BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2401, 16 January 1909, Page 3

BOWLING.

NORTH ISLAND . Jo RNAfWENT.

NAPIER WINS THE CHAMPION ? . FOURS.

[Press Association.]

NAPIER, Jan. 15

The Northern Bowling Association’s champion fours -were concluded today onrthe Napier green, in unsettled weather. The morning was dull and a couple of showers fell, the first necessitating u> stoppage of play for a short period. The championship was won by Napier. There was. a large attendance of spectators to -witness the final between Napier and Feilding, the play being closely followed. Napier scored a brilliant win, whicli was greeted with enthusiasm.Tlio following arc tho teams :—Napier —R. Holt, A. E. Wrightson, J. P. Smith, H. Bull -(skip). Feilding— W. Irving, J. 'Manning, H. 0. Stewart, G. Saywell (skip). The game was a brilliant and exciting one, and the result was in doubt till the final head. _ The opening -was all in favor of Feilding, who won the first seven bids, and had 13 to their credit before Napier opened. Play at. this stage had to be suspended on laccount of the shower. In the Bth and 9th beads 'Napier scored two and three respectively, and on the 10th head ■with a brilliant- drive Bull cut out Foil ding’s bowl and drawing the jack with his final bowl, scored three. Napier got one off the 11th lveud, and Feilding got a single off the next. The leading throughout was -distinctly fine. Feilding had a little the better of the -play in the next few heads, hut on the 17th the scores were level —l7 all. iSaywell: -robbed Napier of three on the 18th head, and added one to his own scoro. Feilding got three more on. the next head, but Napier scored two on the 20th, and the score read—Feilding 21, Napier 19. The final head was badly opened, and was practically the worst of the game. Manning sent down a fine shot and lay behind the jack, while Stewart repeated, the operation. Feilding wore lying two. Smith then -played a beautiful draw, which carried the jack with it, and Napier were lying 3. This shot practically won the match. Bull placed 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 magnificent game by 24 to 21. Feilding and Bluff Hill played off far second place. The match was distinctly good and attracted considerable attention-. Feilding opened on the first head with three and upheld the advantage throughout: Bluff Hill mode a gallant effort to catch their opponents, but Feilding were not to -be -denied, and won by 19 to 15. The Bluff Hill team was composed of H. Newton, J. Snodgrass, TV. McCarthy, and A. A. Kennedy (skip). Tlie citizens’ matches are expected to be finished .to-morrow afternoon. About fifty bowlers met to-night-under the auspices of the Northern Bowling Association. The question of entertaining at tournaments was discussed, and approval was expressed of the Council’s recommendation of an increase -from 2s 6d to 12s Od in the entrance fee for players taking part in the annual tournaments. A motion regarding mushroom clubs entering for the champion fours was withdrawn on it being stated that the matter would -receive the Council’s attention.