BOWLING

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6439, 17 January 1924, Page 1

BOWLING

THE WILLIS TROPHIES

The bowling green, which had been closed for evening l play for a few nights after the New Year Tournament, was again available on Friday night last, and judging from the number of players who were indulging in a game under pleasant conditions it showed that evening play is very popular. Sitting on the banks, too, and on nearby seats, were a large number of people who were interested spectators. Interest was chiefly' centred on the first challenge match for the Willis Trophies, which have been presented by Willis Bros., Ltd., for competition in the evenings amongst teams representing houses, trades, and such like.

The executive of the Bowling Club decided that the team representing Willis Bros., Ltd., should be the first holders, and in the draw for -challenges a team representing D. McL. Wallace, Ltd., was the first to compete. This match provided some very good play and after a keen game the holders were successful in defending their trophies. The conditions governing these competitions are that the holders must be prepared to defend their claim on two evenings each ' week, and on Monday night the second game was played. This proved a most strenuous and exciting game, the teams being as follows: Messrs F. Gaw. R. Willis, F. W. Bliss and Wyllie (Willis Bros., holders), v. Messrs Porter, Lockyer, A. Hinton and H. Petersen (Power Board, challengers). With three heads to play the holders were down five, but a 2 and a 1 in the next two heads made the difference only two in favour of the Power Board. The last head was sensational. When the skips went to play Willis Bros, held 3. Wyllie with his first bowl tailed the jack and made it 5. Petersen’s first went wide and Wyllie tried to block a drive.? Petersen with his last bowl drove and succeeded in scattering the head, leaving Willis Bros. 1 up. Thus the' Power Board won a hard and enjoyable game by one point, the scores being 15 to 14.

The next game should prove to be a very keen one, the challengers being Heathcote Bros, carpenters team.