BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 421, 21 May 1902, Page 3

BOWLING.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES.

By “ Toucher.”

i Great interest was taken in tbe bowling championship single contest between Messrs Ponsford and McGowan, which was played yesterday afternoon. The match had been looked forward to for a considerable time, but the veteran McGowan was not taking any risks, and could not bo persuaded to taue the green until bo was thoroughly fit. The conditions yesterday with regard to weather wero all that could be desired, and a goodly number of spectators were attracted to the green. Ponsford was a warm favorite for tbe championship, it being generally recognised that whoever brought about bis downfall rnußt go very near winning the gold medal. The contestants being two of the oldest members, and perhaps the best players in the club, many young bowlors deemed it worth their- while to bo presont for the purpose of picking up a few hints, and they were not disappointed, for from the first throw of the jack tho gamo was a life and death struggle. McGowan won the toss, and selecting a short head settled down to hid work in good stylo. Three of his first four bowls were touchers, whilst every pieco of wood sent np by both players was within a foot of the jack. The short length somewhat unnerved Gisborne’s veteran skip, and the first five heads saw M"Gowan with a lead of one, tho board reading 3 to 2, which was the minimum score. Playing an extremely cautious game, McGowan kept his opponent on the baby hoads, and furthor increased his lead, the score on tho

tenth head being 10 to 5. Upon each occasion that Ponsford seeured the jack he

took the full length of tho green, and, making several oxecllont shots, he reducod tho gap, and on the seventeenth head had II to his opponent’s 14. McGowan, howover, was not to be denied, and,displaying great steadiness in regard to drawing, he was able to put up the maximum score in the following head, and further increased his lead by 4 points, making the total 18 to 11. Despite all efforts on the part of Ponsford, McGowan held his own to the concluding head, and gained a meritorious victory by 20 points to 13, amidst tremendous applause. By his victory, McGowan is one of six left in the championship contest, and hi 3 defeat of Ponsford should justify him being made a warm favorite for the event.

Another match that attracted a groat deal of interest was that between Messrs Nasmith and T. Witty, which was also one of the championship matches. Nasmith went away with a good lead, having six to his opponent’s ono on the fifth head, and ten to two on tho eighth head. Witty then rallied, and on the twelfth head had 10 to his antagonist’s 12. In the following head he scored a single, but then fell back, Nasmith having 18 points to his credit, whilst Witty still remained at 11. The young Kaiti player reduced the gap, but could not get on terms, Nasmith winning comfortably by 21 to 15. Several scratch games were also played, the chief being a pairs match between Score and Massey (skip) and Harris and Simson (skip). On the eleventh head Simson had 11 to his opponent’s 4, but was unable to bold this lead, and Massey, playing in good style, made the score even on tho seventeenth head, and ultimately won by 21 to 17. Lewis and Brown (skip) had a keen match with Humphreys and Martin (skip), the former winning by 19 to 15. Nicholas defeated Orr by 21 to 11. The following are the names of the players left in tho championship :—Fourth round : McGowan plays Gaudin, T. Adair plays Nasmith, Henriessy plays Sidebottom. Fifth round : McGowan or Gaudin plays T. Adair or Nasmith, Hennessy or Sidebottom playsjMassey. Final: McGowan, Gaudin, T. Adair, or Nasmith plays Sidebottom, Hennessy, or Massey. It is to be hoped that advantage will be taken of the present fine weather to get the fourth round off on Thursday afternoon, and the fifth round on Saturday. The final could then be played on Thursday week.