NORTHERN BOWLING ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 8, 10 January 1901, Page 3

NORTHERN BOWLING ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT,

GISBORNE LEADING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHATAUPOKO BEAT NEWMARKET.

The annual tournament in connection with the Northern Bowling Association was continued on the Gisborne green yesterday. A large number of spectators were in attendance, and some exciting play was witnessed. Afternoon tea was provided by Mesdames Ferris, Price, and Muir (2), and was much appreciated bowlers and visitors to tee green. The following are the details of the play

SEVENTH ROUND. Hastings v. Auckland,

This was a very good match, the teams keeping well together and scoring point for point on the first twelve heads, when accurate drawing on the part of Hastings gave them the advantage, Beatson (2) and Holt drawing some excellent shots. On the twentieth head Hastings had five to the good, and Towsey, by a beautiful shot, drew two, and as they were lying one the southern club won by a narrow majority of two —Hastings 18, Auckland 16. It was a beautiful game throughout, with even drawing, and only two fast shots. ■ Gisborne v. Bluff Hill. The home team received rather a shock through Bluff Hill putting up five in the first head, but on the sixth head Gisborne were within a point of their opponents. The Bluff led to the tenth head, when the local men passed them, and making almost every head, the secured a victory by 27 to 17. Kaiti v. Napier. This furnished a keen contest, and the result was in doubt until the last head, when Kaiti led by one point. Evans drove to carry out the Kaiti bowl, which meant. two to Napier If he succeeded in getting it. Ho missed with his first shot, but with the second caught it fairly. Witty failed to draw the Bhot, and Napier won an exciting match by one point, the scores being 17 to 16. Whataupoko v. Palmerston North. The visitors bad all the best of this contest, llussell playing a splendid game as number three, whilst Nash skipped with great judgment. In the sixteenth head the scores wore—Palmerston North 18, Whataupoko 15, but tho former, drawing away, won easily by 27 to 16. PONSONBY V. MaSTERTON. The Northerners wont away with tho start, and on the sixteenth head had 19 to their opponents' 9, the game ending in Ponsonby’s favor by 23 to 13. Tho winners showed good form, and were well handled by Brown. Mount Edrn v. Victoria. Tho former had all the best of tho match. Tboy got off with a good start, having 14 to son tho ninth head. The game ended Mount Edon 28, Victoria 11. Wellington v. Newmarket. This match was looked upon as likely to furnish a keen contest, but Wellington’s play in tho early part of the game was very disappointing, Ballinger being unfortunate in his driving, and on sovoral occasions when there was a lot on ho carried out his own bowl. Last year’s champions had 12 to their opponents nil on tho fifth head, and the Wellingtonians were never able to retrieve the position, and lost the "game by 27 to 17. Brookes skipped the Newmarket team, and his fast shots wore most snccessful, whilst his drawing was also greatly admired. - EIGHTH HOUND. Gisborne v. Palmerston North. Tho local men had all their work cut out to win this match, tho score on tho fourtlf head reading, Gisborne 5, Palmerston North 4. Tho fifth head was one of the best seen on the green during tho tournament, each player in turn resting the shot or trailing the jack. Tho visitors lay the shot when the skips changed ends, and Ponsford in seeking to take it out gave his opponents threo. In tho next head Nash returned the compliment and driving with great force whon tho home team wore lying three, ho carried out his own bowls and Gisborne scored seven, making the game on the sixth head Gisborne 12, Palmerston North 7. From this out the game was a little in favor of the home team, and ended Gisborne 29, Palmerston North 19. Ponsonby v. Wellington. Ponsonby scorod for the first five heads Whon Ballinger got his men moving and kept them going for seven hoads, when the scores wore —Wellington 13, Ponsonby G. A single to tho Northerners and three to Wellington made 16 to 6 in favor of Wellington on the 13th head. Wellington won by 24 to 10. Auckland v. Bluff Hill. Of tho first fourteen heads, ten were in favor of Bluff Hill, the scores being 18 to 10. Auokland pullod up towards the finish of the game, ending Bluff Hill 20, Auokland 17. Hastings v. Nafier. These old-time rivals had a ding dong game on number six rink. Napier started with a braoe, and Hastings scored on the second and third heads. Some splendid fast shots were made by Beatson and Evans, and from one of these on tho twelfth head Napier scored five, making tho score 14 to 12. Hastings came away at tho finish, and won by 23 to 18. MASTEnTON v. Kaiti. The local men in this matoh made a much better show, and on tho eighth head had ten to their opponents three, Bright and Witty drawing carefully on the jack. On tho last head Kaiti had a lead of one, but Masterton getting two in won by a point, the scores being 21 to 20. Mount Eden v. Newmarket. Newmarket scored first, and had a lead of seven on tho fourth head, ultimately winning by 21 to 13. Brookes skipped for Newmarket. Victoria v. Whataupoko. Tho local men were in this matoh skipped by Ferris, and tho first few heads were all in their favor, having twelve to nil on the fifth head, and 14 to Gon the tenth. It was a tie on tho last head, and Ferris secured the winning point by luckily promoting a bowl in front of the jack. Gooder, who was skipping for Viotoria, did soveral fine drives. He played with great judgment, but had the worst of the luck.

NINTH ROUND. Victoria v. Gisborne,

On the first head, when the skips changed, the visitors were lying ono. Ponsford’s first bowl was short, but he -gave Gisborne two, Gooder failing to draw the shot. Humphreys was as strong as ever in finding the jack. This was a runaway game for Gisborne. who won by 34 to 8. Wn.muroKO v. Newmarket.

A good deal of interest was attached to this game, and in the first few heads Whataupoko gave their big opponents some trouble, a good deal of driving taking place. The game was three to two on the fourth head, when Laurie drew dead on the jack. Hookey made a brilliant attempt to draw him off, his bowl resting on the shot. Newmarket got one out of this head. In the run down Laurie and Sidebottom had a great battle for' supremacy, and three of the four bowls were touchers. Hookey got one on the jack, which caused the Newmarket skip to try two fast shots, and the local men scored. Just as the next head looked bad forWhataupoko, For--rismade a good drive and carried the jack into the ditch, his bowl being 4ft away. Brookes was, however, equal to the occasion, and drew both bowls to within two feet of the bank. Newmarket 6, Whataupoko 3. In the next head Brookes again drew on the jack, cutting Whataupoko out of two. The local men had a brace on the jack in the tenth head, whilst they kept Brookes making two unsuccessful drives. Newmarket 8, Whataupoko 5. A fine draw by Simson gave the local men a point, and on the thirteenth head Ferris drew the shot, Newmarket driving twice without eSect. Newmarket scored two on the fourteenth head. The fifteenth was the head of the afternoon. When the skips changed ends Newmarket were lying two. Simson with his first failed to draw the shot. Brookes had spent his two bowls when a consultation was held among the Whataupoko players, and Ferris said, “If you can qplit these two bowls we shall be sis or

seven,” and marvellous to relate the Whataupoko skip did it, being greeted with showers of applause, one gentleman afterwards aptly remarking, “ Well, I don’t suppose you would that once in a life time.” The local men got six on this end. In the succeeding head the splendid drawing on the part of Side bottom, Hookey, and Ferris proved too much for the driving of the Newmarket men, who missed more than they hit. The score on the seventeenth head was Whataupoko la, Newmarket 12. A large crowd had by this time gathered round the rink, and a very close finish was now anticipated. Two splendidly drawn bowls by Laurie and Brookes gave last year’s champions two and brought them within a point of , th ® ir , ponents. A fine running-through shot by Simson saved two of three which Newmarket were lying and -made the score on the mneteenth head 15 all. In the last head but one Sidebottom found the jack with his fiist bowl, causing Laurie and Haselden to go fast, and Kilgour went wide with his first but drew a good second. Brookes smashed up the head with a pretty drive. The next head witnessed some very fine play, and the scoring shot was got by Simson ° beautifully on the jack. The head none too good for Whataupoko when skips changed ends, as their opponents were lying • two. Simson with his second ..shot trailed the jack, running it on to one of Hookey’s bowls, which had been placed in a beautiful position behind the jack. There was intense excitement when Brookes sent his last bowl up. He endeavored to promote two bowls so as to bump out the Whataup shot, but although he managed to get on them he did not succeed m taking the shot out, and amidst great excitement and c - ing Whataupoko won by 17 to 15. members of the winning team were heartily congratulated upon their victory, and Simson (the skip) was carried shoulder high to the pavilion. Whataupoko’s victory was hailed with great satisfaction by the Gisbornites, as it places the Gisborne Club in the leading position for the championship. Auckland v. Napieh. The Hawke’s Bay team were first off the mark, and bad five to their credit on the third head. Play then became more even, and fine drawing by Gorrie caused Auckland to score for three or four heads. On the sixteenth head the game stood—Napier 16, Auckladd 8. Napier won by by 20 to 11. Ponsonby v. Mount Eden. Mount Eden started well, getting four on the first head, Ponsonby responding with three on the second. Ross kept his men well together, and won a good game by 23 to 19.' Wellington v. Kaiti. Ballinger’s team scored the first two heads, and had it pretty much their own way for the rest of tho game, winning by 22 to 13, Palmebston North v. Bluff Hill, Some good play was witnessed in this game In the first head Bluff Hill were lying two but a brilliant drive by Nash gave Palmerston a point. The teams kept well together, and the play was of a high standard. Palmerston won by 28 to 16. Masterton v. Hastings. Honors ran fairly even in the first few heads, when Hastings drew away add won by 24 to 13. Some of the heads were very pretty, and good individual play was witnessed. The following table shows the position of the various clubs at the present stage of the tournament: —

Our office boy strayed from the fold yesterday, and wandered in an absent-minded manner to the bowling tournament, where the divine afflatus attacked him. The result is this pathetic effusion: — THE GISBORNE TEAM. Here’s to the Gisborno team— I do not wish to brag, But the team that puts them under Is the team that wins tho flag. Our number one is steady, He’s always on the jack, He knows it’s not a bit of good To leave a shot to Mac. For Mao is most erratic, And thinks he’s always right, And if the skipper wants him left He’s sure to come the right. But Coleman is a bowler, So cool when in a pinch; He’ll take a ball from off the jack, Or draw to half an inch. And Ponsford, too, the skipper, Will come if there’s a call, He knows the game and plays it, He’s the daddy of them all.

Club. Gisborne Wins 8 Losses. 1 Newmarket .. 7 2 Ponsonby 6 3 Hastings 6 3 Whataupoko .. 5 3 Wellington 5 4 Palmerston] North 5 4 Napier .. 4 5 Auckland 4 5 Victoria 3 G Mastcrton 3 6 Mount Eden .. 3 6 Bluff Hill 2 7 Kaiti .. 1 8