BOWLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1926, Page 2

BOWLING.

WEST COAST TOURNAMENT.

The two Hokitika rinks returned home last evening at 8 o’clock, having left Westport at 1 p.m. and having a splendid run home. The trip proved a very enjoyable one but the weather interfered considerably with the play. There was heavy rain on Sunday, and when Monday opened there was a doubt that play would l-<* possible, but the green rolled out well and proved in good trim and fairly fast. Throughout the tournament owing to the wet weather the green never had the fast finish for which the Westport rink is so renowned, and it was in nothing like the same line condition as at the previous tournament three years before. The weather on Tuesday was showery and occasionally the players were driven to shelter for a few minutes, the green showing an ever changing condition. Wednesday was a threatening morning but play continued with a couple of short breaks till two o’clock when tho rain came down heavily completely flooding the green and stopped play for (be day, only the morning game being completed and the second one half way through. The unfinished games could not he- resumed until after 0.30 o’clock on Thursday though players were assembled ready at 8 a.hi. The day was again showery with a gusty wind that chopped ad round tho compass ami made play very difficult at times, hut the sectional play was completed in the afternoon. There wore a number of surprise results during the day several ol the fancied rinks failing badly. The results left in Messrs Blaxall (Westport) and Page (Lyttelton) a tie for section A with'seven wins and two losses each, while Mr Oakey (St. Albans) and last veer's winner, won section B with six wins and two losses. Tho sectional tie was. plowed off on Friday morning and again the weather interfered. Play was set down for 10 a.til., but at. that hour the green was: under water as a result of the rain that fell during the night. The roller, however, was then put- on three rinks and a wonderful transformation followed. the water being rolled out and the sun coming out, at 11 o’clock play commenced under remarkable conditions, the playing rink being in capital order, but where the roller had not liecn put on the rest of the green was a sheet of water. The visitors remarked on the wonderful recovery of tho green which played truly and fairly fast getting better as the day woic on. Blaxall and Page were the skips of the two teams for the tie and the Westport rink had aU the best of the play on nearly every head having an advantage when the skips went do»\n. Pao-e made some wonderfully good shots in the early stages and retrieved the position in fine style leading B—7 but from then on tho Westport team scored rapidlv and the game ended in Elaxall’s favour by 25 to 13, there being excellent plav shown. THE FINAL.

The filial was played in the afternoon between the rinks skipped by Messrs Oakey (St. Albans) and Blaxall (AAcstpirt) and resulted in a win for Air Oakey’.- rink by 23 to 19 after a very fine game. When the final between Oakey and Blaxall was played in the niternoon, there was bright sunshine, and the green rolled out beautifully. 'I here was a la roc crowd of interested spectators. The rinks were: St. Albans: Buck. Mulnas. Smith and Oakey (skip.) ; West nor t : Sara, Green, Levy and Blaxall (skip). For the first part of the game. Blaxall had far the best of it. This was largely due to the excellent leading of Sara. The scores af the various heads were: Fourth. o-3 in favour of Blaxall. Bth, 11—5 ; Kith, 14—7; and 13th. 19—8 in Westport’s favour. At tli:- stage i ini afternoon tea nd-juui-nm-mt was taken. On resuming the St. Albans, playe-s showed greatly improved form, and Blaxall did not score

another poult. Alter the seventeenth head, the score sr.-i.:-i: Blaxall 19, Onkev Id. Th* eighteenth head was probably the deciding head of the game. On this bead Onkev got four; lie also scored four on the jasfc three heads, the final scores being, Oakey 23, Blaxall 19. At the conclusion the cup was presented to the winners by Mrs Struthers (wife of the President of the Westport Club). Mr StruHiers apologised for the absence of Mr Bing (President), and congratulated the winners on their success for two consecutive years. Air Oakey responded, and ho made special mention of the great hospitality received.

The winners went through the tournament with only two losses, the rinks successful against them being AVilliams (AVcslport) 25 to 23. and Benjamin (Hokitika) 18 to 10. The winners were also successful at the last tourmaiiment at Hokitika, and are the same as played then except that Mr P. Buck a former Greymouth player replaced Air Brass as lead, the team consisting of Alcssrs P. Buck. F. Malpas, K. H. Smith and H. B. Oakov (skip) of St. Allmns Club. Christchurch.

The visiting howlers were treated most hospitably throughout the live days, the lady supporters being unceasing in their attention, and with the officers aiul members of the Club made every effort to ensure the success of the tournament, which resulted in spite of the somewhat unfavourable weather conditions.

AYEST COAST BOAVLTXG CENTIH

AYEDXESD.YV. FEBRUARY 10th

t A meeting of the delegates of the ? - West Coast Bowling Centre was held . at Westport at -1 p.m. Present:— 1 Messrs James Ring (chairman), T. Bowes (Runanga). Ryan (Westport), Benjamin (Hokitika) and D. McKay : (lion, see.) The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, the outward correspondence approved and the inward correspondence approved. The latter mainly dealt with the visit of the British team, and from the Westport Cllih in regard to the touruameiil. The Chairman welcomed Mr Ryan as dec gate for Westport, the latter suitably replying. In regard to the correspondence with the Westport Club, it was shown by flic Secretary that any misunderstanding that had arisen was due i<> some of the letter to the Westport Club having failed to Is- placed Indore the executive of that body. Mr Ryan agreeing that the reading of the eor-Bci-pondeucG had made matters clear ami satisfactory. In regard to the question of the playing in connection with the champion of champion singles, of a pairs champions of champions or a pairs tournament, Westport, Reef ton and Greymouth desired a champion of champion pairs and Runanga and Hokitika a pairs tournament. It was resolved for this year to hold a champion of champion singles and pairs conjointly at Runanga on Saturday February 27tli, certificates to he given to the winners and Clubs of each, and the pairs champions to hold the silver cuo for pairs for the year. It was resolved so as to ensure the play being completed in one day that the singles champion of a Club should not be included in the pairs. It was resolved to send letters of appreciation to the Greymouth and Westport Clubs in reference to the successful wav in which thev had dealt with the visit of the British howlers and also to thank the management of the New Zealand Pictures Ltd., for their invitation to the visitors to their picture display. In reference to next year’s tournament Runanga was fixexd as the location. the date to he fixed at the annual meeting. The question of rinks only or rink and pairs play is to be referred to the Clubs for an expression of opinion on this subject, delegates to he also advised bv their Clulis on the approval or otherwise over a period of five days, with an extra day arranged for in case of wet weather, so as to allow of extended rink and pairs play with full 21 heads for each game.

A discussion arose on the question of rules for tournament play and the .-Secretary w-v. requested to ‘submit draft rules for same at the annual meeting.

The Chairman referred to the tournament then in progress, expressing his pleasure at the complete arrangements

made by tho Westport Club and the generous hospitality extended, and it was decided to deter further action until the annual meeting. Before the meeting concluded the 'opportunity was taken to refer to tho work of the Secretary and Chairman since the last meeting, and to confirm with every approval the actions taken in. connection with -Centre business, Messrs Bowes and Benjamin moving and Air Evan expressing approval also, with the hope that the differences that had unfortunately arisen would drop and be forgotten. , The meeting adjourned at 0.30 p.m. BRITISH BOWLERS. BY TE.jEGRAPH I’IIKSS ASSN., .COPYRIGHT. WELLINGTON. February 12. The British howlers were the guests of the Wellington Bowling Club to-day on the last match of the tour. The Britishers won by 184 to 143. AAclliiigtoii Club presented every member of Che British party with silver souvenir spoons as a parting gift. Mr AA ■ Crawford (British team president) presented a silver kitty to the Wellington team for a singles competition.