Bowling.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 85, 15 February 1902, Page 19

Bowling.

The special" who did the late bowlnig tournament m Wellington for the Dunedin Witness," sa\s — 'With iegard to the play itself, I think, perhaps not unnaturalh that it was not better than oui own In fact, I prefer the game as placed in the South, for the pernicious habit of driving very much in e\ idence heie is not so prominent with iu>." And vet some of the Southern competitors took to driving" verv quicklv — and liked it so well that theA' were not content to let then skips have a monopoly of it Thorndon scoied a fan win in the Pennant match on Saturda\ against New town — 9 points ahead But for Sievwnght's pei fonn Alice against Price, howevei — 24 to 11- -the "Civil Service" club w ould have gone under Now they are rejoicing that the Huddart Parker cup winner w a>s nut through the Thorndon sieve." D'Emden tell lathei badh to Lomax. who was "iung in" as a skip at the last moment and pLned steadily throughout Mihtai\ science is a great thing. Ro.ss and Bar\ had a bustling game. Dawvit" was plavmg well, but Bary knows a bit too much for him — 20 to lo. Underwood was a bit abo\e McKerrow , too — but the big Thorndon man has been a bit off-colour lately Di MacGiegoi had a waim leception when he le-appeared on Thorndon green on Satutda-\. But he is not quite up to foun vet— not so keen on the drive, vou know . Lougton reckons he has a sine thing for the Thorndon President's. Cup again. To toll the truth he is a bit too good at singles foi most of the Thorndon dons The game between Gihbes's and Balhngei's rinks, in the semi-final stages of the gold medal match, last Saturday had a sensational finish. When the last head was readied. Ballinger required six to tie. After making several dead heads by driving for the bare jack he trailed the jack and lav five.* Gibbes's last bowl dropped short, and lay about sixth. Ballinger seemed to be doubtful about his five, and put up a firm one to wrest Gibbes's nearest out. but missed. Had he succeeded he would have scored seven, and won the match. Had he drawn, instead — an easy matter — he would have tied. As it was. he was just beaten bv a point — a splendid finish Gibbes had the best of the luck Ballinger drove in one head to take the lack to the backwood, where he lav a hatful. He caught the jack fair, but it rebounded off a back bowl right up the rink tow ards the mat and Gibbes scored four with his short-piteh-p-d bowls Three ot the citv clubs and Petone were engaged in pennant matches last Saturda\ Johnm Danks made his re-appear-ance for the black and white but is not tuned up to concert pitch vet Geordie Wright was quieter than usual No doubt, his position as third was a steadier McEIdowney plaved a good game as number three for Undeiwood In the match Victoria v. Petone. the former had a rather easv win — 99 to 6b Bovee,, of the Wellington Club who is aJw r a\s willing to fill a ~ap and Russell plaved for Petone. who were two men short, but Billy Mack, with his marbles w alked over them — 25 to 10. Scott finished against Kirk with 21 points to spare — 33 to 12 Johnston s was the only successful Petone rink, beating young Brackenridge's bv six points — 26 to 20 Victoria and Petone were asking each other the conundrum Why does the Wellington Club reserve its worst rinks for visiting teams, while the other clubs set aside their best ? Hues. ton who bobbed up on Saturdav at Mount Victoria, after a six-weeks' absence was beaten bv Page after^_a close game hv three points — 20 to 17.

Hatnerton ha.s been promoted to skip, and put out Keith's light on Saturday — 2~> to 13 The junior pennant match, Victoria v. Petone, was won by the former bv 8 points, all obtained by Mayo's rink — 22 to 14. In the other rink Norwood and Wvhe pulled out level — 18 all