BOWLING SPASMS

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 38, 27 May 1916, Page 22

BOWLING SPASMS

[By "The Ditoheb."J

THE changeable weather of last week end was against anyr thing in the nature of really enjoyable play. The slight showers which fell during the afternoon did not, however, spoil the keenness of many of the bowlers, as some very interesting games eventuated on a number of the greens. Further reports to hand announce the closing of a large number of the summer greens, and winter bowling will be in full swing in the near future. In fact, some clubs have already opened their winter rinks to members and visitors. The Mount Albert Bowling CJub will open their new winter gjeen on June 3rd with an open fairs tournament, the winners to receive prizes. Another tournament announced for June 3rd will be held under the auspices of the Onehunga >B nvling Club. A very large <ntry is expected. * • * Remuera Notes. Finlayson Badges were again played for on Saturday, the holders, Ranson, Johnson, Littlejohn, E. A. East (s.), being challenged by Davis, Dawes, Hegman, Badeley (s.). The game was well contested, the scores on the nineteenth head being: Badeley 17, East 14. On the twentieth head East scored 4. but on the final head Badeley equalised by scoring 4, thus winning the y;ame, the totals being 21 to 18. The green was in good order and played well, but the afternoon was spoilt by showers for really on joyable play. Ellerslie Notes. Last Saturday saw the wind- up of what has been a pleasantly prolonged season, and one to be looked back upon with delight and gratitude by members of our club. Another tussle took place for theLand Gold Ferns, but skip Howell and his team were too good, and easily retained them. Two good games were played (in the draw) between Somerficld and Wilkinson and Noton and Peek, the former in each team winning by a point. The last three heads of the game were played practically in the dark, and so exit 1915-16. West End Notes. The semi-final and final games of the Championship Singles were decided on Saturday. In the semifinals, A. E. Tonkin beat Con. Maher, 19 to 15, Bob. Noton going down to H. Newton by 3 points. That the secretary and treasurer, who. have been linked together during the season watching the finance and - general management of the club's affairs, should meet to contest the coveted, honour was a fitting climax to the work done by these . officers of the club. Both players--put up a good fight, the members being treated to a real good game of bowls, and the result stood in the balance until near ing ihe filial heads, when Secretary "Tony," getting a lead which he maintained to the call of time, beat his co-worker by 23 to 17. Congratulations to "Tdny" on winning the prize, and to Treasurer "Harry" - as' runner^-up—£h'ey' both merit it. The winter ■'green is at present loooking well, and, after . the final touch up and rolling during the week should be in splendid playing condition; for those members taking on the'winter'game. Present weather conditions have helped to keep the sward in good fettle. '

The team skipped by G. Bell had a good win from Pat. Darby. The board, however, showed small scoring, the former team winning by 19 to 8. G. McMillan and T. Wetherilt had a very close and exciting game, Mac getting home by the small margin, .of one point. Alf.'LeQuesne and H. Wetherilt faced one another as skips of their respective teams. Alf'. •., could not lower the vice-prefeident'e colours, who finished up four points to the good. Bert Whitten proved too strong for Jack Becrof t, being 5 up at the finish of play. Jimmy Gilmour, with three firstyear players, was not- in it with C. Morley, the older players knowing too much for the colts, finishing up with a decisive victory. A Devonport team played a return match with the Hardley Brothers, and finished up after a real good game, in which some fine heads were registered, by winning 23 to 22. Eyre skipped the visitors, while Charlie piloted his brothers through the 21 heads. • * • Mount Eden Notes. The announced tournament for June 3rd (King's Birthday) will not be held, as the winter green will not be in readiness. Quite a number of the Mount Eden -players took part in the Patriotic Russian Day function on Saturday afternoon at the Dominion Road bowling club's green, and they enjoyed the play and the gathering. The First-Year Players' Championship of Mount Eden Club is still undecided. A. G. McKenzie has won section B, and is waiting to meet the winner of Section A. The arranged team, viz., T. Nairn, W. P. Baker, H. W. Brookes, C. Hudson, will visit Devonport green on Saturday next to play a return match with a team skipped by H. Pitts. Rocky Nook Notes. When Finch and Scott and Pearce and P. Smith took the mat on Saturday at Rocky Nook to finish the final of the Championship Pairs, fifteen heads had been played with the former pair 3 up. Some good play was witnessed in the remaining six heads, but Scott kept his lead until the end, the final scores being: Scott 19, Smith 16. The final of the Handicap Singles was played between Turner and Ellisdon, and a real close game was the result, the former just getting the necessary point to register a win. Keatley and Blackwell fought out the final of the First-Year Players' Championship. The first game was a win. to Keatley, but Blackwell reversed the position in the next game, and in the third game, after a close tussle, Keatley ran out a winner with five points to spare. Scores:. 22-17. In the ordinary draw, Irvine had a good win from Browne, and Middletpn showed Topliss a clean pair of heels. Davis and Taylor had a ding-dong battle, Davis getting the best of things in the end by a point. W. Gladding was pitted against Alexander, and the Scotsman jumped into the lead from the start, and remained there until the finish, winning his game with four to the good. A good game was that between Cunningham and Williams, and it was difficult to nominate the winner until the last head had been played. Williams, however, asserted himself, and got the best of the deal by 4 points. All the club matches have now been completed, and the winners for the season are:—Championship Singles: J. Wakerley. Championship Pairs: A. Finch, J. Scott. Champion Fours: J. Daisley; F. Cossey, A. Clarke, G. Gladding. Handicap Singles: C. Turner. FirstYear Players' Championship: W. Keatley. An all-day tournament will be held on Saturday, 3rd June, commencing at 9 a.m.