BOWLING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9347, 16 January 1909, Page 4

BOWLING.

Per Press Association. “ Napier, January 15 ; . The Northern Bowling Association’s champion fours were concluded to-day on Napier green in unsettled weather. The morning was dull and a couple of showers fell, the first necessitating a stoppage of play for a short period.* The championship was won by Napier. There was a large attendance of spectators to witness the final between Napier and Feilding,/ the play being closely followed.. Napier scored a brilliant win, which', was greeted with much enthusiasm. The following are the teams >-

Napier:.—R. Holt, A, E. Wrightson, J. P. Smith, H. Bull (skip)., Feilding.—W. Irvine, G. Manning, H. O. Stewart, S. Saywell (skip). The game was a brilliantly , exciting one and the result was in doubt until the final head. The opening was all in favour of Feilding, who won the first seven heads and|had 13< to their credit before Napier opened. Play at this stage had to be suspended on account of a shower. On the eighth and ninth heads Napier scored two and three respectively,, and on the tenth head, with a. brilliant drive, Bull cut out the Feilding bowl and drawing the jack, with his final bowl, scored three. Napier got one off the eleventh head, and Feildinggot a single off' the next. The leading throughout was distinctly fine. Feilding had a little .the better of the play in the: next few heads, but on the seventeenth the scores were level, 17 all. . Saywell robbed Napier of three on the eighteenth, and added one to his own score.* Feilding then got three more on the next head, but Nag)ieo scored two on the 20th and the score, read : Feilding 21, Napier 19. The final head was badly opened, and was practically the worst of the' game. Manning sent down a fine shot and lay behind the jack, whileSteward repeated the operation. Feilding were lying 2. Smith thenplayed a beautiful draw which carried the jack with it and Napier were lying three. This shot practically won the match. Bull placed his remaining shots with unerring; skill, and each of them scored. Saywell failed to change the aspect of the head, and Napier lying 5,. won a magnificent game by 24 to 21. Feilding and Bluff Hill played off. for the second place. The match was distinctly good and attracted considerable attention, but Feildingopening on the first led with three up and held the advantage throughout. Bluff Hill made a gallant effort to catch their opponents, but Feilding were not to be denied and won by 19 to 15. The Bluff Hill team was composed of H. Newtown, J, Snodgrass, W. McCarthy, and A. A. Kennedy (skip). " The citizens’ match is expected to be finished to-morrow afternoon. THE ENTERTAINING QUESTION. About fifty bowlers met to-nightr under the auspices of the Northern Bowling Association, when the question of entertaining at tournaments: was discussed, and approval was expressed of the Council’s recommendation to increase from 2s 6d to 12s 6d the entrance fee for players taking part in annual [tournaments. A motion regarding mushroom clubs entering for the championship fours; was withdrawn on its being stated that the matter would receive the* Council’s attention.