BOWLING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4665, 22 February 1924, Page 4

BOWLING.

HIKUTAJIA V. THAMES.

Four rinks and a colt's rink (flrstyear players) of bowlers from the Thames Bowling Chib visited Hikutaia on Saturday, which, despite the prophecies of the weather-wise, broke bright, sunny, and very hot. The green, which had not only beep flooded, but had been subjected to Friday’s heavy rain, was soine.What heavy at first, but improved as the game went on. The visitors had the whip-hand of the local men on every rink, while the young players did credit to their club. Though beaten, Hikutaia put up a good fight, and the players in the various games showed marked skill in the ancient game. Only two of the home players have more than two yeans’ bowling experience, so that when they were pitted against veterans experience told and led to victory.

At tne close of the game the president of the Hikutaia club expressed the pleasure which the visit of the Thames bowlers had given. To play against them was like playing aaginst their-own folk,'for’the regard that Hikutaia had for Thames was greater than could be accounted for by the spirit of fraternity which characterised bowlers in general. His club had been beaten by better and more experienced devotees of ‘'Kitty,” and he acknowledged that superiority with pleasure, but at the same time he also had visions of future victory for Hikutaia. where there was excellent material which the experience gained by assiduous practice and by pitting themselves against better men would develop ijn course of time. Of the five rinks only one had a win, so that Thame,s had a walk-over. They deserved it, and he and his fellow clubmen were not a bit downhearted. He hoped to meet Thames bowlers on many future occasions.

Mr E. Watson, president of the Thames Bowling Club, said that a visit to Hikutaia. was a pleasure. Hikutaia was a by-word for hospitality , the club’s openings were second to none ; and the large-' attendance at these functions,-showdd <iOw popular their efforts were. That <&y they had kept up. even if they had l not enhanced, their reputation, and he heartily thanked the ladies for seeing so well to their material comfort. On the call of Mr W,atson hearty cheers were given for the ladies, the day concluding with reciprocal cheers for the teams.

The catering which- Mr Watson complimented so highly and so deservedly was well done. The quantity and quality o£ the viands and the manner and. celerity of rhe service were remarkably good, considering the large number of bowlers, tennis players, croquet players, and visitors present, and to the ladies in charge, the wives of the presidents, of the three clubs, Mrs W. H. Alley, Mrs J. Elliot, and Mrs G. Avery, together with their many willing assistants, the cl oh is deeply indebted, and gladly ad nowledges its indebtedness.

The details of the matches are as follows:—

H. Brash, ML R. Morrison, F. Hill, A. R. Robinson (skip) 16. v. U Dodd, H. Silcock, A. Delamore, F. Adamson (skip) 19 ; T. Hitchcock, H. Valentine, C. Winder, I. M. Robinson (skip) 23, v. C. Fearn, R. Lloyd, R. Hill, A. Frogley (skip) 10 ; J. A. Spencer, R. R. Morrison, IV. K. Morrison, R. Carr (skip) 17, v. W. H. Yates, R. Johns, L. Alexander, E. C. Cameron (skip) 19 ; H. Morrison, W. H. Alley, E. Elliot, F. Maxwell (skip) 16, v. A,. Bateman, A. Strange, B. Ingall. E. Watson (skip) 30; A. Duncan, H. Cameron, W. Knight, G. Avey, Ritchie Morrison (skip) 12, v. R. Kirk, H. Baker, H. Murray, G. Buchan (skip) 25. At the end of the game the scores stood : Thames, 103 ; Hikutaia, 84.