BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2374, 15 December 1908, Page 2

BOWLING.

notes.

(By “Toucher.”) Saturday last saw posted up on the two local greens the selected teams to represent’ tlie clubs at the tournament next month. Comment, both favorable and otherwise, was, o. course expected from members, hut I think the two teams chosen are thoroughly representative. I lieai that one team of four intend to go from the Gisborne Club to compete in the Citizen’s Matches, but that the Tuvan ganui will lea re the'matter with tlie rep. four. It is usual for a lep. team to be subjected to criticism, and I will make a short critique of the various players. The team selected by the Gisborne Club is one that, on paper, should be good enough to bold its own with the best, it may meet at Napier. Taking the team in tlie order in which they play.—W. Pettie is undoubtedly a first-class lead, and no better choice could have been made. There are one or two of the younger players in the same club who are leading very well at present and give great promise, but the President is not only keen on the jack but he plays with rare judgment, and having already had experience in important championship tournaments is not at all likely to fail at a critical time, as might bo the case with less experienced players. Eure is another of-the solid order who has an excellent record in outside as well .as club tournaments, and is peculiarly suited to the position. Number three is Fred Martin, whom many would have preferred to see go as skip. There is no question but that fie would have proved an equally successful skip, but he can also play third, which Crawford cannot. Martin knows all there is to know about the game of bowls, and is a deadly draw as well as being good on the drive. He plays the game with tlie utmost keenness and it will be a remarkable number three who will succeed in leaving the Gisborne skip at a disadvantage after Martin has played his last bowl. Coming to the skip, I do not think there is any doubt hut that Crawford will worthily maintain the prestige of tlie Club against tlie strongest opposition. His weakness is that lie scarcely ever drives but lie is wonderfully consistent on the draw ,and at his best is unbeatable. With Crawford playing as I have frequently seen him an opposing skip would find little relief from the fact that the Gisborne skip did not drive. Though 'not a driver in. the ordinary acceptation of the term, Crawford plays “firm” shots with confidence and he lias had such a lengthy and varied experience in first-class tournaments that he will never be at loss 'to plan his campaign. Ho is a cool, resourceful player who will have the confidence of his team. So much for the Gisborne team. Now for the Turanganui. J. P. William® .as No. 1 is a player who thoroughly deserves his place, and- has for some time lately been playing the best game on the rinks. He .has lately . discarded his wide-drawing bowls for a narrower pair of full bias, and this lias made him very deadly as a lead. He is an ex-champion of the Pareoa Club, and led in Gaudin’s team at Auckland in the eights, last January. He skipped the four that won the Handicap Fours of the Club last Saturday. He is a steady and reliable player. A. Sawyer as No. 2. is a splendid man in the position. His play so far this season has not been as good as the .previous season, but he has played brilliantly at times. He was No. 3. in Martin’s team at Auckland last January, and played as No. 2. in F. A .Martin’s four in Napier in tlie March Carnival, when his skip said that he could not desire a better No 2. He plays an earnest game, and is in

•his place as No. 2. W. J. P. Gaudin as No. 3. skipped a team for the Club at the Auckland tournament, and, in form, is one of the best single players on the green. Ho is greatly experienced m tournament play, but must remember that ho is No. 3. on this, occasion. . His .drawing is a deadly feature, hut his skip is more likely to require his drawing powers than the bursting-up policy. Nerves are not known to him. The skip, J. ■ J. Martin, lias greatly improved in skipping since lie achieved the victories with liis four at last January’s Auckland tournament. Then bis fault lay in getting liis men on the jack, but lie builds up a game now equal to a veteran. He bas net, so far this season, played as brilliantly as in the past, hut appears to,have struck better form lately. His drawing powers are splendid, and liis firm draws are -invariably successful. I fully expect him to skip Iris team to many victories.

During tlie past week the'Gisborne Club’s tournament matches have progressed a further stage and on Thursday some of the semi-finals will he played. A most exciting, practice match was played on Saturday afternoon when Joe Martin and Crawford (skip) played Gaudin and Ponsford, (skip). It will be noted that tlie class of the contestants wag, well above the average and it only needs to be added that tlie wfiole four were at their best to realise that the spectators witnessed •a real treat.. Tlie score was wonderfully even, so much so that on the 21st. head both teams were equal. Four more heads were then played and in tlie end a brilliant and exciting game ended in Crawford’s favor by one point Tho Handicap Fours of the Turanganui Club were completed on-Saturday afternoon, when Colley’s md Williams’ rinks met. It proved exciting until a few heads from home, when Colley’s four fell to pieces. Taken all through the play was decidedly mediocre, the play of the skips being the only redeeming feature. In the first half Williams had repeatedly to save his side, while in the latter half the same duty fell to Colley. Somervell was, at times, deadly .as a lead, and completely outclassed Clayton with liis straight draws. McConnell I have seen in better form, but lie was undoubtedly superior to Edwards, who was in and out. Douglas and/ Hird played well at times blit there’ was nothing between them. The skips had a lot to do. Williams played splendidly, while Colley, though doing well, did not appear at his best. The victorious team can attribute their victory chiefly to their skip. The Handicap Pairs of the Tu rail garni i Club still pursue the even tenor of tlieir way. The match between Hay and Nasmith, and Harris and Morse was noted for the tall scoring, not less than 56 points being scored on the total. In this game the former pail* quickly overhauled the latter’s handicap of 7, they being outclassed. MckSimming and Neill accounted for Skeet and Bennett,, the former pair, playing splendidly, Neil especially drawing well. The match between Leydon and Stormont, and McPherson and Ilatcliffe was expeted to be close, and no one anticipated the hollow defeat the former pail* got. In their match 'against Creamer and ILird, Leydon and Stormont won easily, Storniant’s skipping being too good for his inexperienced opponent. The greatest surprise of the matches so far was the defeat of Somervell and Sawyer by Skeet and Bennett. Sawyer did not play up to his form, while Skeet led well for Benentt. Tlie latter obtained a big lead half way through the game, which the losers could not overhaul. Tho game between Kay and Nasmith jnr and It. O. Skeet and Bennett provided the most exciting finish seen on the green .so far this season. Nasmith and his mate led most of the game, but Bennett. and liis partner on two occasions put up a five, making things level. The 21st head s-aiy a close measure for two for Bennett, which, if he had obtained them, would have won him the game. However one was secured. In the extra head played, some good bowling was exhibited. Bennett lay three, but Nasmith, with a splendid 1 drive, took tho jack clean through to his back timber and lay three. Bennett put up a lovely bowl in reply, drawing the shot. Nasmith in the twilight drove hard at tho scoring bowl; it went out clean, and his own rebounding took out his second, but bis other two a yard away won the game. Hay played a fine game, his best so far in the pairs. Skeet also did well. Nasmith showed his true form for the first time this season, his play being very deadly and consistent. Bennett also did well, but was outplayed, although the game was even. The following is the present position of the games:—

SECTION A. Wins.Loss Nasmith and Hay 2 1 Sawyer and Somervell 1 1 Morse and Harries 1 1 Neill and McSkimming ... 1 0 Bennett and It. Sheet 1 3 McConnell and Edwards ... 0 0 SECTION B. Wins. Loss Martin and Douglas 1 0 Jenne and Thehvall 0 1 Hallam and Farrell 0 0 Williams and Birrell 0 0 W. Q. Sheet and Lewis ... 0 0 SECTION C. Wins.Loss Stormont and Leydon 1 1 -Rateliffc and McPherson ... 1 0 Hird and Creamer 0 1 Gaudin iand Bruce 0 0 Cussens and Zachariali ... 0 0 Colley and Hooper 0 0