BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 327, 1 March 1910, Page 3

BOWLING.

THE KEOKXT TOIUNAMENT

(By -Be Up.")

The Tarauaki provincial tournanisiit of I'JIU is now an event of the past, and resulted, as I anticipated in my last notes, in New Plymouth winning the Shield.

As the stores sent by the Tress Association to the papers seemed incorrect, 1 obtained the iigures from a reliable source as regards' New Plymouth matches. This club came through without a loss, and 1 shall confine myself to their doings. They met the redoubtable Pihama rink in the first round, the New Plymouth rink consisting of Coliins, ißundle, H. Smart, and A. K. Smart (skip). Pihama started with a 4 and 1. At 5 they stayed for a dozen heads, and did not have much of a look-in after. Pihama did a lot of driving, but in the main unsuccessfully, the scores ending —New Plymouth 28, Pihama 10. ■Great interest was centred in this match, as Pihama held the Shield for 1000. In the second round New Plymouth met Opunake, A. K. Smart's rmk winning against Burton, 25 to 17, while H. Smart went down to Dudley, 17 to 18, New Plymouth winning on the aggregate. In the third round they met YVaverley, when A. K. Smart beat McGorrey, 2!) to 10, and H. Smart went under to Einmers'on, 12 to 10, New Plymouth again winning on the aggregate. On the second day, at the end of the fifth round, New Plymouth, Stratford, and Hawera were each without a loss, but in the sixth New Plymouth beat Haweri. New Plymouth started the fourth round <against Eltham, A. K. Smart beating Carman, 24 to 10. and H. Smart defeating Hill, 32 to 14. New Plymouth in the fifth round had another easy win against Inglewood; A. K. Smart beat Gudgeon, 36 to 11, and H. Smart beat Drake, 33 to 14. In the sixth round they met Hawera, A. K. Smart beating Foy, 2P to 21; H. Smart beat Parrington, 22 to 17. On the third day New Plymouth met Fitzroy in th« seventh round in a one-rink match, the players being Bishop, Clarke, Kundle, and A. K. Smart (skip), beating Rennell, 28 to 10. In the eighth round they met Stratford, A. K. Smart beating Betts, 25 to 18; H. Smart beat Sangster, 23 to 18. Im the ninth and final round, owing to the rain, a number of clubs whos'e positions would not have been affected by playing the round tossed for the last match. Hawera and Stratford, New Plymouth and Patea, had to play owing to the premiership being in the* balance of the three first-named clubs. Eltham and Opunake also played. New Plymouth played Patea in a one-rink match, Bishop, Clarke, Morey, and A. K. Smart doing battle for New Plymouth. This match was played in the rain. For fourteen heads Patea and their adversaries held the advantage alternately. On the sixteenth head New Plymouth were two up, and finished by winning their last game by 23 to 14. '

The New Plymouth men all played well. Allan Smart was out "on his own" at the tournament, and was easily the hest player and skip on the ground, driving effectually and drawing shots that brought forth cheers from all sides. He is also to be commended for his judgment in the picking of the teams', although criticised by some of the old hands at the inclusion of the colts. But results speak tor themselves, and New Plymouth Club should be proud to have such a general among them.

In the single-rink matches New Plymouth scored in all 79, and had 40 scored against them. In two-rink matches A. K. Smart's,' rink scored 168, and had 93 scored again- '.hem. The total scores were: New 3 'outh 386, against 230. A. K. Smart ie through all his nine matches a loss. H. Smart lost to Opunakc,' ! to 17, 'and to Waverley, 16 to 12.

In describing the players, Ai Smart savs Bis'hop and Clarke were 'ways there, and the old veteran More,, "ever played better in his life. The same may be said of the other rink, Burgess playing well, although suffering from sciatica. Collins and Bundle were also up to form; in fact, they must have all done well to pull off their matches. Fitzroy. for a young club, did well in beating' Pihama; they also played well against Stratford, and should have beaten them. The position of the teams at the final was —New Plymouth, 9 wins, no losses; Hawera, 8 wins, I loss; Stratford, 7 wins, 2 losses; Pihama, 5 wins, 4 losses; Eltham, 4 wins'. 5 losses; Fitzroy, 3 wins, C losses; Patea, 3 wins', f. losses; Waverley, 3 wins, 0 Josses; Opunake, 3 wins', *6 losses: Inglewood, no wins, 9 losses.

All visiting teams speak highly of the arrangements made by Eltham and the courteous treatment they received. Inglewood is to have the honor of the next tournament, and will, I am sure, do the thing properly, as there is not a better crowd of bowlers at entertaining to be found around. I think the members of the New "Plymouth Club should have a s'ocial evening at the pavilion when they hold their general meeting (which, I understand, will shortly eventuate) re enlarging the green, and give their representatives a good reception for their work in upholding the club's honor. Last Thursday no matches were played, owing to the rain, which will do the green good. Barrv and Bishop had a go for the Veale Buckles held by Rudd and A. K. Smart, and gave them a good run for them, making a tie at the 21st head. Playing off, Smart got 2, and the buckles did not change hands. Binnie, Woods, Luscbmbe, and Hill (skip) plaved Rawlings, Bradbury, Cock, and Clarke (skip) for ' the' Club's Feathers. Hill winning by 23 to 19. The following day Rawlings, Wilson, Bradbury, and Cock (skip) challenged the holders, but did not wrest tWe feathers from them, the scores beingHolders 27, Challengers S.

Other games will be played to 'gain the feathers. A Christchureh bowler has' written Mr. R. IT. Scott, enclosing a clipping from the Press stating that the heat was so intense in North Canterbury on Saturday, 12th ult. (when Canterbury and Dnnedin centres played their match), ranging from S3deg in the shade to 14.">detr in the sun. that for a time harvesters had to cense work. Tho correspondent adds: "But not s' o the howlers. The latter are made of far

harder shift", in spite of the fact tliat harvesters are paid Is 3d per hour and

bowlers nothing." Really, bowlers live the strenuous life.

The Dunedin Star is responsible for this:—K. ol K. has' a keen sense of humor, lie is also a keen bowler; but ■he does not often get 'the chance of a game. However, on one occasion, when Sirdar i7i the Soudan, he arranged a littia o-ame with the Mahdi and three of his principal followers—a game which terminated very much in favor of tue Sirdar. The "green" was in an oasis in the desert, and the bowls were live shells. Time fuses were inserted in the Arabs' shells, nicely arranged to go off at the proper moment. As one by one they advanced to deliver their bowls the' Arabs and the shells went off pop, amid ejaculations of "Allah akbar! Kismet!" to the intense amusement of the Sirdar and his' team.

This is what a Melbourne writer had to say regarding the futile efforts recently made to organise a team to tour this Dominion: "Nominations are wanted from players willing to go to New Zealand, if selected, to form part of a Commonwealth team. Reading between the lines', I should say that the following qualifications were necessary: Stacks of 'boodle' imperative; oceans' of time a consideration; mustn't he married (wife couldn't stand the be a good sailor, etc. Any team entering the Dominion and not acknowledga ing that it is 'representative of Australia' would expect to hear about it." If the above views were generally entertained, no wonder the visit did n#t eventuate. •'<,*'*<