80WLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2409, 26 January 1909, Page 2

80WLING.

ON THE GREENS

(By “Toucher.”)

Heat and smoke and smoke and. heat >vas the howler’s portion as he •essayed to roll the wood aloim the even swarcl in the past week. Sultry as the dir -was, oppressive as was the heat, not a jot did ho care .so long as the green rolled true and keen. And keeu it was, for Old. Sol smiled on the turf, while the caretaker labored, and fast was the green in consequence. Bowlers were to be seen clothed in the lightest apparel, and playing with the lightest of delivery. On a long, jack most howls found repose in the cooling ditch, only to ho removed on deposit to the 'bank. Under those conditions was play witnessed on the local greens. ■ The games in the (Bennett Cup Singles were further advanced on the Turangunui green during the week. AY. J. P. Gaudin, hack from the tournament at Napier, resumed his games hopeful of victory. Nasmith, sour., was the first- to cross swords, but before Gaudin’s corriffic qnsl; Might, Nasmith was vanquished by nine points. Flushed with victory Gaudin turned to give battle with Hire!., This proved a willing ‘tgo,” hut for the first time this season Gaudin. lowered his colors. Ho .drew, drove, and drew; Hird drew, drew, H drew; and the result was victory for the consistent draw. Time and again did the jack fly, hut to no purpose, for Hird would 'again draw, and drawing Avon by 11 iDoints. Next Gaudin turned Ins attention to Colley. _ The latter player had fought several games, hut fortune had not smiled on him, defeatovertaking him on every _ occasion. However, lie met Gaudin with a. bravo heart, and never once quailed before his mighty opponent. 'A ith tti smile and a bow did Gaudin • show (_ollo\ the way to the ninth head, Gaudin scoring 17 on the nine heacllj whi.e Colley stood by quite content with a ‘‘nought” opposite his name. “Never mind,” said the player in the rear, “you will need them ail before we finish.” And so it proved. Colle.v scored one on the next heard, and lengthened the jack. He drew better, wliile .Gaudin essayed a peculiar .game in the opinion of the spectators -—driving repeatedly at a hare jack. Thus tlie game progressed, till Colley had overtaken and passed his opponent. The 20th head showed : Colley 23, Gaudin 21. [Requiring tivo to tic the last bead was played. Colley drew two, then Gaudin drove and drove, until with his last' ibowl lie bit the jack and made a dead-head. The head was re-played. Gaudin lay one, and with a good draw faced out Colley’s second 'and lay two, and tied. Tlie extra head Avas played amidst keen excitement. Colley, however, got in two, Avhich Gaudin could not displace. and won the game. Thus did Gaudin sustain a sensational defeat. Gaudin next looked to harm satislaction from AY. Hay, hut here he recoiled another shock, defeat again being his lCAvard. Right from the jump he seemed determined not to Jet Hay .score, for he made dead-heads of the first three heads when. his opponent was lying. Then Gaudin scored with a three.” Hay ran him close up to the ninth head, when Gaudin ivas o to 6. On the 10th head (the game was decided on this head as per agreement) Hay iccjuirbd two to tie and three to wm. He obtained his three and won by one point, I bus has Gaudin boon practically put out of the running for the Cup ‘with three losses. Neill anti Somervell had a great go, but the latter player obtained victory by four points. He is to be congratulated on bis victory, for bis plav iis a colt is excellent. The results of the games now place Hird in a commanding lead for tlie Chip. He has yet three players to meet, and should he bent Hallam he should have a splendid chance of holding the Chip- Sawyer and (Martin -are perhaps tlie only others avlio have a chance, though the latter player lias a long way to go. The following is the present position of the players: AY ins Losses

During the ip ast neck the .sectional games in the Handicap ' Pairs were further advanced, and the Match Committee have declared the winners iu the three sections. 'Contrary to expectations Thelwall and Jeune defeated Anderson and Hallam. The game avas an even one throughout, hilt tho handicap .proved too severe for the latter pair. Both leads played well, hut Hallam did not play up to his form as skip. 'The game between (McSkimming and Neill and Somervell and Sawyer was expected to he close, hut tho former pair did not play up to their previous performances and suffered defeat. Dowards (Birrell sub) and . McConnell put up a great fight against feomeivell .and Sawyer. The former pair got on a good load, but. the latter

pair wore them down and won by two points. As showing the closeness of tho game, it limy ibe mentioned that tlie only scores obtained by Sawyer and his partner ivere sidles, with the excepion of a large six. (Bii-roll played Aveli at the commencement, \vhilo Somervell seemed generally inclined to draw short. McConnell, played Aveli and equalled Sawyer throughout. Oussens and Zachariab disposed of Grounes - (Hay- sub) and Hird. The game was even to tlie 17th head, after which Hird and bis mate failed' to score, 'The results of the play now show Neill and Sawyer level in 'Section A.. .Martin winner of Section JL and Rateliffe and Zachariah level in Section C. The ties in the sections are to be played off by (Saturday next. The positions of the various pairs are thus shown as follows :

■Good entries have been received by tile "Turanganui Club for the Colts Singles. The matches are to be commenced forthwith.

I notice that the Turanganui Club are taking entries for <a points game. This is a good move, and in my next notes I hope to bo able to briefly expound the rudiments of the -game. The Gisborne green is .now playing very fast but-, on the whole, it is exceptionally true and reflects credit on the •unceasing care bostoivcd by tlie caretaker. Not many matches havw been iplayed lately, but the fours between Hennessy’s and Corson’s teams about which some trouble took place is to be decided pu Thursday next. This will! leave tlie road clear for playing the semi-final and final of that handicap. Simsou and Robertson are still in, and it is certain that some exciting play will take place before the final is decided.

The second round of the men’s singles handicap has been posted up for some time, but fSw, if any, games have been played. I notice there is a time limit—l forget the date—but these stall in the competition will be Aviso to look it up and get 1 their matches off. It is time some of the first round matches in the Fours for the Martin medals Avere got off. and 1 hope to sec some of those decided on Thursday. There'is no excuse for delay when the Aveather is so line as it has been lately.

A howling enthusiast iu Hawern, Mr G. O'. Jfkdahl. has. compiled a very handy booklet wlvicli he has named “The .Bowlers’ Pocket-book.” It embodies the results of years of personal experience iu the game .and •of painstaking investigation of knotty points in regard to rules, etc., which should prove of value to all who enjoy this popular pastime. Few bowlers, whether novices or old hands can peruse its pages without discovering something of interest and of service.

B. Bird .. 12 2 A. Sawyer .. 11 3 J. Stormont .. 9 3 M. Ox. -Nasmith, junr. . .. 7 6 31. G. Nasmith, scnr. o 3 31. Neill o 4 W. J. P. Ganelin . 4 3 J. Somervell .. 4 4 W. Batoliffc. .. 4 t C. J. Bennett .. 4 5 W. Hay . 4 5 « A. Zacharialr 2 P. ‘Halkim 2 W. H. 'Douglas .. 3 ii J. J. Martin .. 2 i J. Collev •••• 2 4 C\ F. Iiewis .. 1 0 J. P. 'Williams .. 1 2

SECTION A. Wins. Loss Neill and McSkimina: 4 1 Sawyer anil Somervell 4 I Nasmith and Hay ... 3 1 2 Horse and Harris 3 Bennett and It. Sheet 1 3 McConnell and Edwards .. 0 3 SECTION B. Wins.Loss Martin and Douglas 3 0 Jen no. and Tliehvall 1 1 2 Halkun and Anderson 1 W. 0. Sheet and Lewis . 0 0 Williams and Bin-ell » 0 ' e SECTION C. V Wins. Loss liatcliffe said McPherson.. 2 0 Cussens and Zachariali .. 2 0 Stormont and Leydon 1 1 Gaudin and Bruce 0 0 Colley, and Hooper 0 1 Hire! and Creamer 0 3