928— (Caledonian) : J. Scott.

For the concluding games of the championships, which have occupied 11 days, the weather was again perfect, and the New Zealand Association is to be congratulated on wisely choosing a period of the year when the conditions are so stable.

To-day was taken up with the last five games of. the Singles Championship, in which some superb play was witnessed, although several of the games were won by a wide margin. The winner of the final was J. Scott, of the Caledonian Club, Dunedin, which was also successful in the Rinks’ Championship. Scott’s performance was most meritorious.

The crowd of spectators, although not so large as on Friday, was as closely interested, and saw much to arouse its enthusiasm. The heat iu the afternoon was intense, and must have been a severe trial to the players. At the conclusion, of the final match, Mr A. J. Benzie (president of the New Zealand Association) said that the Caledonian Club had put up a record in getting the Rinks’ Championship, and also the Singles Championship of the Dominion. He congratulated Scott on his fine wins, remarking that he was a very old and well-known bowler. It was the first time that he had won the singles, * and from his performance it "was evident that he would be a good man to meet at the next tournament. Referring to the management of the tournament, Mr Benzie spoke in glowing terms of the organisation work caried out by the secretary (Mr E; W. Wade), who had proved the best secretary Canterbury had ever possessed. His arrangements and the way they had been carried out were splendid. Every member of the council was proud of him. Cheers were given for the champion, the loser, the president, and the secretary.

“ I am no good at speechifying,” said the champion, modestly, when it was his turn to reply, “ but I must thank you for the way in which you have received my win.”

Clarke also congratulated the winner. Scott deserved his win. he said, on the way he had played. Mr Wade and the committee had run the tournament on successful lines. He had had a very enjoyable time himself, and would be glad to take part again when the tournament was next held in .Christchurch.

Clarke was Dominion champion last year, and this year is runner-up. The record of Scott in first-class bowling is one of which any contestant might well be proud, for he is the holder of oyer 50 trophies. All of his successses have been with th e Caledonian Club. Dunedin, of which he has been a member for 23 years, holding many offices. In the past he has won its champion singles on no fewer than four occasions, although for the past six years he has not been (v competitor, and he has also been chain--pion of champions of the Dunedin Centre twice. Scott has not competed on many occasions at the New Zealand championships, but he was third man for Keast when the latter’s rink won in 1909. Then, in 1911, he skipped the Caledonian rink which won the New Zealand championship. Many successes stand to his credit in pairs competitions at various tournaments,. and he has been a member of the champion pairs of his own club on seven or eight occasions. Lately he has not gone in for rink play to any great extent, but, in addition to the performances already mentioned, on one occasion when he was a rinks skip he got close to the New Zealand final, being eliminated bv Porteous (Wellington). It is noteworthy that Clarke s cored on io 14 rJ? eads ’ wb ile Scott made points on 12. The general run of play was in Scotts favour, though -the four made bv Clarke was a wonderful effort. Even in his last head he played great kowls. and but for Scott’s magnificent shot it was anyone’s game. . The game Scott played to-dav was typical of that which he plays on the Caledonian Green.

The spectators enjoyed a masterly exposition of bowling when Scott met Muston. Nothing the latter could do sufficed, the other man playing superbly. It was just a case of a good bowler, playing according to the book, meeting Ins master at every point. The only department in which Muston really failed was in driving, and, incidentally, that of Scott was amazing. The fortunes of the game were all against Muston. Both Scott and Muston had lost a life already, so that it was really a sudden-death contest for them.

In the final Scott opened by lying the shot, Clarke doing too far with his first two bowls. With the last bowls to go, Scott wa s lying one, but was in the better position with his last. On a

measure, Scott was two up.—Scott 2, Clarke nil. In the second head Scott alrsost touched the jack with his second, after two wide,opening bowls, and Clarke just missed the jack by a few inches. The head w as very widely spread when the last bowls were played, and again the measure had to be used, Scott being shown to be three up.—Scott 5. Clarke ml.—Scott just slipped behind kitty with his first, and Clarke fell short. ‘Scott’s sec ond. was weak, but it was touched in, and with the last bowl the back bowl of Scott was nearest the jack. He trailed the jack with his next, making him three up. Clarke made a fine drive, leaving two up to Scott.—Scott 7, Clarke nil. ■>cott opened with a jack-high shot, but Clarke drew a toucher, Scott striking him with hi s next, but did not li e the shot. Uneven play ended in two in Clarke’s favour—Scott 7 Clarke 2. Clarke drew a great shot- with his first, but Scott went almost to the ditch. Clarke Jacked stiength with his second and Scott ran in. front. Clarke did likewise, but with the next played a fine shot, and it was a measure for the second. It resulted in hcott being one up.—Scott 8, Clarke 2. -tne sixth head saw Scott playine a wide opener, and C larke almost? redbed him bCotts second went behind the jack, but was a trifle strong, and Clarke was short a as A OO ? 1 - Wlth his next - Clarke was short with his next, and the head was left , Clarke was als ° short with UP I SenH bn R P! 1 ’ 0 ?”’ gaVe him One up. bcott 8, Clarke 3. The sixth head SeoH a 2° ng £ ne ; CUrke was wsde > and thecae? 3 - 8 Short ’ Clarke almost trailed t e jack in a good shot, but was short bv as CIS- h L S n f xt , fell shor{ thAch f CI c ke \ ■' v . ho looke<l like getting the shot. Scott just failed to trail the n—Q ke .? h ° fc ° nl y to be displaced by rht ch' <■ Sc °V ,l raile d the kitty and lay Ms n h e°xt & ScoH '7 S to ° strong is next. Scott s last seemed to leave him two up and a measure gave him he second.-Scott 10, Clarke 4. ° Another long throw of the jack opened the ninth the lack Scon 8 FSt tW ° a yard behind bu* was "a W- ap J Miared K e t the shot, puv was a few inches out, and Clarke ran his b next d ’ h T Sc - Ott Was unJ ucky with the last ’ a» S X PaSSlng the jack ’ hut af ter tne last Clarke was two up.J-Scott 10 Clarke 6. The tenth head saw Clarke short JU C 1 b K ,ind the i ack ’ and Scott fell to? w;£ 131 « e , ™P roved » and Scott played too wide. Scott touched the jack and Clarke made a great- shot to take him a 'Y ay ’> . bat J" st faiJ ed. Scott was sh?rt S li St ri bU i- °? e up at the endeleventh head ™ foot sSrt* X” Clalke UP w d itLV USt beh i? d him Sco a tt was ml g?eeT v h s ®cond a od he took too much green with his third. Clarke ru7&f 3 "S With the ' aSt bowls t? te un Scott just ran m front of the iack he head still being open C S a, * d€d shot with his hst, and the head ended—Scott 11, Clarke 8. Clarke’s brS | ’ n i. ! he twelfth head overran the jack while Scott, though not jack high was 2ft out. Clarke fell short with Cl C °L d ’ and Sco tt "’as too strong, as was b t mA ? COttneXt bowl anted a but i??vt ?n ngth ’ and Clarke came but it was still a measure for shot. Scott’s eu t L VaS a bad one > being very short, and Carke got one m the head.’ Scott 11 th^H- 9 ! WaS Sh ° rt in °P en ing the thirteenth head, and though Scott was not up he got the shot. Clarke qrnn ed e ln I°4 bis firet the shot, btn> Scott touched m with his third, Clarke just going over with his third. The head ended in one to Scott. Scott 12, Clarke 9. The fourteenth head was a uh 1 ! °V’i o? 00 , 41 alra ost drew to the tty, while Clarke was too narrow with • lls . ® c , ott placed another good or-e just behind the jack, and his next made r* ", t bree. Clarke tried to break the head, but missed, and Scott placed his next m front of the jack. Clarke’s last ™ a T n ’ but left Scott 2 up. Scott !4 Clarke 9. The fiftenth head saw Scott short with his first by several teet, and Clarke was also short. ' Scott ran wide with his second, and Clarke was not quite hard enough with his to get the shot. The head was a poor one, and Scott drew the shot with his iart with a well-placed bowl. The head ended m his favour. Scott 15, Clarke 9. ocott s first in the sixteenth head iav a foot in front of the jack, and Clarke came in just behind him. but Scott played a toucher and lay the shot. Clarke was too strong, and Scott replied bv slightly wicking off the front timber. He drew another fine, and Clarke’s last iust lacked c: un two Out of the head - Scott 17, Clarke 9 Both were wide m tne first bowls of the seventeenth head, and Scott played a bad second, bein'* vards short Clarke was short, but then Scott trailed the jack, and lav beside it, only to be driven out bv Clarke. Scott was not np with his last, but was one up Scott 18 Clarke 9. Clarke drew the shot with his first, and improved with his second, which was a toucher. Scott drove right through, and Clarke followed bv getting third bowl. A drive bv Scott failed, and Clarke made 4 off the head with a fine draw to the iack. Scott 18. Clarke 13. Clarke’s first in the next head was well un. and be ran behind with his second, while Scott went wide. Clarke was 1 up when the last bowls were to be nlayed. His last made him 2 up, and Scott, driving hard, put the jack in the ditch. A measure in the ditch gave Clarke 1. Scott 18 Clarke 14. In the second last head Clarke was narrow, and Scott ended 2ft in front of the jack. Clarke trailed the jack and hung to it, while Scott went into second. Clarke’S next meant a measure for second, but with his last Clarke got second. The last bowl bv Scott was a toucher, and left. him the winner, his bowl taking the jack away from Clarke. The game theA

ended, us Clarke was in an impossible position. Result: Scott 19, Clarke 14.

FOUR-RINK CHAMPIONSHIP.

MORNINGTON v. CAVERSHAM. (Mornington names first.)

-J. Bell, J, Wallace, W. Hobbs, D. Cunningham 16 ; D.. .Thomson, S. Stubbs, J. Foster, A. Mitchell 22. Louden, Paton, Wood, Holgate 23; Paine, Scott, Shand, G. Will 10. Boatwood, Hocking, Perry, Whelan 21; Blackwood, Brown, Todd, Blackwood 11. D. Scott, J. Beattie, W. Neil, G. L. Smith 18; C. Beecroft, W. Anderson, R. Hanning, A. Thomson 17. :• Mornington, 78; Caversham, 60.

NIGHT BOWLING IN AUSTRALIA. AUCKLAND, January 17. Full of the highest praise for Australian hospitality, 10 members of the party of New Zealand bowlers which hau been playing in Australia returned to Auckland by the Maunganui to-day. Although the tour was not highly successful, the members of the team said they had plenty of bowling. In the words of one member they played morning, noon, and night. Night bowling is popular in Australia, and even the greens in the outlying districts are equipped with electric'lighting, which enables the game to be played at night just as well as in daylight. AU returning bowlers think it would be a good thing for the game in New Zealand if night bowling could be cultivated to greater extent. It gives more practice, and results in considerable improvement jn play. MATCH AT PALMERSTON. Favoured by an ideal evening, two rinks of Palmerston bowlers journeyed to Pleasant Valley Sanatorium on Wednesday to Vwi conc hisions with the male inmates. Although the rather heavy state of the green handicapped the visitors to some extent, they emerged victors by a narrow margin the home team putting up a very creditable display against their more experienced opponents. At the conclusion of play one of the visitors expressed the hope that a return match might be arranged when better conditions would, he said enhance the patients’ chances.