BOWLING SEASON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 16, 19 October 1945, Page 5

BOWLING SEASON

WHAKATANE CLUB'S OPENING VISITING PLAYERS ATTEND The opening of the new bowling season took placc at the Whakatane Club's greens on Saturday in line weather and with a record attendance of ladies players; and visitors. The Mr W. S. Henderson in a brief but comprehensive address, after extending a cordial welcome to including players from Taneatua and Te Puke stated that on each occasion for the last [six years that bowlers had foregathered, the country and its fighting men had been involved in war. "On this occasion peace is with us again" said Mr Henderson "and I Know that you are all Avith me grateful that the "all clear" has at last been sounded." He extended a particular welcome to returned servicemen and made especial reference to a pre-war member Mr W. G. Hancock who had J 1 been wounded and captured in the Lybian Desert, spending three years as a P.O.W. "I hope," said the president, "that Mr Hancock ami the other returned servicemen will play so much bowls and enjoy themselves to such an extent on the greens that their war privations will soon be a dim memory to them." Since the closing day last .season unfortunately three most respected members had passed away. He referred to the club's loss and the -services rendered by the late Mr Arthur Bridger, the late Mr Tom Francis donor of the Francis Cup and a club foundation member and the late Mr Johnny Francis } whose death had come as a great shock to them all. As a mark of respect the gathering stood in silence for a few moments. Mr Henderson's well chosen reference, and the expression of the club's indebtedness to the immediate Past Mr Les Littlejohn and his wife was greeted with applause. He also conveyed, thorn ks to the Green Mr J. Creek®. The club's welcome' was extended to the large gathering of ladies and thanks to those ladies who assisted so much with the catering arrangements for tournaments etc. '"without whom" said the president "our club could not very well

carry on." Mrs Henderson rolled the first bowl and the greens were declared open more than 100 players taking part in the games. Details of the. play were as under:— G. Head E. J. Bell, J. Creeke and Littlejolm 1G beat Chamberlain Coates and, Baxter 13. Anstice Butler ? Scholield and Burgess 19 beat Rutherford Shapley, Cant-rell and Lawn 18. Johnston Compton Head and Harris 26 beat Ruddick Riddell Middlemas and Anderson 16. Spong, King Rixon and Hunt 19 beat Murphy ? Wilson Bennett and Hollis 14. White Bigelow and Shaw *20 beat Gattsche McGowan Martin > ■» and Mclsaac 19. Bishop, Donaldson and Foster 21.beat Mollgaard } McKenzie and Mars-h 11. Sims Wilson Alexander and J '« Murphy 22 beat Gerring ? RutherWhite and Drube 19. Mair, Warren ? Saville and Loane 27 beat Sumner West Hancock and Caisley 14. Pinker Spratt and Mann, ing 23 beat Morpeth Home Dixon and Henderson 17. Smaljon, Bell f Pearson and Kowat 14 beat Doran Good Salmon and 3 1 Marsden 11. Fowell Topp and Moody 23 beat Brown Scholield and Orchard 14. J