BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 310, 9 February 1910, Page 3

BOWLING.

(By "Be Up.") Bowling in Taranaki uas made great strides during the last few seasons, and there are now the following bowling llubs in the provincial district:—New Plymouth, Fitzroy, Waitara, livglewood, Btratford, Eltham, Hawera, Manaia, Pihania, Opunake, and Patea eleven clubs and all .will, I hear, ha represented by two rinks each at the forthcoming provincial tournament to be heli at JEltham this month to do battle for the Provincial Shield, that at present is held by Pihama. The country clubs are practising assiduously. New Plymouth, the first holders, who only won the shield in the first contest by three points from Fitzroy, is departing from the old custom, and is putting in two solid rinks of players that are certain to give a good account of themselves under the skipship of the brothers A. K. Smart and H. Smart. These s'kips do not worry their teams, and therefore get good work from them. In the town rinks Clarke and Bishop make their debut in tournament play, and will uphold their end well. Clarke is consistent in his play, while Bishop is full of confidence. Morey and Bundle are the veteran players of the club, and have taken part in all tournaments so far. Collins and Burgess are ■jjood steady players, and with the skips selected should go close to bringing the shield back to the New Plymouth Club,

The Fitzroy Club has selected Hea'.y and Bennell as skips for the tournament, and in my opinion could not have 'lone better. It is a pity that Callander *.. "' 1 not get off to play, as he is the most promising player in this club. The other younger country clubs have good players, and will take a lot of beating, particularly Waitara and IngleVood.

The Veale Buckles' matches were revived last Saturday, when Hill and Cock challenged the holders, A. K. Smart and Rudd, who have held them since last season, and in the first ten beads gave them a good run for it, but fell off after, owing to the superior play of their opponents, the game ending— Holders 24, Challengers 14. Immediately afterwards H. Smart and Ewing ■played the holder*, and at the last 'head, with one bowl each to go. H. Smart had the game won, but failed to get his last bowl behind. His' brother drove and, having three behind, won by 20 to 17. Steele and Eraser are the next challengers, then Bary and Bishop, to be followed by Morev and Harle. These matches cause a good deal of interest, and tend to produce good play. There are four Feather badges at the pavlllotl for rink playing, and it is intended to play for them during the season. They should provide some good competition. «■ -- ■ •^'•'.ek-.-v

Mr. Hall, who has been warden cf the New Plymouth Club for years, Las' resigned owing to pressure of business. The club has asked Mr. R. Cock to carry out the duties until the next annual meeting. Mr. Hall deserves the best thanks of the club for his services in the past, as he has always taken a keen interest in the green. The Stratford bowlers play New Plymouth next Thursday on the New Plymouth green. Waitara plays Fitzroy at the Fitzroy green. Seeing that the veterans are going to Wellington to see Lord Kitchener, and as there are a number of bowlers amongst them, arrangements might be made to play a few matches while there. With such good bowlers as J. S. McKellar, S. Bundle, W. Rundle, A. Binnie, and 0. Oxenham, they could pick a good rink that would surprise the Wellingtonians. They would win more matches' than they would lose against the best, and I trust they will combine and play a few. The New Plymouth Club has a mascotte in a little boy about five years old. who goes V- the name of Georgie, 'who has been r frequenter of the green (luring the ho I 'days. It is amusing to hear him shouting "Hit the Ladyship" meaning thf Kitty, and calling the players by .:ame Charlie, Jim, Sam, Micky, .Too. Dick. Allan, and others. The players' have become quite attached to Jiim. .- i •