BOWLING

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1921, Page 3

BOWLING

NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME. VISITORS WELCOMED AT LONDON. RECEPTION BY LORD MAYOR. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 23, 5.5 p.m. London, April 22. The Lord Mayor welcomed the New Zealand bowlers at the Mansion House. He said New Zealanders would always hold a warm place in the hearts of the British people for the part they played In the war. He occasionally played bowls hiunself, and he was glad to see the old game was not being displaced by such modern games as golf and tennis. Mr. Barnett, president of the team, conveyed Mr. Massey’s message to tre Lord Mayor, stating that many of the team went to Britain with grateful recollections of the hospitality to their soldier sons shown by London and throughout Britain. Mr. Barnett, in thanking the Lord Mayor, hoped the visit would lead to a return visit by Britishers. The second English test will be played in North England on July 15, and the Scottish test at Glasgow in mid-June.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BANNER SEMI-FINAL. FITZROY DEFEAT HAWERA. It had been arranged that the contest for the banner should be completed at Hawera on Saturday, Fitzroy and Hawera playing in the morning, and the winners (meeting Manaia in the afternoon,’ but the wet weather, which lasted till after mid-day, only allowed time for one game of 21 heads to be played. The green, which had been well soaked by the rain, rapidly dried, and in the latter half of the game was drawing well, though the change puzzled some of the players. Throughout the contest was keen, Hawera having the advantage up to the fifth head, when Fitzroy were ten down, but at the tenth head had a lead of three. The aggregate scoring then Actuated, mostly in favor of Hawera. As the green became drier, Fitzroy gained the lead, and Anally won by 12 points after strenuous and at times exciting play at some of the rinks.

For the winners Abbott and his team can claim the honors of the day, as they gained a win by 19 points, and thus contributed in a large measure to the victory of their club. McNeill, who all through the season has consistently played a great gaane, was not at his ' best, and at the fifteenth head lost five by an overstrong delivery which carried the Jack among his opponents’ wood and spoilt his chance of getting the major poipts, though bis team played up well. Price’s team seemed unable to get the hang of the green, and though there was good play at times, they were outclassed by their opponents. Smith had a hard fight to defeat his opponent. He was handicapped at the start by not scoring until the sixth head, but a handy gain of five on the ninth head brought his score with-; in one of his opponent, and he eventually won by a point. Rennell, who was well supported, bad no difficulty in scoring a useful win of seven points. Higgs played with great judgment, while Foy, his opponent, had frequently to resort to running shots and drives, several burnt, heads resulting. The Hawera players, who naturally had the advantage of knowing the green, made a great bid for victory, the only weakness being in Champion's rink. All the other skips showed their fitness for the position, and were well supported. The scores do not accurately indicate ti e respective merits of the teams, as the element of luck was in evidence on several occasions. On the afternoon’s play Fitzroy certainly deserved their victory, which their play during the season imerited. Details of the score are as follow, Fitzroy names being mentioned first at each rink: ‘Brooker, Fairhall, Beadle, McNeill (s) 16 j v. Herbert, Allen, A. Robertson, Robb (s) 22. Cook, Hammond, Bennett, Price (s) 13; v. McPhilllps, Butler, Adamson, Tait (s) 23. Buckle, Blundell, Dingle. Smith (s) '2O; v. Jobson, Maslin, Syme, Robertson (s) 19. Healy, Cannell, Allan, Rennell (s) 24; v. Winkes, Parkes, Corkill, Hodge (s) 17. Oxenham, Morey, Jury, Abbott (s) 27; v. Dillon. Blake, Grant, Champion (s) 8. Callaghan, Williams, Jackson, Higgs (s) 19; v. Skjelierup, McNiven, Hicks, Foy (s) 18.

Totals—Fitzroy 119, Hawera 107, On arrival at the green the visitors were entertained at morning tea, and before commencing play Mr. Foy welcomed them and expressed regret at the unfavorable weather, but hoped an enjoyable game would be played. At the close of the game he congratulated the winners, and cheers were exchanged. •THE FINAL. Fitzroy has now to play Manaia in the final, and the centre has to decide where and when the contest will take place. There Is a strong feeling in favor of the game being played on one of the greens in New Plymouth, but ti e matter is in the hands of the centre’s executive, as both clubs must abide by the decision of that body. Should the day and green be favorable there ought to he a good exhibition of play.