BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 164

BOWLING NOTES.

Great preparations are being mad« for the Northern Bowling Association Century Tournament, which commences on Monday next, January 29, at 9 a.m., at the Auckland and Ponsonby Bowling Chibs greens. It is anticipated that the following centres will be represented at the tournament: Wellington, Napier. Bluff Hill, Palmerston North, Hastings, Feilding. Hawera, a prominent Sydney chib, and a Newcastle Club. * The Sydney players arrive next Sunday by the s.s. Waihora, and the majority of the bowlers hailing from the North Island reach here by the s.s. Rotoiti on Saturday morning. At 2.30 in the afternoon a formal reception to the visitors will take place at the Auckland Bowling Club's green, when, proIxiblv. a match between the visitors v. Auckland will be played. In addition to the visitors local tiowling clubs will be represented at the tournament, making a total of sixteen competing clubs, viz., Auckland, Ponßonbv, Newmarket, Re uni era, Deronport. and Mount Eden. The Tournament will extend over five eight rinks being simultaneous-

ly played on the Auckland and Ponnoiiby greens, a total of 64 players on each green. so in all 128 bowlers will take part. The visitors will be entertained at a smoke concert in the Choral Hall on Friday February 2. A match New South Wales v. New Zealand is on the tapis. The arrangements for the tournament are in the efficient hands of Mr J. Blades, secretary of the Auckland Bowling Association, and the tournament committee, consisting of the presidents of the local bowling clubs. It is to be hoped that the Tournament (ommittee will so arrange the draws in the matches for the Champion Shield and Pennant in order that the same teams may play their three rounds for each day on the same green. By so doing it will not only save expense, but will have the advantage of economising time, and what is more, save the fatigue and worry caused by flying in brakes from one green to another. That such a scheme can be arranged I am fully convinced. The draws have been worked out by figures—presuming that 16 clubs meet —in such a way that eight clubs play at Auckland on the first day their three rounds, and eight play at Ponsonby three rounds in succession. The same system being adopted for the 2nd. 3rd. and 4th rounds. I feel confident the system is well worth consideration. A close contest in a fours match beeween teams skipped by Dr. King and A. W. Thomson, on the Auckland lawn, ended in a tie, the scores being 22 all. The teams representing Devcnport in the tournament on the 29th had a third trial of strength on Saturday last. On this occasion Mr Harrison's team won by 33 to 19, making two wins out of the three matches. The rinks were formed as follows:— G. H. Brookes, Taylor, T. Stewart. Harrison (skip), v. H. Nicol. Glenister,*M. Nicol, Eagleton (skip). J. Hutchison (Ponsonby Club) had rhe advantage of his club-mate, -J. Newell, in skipping a fours, the scores being 22 to 19. Auckland's (Grafton) representative teams practised together on Saturday last. Ledingham’s four having the best of Carlaw’s by 21 to 17. The second practice match between Newmarket's team ended in a win for 11. Brookes’ rink by 20 to 16. Each team have now one win to their credit, I notice Newman, quite a young player, of the Mt. Eden Club, skipped a rink against one of the older hands, and won by one point. Well done, Arthur. Ballantyne’s team to represent Ponsonby at the Tournament, played a four skipped by J. Court. Buchanan. Coutts and I). Stewart filling the other positions, Ballantyne winning by 28 to 13. .1. Edmiston, of Ponsonby, got somewhat of a gruelling from AV. J. Rees in a full rink practice match on Saturday last, the game ending 30 to 17. The challenge buckles of the Ponsonby Club have again changed hands. The holders at present are 11. Munro. T. G. Webb, J. Warren. R. Ballantyne (skip), this team having defeated J. Blades’ rink by 20 to 18. Mr J. Hardie, of Remuera Club, is again showing his powers as a skip, meeting and defeating R. Hull, in full rink match, by 24 to 16. I am informed that the local clubs will be happy to see any of the visiting bowlers on the lawns during the week for practice. G. Court’s team, representing Remuera in the Tournament, received rather a big defeat at the hands of Laton's on Saturday, the scores being 9 to 20. F. Court was leading instead of R. Hull in this match. From the Sydney “Herald." dated January 13th. I gather that the Holroyd Bowl Competition amongst the members of the Balmain Club for the possession of the Holroyd Silver Bowl

was concluded yesterday on the local green, and was witnessed by a large number of the members. Mr J. S. Fitzmaurice was the holder of the bowl for 1898-9. Yesterday’s play was of au exciting nature. J. Strong (scr.) meeting H. Dttrie (with a handicap of 12 points) in the final, the former winning by 10 points. The game was .31 points up. four bowls each player. The following are the results of the play: — Semi-final: C. H. Dttrie (12) beat G. A. W. Stevens (15) by 31 points to 28; J. Strong (scr) beat Jerivs (scr) by 31 points to 24. Final: J. Strong (scr) beat C. H. Durie (12) by 31 points to 21. I hear that Wanganui and New Plymouth are not likely to be represented at the Tournament this year. I hope this is not so. for some of the strongest players : n the colony are members of the above clubs. As showing the interest and the amount of excitement created over a game of bowls, I relate the following incident that happened on the Mount Eden Bowling Club's lawu one evening last week, the contestants being two well-known business men of the city. The game was a round in the champion singles match, and owing to the players being a bit late in starting, darkness prevailed before the match was nearly finished. The club mates looking on. who were anxious to have some fun, urged the players to keep going, for the moon would soon show her light, meanwhile a few interested ones assisted by striking matches to hold over the jack for the players to sight to. Presently a young girl arrived on the green and said to one of the players: “Father, yen are wanted at home at once; some friends have arrived.” “Go back." replied the excited parent, ‘‘and tell them that I am determined io finish this game to-night, and as soon as finished I will return.” Amidst.’ great laughter and joking the game was finished, but unlike Drake of old. the father returned home a beaten man. Who says bowls have no fascination? DCNEDIN. Monday. The annual Bowling Tournament under the auspices-of the New Zealand Bowling Association was commenced to-day, with the following inter-club matches on the green: — Invercargill (Lebo, skip) 17. beat Kaituna (Reid, skip). 16; Kaitangata (McLaren, skip), 23, beat Kaituna (Paterson, skip). 19: Kaituna (Sneddon. skip). 21. beat Lawrence (Darton, skip), 17; Timaru (Gow, skip). 23, beat Green Island (Smellie. skip). 21. Dunedin 47, beat Christchurch 32. two rinks aside; Dunedin 56, beat Canterbury 33. two rinks aside; Caledonian 41. beat Canterbury 36, two rinks aside: Timaru (Gow, skip). 23, beat St. Clair (McKay, skip). 8: Caledonian 48. beat Christchurch 31. two rinks; Invercargill (Lebo, skip), IS, beat Port Chalmers (Morgan, skip), 16.