BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2397, 12 January 1909, Page 3

BOWLING.

TURANGANUI CLUB

At tlic Turanganui Club’s rinks yesterday afternoon one more game in the Bennett Cup competition was played, the result being: M. G. Nasmith, 'senr. (18) heat W. Ratcliffe (15). —Ratcliffe led at the start, but on the 13tli head Nasmith had secured; the load. The latter increased ibis advantage and won rather easily at the finish by three points.

THE TOURNAMENT .AT NAPIER

(Press Association.)

NAPIER, Jan. 11

The annual tournament of tlio Northern Bowling Association was opened to-day on the greens of the Napier and Greenmeadows Chibs. Tlie weather wl.is fine, hut dull and cold for the time of year. The greens were in good order, and tlio preparations generally were complete. Air. J. C. McVay. president of tlio Association and the the Napier Bowling Club, declared tlie tournament open. Speaking at the Napier green in the .presence of ‘a full muster of players, he said he hoped the tournament would he as successful as those which had preceded it, and he believed they would witness some firstclass play. •Three rounds were played to-day in each section. The following aro the positions of the clubs at the end of to-day’s play, exclusive of byes:

NAPIER, Jan. .11. Thus the “Napier- Telegraph” on the bowling tournament: The town is at present full of gentlemen who would scorn to ho called old, clad in .sporting attire and of the sporting spirit. The visitors have had a brightening effect upon business life, which some people won kb have us believe is dull, because their jovial advent does not concern itself with the prosaic question of how many commercial beans make five. They aro here to play howls. THE SECTION TRbUBLE.

On Saturday evening a largely-at-tended meeting of visiting and local howlers was held in the Napier Club’s pavilion. Air. J, C. AlcVay, president of the Napier Club, occupied the chair. After some discussion it was decided to play the tournament in three sections, instead of four as originally proposed. It was also decided that in the finnls each of the three winning section teams should meet the others and, in the event of the three being ‘all square,’tfare mfw the three being “all square” after their rounds, a draw should tako place for a bye in tlie concluding contest. Air. J. Beatson, senr., of Hastings, consented to act ns on the Napier, green, and Air. Geo. Hale to act in a similar capacity on the Greenmeadows green. THE PLAY.

Gisborne opened .a gainst Farad on on the Greenmeadows green, and the Poverty Bay team showed their bestform, Cmwford especially being dead on the jack. The match with Alanaia was v-ery one-sided, Gisborne leading throughout. All tlie members of the team played well. In tlie match against Greenmeadows the Poverty Bav team again showed their superiority, iand gave a good exhibition or drawing. Turanganui had a bye in the first round, and m the second met Victoria.. A great- fight resulted, the teams being even on tlie seventh, tenth, and thirteenth heads. Good drawing .gave .Turanganui five on the twentieth head, tand Victoria gaining on the last head lost the .game ny tv o points. In the afternoon Turanganui met Bluff Hill, and a great, game resulted in a victory for the Hawke s Bay-team by five points. Turanganui required four to tie oil tlie last dread, and Martin failed to make a dead head. The Gisborne men are playing in good form, and should he well to the fore in their respective'sections.

". A SECTION. Wins. Losses Bluff Hill 3 0 Stratford 3 0 Petano 2 1 Turangauui 1.' 1 Waipawa I 1 Victoria 1 1 Eltliam ... ... 1 2 Pihuma 1 2 Itemuera 1 2 Paliiatua 1 2 Waverley 1 2 B SECTION. Havelock 3 0 Carlton 3 0 Napier 2 0 Hastings 2 1 Upper Plains 2 1 Patea 1 1 St.. John’s I 2 Palmerston ... ... ] 2 Newtown 0 2 Tliorndon 0 3 Hawera 0 3 0 SECTION. Eeilding ... ’ ... 3 0 Gisborne 3 0 Wanganui 3 0 Kelburne 2 1 Masterton ... ... 2 I Dannevirke 2 1 Greytown 1 2 Greenmeadows 1 2 Wellington • 1 2 Karori 0 3 Farndon 0 3 "Manaia ... ... 0 3 Play will be continued to-morrow. [Special to “Times.”]