BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1648, 15 January 1906, Page 3

BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

SOUTHLAND WINS CHAMPIONSHIPf NEWTOWN TAKES BANNER. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. The Wellington Bowling Tournament promoted by the North Island Bowlmg Association was continued and brought to a oonolnsicn yesterday in capital weather. The order of play waa Southland versus Viotoria in the final for the Championship ; Gisborne versus Newtown in the semi-final for Shield and Banner, and Yiotoria against the winners of the latter gams for the final. The result of the play was that Southland won from Victoria, and thus ca-ried oS the Championship. Newton beat Gisborne, and then beat Victoria, winning the Association Banner and Shield for 1906 and taking second place in the Championship. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

Southland v. Victoria : Tbe game commenced quietly. At the 10th head Southland had ebtained a lead of six points, the MeLaren v. Snaddon rink being 8 a'l and Hain v. Hueston rink II to 5. From this point Southland steadily drow away on both rioks, so that when tbe 16th head was reaobod the score stead at 86 to 16, 3naddon having added only one point and Hueston only two, whereas McLaren had added tan end Hain seven, the figures beiog McLaren and Snaddon 18 to 9 and Hain and Hueston 18 to 7.

This style of play was continued right to the end, and the final figures were: McLaren v. Snaddon 24 to 12, and Hain 7. Hueston 26 to 9.

Southland thus won the match by the uubstantial majority of 29 points. There is no doubt the s’andard of play in this game was much below that of yesterday, even on the part of the winners. Hain played a very fine game, but all the rest, winners and losers alike, appeared to be somewhat out of form. The fading off on pari of Viotoria was especially noiioalible, particularly in tbe case of Hueston, who waa very far below, the form he showed on Friday. By winning this game everyone is of opinion that they richly deserved it. Their play bad been very consistent all through, and at times brilliant. (Pltsir success was all the more notable from the fact that they had not onde played together before they oama to Wellington. The skips both played with great E-kill, and managed their rinks with excellent judgment all through. Their men were all good. Allnult, of Southland, nspeoially distinguished himself by fine play.

BANNER AND SHIELD. The semi-final matoh : Newtown v. Gisborne, was played at the same time as the one above. It was a very hollow affair indeed. Newtown took the load at once, and never looked back. Gisborne appeared to bo quits helpless, and although Ponsford’s team played np a little towards the ond of the game, sooting a five, two threes, and a single, the game ended io a victory for Newtown by 23 points—s 7 to 34 THE FINAL. Victoria and Newtown : This matoh was started at 2 o’clook. It was very even in its first stages. Newtown held a slight lead at the sth head, but on the 13th head she scores were oven, 27 all. Then Newtown began to draw away, and on the 17th head held a lead of fire points, but Sneddon's deficiency was now 11. From this point the game resolved itself into on almost helpless straggle, and finished in a victory for Newtown by 11 points—47 to thus won the Shield and Banner, and took second plaoe in the Championship. The trophioj wero handed over to them in due form, and the tournament finished wltfi oheers for the wioniog and losing teams, and for the officials of the AsscciaIt W3B acknowledged by ail that the tournament has been most successful and enjoyable. The weather had been perfect, and everything oonneotei with ths tournament had worked smoothly and well.