BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9639, 14 January 1903, Page 4

BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

• — __ ! (Per Press Association." PALMERSTON N., last night. In l lie fourth round at the bowling tournament tJie results were: — Pnlmerston 39 v. Tliorndon 10 Hastings 28 v. Upper Plains 17 Whataupoko 24 v. Auckland 20 Newmarket 28 v. Napier 10 Feilding 28 v. Danncvirke 11 Newt-own 21 v. Wanganui 19 (tisborne 21 v. Carterton 18 Victoria 20 v. Haw era 13 Kaiti 21 v. Stratford 11 Mastorton 26 v. New Plymouth 15 Newmarket 28 v. Napier 'lo Pahiatua 26 v. Wavorley 16 Wellington 29 v. Patea 18 Ponsonby and Petono drew byos. In the fifth round the results ware: — Wanganui 36 v. Thonulon 24 Hastings 31 v. Carterlon 18 Dannevirke 21 v. Newtown 18 Petone 23 v. Hawera 20 Stratford 22 v. Pabiatua 13 Wellington 23 v. Newmarket 18 N.ipior 22 v. New Plymouth 19 Ponsonby 25 v. Feilding 23 Whataupoko 27 v. Upper Plains 16 Waverley 30 v. Patea 15 Palmerston 27 v. Gisborne 16 Ma.vuvrton. 21 v. Victoria 18 Kaiti and Auckland drew byes. The most interesting match of the day was that betweem Palmerston and Feilding. Tlie round resulted m a tie, and m the play-off Palmerston was victorious. The attendance -of players at the Bowling Tournament at Palmerston North is (says the New Zealand Times) a record for the Northern Association, no fewer tluui 26 clubs being represented. With such a number of players, combined with a gay gathering of spectators, it may well be imagined that the green presented a pleasing and animated spectacle at 1.30, when Mr W. Beck, president of the Palmerston Club, performed the prelude to the opening ceremony by handing over the greens to the officials of the Northern Bowling Association. In doing so, MiBeck made a brief speech, expressing the unbounded pleasure .it gave him to welcome the visiting bowlers to the town. The local club had. he said, done all i« their power to prepare for the event, and last year had erected a new pavilion, and laid down a new green, which, he trusted, would be found thoroughly satisfactory m every respect, and a credit to the club. As president of the Association, Mr D. J. Nathan, m responding, said lie felt sure all present would appreciate the energy and enthusiasm of the Palmerston bowlers m. doing what they had to make the tournament a success. One had only to look back a few years m order" to realise- what rapid strides the game of bowls had made m the district. Tlie splendid greens and handsome pavilion which they saw before them more than justified the grand opinion winch the people of Palmerston had of their town and themselves. Many people 'looked forWiird to Palmerston becomiiirg "the Chicago of the North Island," and it appeared to him that it would not be .the fault of the residents' enthusiasm if it was not so. Mr Nathan then proceeded to refer to the division wliich it was rumored was likely to take place m the ranks of the Northern Association, owing to the difficulty which many players experienced m going long distances to attend tournaments, but he urged all present not to countenance any such split, as it wotuld be disastrous to the interests of bowling. He then took occasion to refer to tlie fact that m a few years the North Island Trunk railway would be completed, when travel would be a matter of comparative e;ise to the Auckland men, and Palmerston North, owing to its central position, might fairly become the scene of all the touriiame'nts. (Cheers.) In concluding. Mr Nathan threw the "jack" as the signal that the. tournament had opened. The first surprise of the tournament, came m the defeat of Wellington by Stratford, the youngest club represented. Wellington lay 4 when the skips went j back ail the 21st head, and excitement ran high amongst the spectators, who cluster- j ed round to see the result of the final shots, upon which the result would depends Smart drew a beautiful bowl and lay the shot a foot away from the jack. Ballinger, with a fast one, drove him out. and again Wellington lay the necessary 4to tie. Cool as possible. Smart., amidst cheers, drew even closer to tlie jack with his second shot, and this one Ballinger i failed to drive out, Stratford winniing a good game amidst the cheers and congratulations of the crowd. Auckland scored a substantial win over Tliorndon, the game being the most up and down one on the green-. Auckland went off with a 5, a 1, and a 4, and had scored 15 while Thorndon was getting 3. At the 13th head, however, Thorndon had I pulled up level. An adjournment was then made for afternoon tea. and on resuming Auckland put m two s's, and, with the exception of two heads, scored on J every other one, and landed themselves wi niters by 33 to 19. One of the features of the day's play was the "possible" scored by Thorndon m. the second game, the representatives of that club scoring with all the eight bowls. The Newmarket men, skipped by Kilgour, put up the record score for the first round — viz., 36, and are. evidently intent on securing Mr Nathan's points prize. The Hon. J. Carroll and his private secretary were entertained a>t lunch by Mr W. Beck, the president of the Bowling Club. One of tlie most pleasing features of the tournament was (he hospitality extended to visitors by the members of tlie Palmerston Club. The players were overwhelmed with kindness, as a northerner remarked. A number of lady friends of I the club provided refreshing tea and fruit j during the afternoon!. Altogether the pro- 1 ceedings were of a most enjoyable character. The Rev. Wyndham Earee, of Masterton, is skip of the Upper Plains team. THE PLAYERS. The following entries were received for the champion fours : — \ Wanganui : Zander, Perrett, C 4. Ross, W. Rodwell (skip). New Plymouth : Jackson, Harper, Mo- j rey, Rundle (skip). i "Stratford : Curts,- F. Brown, Dingle, Smart (skip). Thordon : Exley, Freeman, Ross Sievwright (skip). ■ Waverley: Thurston, Strachan, Harrison, McGorrey (skip). | Auckland : Brookes, White. Crawford, Towsej* (skip). Victoria : Averr, Hcndry, Scott, Smad- j don (skip). Dannevirke : Farrow. H. Nash, Potts. Henderson (skip). Ponsonby: Beecroft, Coutts. Court, Veale (skip). Palmerston: Bunting, J. A. Nash, A. Drew, Mowlem (skip). Hastings : O'Reilly. Land, Holt, Beiitson (skip). Gisborne : Hennessey, McGowan, Gaudin, Ponsford (skip). Whataupoko : Martin, Sidebottom, Massey, Simson (skip). Kaiti : Nicholas, Robertson, Harris, Witty (skip). Wellington : Berry, Lockie, Montiplay. Ballinger (skip). Hawera : Syme, W. Dingle, T. Nicholas, Partingdon (skip). Patea: Adams, Sheahaii', Gibson, Palmer (skip). Masterton : Lamby, McEwen. Elliott, Wliiittaker (skip). Upper Plains : Prague!!, Creswell. Jackson, Earee (skip). Pahiatua: Norton, Ramson, Hawkins, Wakeman (skip). Petone : Babington, Laurie, Horn. Austin (skip). Newmarket: Wrathall, Holmes, Laurie, Kilgour (skip). Newtown : Bright-well, Naucavrow, Barry. Price (skip. Feilding : Crabb, Sandilamls, Scott, Saywell (skip).