THE GISBORNE CLUB’S TOURNAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 27 December 1907, Page 2

THE GISBORNE CLUB’S TOURNAMENT.

WITTY’S TEAM WINS THE HANDICAP FOURS.

At tlie Gisborne Club's green yesterday afternoon the final round in the handicap fours was played off between the following teams : —Fordyce, Murray, Brady, and Witty (skip), and T. Clarkson, Morgan, \V. It. Clarkson, and Crawford (skip). It was popularly supposed that Crawlord s team would win, but a surprise was in store, and a most keenly-oon-tested game ended in a sensational manner, and loft Wittv victorious by ono point, gained on the last head. Crawford conceded a handicap of tour points, but his team played solidly, and taking the lead at the seventh head led until the nineteenth. I here was never much between the two teams, and at the 19th head the scores were : —Crawford 22, Witty 19. At the next head Crawford’s team ay several bowls m, and Brady with his last bowl tried a drive. It came off, and scattering the head left his side with- two to the good. There was still ample room for the skips, and M itty got in a third, but Crawford failed with both balls, so that both teams tied for the last head. Almost precisely a similar condition of affairs again took place. Crawford’s men led until Brady with a long drive cut the jack into the ditch. By this time quite a crowd were looking on, and it was the unanimous opinion that Crawford, who had not a difficult task, would still get in. However, this usuallv reliable skip was off color through indisposition, and both his bowls found the ditch, so that Brady’s toucher won the match. There was considerable excitement at tlie close finish, and Witty was heartily congratulated on all '.sides upon his win. Brady also came ■n for special praise. Handicap Singles.—G. Miller (21) beat W. Pettie (19). Handicap Pairs.—Malcolm and Amb rid go (handicap 5), 32, beat Paltridge and Lewis (handicap 9), 31. This game was practically won on the last three heads, on "which Ambridge succeeded in scoring 11. Tlie following ordinary gimes were played:—Bullock, Burton, Harris, and Hookey (20) beat Eure, Zaeliarinh, Hennessy, and W. Pettie (16): Cussen, Partridge, E. Lewis, and Hennessy (22) beat O’Meara, Burton, Eure, and Robertson (11); Redstone, Wilson, R. F. Houlihan, and A. T. Hookey beat Malcolm, Dodd. F. Harris, and Ambridge; Mackreil and Pavitt (20) beat Robertson and Bullock (15).