BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2368, 8 December 1908, Page 3

BOWLING.

(By “Toucher.”) With the nearing of the approach of the Napier tournament, the topic of the personnel' of the local rep. teams is ever in the air. The list of the Turanganui Club’s entrants closed on Saturday, and the chosen four will be -anounced during the week. In a short time also will the Gisborne team be made known. Apart from the rep. teams there is talk on both greens of sending down to the “City of the Iron Pot” extra fours for the citizens’ matches. I would like to see such teams go, and as likely -as not a good showing may be made by them.

There seems some difficulty -in arranging the Gisborne Club’s team for Napier -as some of those best qualified are apparently unable to go. However, I have no doubt that when the time comes a four will be found able to make the trip and worthy to uphold the reputation of the Club. A whisper has been -going round that after t-he first four has been selected another rink may be chosen to travel under the banner of that mysterious organisation, the Te Rails. Ido not wish to go -into the rather unsiivory details of what that arrangement would mean, but would only say in passing that it would not reflect creditably upon either the -local bowlers or the game. However, there will, l hope, ho no need to make further reference to this matter, for I cannot believe that the sense of fairness of the members of the Gisborne Club will be so Fir *ost sight of as to allow any of its number to travel to the Napier tournament as representatives of a club which is to -all intents and purposes non-existent. Let -us hope the Te llaus will be permitted to remain in -permanent exclusion until having secured a green of their own, thev rise, Phoenix-like, and again contend for the honor and glory that have in the past been associated with the name.

The Gisborne Club'has been making some headway with its various competitions during the past week, and some interesting exhibitions of relative form have been given. For instance, we have ibfid young Frank Pettie downing the mighty Ponsford in the champions single competition by a substantial majority, -and no less than three young players, Kyme, Partridge and, T. Clarkson gave the -redoubtable Fred Martin a tough go in three respective singles, the firstmentioned winning with the assistance of his handicap. So far as the season has progressed I should.say that the younger players seem likely-to -prove most successful, several of them being very close to scratch form, whilst they are steadily improving. The older hands, on the contrary, find it exceedingly difficult to main-ftun the form that in the past spelt success almost invariably when they met opponents in a ding-dong contest. lan Simson is playing more erratic than usual, and though he plays a fine game at times, more often he is very wide of the jack. The veteflan Ponsford, though still a mighty power on the Gisborne rink, is not so invulnerable as of yore. Ho is fairly consistent, but so far had not displayed the -resourcefulness and dash that Lave always been associated with his play. . j Fred Martin has been in and out, hut on the whole he seems to retain his former ability, -and similar re-: marks apply to Crawford. Kyme has been playing some rattling games and is at times so brilliant that great things (are expected of him. T. Clarkson is another of tha younger players who has been showing good form. 1 Redstone has not been much on tha o-reen, but on the few occasions upon which he has played his bowls iharo almost always -laid handy to the jack. Paltridge is very erratic, and I should advise- him to drop driving, „to which he has already devoted tod much attention, and practice drawy ing exclusively for some time to come. The popular President, Mr AY. Pettie, hns been a frequent visitant to tbe greens since the season opened and on the whole is showing very consistent -and at times brilliant iorm. , The -draw for the second round or the handicap -pairs and fours should be available by the time this appears and the -games still to be decided should be full of interest. I hen-r there is likely to be some heartburning over-the action of the Match Committee in deciding to adherer strictly to the notified date of .olosmg the first draw in tlio Pairs, -as arinimber of games have not been decided: Whv , thet-e s.bouW be any grumbhng-I fan

to sec, for ample time was .given in which to play off the games, tand those who failed to do so have only themselves to blame. Last season a number of competitions were uncompleted as a result of matches not being got off in reasonable time and there, is little -doubt but n similar state of affairs would again ensuethis year unless the Club officials take a firm stand.

The game in the Handicap Fours, as played on the Turangaliui green Inst Thursday, was a dismal exhibition on the part of the losing four. V illiams’ rink played well. Neill and Hallam, who -played such fine games against Nasmith’s rink the week previous, were -severely ‘disappointing, and discouraged their two assistants. Somervell, who led. for Williams, did exceptionally well, and is allowing -up splendidly as a firstyear player.. The Turanganui Club’s pairs were started last Thursday, when It. Skeet and Bennett met Harries and Morse. This, as expected, proved a ding-dong “go,” the latter pair just securing victory. The winners played well, especially Morse. R. Skeet -also did well, but Beunett was not in liis true form.

The match between -Somervell and (Sawyer and Hay and Nasmith was expected to be close, and it was so till about the twelfth head, when, from this point, Sfcnvyer and his partner ran away from their opponents. The victory of -Sawyer was made the easier by the splendid play of his dead (Somervell), who achieved the distinction of securing two victories in one afternoon. Sawyer, likewise, did well. Hay played fairly well, though not quite nip to his usual. Nasmith got in some good play at times, -but was decidedly “off color.” Mr. J. Jeune, a. member of the Turanganui Club, 'lias 1 ato-ry returned from a visit to the Old Country. He is brimful of bowling doings in the Homeland. Vaux-lmli. Park claimed his attention, where he enjoyed, an hour’s play for a fee of Id, "the use of shoes and bowls being thrown in. A difference he noted wns that play was indulged in to whatever spot' the jack may be thrown on the green, a feature altogether different from the New Zealand game. One point he lias brought out with him, and which should be useful to local pi avers, is the playing of an odd man m a rink. In England the odd. man plays wli.it- is termed “jack,” that is, he puts -up liis two or more howls for one team from one end of'the green.

-and plays for the opposing side from the other end. This, I think, is a point worth copying. I notice that the Bennett Cup competition is to bo commenced on the Turanganui green shortly. I fully expect some keen games" and -would Mot at all be surprised to see the present and -unbeaten' holder, J. J. Martin, go down.