BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1918, Page 8

BOWLING.

STRATFORD DEFEATS FITZROY. "One of the most enjoyable and keenly contested games played on the green," in the words of the Stratford president (Mr. X. W. McMillan), sums up the 7rink contest, 25 heads, played at Stratford yesterday between the above clubs. In the earlv stages Fitzrov established a lead of 17 points, but after the 14th heads the local men began to make up some leeway. The champion, Abbott, looked like having a walk over his opponent (Bickerton), running to 1G before the latter used the scoring board, but Bickerton then ran to 0 while Abbott gathered in 2. Sharp's rink was in great form, the skip's driving being very destructive, but his opponent put in some magnificent work in drawing. The Fitzroy president (S. J. Smith) and J. S. McDonald were the last to finish, and when the skips went down Stratford had a lead of 2 in the aggregate, and were lying in the head. Smith's first bowl | was splendidly judged, trailing kitty. McDonald's las't delivery, resting just behind Smith, saw Fitzroy reduce the lead by one—a margin that-won and lost the game. In justice to Fitzroy, it should be said that up to the last two heads they were always in the lead. In returning thanks, Mr. Smith, who is also president of the association, said, they bad been treated in a very sportsmanlike manner, and he only regretted that the margin was not on the other side. He expressed a hope for a return game, and probably this will be arranged. Cheers for' the ladies who presided over the refreshments, and also for the competing teams, concluded a very pleasant afternoon's sport. Detailed scores, Stratford mentioned first:

'f: Smith, T. Fookes, R. Julian, E. Biekorton (s.) 24 v. J..Healey, J. Best, W. Beadle, J. Abbott (».) 20. A. H. Hillock, C. Martin, T. Nicholson, J. \V. McMillan (9.) 16 v. G. Pearce, A. S. Brooker, J. Brash, A. Higgs (s.) 20. J. S. Lyons, F. Foley, C. Jackson, S. Sharp (9.) 37 v. J. Walker, 0. Cook, J. McNeill, L. Chi vers (s.) 1(1. W. Webb, J. Sanderson, H. Edgecombe, W. Franks (s.) 27 v. W. Buckle, A. Welter, E. Dingle, F. Jackson (s.) 22. S. Porritt, A. Masters, N. King, G. Smart (s.) 21 v. H. Pote, W. West, A. Avery, J. H. Price (s.) 29. C. Thompson, J. W. Lopdell, J. Masters, R. McK. Morison (a.) 20 v. R. Cannell, A. Gibson.'P. Jury, S. F. Rcnnell (s.) 17. W. Woodhead, J. Butcher. J. Peattie, J. S. McDonald (s.) 19 v. C. Waldock, G. Gillespie, L. Hammond, S. J. Smith (s.) 24. "totals: Stratford, IG4; Fitzroy, 163.

HAWERA v. MANAIA. Manaia went down rather badly on their own green in a five-rink match against Hawera on Wednesday, the aggregate scores being Hawera 147, Manaia 1)3. The green was in excellent order, and the outing a most pleasant one, the visitors being most hospitably entertained.