Bowling Carnival

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 217, 1 February 1913, Page 8

Bowling Carnival

CLOSING STACKS. ] NEW PLYMOUTH WINS. Good weather ushered ia the elos- j ing day of the fifth annual tournament of the Taranaki Bowling Association. Play Wiis confined to the semi-finals and finals, which resulted in some extremely interesting play. In the afternoon the New Plymouth Club's* greens were thronged with bowlers and their wives and the general public. The heat was for a time very trying, but half-way through the proceedings the sun was lost to sight behind the clouds, and there being no wind to speak of the weather proved ideal from the point of view of spectators and bowlers alike. The bowlers and visitors were entertained at an '''at home" on the green by the president of the Association (Mr. A. Goldwater) and Miss Coldwater. Afterneon tea was dispensed, and a number of delightful selections were rendered by an orchestra ensconced in the pavilion. All present were loud in their praise of | the hospitality of the host and hostess.

A feature of the semi-finals was that of the five teams left in only one out- j side club was represented, three rinks hailing from the New Plymouth Club, one from West End, and the other from , Stratford. It was past seven o'clock when the last head of the final was finished and it was known that the laurels had been secured by the New Plymouth rink skipped by A. K. Smart. His team has come, through the tournament with nine wins and one loss, while (!. Smart's rink of Stratford players (the runners-up) have sevn wins and three losses. The third prize, for the team against which the lowest number of points was recorded, goes to C. N. Johnson's rink of West End players. In all 114 points were put up against them. Details of the semi-finals and final are given below. SECTION A PLAY-OFF. In the play-off for A head, Grey's rink (New Plymouth) succumbed to Firth's (New Plymouth) to the tune of 20 to 13. Firth's team played consistently good throughout, and held the advantage. Grey did good work, on one occasion (at the 17th head) robbing his opponent of a six and gaining two for his side. Shortly afterwards Firth secured a fiver, then three-er, and ended up with a lead of 13.

SEMI-FINALS. STRATFORD v. WEST END. The, match between Johnson (West End) and 0. Smart (Stratford) provided an interesting game. It was even going to the ninth head, when scores were level. Then Smart got in a three, which he repeated the next head, making the scores 15—9 in Stratford's favor. Johnston retrieved himself in the twelfth head, securing a fiver. Smart replied with a one next head, making the scores: Stratford IC, West End 14. The next was burned by Johnson, Stratford lying two at the time. The fourteenth head fell to Johnson. Stratford 10, West End 17. The next was burned. Stratford again got the lead with a two, increasing it to four in the next head. 17th head: King played a fine lay shot. Newall, however, rested his bowl out. Smart, with his last bowl, ran Newall's bowl and scored. Smart 22, Johnston 17. 18th head: Lobb played two fine bowls, which were not disturbed till King got a lucky wick and ran right on to kitty. Johnston drove unsuccessfully with his first bowl, but burnt the head with his second. Lobb, who played excellently all through, gain got close to kitty. King, however, ran out his shot. Newall retaliated by running him out, and Johnston got in a couple of fine draws. In the 19th head Lobb failed, and Porrit got right up to kitty, but Putt shifted him. King played a splendid bowl and got the shot, and Smart scored two more. Johnson now wanted 10 to win, and got four on this head. Requiring six to tie and seven to win, Johnson secured a three, and Smart therefore won a really fine game by three. A. K. SMART v. FIRTH.

Up till the ninth head this contest was of an "in-and-out" description. At' the twelfth head Firth had a lead of 5 —the scores being 13—8. Then Smart got a two, Firth replying with a three. Smart forged ahead at the sixteenth with a three, but at the nineteenth the scores were oven—lß points each. At the twentieth head Smart drew a five, putting the issue out of doubt. Firth scored one in the last head, the scores being 23 against If). The playing all round was excellent, and theie 'was little to pick and choose between the two rinks. THE FT\ T AL. The first stage of the .final between « v Smart (Stratford) and Allan Smart (»ew Plymouth) was very evenly contested, the play being of a high order and at times brilliant. Stratford gained the first head with a two. New Plymouth following with a four. Stratford secured one twice in succession. The fifth head fell to New Plymouth as a result of a somewhat fluky drive by A. Smart. Stratford were'lying at the sixth, but Allan Smart again upset the position by catching the jack and making a dead head of it. Stratford secured a three at the next head. Luseombe had drawn a beauty, but King displaced it, the skip drawing a couple more. New Plymouth had three up at the seventh head, when Stratford's skip sent down a ball that drew the shot. Allen Smart, with his last ball, successfully cut it out. leaving the three and giving New Plymouth the lend. It was a fine shot, and merited the applause that greeted the effort. Stratford won at the eighth, the ninth was the best head played up till then. The balls were assembled all around the jack. Stratford's skip was just n little narrow with both his balls. Allen Smart drew a beauty. New Ply- n mouth 10, Stratford 8. Harrop.New lvniouth's lead, got his second on the kitty, and when the skips went down New Plymouth had three in. The first i ball of both the skips went wide, but : Allans second ball drew blood and pushed in another. The position was not disturbed, and New Plymouth's lead was increased to 7, viz, ' 15-8. They further improved it by three in the next, and by one in the twelfth, niakin« , he scores 10-8. In the thirteenth head the jack was thrown short. When the skips went up, Stratford lay one. Allan ' Smart ran the jack, and Stratford still

lay on. George Smart drew anothc: shot, ami Allan Smart was eighteci inches short failing to draw. Stratfon thus notched two on the head. In tin fourteenth head the jack was ilirowi to within three feet of the. ditch, inn when the skips went up New Plymoutl lay one. Allan Smart drew anothei shot. George Smart failed to alter tin wsition, and Allan Smart scored two. In the start of the fifteenth head Har--op, with a '-'toucher," lay within U nehes of the jack. Ward, with a 'toucher," earned the jack away. The ieeomls and thirds failed to alter th« wsition, and when the skips went down Stratford lay two. Allen Smart, with lis first ball, drew second shot. George imart played a good shot and just ouched the jack, giving it to New. Plymouth. New Plymouth made one, leavng the score 22—10 on the fifteenth lead. The sixteenth head was a medium me. New Plymouth lay one when the eaders had played. Luscombe followed vith the second shot, which was still icld after Porritt played. Porritt took die second shot with his second bowl. The thirds failed to make any alteration. ,Vhen the skips went up New Plymouth ay the shot. A. Smart drew, making sew Plymouth two. G. Smart followed vithout any alteration. Allan Smart [rew a third shot, and George Smart ollowed with a fruitless shot. The lead thus closed Stratford 10, New Plynouth 25. The seventeenth was also a nedium head. In the lead Harrop held he shot. Luscombe lying second. Poritt took the shot, but Luscombe, folowing, relieved the situation. When he seconds finished. Luscombe still held he shot. Paul drew the shot, and New 'lyniouth held two. A. Smart drew to irotect a back bowl, and George Smart [rove without any effect. Allan Smart igain drew well behind, protectively, .lid George Smart again essayed an unuccessful drive, 27—10. In the 18th lead the leaders' play saw New Plyriouth hold the shot. Luscombe played md took it out. The thirds played, .nd King took the second shot, St'ratord lying two up. George Smart drew .nother one for Stratford, and Allan Smart following saved two, the head inishing 11—27. The nineteenth round aw a long head. Harrop took the hot. Luscombe, who was playing a ;rcat game, took the jack. King drove insuecessfully. He repeated his atempt, taking. New Plymouth out, and Stratford lay two. .Paul followed and ook the shot. George Smart drove and nissed. Allan Smart drew the second hot, and his opponent again missed his [rive, the head finishing 11—29. The wentieth was a medium head, and New Plymouth drew three shots in succession intil Porritt took two away. Paul

drove and missed, leaving Xcw Plymouth one up. George Smart drew the shot, whereupon his opponent burnt the head by a talented exhibition of skittles. The head being replayed, New Plymouth secured three in succession, while Paul cleverly drew the fourth. King relieved the situation by drawing the shot. The skips followed, but did not effect any alteration. Stratford 12, New Plymouth 29. The final was a long head. Ward took the jack, and Harrop [relieved. King drew two beauties, and Paul drove and missed the lot. Another "ditcher" followed from Allan Smart. He then drove and took one out. leaving Stratford 14, New Plymouth 29. VISITORS v. LOCAL PLAYERS. During the afternoon a friendly game took place between teams representing the visiting clubs and the New Plymouth players, respectively. The local men (Hammond. C. Rundle, Medlev. H. Smart skip) proved the victors, notching 35 points, the visitors (Martin. Masters McMillan. Sangster skip) securing 20 points. ° PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES.

At the close of the day the prizes were presented by the president. The champion shield, and with,it a set of »old medals went to the winners of the final wliile the. runners-up received woldmounted fountain pens, the gift of°Mr W. Morev.