ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 14

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH.

With the unprecedented fine weather that has been experineced this winter, bowling has had a wonderful impetus. Although .somewhat cold for play on Saturday through the approaching storm which hit the a couple of hours after the games had concluded, the greens were quite playable and some excellent and enjoyable games took place. Of the trophy competitions chief interest centred around the Edwin Stars contest, when the present holders, Allen, Richardson, Somervelle, Parsons, of Ponsonby, met and warded off a challenge from a very strong Hillsboro team under the captaincy of Thompson. As in the fine game the previous Saturday between Grey Lynn and Ponsonby, the result was in doubt right up to the time when the last bowl was played, but on this occasion sustaining the interest of an extremely large gathering of enthusiastic bowlers present in the presence of the Nomads v. the Ponsonby Club. • * 9 At the commencement of this head the Hillsboro team required three points to win. and the jack was thrown full length for the' final tussle, while a fast falling darkness made it barely discernable from the mat. The leads, twos and threes on both sides were wide in their drawings; however, the Ponsonby team lay o v iie up, with Somervel’s bowl on the edge of the ditch. At this stage, Parson’s wonderful drawing ability was in evidence; for, with accurate precision, he drew his first bowl within a few inches of the jack. This was driven out by Thompson. and with his next he drew the absolute shot—a toucher—an impossible position for Hillsboro to gain a victory. The next challenge also will extend the holders to their fullest bowling ability. Included in the team are three members of the Dominion champion rink — W. Bremner. Irving Clarke and C. E. Hardley. TThis game will prove of added interest, for some three years ago Irving Clarke retained the Stars against a long list of challenges for some very strong teams. The list of winnings on that occasion was unfortunately not recorded. # The final game to find the ultimate winning team in the Mount Eden Club’s King’s Birthday tournament also provided bowling of the brilliant order on Saturday. In this contest two teams of front rank order were matched against each other. They comrpised Horsely, Cox, C. E. Hardley, Irving Clarke, of West End, and Drs. Hardy Neil, K. S. Macky, P. Moir, with M. Walker as skip-—an Auckland team On the first head West End opened the scoring with a singleton. This was replied to by two, three and one respectively by Auckland, and again by West End two and two. The scores then see-sawed on the board with small scoring up to the lltli head, and followed again in the same fashion until the 3 9tli bead, when they read 13-13. Then West End notched a timely two, which was followed o nth** concluding head by a further one. making the final count 16-13 in favour of West End. It may be said that the front division of the victorious team was superior on the day over the front rankers of the Auckland team. Both Horsely and Cox played excellent bowls. Between Hardley and Moir there was little to come and go between these fine players: Hardley was. however, slightly superior. M. Walker was in excellent, form and gave an exhibition of good all-round bowli ing. The game marked the conclusion | of a very enjoyable tournament. In the Denison Pins competition the Epsom team consisted of the original [ members on Saturday, including C A. ' Lamb, S. F. Hazard, S. C- TL de Launay and T. R. George, the challengers being T. S. Bassett, J. D. Whitmore, A. A. Kenny and A. A. Brown, of Onehunga. The game proved a runaway game for the holders. This is the third occasion that Epsom has won the games in this series of matches. * • • The Nomads wandered again on Saturday and on this occasion they were split up into two bands of bowlers with nomadic habits. One section j found its way to the Ponsonby Club. J where thev crowded the winter green j to the verv utmost. The balance of j the players were at Onehunga. Mr.; John Schischka. the president, wel- j corned the chief Nomad. Mr. J. J. J

Donnell, and his men to the Ponsonby Club, and during the afternoon tea adjournment the Rev. Mr. Blake and the Rev. M. Pattison responded on behalf of the visitors. Quite a deal of praise was in evidence at the splendid qualities of the green and the players greatly enjoyed the outing to the famous old club. The Nomads will visit the Dominion Road Club next Saturday.

Quite a programme of visits from bowlers has been arranged by the Carlton Club. A couple of weeks ago members of the Auckland Male Choir visnted and during the afternoon tea adjournment gave some songs to the delightful entertainment of members of the club. This visit was followed by members of the Auckland Schoolmasters’ Association, then by the Ponsonby and Newmarket Druids. On August S rinks will be occupied by members of the Auckland Grammar School Old Boys’ Association Versus the Carlton bowlers. The occasion will mark the commencement, of that association’s jubilee week. Mr. Alfred Coutts, Carlton’s president, is a member of the association, and he ranks third highest in age. has reached the fine old age of 76 years. Mr. H. G. Mayor, a member of the Dominion Bowling Council and past president of the 'Wellington Bowling Club, was in Auckland during the past week. pire eJanie, 1. The election of Mr. R. N. Pilkington to the presidency of the South Auckland Bowling Centre will be hailed with pleasure not only in that centre but also by the bowlers throughout the whole of New ZZealand. Mr. Pilkingtbn has been associated on the istrative side of the sport for a number of years past, having been a member of the Dominion Bowling Council for a long term of years. On the playing side he ranks among the foremost exponents of the game in the Dominion, having skipped a rink that won the champion banner of the Dominion. Auckland bowlers in London at the present time include Mr. James Pascoe, president of the Auckland Bowling Centre, and Mr. A. D. Gray, for some years closely associated with the progress of the Auckland Bowling Centre. Mr. W. D. Kelly, past president of the Dominion Road Club for the last two seasons, was recently the happy recipient of a suitably inscribed set of Dunlop bowls. The members were wonderfully appreciative of the good work that Mr. Kelly had done for the club, especially on the social side of the sport, and wished to make a permanent record of their regard. Messrs. J. M. Thomson and J. W. Hardley left on Sunddy night for Dunedin to attend a meeting of the Dominion Bowling Council to be held in that city during the current week. The executive of the Ponsonby Bowling Club has donated five guineas to the Mayor’s Earthquake Relief Fund. The president’s social evening will be held on Thursday, August 22, when the prizes won by members during the past season will be presented. A pairs tournament will be held on Wednesday, July 24, commencing at 8.45 a.m. As the number of rinks will be limited, early entries are advised. The next match for the Edwin Stars has several interesting features. Ponsonby. the holders with 11 wins in succession. has equalled the record held by West End, which is the challenger for Saturday West End the holder when -Ponsonby succeeded in wresting the trophies from it last October. NOMADS V. MOUNT EDEN The following rinks will represent the Nomads against the Mount Eden Bowling Club .on Saturday:—W. Davjs, H. Yearbury, Rev. O. F. R. Harrison, J. Wylie; J. Campbell, ,A. Poole W. F. Hardley. J. Whitehousey C. Whitehouse, L. S. Francis. Rev. A. Drake. G. C. Pickens; E. Simpson. D. G. McLeod. Rev. R. P. Rankin. 11. R. Martenson: R. W. Hill. R. Reinches, <\ Maher, T. Fairbrother: -T. S. McMillan. W. Whittaker, •J. R. Lundon. 11. E. Clayton; C. E. Clarkson, C. W. Ross, Rev. J. Pattison. W. Beckman: R. Smith. 11. Bell. T. H. Colthurst. E. W. D. Footed .1. .1. Donnell. tV. Skinner. Rev.. W. D. Morrison-Suth-erland, J. Anibury.