BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 355, 4 March 1902, Page 3

BOWLING.

The match married v. single, played last Thursday .afternoon, proved one of the most interesting contents seen during the present season. Before the game started the Benedicts were considered to have a soft thing on, and for a few heads they flattered the hopes of their supporters, but the bachelors pulling themselves together came with a rush at the finish and won by five points. In a second game of eleven heads the married men had the best of their opponents by half-a-dozen points. For the winners, Sidebottom showed the best form as skip, and the big score his team put up against Hennessy’s “ dependables ” was mainly due to several effective drives, which he made during the game. Eure played a sterling game as number two, and was never far from the jack. With a little more practice, he would make things warm for some of the old players. Nicholas, as usual, played a consistant game, and gave Wallace, the opposing lead, a good run. F. Pett-ie, who played in the responsible position of number three, acquitted himself excellently, and time after time came to the rescue jf his side.

Seymour played a number of good bowls, but had great difficulty in finding the length, his first bowl being either too fast or too short.

Albert Adair was sometime in settling down to his work, but with the enemy 18 to 4, he thought it time to get under way, and from that out, played a really good game, the score on the last head being 20 to 15. He played several fine half firm shots.

Score played a good game as number one. He is improving ever week, and should run well forward in the Championship Stakes. C. Adair was hardly at his best on Thursday last, for the reason that he has had very little practice lately. J. Rosie made an excellent number two, and got in some beautiful drawing shots.

Lewis was in great form as number three, and saved his side repeatedly. Hoyte (junr.) had a great run with Ponsford, and but for an unlucky seven scored against him, must have won. As it was, he was only three points behind. Ponsford’s team put up the highest score for the married men, recording 26 points out of the 65 scored on that side. Massey came next with 20, and Heunessy third with 19. Tho veteran skip played in more like his old form, drawing and driving in good style. McGowan did good work as number three for the Benedicts, and was never far from the jack. The President played a fine drawing game throughout, and also fairly safe with his firm shots.

Orr has played many better games than that of Thursday last, and shows to better advantage in some other position than number one.

Nasmith, who played number three for Massey, played perhaps the best number three game on the ground, and \yas chiefly responsible for his team running away with the great lead that they did. Matthcwson was a tower of strength to his team, and saved on many occasions by his accurate drawing. ltobinson can play well in any position, and as lead for Massey last Thursday proved too strong for Seymour. Wallace is playing very steadily, and must be reckoned with in the championship matches. Ambridge was hardly up to his usual f,

jorra on Thursday last, the reason, no doubt, being that he has had very little practice of late. Quigley, who played in the same rink, was several points behind his usual form.

The single men on Thursday last were without the services of Miller and T. Adair, while the married men were without Bright and Dixon. There is keen speculation as to the championship. One old player selects Ponsford, Massey, and Gaudin to furnish the winner, with Dixon and Hennessy close up. “Toucher” is of opinion that the final will be between Ponsford and Humphreys, with Martin for a boil over. Birss figures in the list of entries for the championship. Ho has played very little this season, and will require to practice considerably during the next fortnight to be considered dangerous. Massey has put up a groat record since

he returned from Wellington. Skipping on fourteen occasions he has only had three losses. He is the coining skip of the Gisborne Club,