BOWLING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 310, 31 December 1914, Page 6

BOWLING.

THE WANGANUI TOURNAMENT. (By White Pants)

The three Stratford rinks that visited Wanganui, though they did not succeed in bringing home any trophies, acquitted themselves creditably, and had a very enjbyable time. The weather was fine throughout, and, except for half a gale of wind on the opening day, the conditions were perfect. The rink that' was expected to most worthily uphold the reputation of Stratford bowlers failed to play up to form in the first three matches. King and Masters as lead and second in the first game could not perumde their bowls to come into close contract with the coveted “kitty.” No doubt the wind was a determining factor. King’s howls being very light were buffeted here and there about the green. The evergreen “George” as third man did not play his usual game. Skoglund, at skip, did as well as could he expected under the circumstances, his task being a very hard one. The rink did not shape well either in the second and third matches, and it was decided to reconstruct. Jho team as chosen was turned completely round, Skoglund playing lead, Smart second, Masters third, and King skip. After the reconstruction and team succeeded in winning every game played, Skoglund playing well in the load, the other men following suit in thoix ie-j spective positions. Had tho teem played in this order during the whole time the result might have been very different. It .is worth recording that* the team that ultimately won the ction (Atkinson, ‘of Wangatmi) met the Stratford rink in the last match of the series, and were defeated by 21 to 16, the Stratford rink being in the lead the whole way. Of the other two rinks, Sharp’s was the mote successful, finishing up level with Skogluird’s, viz., five wins and three lossei This rink met last year s tournament winners in their section, and succeeded in heating them. The writer heard this game described as cue of the most keen and exciting games of the whole.series, some of the best players in Wanganui being engaged against our 'men; Fookes is described as having played a niosterly lead, one or other of his howls always keeping well in touch with, “kitty.” Reeves, as second, inclined to bo narrow when drawing on the fore hand, otherwise - played well. Nicholson played, very consistently, and Sharp, as Skip, was equally at home in driving or drawing. This team with a little luck should have gone through without a defeat. Jackson’s rink finished up with four wins and four losses. They opened brilliantly, being. successful in both, games on the opening dhy. Had they, continued to play as well on the remaining days they would have been well up in their section, but somehow luck was against them. Their games with Parkinson, of Hawera, was a strenuous one, both teams playing splendidly, Parkinson managing to scrape home with a narrow margin in his* favor. R. Masters played consistently as lead, as also did Campbell Jackson, but this player had very had luck, shots that should have found their billets just failing by hairbreadths. Morison played well all through the tournariient. E. Jackson, as skip, handled his men fairly well, but in one game he lost there seemed to .ho a lack of judgment in building the heads. His driving was perfect on the opening day. The Stratford rinks were hy.no means disgraced, and proved worthy opponents to some of the older and more experienced tournament players. The men left Stratford with tho idea of having a goqd time ,and their expectations were, fulfilled. The majority of the men arrived home ' sunburnt and happy last night. Those remaining to sec the finish will arrive homo to-day. ,