VISITING BOWLERS

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 10

VISITING BOWLERS

VICTORIA V. DUNEDIN The Dunedin Centre paid the Victorian bowlers the compliment of selecting strong teams to play them on tho Dunedin green yesterday afternoon. Before commencing the match, Mr D. W. Fastier (president of the centre) welcomed the visitors in a happily worded speech on the green, and the deputy-mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) tendered the city welcome. Sir W. Lyon, manager of the visiting team, suitably and wittily replied. Tho green was somewhat dead after the rain of the previous day, but, as usual, it played true. The Dunedin Bowling Club’s officials —-Mr J. C. Stephens (president), Mr A.- Melville (secretary), and others—worked harmoniously with the Dunedin Centre officials (Mr Fastier, Mr Hanning, and others) in making the occasion memorable. The green was gaily dressed with flags and the social hall with flowers, Gordon’s Orchestra provided the music, and the control of the play was most ably managed, thanks largely to the efficiency of the umpire, Mr J. C. Whitely. , , The match was of twenty-five beads. The Dunedin side established a lead at once and held it right through, the score board showing 4o to 20 after the fifth head, 74 to 58 after tho tenth, 103 to 50 after the fifteenth, 125 to 69 after the twentieth. Tho full score was as follows: Vic. Dun.

Florent, Pilkington, Barnett, Wright 22 Best, Langley, J. Scott, BentIcy Hindlo, Leith, Ferguson, Wain 16 Robson, Hinton, Ferguson, M'Curdy Scharf, H. Davie, Bnyley, Lyon 1" Love, Stephens, Stephenson, * Carswell Creatfi, Roy, Whallcy, H. M. Leggo 1° Black, Jones, Smoilic, Harraway .-••,••• ' 1 Kingsbury. T M. Davie, Gaylord, Newham ••• 12 Ledlie, Connor, Rowley, T. Saunders Totals 82 11^ The closest of the games was that between Wright and Bentley. The Victorian team began very promisingly and hold the lead until the twelfth head. Florent was leading well, Fred Barnett (a native of Dunedin) was reliable as to weight and width, and Wright showed himself possessed of _ all tho equipment of a good skip, his “yard on ” shots particularly deadly. At the twelfth head Bentley and his men drew level, making the score 11 all. A 4 to Victoria in the fourteenth head gave the visitors a decided lead again, but gradually, mostly by accurate drawing, the Duncdinites won by 2. ENTERTAINED AT NIGHT.

Somerset Lounge was filled at night. There was a full attendance of visitors and many local followers of the game. Mr D. M. Fastier (president of Dunedin Centre) was in the chair, supported by Mr W. Lyon (Manager of te Victorian party) and Mr J. J. Marlow' (dominion councillor). The toast “Our Visitors” was proposed by Mr- Fastier, who said that_ it was pleasant to have their friends with them. It was a case of renewing old friendships and making now friends. Ho recognised that there was a strenuous time ahead for their visitors, and it was not intended to overburden them -while they were in Dunedin. The result of the game that afternoon had been in the local men’s favor, but the sportsmanlike manner in which the visitors had taken their defeat had been admirable. After all, the^ social side of the game counted for 95 per cent. (Hear, hear.) ‘ He understood that the party comprised a member of the Melbourne Club, which was instituted in 1864. Dunedin’s oldest club' was founded in 1871, seven years later. “But,’ said Mr Fastier, “in proportion to population New Zealand has made greater progress than Australia. There are 16.000 bowlers in the dominion, which is a great showing with a population of a million and a-quarter.” He extended to the visitors a most cordial welcome.

The toast was honored heartily. Mr W. L yon made a humorous and apposite reply. He said that his party were not at all disheartened by the result of the game that day. What they would take away with them were memories of the lovely landscape, the heartiness of their greeting, and the pleasure of the game; the result they would not think of. Such _ was the impression the party had received since they landed in New Zealand that it was more than likely they would soon be back again. (Applause.) After many humorous allusions to different happenings, Mr Lyon said that the New Zealand players who had recently visited Australia had expressed their appreciation of the way they had been received, and had promised that it would lie returned when any Australians cam© to the dominion. “’Their promise has been fulfilled.” said Mr Lyon. “So far %vo have been well fed, well feted, well feasted, and well flogged. But for that we do not care a fig.” He concluded by again expressing the visitors’ appreciation of the heartiness of their reception, and sat down amid applause. The toast of “The Dominion Bowling Council ” was aptly proposed by Mr J. C. Stephens, and responded to by Mr J, J. Marlow. Another toast proposed was “Civic Authorities,” undertaken and well dealt with by Mr J. Sutherland Ross.—Mr J. S. Douglas replied. Mr AY. 'Wright (Victoria), proposed “The Dominion Bowling Centre” interestingly, and Dir R. H. Todd responded. During the course of the evening Mr H. Leggo (of Bendigo) handed to Mr Fustier (as president of the centre) four miniature golden bowls, to be given to the winners of the champion rink next month. This generous gift of Mr Leggo’s was acceptor! with applause. The purely entertainment part of the evening was provided by Messrs S. G. Angel!, C. C. Scott (songs and ducts), Mr J. Connor (Unto solos), and Mr E. H. Leggo (a member of the Victorian party)." The latter introduced a song called ‘ Rowling,’ which lie led with vigor and ability. It was quite a sucress. Amusing stories were told by Mr A. W. Mn rtin and two of the visitors—Messrs J. Florand and W. Lyon.

TO-DAY. The visitors were taken for sightseeing trips to-day, and the second game is to be on the Caledonian green this evening.