Bowlers on Tour

Southland Times, Issue 12123, 1 May 1908, Page 2

Bowlers on Tour

A SPLENDID TO UK. MEMBER OF TEAM ZNTEBTXBWZS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, April 30. Mr Thomas A. Wallace, president of the Invercargill Northend Bowling: ■ ;lnl), who lias been touring the Commonwealth with the dominion bowling learn, returned by the Maheno yesterday. .

“It was a great battle,” said Mr Wallace to a Post representative, in talking about the last match. N.Z. v. the Commonwealth. "Our greatest desire when leaving New Zealand was to win the rubber against Victoria, as we were repeatedly told by the manager and members of the New Zealand team that it was almost impossible to win against Victoria on their own 150 feet green. Consequently the New Zealanders fought every game “eyes out," and n the result won two out of the three games against that State. The team then went to Sydney and succeeded In winning the rubber against New South Wales. By that time the Australians recognised that the dominion team was not merely a parly of howlers out for a holiday, but picked and capable men •vho meant to win if possible. Cotisejucntly they looked to the flnal five-.■ink-a-side match, New Zealand v. the Commonwealth as the only chance of lowering the New Zealand flag, which,” commented Mr Wallace, “was by Oils time flying very high. About forty of Victoria’s best players were in Sydney taking part in the bowling carnival and the single handed championship of Australia, and with 200 New South Welshmen available the selection committee had no difficulty in securing the cream of the Commonwealth bowling skill. On the other hand the Maorilanders had by that time played themselves Into firstclass form, hut for all that they hardly expected to win. However they had

the satisfaction of reading in a leading article in a Sydney newspaper that no finer combination from the dominion would, possibly, be got together, and that unless the Commonwealth repre--enlalives’ play was of the highest order the visitors from across the sea would again secure the victory. That -ort of tiling did us good,” said Mr j Wallace, who then went on to tell | about the great match. I "The green at Ashfield.” he said, | “was specially prepared and In splenj did order, and suited the New ZealandI■ is admirably. From the first head the lominion teams gradually crept ahead, •very bowl being played with the greatest care. Pome very line play on both sides was witnessed and much appreciate! by the large number of spectators, who lined the banks. At the sixteenth lead Hio New Zealanders had a lead of 2t, but the Commonwealth team began lo go ahead after that, and at the end ■if the twenty-fifth and last head play'd by four of the rinks the majority had been reduced to one. Bentley's rink had ,o finish, and amid great excitement lie -cored a single, the dominion team beating the Commonwealth by the narrow margin of two points. Bishop, the Can•erbury skip, who had not been doing iimself full justice during the tour, came lo light’ in this match and gave i splendid exhibition; so did Goldstone, whose drawing -was one of the features of the game.' Asked whether lie thought Victorian and New South Wales teams would

visit New Zealand next season, Mr Wallace replied that he had no doubt of it. As to the relative merits of the New Zealand bowlers lie remarked that naturally a man was Inclined to favour his own side, hut there were a great number of very fine players in the ''omiiionwcnltli, and a. well selected team would hold its own in New Zealand. "To my mind,’ he added, "the selection committee over there made a 'atal error in including too many skips in the team. For instance, in the final match one link was composed wholly of ■ kips.”

" Mr Wesiawrc Stephens, who won the tingles championship of Australasia on Easter Monday, well deserved his victory," said Mr Wallace. He is a consistent, all round player and a most popular player. Mr Waxtnan, the wellknown Armadale skip, was unsuccessful against New Zealand in the first match of the tour. He met Hain, the Southland skip, who heat him by 40 to 11, which seemed to take the sting out of him. "It was n splendid trip," remarked Air Wallace in conclusion "and no doubt if the opportunity occurs most of the members would be .■■lad to go again. Several members of Ike team tire on their way to Auckland and will play their way down the Hast Foust to Wellington.”