BOWLING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 236, 10 February 1911, Page 8

BOWLING

TARAXAKJ'S ANNUAL ImXTURE. ■SHIELD WON liY OI'I'XAKK. At the start yesterday morning of the third, and filial, day's play in the Taranaki Association's tournament on the Inglewood green, the position of the clubs represented was as follows:—Opunake, six wins, no losses; Pa tea, t'itzroy, Waverley, anil Stratford, four wins each; Inglewood, Pihuma, anu New Plymouth, three each; West End, and Eltliam, one each. Some explanation is necessary for a clear understanding of the published results of the various rounds and the methods adopted in determining the winners. Severn! clubs entered two rinks each, and others one rink each. It was decided to play-oil' on the principle of club meeting club. This was n "facer," the dilliculty of which is not easily understood, even by the average bowler, but the position was worked out very satisfactorily by the executive, and three lots of double games and two singles were drawn for each round. It slu ::M I. H stated that when clubs with tw.i .*ii. < met, the win was decided on the agg.ogat*. The arrangements of the draws (for which Mr. Leslie, Inglewood, was mainly responsible) placed the clubs on an eijuality, or as near to the happy medium as it was possible to discover. The weather yesterday was simply perfect for bowling; the wind, which had had been so troublesome on the previous days, died away to nothing, and then Old Sol shone out with all his might.

The effect of this much-to-be-desired consummation was a large attendance of spectators, among whom the fair sex made a pretty showing. ,

The success of Hie tournament was voiced with one accord. The president (Mr. W. E. Percival) was the recipient of many congratulations on the establishment of such satisfactory arrangements as hod been made, and his lieutenants. the secretary (Mr. 11. Humphrey) and assistant-secretary (Mr. S. Orhi'll) Reserve special mention also for their untiring attention to the wants (material and otherwise) of all who were present. The result of the tournament, as will be seen from the details given below, | was a win for the Opmiake Club—a very popular win it was—with Stratford as runners-up, The Opunake Club is thus entitled to have its name engraved on the Tarannki Bowling Association's shield, which has been played for annually since the tournaments were instituted five years ago. The clubs whose names are at present inscribed upon the shield are: New Plymouth 1900, Stratford 1907, Wawera 1908, Pihama 1909, New Plymouth 1910. Following are the details of yesterday 's play: EIGHTH ROUND. New Plymouth A beat Waitara B 18—10. Waitara A beat New Plymouth B, 10—13.

Pihama beat Patea, 17 —16. Stratford A beat Fitzroy B, 24—9. Stratford B beat Fitzroy A, 23 —10. lnglewood beat Waverlcy, 13—12. Opunake A beat West End B, 19—13. West End A beat Opunake B, 10—13. Eltham, a bye. In this round interest was centred principally in the meeting of the Opunake and West End rinks. Opunake had not received a reverse during the tournament, and when West End ran away with the lead the probability of the youngest club effecting the downfall of such doughty opponents aroused great excitement. The rinks were playing side by side, and each shot was keenly watched throughout by the players as well as the spectators. Half-way through the game the "colts" were leading in the aggregate by half-a-dozen points, but experience told in the end, and Opunake won by two poTnts, one rink being up and the other down. Amid great excitement the West End. skipped by Johnson, heat the veteran Dudley by three points, and were enthusiastically applauded.

The position then was: Opunake, seven wins; Stratford, five; Paten, Tnglewood, Fitzroy, New Plymouth, Pihama, Vvavcrley. four; Waitara, two; Eltham and West End, one. NINTH ROUND. Waverley B boat Stratford A, 22—13. Stratford B beat Waverley A, IS—l4. Waitara beat Eltham, 1!) S. Opimake A beat Patea B, 18—14. Patea A beat Opimake B, 22—13. Inglewood beat West End, 20—17. New Plymouth A beat Fitzroy B, 20-11. Fitzroy A beat New Plvmouth B, 10—17. Pihama, a bye. The outstanding feature of this round was tlie first defeat of Opunake, who were nine down in their match with Patea A, and only four up against the B team. 1 he position: Opunake, seven wins; Patea, inglewood, New Plvmouth, Stratford, and Eltham, five; Fitzroy, and Pihama, four; Waitara, three;' Eltham, and West End, one. TEN'TH ROUND. Opimake B beat Tnglewood A, 13—11. Opunake A beat Tnglewood B, 24 —10. Stratford beat Pihama, 24—12. New Plymouth B beat Waverlcv A, 22 12. Waverlev B beat New Plymouth A, 10-14. ' Fitzroy boat Eltham, 20—11. West End A beat Waitara B, 19—16. West End B beat Waitara A, 15—10. Patea, a bye. At this stage the position was: Opunake. eight wins; New Plymouth, and Stratford, six each; Patea, Tnglewood, Fitzroy. Waverley, five each; Pihamrt, four: Waitara, three; West End, two; Eltham, ore. ELEVENTH ROUND. Stratford A beat New Plymouth A, 20-10, Stratford B drew with New Plvmouth B, 14-14. Opunake beat Eltham, 21—11. West End B beat Fitzroy A, 19—14, West End A beat Fitzroy B, 20—11. Pihama beat Inglewood, 12—8. Patea beat Waitara, l(i—S. The surprise of ■ this round was the defeat of Fitzroy by West End in both rinks. THE RESULT IN A NUTSHELL. Opunake won nine games, and takes the shield; Stratford was runner-up, win-

ning seven games; New Plymouth won six; Patca. Inglewood, Fitzrov. I'ihama, Wavcrle.v, live; Wailara, lour; West End, three; Eltliam, one.

The players who represented Opunake were: JSremian, Clough, Soren.son, Dudley (s.); and Judson, Warner, l)es Forces, Burton (s.).

PRESENTATION OF THE SHIELD. Before dispersing, the president presented the shield to Mr. Brennan (president of the Opunake Club), and in doing so referred to the sportsmanlike spirit of the members of his club, especially mentioning the two skips, who, it should be mentioned, were carried shoulderhigh, and were the centre of an admiring crowd of players during the concluding ceremony.

Mr. Brennan suitably returned thanks on behalf of his club and fellow-bowlers, and referred eulogistically to the splendid success of the tournament, and to the genuine hospitality extended to all the visitors by the Inglewood Club and the Mayor and citizens. At his call, rousing cheers were given for the president and members of the Inglewood Club.

In response to acclamation, Mr. Dudley made a capital speech, pointing out that the support he had received from his colleagues hud as much to do with his club's success as anything he had done. Their success was'due, lie staled, to the fact that 110 disagreement whatever had arisen in the ranks, ami he pointed the moral in this respect for the benefit of future shield-hunters Hearty cheers for the ladies for their kindness and attention to all were given in 1 espouse to Mr. Dudley's commendations, and the proceedings' ended.

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION. At a meeting in the pavilion after Wednesday's play, the annual statement of receipts ami expenditure was presented and adopted. It was unanimously resolved to hold next year's tournament on the Patea and Wavcrley greens. Mr. Christensen, president of the Patea Club was elected president for the year, the appointments of vice-president and secretary being left to that club to make. The Mayor of lnglewood (Mr. J. W. W infield) and several councillors were present, and His Worship took the opportunity to welcome the visitin" bowlers to the town. °