BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2110, 8 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOWLING.

(By “Touchor.”) Keen interest is being maintained in the Tnr.mganni Club's championship and ’Bennett Cup competition, and judging by the close finishes that are taking place the winning of the championship ijs' verv open. The game between 31. G. Nasmith, jnr., and B. Hird was close to the 13th head, when Nasmith got the upper hand and ran away from his opponent, ‘Bird filling to pieces. Hird played a splendid game m the early part, and got in some good drives, enabling him to keep a shortlead. Nasmith, however, played solidly and wore down his opponent. From Ids game with Nasmith, Hird turned to meet W. J. I\ Gamli-n. It was expected that Gaudin would dispose of Hird, but the brilli uit finish that took place unset all calculations, and completely outshone the finish of the Hml-Mnrtin game. Gaudin outgenoralled his opponent throughout, but despite this fact Hint could not bo shaken off, arid on the 13th head was level —10 all. On the 20th head Gaudin was 10 to 15. with Hird lying two, when Gaudin with his last bowl drove, but took his own howl out, giving Hird four. Requiring three to tic and four to win the last head was played. Hird drew well with his first,' but Gaudin made a weak shot, and as the fatter had no chance of making three lie cleterinin_od to make a dead-head. Hird played his howl to block, but Gaudin after two ineffectual attempts, drove the jack into the next rink with his last bowl, amidst great excitement. Replaying the head Hird placed his first howl at the hack in case of a drive. Gaudin, finding the green, made a splendid draw v.'.'Mi his 'first. Hird again went to the back, and Gaudin drew a second. Hird drew for the shot, but was a trifle strong. Gaudin bowled another good one. giving him three round the jack. Hird with his last bowl played a good draw, but unluckily for him his bowl fell over just outside Gaudin’s, levying the latter with three. Gaudin played his last, and, just squeezing inside Hi id’s, obtained four and victory. J. Colley plvaed Jus first game m the competition, when he ran against J J. Martin. Neither played well, and Colley seemed completely off. Martin had the game won half-way through, but Colley succeeded m getting within four of Martin at the finis' l - . r. Colley then met A. Sawyer, and again went under. It was Gulley s div off, for it was expected that ho would have disposed of Sawyer. J lie latter, however, played a splendid game, his driving being deadly, while Colley was completely at sea. ’When Nasmith junr. -and Gaudin met it was expected that a great (fame would be witnessed, but Gaudin with splendid shots kept on robbing Nasmith of the shot, and on the Bth head liad the game in hand, with 13 to 1. From this out Nasmith proved as good as Gaudin, scoring 11 to Gaudin’s 10. The. 14th head saw Nasmith lying one, but Gaudin with a good shot carried the lack to the ditch and lay 3, putting the issue beyond doubt. TT , -> The game between 1). Hepburn and T McConnell was exceedingly close to the Bth head, when Hepburn showed bis superiority, wining by 10 points. Both players at times made good shots, some excellent heads resulting. W 0. Skeet, contrary to expectations, defeated W, H-atcliffc. The former played a splendid game, lying generally on the jack, but while the latter made good shots at times lie did not play up to form. As was expected a splendid game ensued between J* J* Martin and >'• J ]\ Gaudin. The latter led, but Martin overhauled him, and getting the lead kept in front to the finish, winning bv 6 points. Both bowlers played splendidly. The game was open oil the 20th head, when Gaudin required 5 on two heads to tip. Martin was lying the shot, and Ganelin with his last bowl played for a dead-head, but unfortunately'for linn carried the jack to the ditch and scored one, which necessitated him making four on the last head to tie. This was possible, but not probable, but Martin instead secured two, and victory. Immediately after his defeat by Martin, Gaudin gave his attention to Sawyer. It was thought that Sawyer would put up a good fight, but such lyas not to "he, Gaudin completely vanquishing hisoppommt. Gaudin made every head a winning post, and Sawyer was only enabled to score on four heads, scoring 8 to Gaudin s 29. The latter’s play could not be improved on, while Sawyer played poorly. The match between M. Neill ‘jud Nasmith iunr. oroved. w exciting finish. As Nasmith lead on the lOtn bead by if! to 3, it was thought that Nasmith had a "sure thing,” but Neil, getting the jack, put up a long head, and reaching the 17th head was 13 to 14.' Neil got- Ins lour in on a short head given him by bis opponent, and -on the 19th bead \yas 17 to 15. .With two heads t-0 ««>» ‘bo gamy looked lavoriible to Neill, but Nasmith, was not to be denied, for be -made matters even on the- 20th head, and drew the shot on the last bead, winning by the narrowest ol margins. Both players drciy suW 1 * dully. . ~ IT;,l|„m accounted for Nasmiths third defeat in the competition. Iho latter nlaveil m uphill game throughout. ' Leading off with two threes Hallnm was 11. to 4 on the 7th bead, but Nasmith got within one of Ins opponent on the 10th bead. Ibe following bend ssrw Nasmith bowls on the iack, bqt HuHaui, who was iduyitm, a great game, drove them oIF. and got the shot. In fact, but for bis driving, Hallam would have suffered defeat ill the game. On the last five beads Nasmith put up 9, and nearly pulled the game off The 18th bead saw him wre.st ] out of Hallam’s shots UIM obtain three, and the last head lie earned the jack from llallam and obtained three. . , The following is the position ol the various players at the conclusion ol

There lias been no lack ol me about the Gisborne Club’s greens of late, aiul each afternoon qitd evening

a lot of interesting play takes place. A lair proportion of the games arc tournament matches, for the committee leave no stone unturned to stimulate interest by the promotion of tournaments. The final rounds of the first tournanien’., which was interrupted hy the departure of n number of the best players lor the Auckland tour are now being approached, and interest is correspondingly keen. A fresh series is now being arranged and will shortly be in full swing. Hennessy had bad luck iu having to accept a substitute in his pairs match. With Brownlee, who is a promising player, lie would have given Pettie a great : ‘go” but Preston, whom lie took as a substitute was a poor match, for Collins, who is one of the most reliable of the new players in the Club. Crawford was in his very best humor when meeting Pettie, which meant that his drawing was ’’deadly. Indeed to Pettie it must have seemed fearsome to watch his choicest shots outplayed by work that was so precise as though accomplished by machinery. The President put in some fine play and made a number of successful drives, but in the end it availed him little. T. Clarkson, who played lead was also in good form and kept Collins fully extended throughout.

tin* s-ccoml week's plav:— Played •i Won Last . .!. Mill'tjll 4 t) \y. -.1. It. Umuliu 5 -1 j •J 1 Nsibiuit!\, .junr I 3 \> A. Sowver •-> o 1 >V. Uoteliil'o 3 •i 2 2 1) HepHurn T. .MiC'oiitifll 2 i 1 W. 0. Slo’t'v '2 t i j 1’. llalkmi 3 3 M\ 'No’ll 4 i 11. Ili.rd • y > i 0 *1 C. j. UollMl'll 2 - .). Colley 2 0 2 M o. Nasmith 6 0 0 1 « i < »