THE NORTHERN BOWLING ASSOCIATION’S TOURNAMENT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 985, 21 January 1909, Page 10

THE NORTHERN BOWLING ASSOCIATION’S TOURNAMENT.

NAPIER WINS THE FINAL. The N.B.A. Champion Fours match was concluded on Friday, Napier and Feilding fighting out a desperate finish in the final. The teams were: — Napier: R. Holt, A. E. Wrightson, J. P. Smith, H. Bull (skip). Feilding: W. Irving, G. Manning, C. Stewart, G. Say well (skip). The opening was in favour of Feilding. Feilding won each head to the seventh, and had 13 up before Napier opened their account. Play was then suspended owing to a sharp shower of rain, and on resuming Napier put in a claim. On the eighth head the local team lay two, and they secured another three on the ninth. On the 10th head Bull cut out a Feilding bowl -with a splendid drive, and drawing the jack with his final shot, Napier lay three. On the 11th head Wrightson. with a splendid drive, took the jack into the ditch, and his bowl followed it. Stewart (Feilding’s third) played a fine shot, and lay second, leaving Napier one up on the 12th head. Holt lead beautifully for Napier, but when the skips went down Feilding were lying two. Bull, with a brilliant drive, cut out the Feilding bowl, but. Saywell went one better, and got the shot. The leading throughout was distinctly fine. Holt and Irving vieing with each other in this respect. Irving had the honours for Feilding. On the 13th head the bowls were splendidly placed, when Smith (the Napier third), with a great shot, cut out a Feilding bowl, and got the shot. Stewart, with a brilliant drive, made a dead head. On the head being played again, Napier were three up, and the score was: Feilding, 14. Napier, 12. On the 14th end Stewart made another dead head, and on resuming cut out a Napier bowl, and left Napier lying two. Bull, with a fine drive, carried the jack to the ditch, and Napier lay one. On the 15th head Napier secured another point, and the scores were posted equal, amidst great applause: Feilding, 14; Napier, 14. Manning drew the jack beautifully for Feilding on the 16th head, and Feilding were three up on the 17th head. Napier equalised matters, the score being: Napier, 17; Feilding, 17. On the next head Napier were lying three, when Saywell played a beautiful shot, and left Feilding lying one. On the 19th head they secured an additional three, and the score was: Feilding, 21; Napier, 17. On the 20th head Napier lay two, but were still two behind their opponents. The final head was badly opened. Manning, however, sent down a fine shot, and lay behind the jack, while Stewart repeated the operation, and Feilding were lying two. Smith then played a beautiful draw, which carried the jack with it, and Napier were lying three. This shot practically won the match. Bull played his remaining shots with unerring skill, and each of them scored. Saywell failed to change the aspect of the head, and Napier, lying five, won a brilliant game, the scores being: Napier, Feilding, 21. Feilding beat Bluff Hill by 19 to 15 in the game for third place. Of the Auckland competitors Carlton as usual, did best, winning eight games out of 10 in their section.