BOWLING SPASMS

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 13, 29 November 1919, Page 18

BOWLING SPASMS

[Bt- Spheke.]

THE fourth series; of matches of Club Pennant matches are as the Auckland Centre's InterClub Pennant matches are as follows: — A Section. Carlton 16, v. Mt. Eden 16. Devonport 8, Epsom 8, v. Onehunga 12, Ellerslie 4. Dominion Road 12, Avondale 4, v. Grey Lynn 6, Rawhiti 6, Ellerslie 4. Devonport plays Onehunga 6, Ellerslie 2. Epsom plays; Onehunga 6, EllershV 2. Dominion Road plays Grey Lynn 6.Rawhiti 6. Avondale 4. plays Edendale 4. . B Section. .-.-•■ Remuera 16, v. West End 12. Mt. Albert 4. Rocky Nook 8, St. Heliers 4, Takapuna 4, v. Auckland 16. Remuera 16, v. Otahuhu 6, Waitemata 6, Papatoetoe 4. 9 9 9 A proposal is under consideration tor a visit through the. Dominion this season of a New South Wales team. The tour will be under the auspices of the New Soiith Wales Association. ® © ©

<3V VAS w MT. EDEN BOWLING CLUB.

The second round of the President's. Fours eventuated on the above Club's greens last Saturday, in beautiful weather, and some close games and good bowling was witnessed, twelve rinks being occupied. » * * The committee commenced the draw at 2.15 p.m. and at 2.30 p.m. sharp play .commenced, which is as it should be. * » * On No. 1 rink Bob Young and Jimmy Trayes fought out a skilful and determined game, scores being even on the 6th, 12th 3 15thr, -and. 21st heads. Another head was played to find the winner, and the genial Bob, with the last bowl of the head, drew the winning shot. His team was A. Nairn, who gave a fine exhibition of leading, H. Tattersall and A. Dickenson. * * * No. 2 rink was occupied by Jim Miller and Harry Rankin, and a very pleasant and enjoyable game resulted in a win by a fair margin for Miller, who was well supported by his team. He played some fine shots when needed. Harry Rankin played a splendid game, but his. team on the day was out-played. The winning team was T. Monk, H. R. Robinson, T. McGregor, and Miller. * * * On No. 3 rink, H. Surman and D. O. Fraser, who skipped in the absence of J. Findlay, tried conclusions, and a very one-sided game resulted. Surman, who was well supported, proving too strong for his plucky and skilful opponent, who played well. » » * On No. 4 rink, J. Vugler and J. Coe met. This rink also played two men short, and although Coe scored on seven out of• the last nine heads, Vugler had massed too many

points at the start, and ran out a comfortable winner. His team was Postles and Tom Keesing; a * * No. 5 rink was occupied by H. Walton, and the President, Geo. Tutt. Walton hopped into the lead early, and at the ninth head led 19 to 3. George, metaphorically speaking, then pulled up his socks, and started in pursuit, but though he scored 15 points to his opponent's s,ix, in the remaining heads failed to overtake the margin against him. Walton's team was J. B. Robertson, Synex, and Geo. AVhite. a * * On No. 6 rink Frank Saxton met C. Hudson, and emerged a winner by a good margin; any little detail overlooked by his team was dealt with with precision and success by Saxton, who played a very fine game. His team was Jos. Smith, Pope, and T. Wagstaff. a * * On No. 7 rink Wally Ure and the Wee McDougaH settled their differences. The game was very even up to the tenth head, from thence on Wally almost monopolised the score board and chalk, scoring fourteen to his opponent's three, and finished a good winner. His team was Milroy, Harper, and R. Robertson. a * * On No. 8-rink H. Gill and tho ex-Dunedinite Murray were the "stars." Gill and His team, who Avere produced at the post in great condition, at once assumed the lead, and maintained it to the finish. His team comprised S. Gray, Oatridge, and W. Marshall. a a » No. 9 rink was allotted to those two heavy-weight warriors, C. Waddingham and W. Dickey. Charley got into his stride early, and though Dickey's heavy artillery scattered bowls and bowlers many a time and oft, Charley was not perturbed thereby, and -eventually won by a fair margin. His team was J. C. Keesing, Leighton, and D. Fergusson . No. 10 rink was occupied by Jas. Smith and Bigelow. Smith soon obtained the lead, and although Bigelow fought every head with the tenacity of a Kilkenny cat, Smith was able to see it out, and was hailed the winner. His team was R. Walton, Alison, and Wullie MoPheriw»» * * » No. 11 jink was the scene of a battle royal between j. Spinks, an ex-Dunedinite, and winner of the Dominion Singles Championship two years ago, and Jack Stevens. This was another triangular contest, and the bowling was top-notch. Spinks won by 15 to 12—a sure indication of good bowling. His team was Hughes and Boyce, while Stevens was supported by Gordon and Hutchinson. All six played well". , - * * * No. 12 and last rink saw Tom Nairn, who skipped in the absence, of his skip through illness, Mr. W. Gatenby and C C. Baker. The play Was fairly even up to the 13th head, when Tom. to the consternation of his formidable opponent, produced a six. following it up with a three on the 15th and 3 also on the 16th head,.and although Charley put in a strong late run he could not catch his opponent, who is as keen as a Bengal razor. His team was Clements. Mueller, and H. Walker.

EPSOM BOWLING CLUB.

The entries for club matches closed on the 15th, the Championship claiming 28 aspirants; while for the Pairs, 44 have entered; and 40 for the Singles. The draw is out and players are keen to get into grips with their opponents an early as possible, as tho time limit is to be strictly enforced, and players. are none too eager to hare "lost by default" against their names. Another thing to be considered is the approaching holidays, many of tho members being in the habit of getting to the seaside or the country for a month or so. But each of the first rounds are to be finished by a given date, so there will be no excuse for not getting through with the first round.

Saturday's games were well contested, eight ri/nks being in full swmg. The selectors departed from the usual custom of picking skips by promoting some of the more promising players to try their hand at finding "Kitty."

Several of. the promoted players .shaped remarkably, well in fact, did much better for their side than more than one of those : relegated to play in the position of three. Use is second nature, so perhaps with a few more games in the same positions, will be just as successful as when skipping.

The selectors can rest assured their innovation was greatly appreciated and with a few more "try outs" will eventually unearth a new genius for the club, as they have the talent to pick from, and to have the satisfactoion of finding a couple of promising skips the experiment would have the desired effect.

The Veale Feathers were revived on 'Saturday after a couple of seasons run on the winter green. When first.played for, this trophy was the most sought after pf all the many in the possession of the club. Judging by Saturday's game, it still holds its own, and the keenness and eagerness displayed by the players was a real treat, and the match under review proved one of the most exciting of the many games played, especial importance being attached to the game by the fact of the President (who has the privilege of being the first holder at the beginning of the season) being pitted against the donor, J. B. Veale.

On paper both teams looked evenly matched, and the selectors proved they knew their men. Veale started off until a three, Millen notching a two on the second head. The third head proved disastrous to Veale, a 6 going to his opponent. But unlike some skips he didn't do his dash, but kept smiling and plodding away, and by some really good play caught, and passed Millen, the score being 11—1.0 on the 9th head.

From this on matters were very even, the 21st head being reached with the score 22 all. The rules provide for an extra five heads, and this proved more strenuous than the game itself, first one and then the other notching a point, the 26th head going Veale's way and also the Feathers by the narrow margin of one point, 26—25.

To show how eager skips were, it might just be mentioned that no less than seven "dead" heads were recorded during the game. The win was a most popular one, as the winner is a keen sport and is full of em-

thusiasm for the good of the club in every way, and to beat a player of President Milieu's calibre is no mean performance. * * * There are several challenges already in, and with his team playing in Saturday's form he should hold the feathers for some time. * . » * Several surprises eventuated in the club handicap games:—Middleton accounting for Foubister 21—18 ; Thompson 31, Fox 16; Kingswell 30, Wylie 12; Bigwood 19, Gilmour 16, in the singles; and F. Mason and W. Smith 19, v. A. Jones and T. _ Sansbury 20; Jansen and E. Jones "17, v. Taylor and Bruce 19. *** ■ . Several of the players mentioned being first year players, so with a little more tuition and practice the club should be able to put a fairlystrong toam in the first-year competition. © © ®

TAKAPUNA BOWLING CLUB

Winter, Harrison, Barton, Mackenzie, 30, v. Galbraith, Baechman, Meek, Gamble, 15. Seaman, Cutler, Brandon, Mille, 21, v. Prentice, Adeane, Bowden, Hunter, 21. Bollin, Garroway, Bull, Hooper, 19. v. Milward, Audley, Hardley, C. R. Williams, 14. Sim, Stedman, F. E. Williams, Perm, 15, v. Skipwith, Muhro, Cowan, Weston, 18. « <SS «/ ' ■ Carlton Club. The Carlton Feathers is a Pairs Competition that has aroused much enthusiasm in the Club. The conditions make it imperative that the holders meet the challengers within a week. The president, Mr. S. E. Lamb, and Mr. Nalder are the first holders, and challengers are coming in freely. Already nine pairs oJ aspirants are waiting to contest their claims. * • • All the Club matches are well under way, over fifty l games having been played up to date. * • * The season's programme includes President's Champion Fours, Senior and Junior Fours.. * * * In catering for the Juniors tho Carlton Club has this season introduced quite an innovation to the local bowling world. The match is only in its experimental stages, but it gives to players who in ordinary club contests receive a handicap of five or more the opportunity of meetin competition players of their own standard. * * * The Match Committee has adopted a policy of starting play punctually at 2 p.m. every Saturday. The long list of Club fixtures makes it absolutely essential punctuality must be observed, otherwise tho matchos cannot be completed. All members not in attendance for the two o'clock draw are shut out until tho second draw twenty minutes later. * « * Last Saturday the Champion Fours were continued, a muster of over one hundred players competing. Play was of a steady rather than exciting nature. w <s9 w Ponsonby Bowling Club. The Ponsonby Bowling Club had their unofficial opening four weeks ago, and are having their "At Home" for visiting bowlers and their lady friends next Saturday, November 29th. The greens (thanks to the popular green superintendent), Mr. A- G. Allom, are looking in.

first-ra'to condition for this time of the year. The following ladies are acting as a committee to further on the social side of the function: Mesdames A. Snedden, R. Gardner, H. J. Bray, Dickinson, W. Campbell, Billington, Coppins, Thompson, Pelham, and Rowland. * * * All arrangements are well in hand, and given a fine day the outing should be a red-letter day in the annals of the Ponsonby Bowling Club. • * • Percentage Fours, Saturday, November 15. Molloy, Schischka, Bourne, Rummer, 13, v. Davies, Sitchbury, Donovan, Snedden, 18. Chapman, Moore, Norden, Johnson 22, v. Stanton, Smith, Pelham, Gardner 16.» Abbott, Crowe, Payne, McLaren 22, v. Goodacre, Gold water, Parclington, Bray 17. Good, Fairs, Bruce, Kelly 30, v. Ring, Billington, Gormon, Bottrill 9. Mackie, Jones, Clarke, Ingles 26, v. Pelham, Redpath, Craig, McLeod 20. Messenger, Haszard, Hill, Miller 21, v. Veale, Dickinson, Stotter, Oswald 18. Smith, Hodgson, R. Drummond. Conway 18, v. Self, H. Wright, Coppins, Davidson 12. Jackman, Maginnis, Campbell. Stevenson 23, v. R. Veale, Lye. Craigie, Brown 17. Orams, D. Wright, Harkins, Rowland 17, v. Andrews, Cleghorn, J. Drummond, Wilson 27.