BOWLINS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1353, 13 January 1905, Page 2

BOWLINS CHAMPIONSHIP.

EXCITING MATCH.

GISBORNE WINS NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

Although Gisborne had had a clean run I through with ten wins, tho deciding game I for the North Island Championship Fours I provod a most exciting contest. The pre- I vious gaino in which Carlton qualified for > the final match created great interest, with an exciting fioidh. But that only served | to prepare the way for porhaps as exciting a gamo of bowls as has been scon on any j ; New Zealand groon. The spectators linod I all round tho banks, and from start to I finish the keenest interest was taken in tho game, there being liberal applause for l any good woik on either side. The New- j market (Carlton) team soon obtained the I lead, and maintained it to the finish, Kil- I gour’a splendid driving tactics spoil- I 1 ing many apparently fine scores I I for the Gisborne aide. But Pons- 1 ford remained cool and collected, I a skip, who will never admit defeat until I I tho numbers go up against him. His best I I friends, however, thought that the fine I placing on the last head would no more j than losßeu the defeat. When Kilgour made the concluding shot, and it was found to have wicked one of Martin s I bowl further into the jack, there were | I hurraiiß and shouts of “ Gisborne wins,’

I and tho cheering spectators,many throwing their hats into the air, rushed the ground I and the Gisborne skip, was hoisted shornI der high and carried from the green, later on to he warmly congratulated by bowlers I and spectators from all parts, j THE TEAMS. Gißbornc 16 Carlton ... 15 Martin Nixon 1 Coleman Anderson Massey Laurie I Ponsford (skip) Kilgonr (skip) DESCRIPTION OF PLAY.

Th® following is a description of the play: On the first head Carlton were lying 8, when Massey, with a half firm shot, knoolied Martin’s bowl on the jack, and this was not disturbed until the close of the head, Gisborne scoring one point. The Gisborne lead drew a splendid shot on the jack, which Nixon, with a brilliant bowl, removed amidst great applause. There was no change to the end of the head, Gisborne 1, Carlton 1. Carlton played on the short head. The Gisborne lead, Martin, drew with both his bowls. Anderson, Carlton colt, placed a lovely bowl on tho jack. Massey a bowls were fast, and the Carlton lead pul m a block. Ponsford failed with his first shot to dislodge the shot bowl, and Kilgour with his last drew another. Ponsford s last bowl was wide. Carlton 3, Gisborne 1. •The Carlton lead drew within a foot or the jack with his first bowl, Martin being wide. The Carlton first second shot was within two inches of the jack. Coleman drew the Beoond shot, but his second bowlwas short, as was also his opponent e. Massey with a splendid shot dislodged the lying bowl, giving Gisborne the shot. Kilgour drove with his first without effect and Ponsford put in a block. Thera was no ohunge, leaving the soore, Carlton 3, Gisborne 2. Martin drew the shot, but the Carlton second took it from him, Anderson getting within a foot of of the jack. Massey’s last bowl seoured the shot and Ponsford failed to block. Gisborne 3, Carlton 3. ... On the 6th head Martin drew within a foot of the jack, and there was no ohange until Massey dislodged the shot bowl, giving one to Carlton, Ponsford made two excellent attempts to draw, just failing, and Kilgour with bis last shot added another for Carlton’s score. Carlton 5, Gisborne 3. On the 7th head Nixon drew both bowls, Massey driving one out, but with his next shot knocked Carlton in. There was no ohange. Carlton 7, Gisborne 3. On the Bth head Nixon drew the shot, although PonsCarlton 8, Gisborne 3. The next head saw Gisborne lying 4, but Kilgour with his first dislodged two of them. Gisborne 5, Carlton 8. On the lOih head Martin drew within a foot of the jack. Nixon with bis first was a little short, but his second was right on the jack. The thirds played for position. The skips failed to alter the soore. Carlton 9, Gisborne 5. Martin drew two splendid bowls on the 11th head, but the position being open gave Anderson a chance, which he took advantage of, trailing the jack and lying 3. Massey with his first bowl made a measure. Kilgour with his last shot wioked his own and lay 2. Carlton 11, Gisborne 5. On the 12th head Martin drew the shot, but Anderson went one better with his first bowl. Coleman drew a magnificent Bhot on the jack amidst hearty applause. Massey drew short, and Laurie’s last shot knocked his bowl in and left Gisborne lying two. Kilgour drove the jack, it going almost to thß line. Ponsford’s first bowl was out of the rink, but with his second drew the shot. Carlton 11, Gisboruo 6. On the 13th head Martin draw the jaok, and Anderson knooked Martin’s second bowl in. With his last bowl Anderson drew second shot. Kilgour drove and made a dead head of it. Martin drew tho shot, and Masßey put another in. Carlton 11, Gisborne 8. On the 14th head Nixon drew tho shot, but Coleman with a maguifiosnt bowl beat him. Anderson, who played short with hia first, trailed the jack with his second. The position was not altered, i Carlton 12, Gisborne 8. On the 15th head the Gisborne men drew splendidly, and were lying 3 when the skips went up. Kilgour drove and gave his side the shot, but Ponsford, with o magnifioent draw, secured the shot for Gisborne. Carlton 12, Gisborne 9. The 16tb head saw some good drawing, and a pretty trail of the jaok gave Carlton tho shot, the position not being altered. Carlton 13, Gisborne 9. On the 17th head Martin drew the shot, Coleman getting second shot. Kilgour with his bowl drew the shot, and Ponsford drove but missed everything. Carlton 14, Gisborne 9. On the 18th head Martin drew splendidly on the jack, but Nixon went one better, and dislodgoi his opponent. Coleman carried the shot off, and gave hia side 3. Kilgour drew the seoond ehot, but Ponsford was successful in getting in his | second bowl. Carlton 14, Gisborne 11. On the full length of the green Martin drew splendidly on to the jack, amidst rounds of upplause. Anderson played a splendid shot, and trailed tho jack away from his opponent. Massey drove, but getting wide drove one of his own bowls in. With his next shot Massey drove a good shot—but unfortunately carried his own out. Ponsford drove twice, the second time narrowly escaping getting the shot and driving one of the Carlton bowls out. Carlton 15, Gisborne 11. The 20th head was a most exoiting one. Nixon drew right on the jack, and Martin' the Gisborne lead, drew him off and rested’ on the jaok, Nixon's seoond bowl was a ! foot in front of the jack. There was no ohange, Gisborne scoring 1. Gisborne 12, Carlton 16. Martin’s first bowl was 4ft short, Nixon drawing within 2ft of the jack. Martin then drew the Bhot a foot from the jack. Nixon with his second bowl wickt_ifoff Martin, and lay alongside tho man with his first bowl oarried the shot bowl off the jaok, leaving Gisborne lying two. When the skips went down Gisborne were lying four, Coleman and Massey each having drawn ono. Kilgour played a grand soot with bis final bowl, but knocked one of Martins in. I Gisborne 16, Carlton 15. j [ AN EXCITING FINISH. There was wild exoitement at the finish The green was rushed with the excited spectators and Ponsford, the veteran Gisborne skip., was oarried shoulder high to ihe pavilion bjr his jubiliant supporters. The general opinion was that bad Kilgour driven ne must undoubtedly have carried out some of the bowls. Up to that head thesoorß bad been chiefly singles with one o* two p»i{B| bat ea the fipal head Gl?. 1

borne scored /our, thus winning by a point. Aa Ibo Carlton skip.'s last bowl waa coming up tbo spectators crowded on to the green, and when it was seen that it bad knocked one of the Gisborne bowls in there ml Iremeudons charring The shot wa* U good one, as one of Cnrlfon’s own bowls was 1 only two iocbes away from tbo bowl whioh I was knocked in.