BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 423, 23 May 1902, Page 2

BOWLING.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES.

There was a large attendance of bowlers at the green yesterday afternoon, when tho fourth round of tho championship singles competition was played. On rink No. 1 T. Adair met Nasmith, and one

of the keenest contested games of the season took place. Nasmith went-, away with the lead, but before the seventh hoad was reached Adair was on even terms with his opponent, and drawing in excellent style was soon able to establish a good lead. Some splendid play was witnessed on both sides, and on the seventeenth head Nasmith, getting in three beautiful shots, had a lead of 2 points, the score being 18 to 16. The four concluding heads saw some excellent drawing on both sides, but Adair proved too many for his opponent, and gaining a single point upon each occasion, he scored a meritorious victory by 18 to 16. A great deal of interest was centred in the contest between Sidobottom and Hennessy, and as the latter had a great record he was deemed somewhat a favorite for the event. Getting quickly off the mark, Hennessy scored 8 points to his opponent’s nil. Sidobottom, however, was not to be denied, and displaying great steadiness in regard to drawing, he had all the best of the next three or four heads, the score on the eighth head reading 8 to 2. Hennessy pulled himself together, and scored point to point with his opponent, but was unable to reduce the gap, the score on tho thirteenth head reading: Sidebottom 15, Hennessy 9. The former proved to be in great fettle, and, despite all Hennessy's attempts to reduce the score, he was able to hold his own to the finish, and ultimately win by 23 to 16. Perhaps the keenest-fought game of the three was that between McGowan and Gaudin."The former, after his defeat - of Ponsford on the previous Tuesday, was looked upon as having a mortgage on the game, and fought a great battle to the last head. Gaudin scored first, but the veteran secured one on the second head, and the pair scored alternately to the twelfth head, when the score was six all, being a record for siDgle play on the green. On the thirteenth head, McGowan got in two, making him eight, and then Gaudin'gradually overhauled his opponent, until the score stood at 13 toB. McGowan then rallied, and, catching the young Gisborne player on a long head, he was able to score three in one head, and again scoring on the nineteenth head, the board read: Gaudin 13, McGowan 12. On the twentieth head, Gaudin scored a single, On the concluding head, McGowan required two to tie and three to win, and, had he succeeded in wresting his opponent’s bowl with his last shot, he would have secured the victory. His bowl was, however, a little wide, and the position was not altered, the game ending: Gaudin 15, McGowan 12. The above matches have reduced the number of contestants in the championship competition to four, and a 'great d> ' of interest is being evinced in the conclhs'-""* ing games. Sidebottom has to meet Massey, and, as there is very little between them, a keen contest should result. Gaudin and Adair have also to play in the semi-final, and, as the latter has been responsible for the downfall of two or three of Gisborne’s best players, he has an excellent chance of getting into the final. Both matches will be played on Monday next, and the final for the championship should be played on Thursday next. Two challenge pairs’ matches have been arranged for this afternoon and to-morrow, one between Messrs Martin and Massey (skip) and Hennessy and Ponsford (skip), twenty-one heads; and the second to bo played on Saturday between Messrs Gaudin and Ponsford and Martin and Massey (skip), twenty-one heads.