BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2663, 7 January 1916, Page 9

BOWLS

END OP CENTRE TOURNAMENT BEYNON WINS The Wellington Bowling Centre's Patriotic Tournament was brought to a close yesterday afternoon on tho Wellington Club's green, when the final game was played between tho rinks skipped by Beynon (Petone) and Noble (Newtown). It resulted in a win for the Petone Club's rink by tlie narrow margin of three points. Tlie scores were:— Petone—Henry, Fowler, Coles, Beynon (s.), 19;" Newtown—Pankhurst, Crosby, Ranson, Noble (s.), 16. As sometimes happens in a final game, tho play was not of a very high standard, some of tho players being nervous at tihe experience of playing before a "bank" of some two or three hundred people, most of them keen bowlers from tho various clubs. There were occasions when the first six or eight bowls failed to get within two yards of the jack, and some of the soundest players on both sides made sad miscalculations in strength and green. Petone bounded away at the start, sooring seven on tho first three heads, and that lead was maintained pretty well throughout tho game. Noblo's team battled very gamely to pull up their score, but Pctone's slightly steadier play and better luck were proof against an even-up. Noblo made one fatal error on tho seventh head. He was lying two, and drew another, which Beynon, with his first bowl, did not alter. Then Noble, instead of playing short or getting round the back, played a strong shot, and carried the jack "over to an enemy bowl on the wing, which position the Petone skip improved by drawing another shot on the open hand. That mistake, made a difference of five points in Bevnon's favour. Tho gamo dragged along, without much incident, until the final head, when the score stood at 19 —13 in Petone's favour. With his last bowl Ranson carried the jack through to the ditch, and lay the shot with a toucher there. Beynon failed to get up with bis first bowl, and Noble drew another shot. Beynon was wide with his second, oiid again Noble drew a beauty on tho edge of the green, giving him three shots —and the closcst position to tho winner he was over in during the game. For Beynon, Henry was not so good in tho lead as he was during the tournament. Fowler was erratic, Coles drew accurately throughout, and Beynon was never very far away. For Newtown, Pankhurst led very poorly, Crosby was not playing as well as usual, Ranson was as reliable as ever, playing the best game on tho green, and Noble showed to less advantage than he did in any gamo in the tournament. At the conclusion of tho game Sir. H. Palmer, president of the Wellington Centre, addressing tho gathering, said that the gamo thoy had just watched and the tournament games carried no prizes. Tlie centre, he was pleased to say, had decided that the tournament should bo a patriotic one, and as the result the patriotic funds would benefit to the extent of £60. (Hear, hear.) When they took into consideration that the bowlers had spent the best part of five days in strenuous play with tho utmost vigour and good feeling, all for nothing, it showed what sort of sports bowlers were. He did not know of any other sport that would do as much for the fun of the thing. (Hear, hear.) It was that feeling of patriotism that had made them all go in for it, to help the funds as much as they could, They had all seen much better games played in tournamont finals, but sometimes the conditions were not what onlookers thought they were. He congratulated most heartily Mr. Beynon on winning the tournament, and had much pleasure in handing him the Flyer Shield to keep for a year. With practically the same team Inst year he had been the runnerup, and only met bis Waterloo when ha met that noble bowler, Mr. Porteous. Last year he had only lost by a point; this year he had won by a , narrow majority, and thoroughly deserved his win. (Applause.) With regardto Mr. Noble the position was quite different. He had been the "dark horse" of tho tournament. In walking round tho greens, as president of the centre, he had not heard much of him, until his wins came to be talked about. Players had askfld who Noble had with him, and tlie invariable answer was that they were a scratch lot ho (Noble) had picked up. (Laughter.) The Newtown man had only been beaten twice, once by two points and once by one. On his play ho must he regarded as a credit to tho Newtown Club, which he congratulated on having such a member. Mr. Perry was presented with the Gisborno Rose Bowl (held for a year) for notching the highest aggregate score in sectional play. His average was over 25 points per game, and his aggregate 231 points, which was an exceedingly creditable achievement. In reply Mr. Beynon said he was very proud to have got into the premier position, more particularly as this was a patriotic tournament, and their first thought must always be of tho boys at the front, and the help they could accord them. He was glad they had won for'' the sake of his team and for the credit of Petone. It was only a'small place, but he thought they would all admit that they had some good stuff in it. In liis response Mr. Noble thanked all present for the manner in which they had received his wins, and his de- ' feat that day. It was the first time he . had skipped in a tournament, and ho hoped to do even better next time. (Applause.) Mr. Perry also replied stating that it was the first time a Masterton rink had taken home, any trophy from a tournament. He did not approve of a prize for .the aggregate score, and thought that as they had one the names of its winners should be engraved upon it. Mr. Palmer also thanked the acting- . secretary (Mr. S. H. Underwood) for his ■ splendid management of the tourna- ; meiit, the green-keepers for their pro • paration of the various greens, and tha J clubs for tho use of them. i Tlie following teams represent Sea- • toun in a friendly match against Lyall J Bay oil Saturday:—Home: Fuller, C. J M'Farlane, Webb, Wyatt (s.)._ Away: [ Heath, Richards, Bradley, M'Girr (s.). The following rinks will represent the • Hataitai Club against Lyall Bay on [ Saturday:—At homo: Hulse, Light, : Pryor, Mitchell (s.); Mathews, Stonebanks, Bailey, 31'Whanncll (s.); Blick, , Fielding, Claridge, Hendry (s.). Away: 5 Dowling, Rmniburg, Julius, Lauren- . son (s.); Higgins, Hain, Slater, Martin , (s.); Marks, Ward, Halliday, Penney f («■). p The _ following rinks will represent Hutt in a friendly game against New- [ town, at on Saturday:— 5 Away: ; Russell, Knight, Babington, Treadwill (s.): Humphries, Avery, Judd, • Trevithick (s.); Thompson, Hobbs, Du- : thie, I. R. Jones (s,). At home: Bock, t Roche, Hogarth, Johnson (s.); Auger, • Cuff, Birch, Barlow (s.); Seymour, Wobf ley, J. M. Dawson, Davidson (s.).