BOWLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 792, 11 May 1905, Page 15

BOWLING.

(By the “ Skip.”)

In a ten-rink match on Saturday, between Ponsonby and Rocky Nook, the former won very easily on the aggregate of 50 points. Ponsonby won on seven rinks, while Rocky Nook was successful on but three. * * * * Devonport just scraped home from Carlton on the former’s ground with a score of 121 to 119. There was a very keen fight right through, and the issue remained in doubt right up to the time the last bowl was delivered. * * * * Every rink was engaged at Remuera, indeed, several would-be players had to go without a game. An Auckland team skipped by Ledingham beat a four with D. E. Clerk at the helm by 25 to 17.

At Remuera, Mr D. L. Murdoch presented Mr A. Hegman with the Silver Challenge Cup won by the latter this season ; both the donor and the recipient being greeted with hearty cheers.

The Wholesale and Retail .Drapery Establishments played a match on the Mount Eden green on Saturday, the Wholesale men winning on three rinks to one and on the aggregate by 23 points. The worst defeat was in the ■match between Mercer and Tutt, the former winning by 35 to 9. Gilmour did well for the Retail men, his four winning by 28 to 12.

The process of remaking the big Grafton green is proceeding apace. The green has been ploughed up, drains put in, and nearly a foot of scoria laid down. Good soil' nas been precured from Mt. Eden, and the ground properly made up. It is expected that when ready for play the Grafton green will be one of the best in the district.

There is no outdoor pastime that has “caught on” in this State so rapidly as bowls (says the Sydney “Mail”). Its votaries are numbered by thousands, and include young men and maidens, the middle-aged, and those in the sere and yellow of life. Numerous clubs have been formed in the various suburbs and one in the city. Wherever bowlers establish themselves handsome pavilions are built, neat enclosures are erected, and pretty garden plots are planted. The level bowling arenas are pleasing to the eye, and are tended with increasing care. By an act of civic grace bowlers have been permitted to construct playing greens on a portion' of certain public parks, to which the public has at all times been permitted free access. Visitors to Victoria Park, Ashfield Park, and Cook Park will have noticed how the bowling enclosures there have improved and beautified the surroundings. On Saturday afternoons and holidays the public shows its appreciation of bowling by attending, free of hindrance, interclub and interstate .matches.

In the interstate matches the Victorians started badly, losing the first test by 22. Nothing daunted, however, they played up pluckily at Ashfield, and scored a win by 9 points. They were in fine form, and deservedly won the final at Chatswood by 14 points. While, naturally, New South Welshmen like to win. every true sportsman will congratulate the “dark blues” on their success. It is always difficult to . get the best men to leave home, and the local representatives are supposed to be the best available.