BOWLING SPASMS.

Observer, Volume XXVIII, Issue 26, 14 March 1908, Page 22

BOWLING SPASMS.

By Thk Ditcher

Too much praise cannot be given to Mr Wrigley, secretary of the Rotorua Club. He was all attention to duty at every draw, and the scoring cards were pinned on the wall ready for the players, leaving no chance for a question as to who and where to play. There is a great go between secretaries nowadays,but the one who improves on his method will be a clinker. Mr Wrigley was E resented with a suitable memento y the visitors, as was also Mr Pearson, the green superintendent.

LAST week's rain will freshen up the city greens in readiness for the Easter campaign. No doubt it has been a severe season on the turf, and many a caretaker has broken the Sabbath by watering. Now they will have time to repent.

Rocky Nook and Carlton will probably not meet now, as the fixture has been spoiled by the rain. Devonport will play Carlton next Saturday. Something hot and strong will be served up by both clubs.

The call for a fast shot at Waitemata is Send up a Carlton." As if Carlton ever did anything but draw !

Invitations- have been sent to the All White teams by Onehunga and Mt. Eden. The Edenites meet five rinks next Saturday, and Onehunga will follow. The idea is a capital one.

Rotorua was en fete during last week. On the busiest forenoon 23 rinks of bowlers took the green, in the sections A, B and C. EJlisdon, the present Rocky Nook champion, piloted his team — composed of Bryden, Morton and Kayes — to victory, after a great final battle with Rotorua Pearson, and the win was very popular.

Mercer's team looked all over winners for a while, but faded away and were not heard of at the finish. Rankin's telegram put the extinguisher on them.

Burns and party put up a few good games, but after McLeod's Ponsonby team beat them they never smiled again.

Onehunga showed some good work, and it is hard to understand why they were not more to the front at the finish. But they were short of a gallop.

The team that looked a dead bird on paper was McFarlane, Kusabs, Millar and Hoyes. Their chance looked a moral, but they did not get going till near the last, and then it was too late.

Carlton were blown out by Onehunga and Mt. Eden. They put up a good start, but were also short of work. The blue bath settled Eagleton — he swallowed half of it.

Ledingham and Elliott had good form on, and the odds were in their favour for the pairs, although Munro and club-mate, the new Tauranga men, gave them a big fright. It was anyone's game till the last head.

Haslett and Wright, of Onehunga, played up till this game good bowls, out both went off a bit, and others came on. Eventually Ellisdon won the pairs also. So the Rocky Nook man, with Kayes, won the double — a sterling performance considering what poor old Fred has gone through lately.

A nice little shivoo was got up at a minute's notice at the Te Ruanga Tea House, in honour of Rocky Nook's win. About forty people sat down, including the popular guide Maggie.

Some toasts were drunk, and R. Eagleton on behalf of the company congratulated the team on their splendid victory. Maggie replied in feeling terms for the kind mention of her name, and she sang a waiata at the musical portion of the evening's entertainment, which took place at the Bungalow.

Rocky Nook has adopted as its pass word "Ko Ko Pahatu." The Carlton war cry is " Mahotonga."

The Ponsonby players wound up their holiday with an impromptu dance in the hall, kindly lent by the President of the Rotorua Bowling Club. It was much enjoyed by those assembled, and Auld Lang Syne finished a happy two hours.

Kusabs won the driving aggregate, Pearson the trailing, and McFarlane jun. the drawing. Rotorua will become more popular every year. Kia or a, Rotorua.

The weather was fine all through the tournament, and except for a little over anxiety by some players to gain a point, everything went off like .the proverbial marriage bell .