NEW ZEALAND AT BOWLS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8494, 25 July 1907, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AT BOWLS.

(From Our London Correspondent.) LONDON, June 11. So far the New Zealand bowlers have had somewhat the worst of it in their engagements. This can be well understood when it is considered how much they must find the greens here less keen than in their own land. The lengths they have been put upon have generally been greater than they are accustomed to in their own rinks. Neither does the turf here, except that of the northern strand rinks, draw so readily. It is an unfortunate circumstance for the Maoriland bowlers that Mr George Prince, who for three years in succession skipped the champion rink, has been suffering from an eye affection which must have not a little seriously interfere! with his play. The combination is touring with the special object of ascertaining, as far as possible, the general bowling strength of this country. They have been impressed with the excellence of form displayed and are gratified to find that our players realise the importance of the best possible turf being procured for the construction of the rinks. They commenced their provincial tour, yesterday, at Banbury, where an excelleant green has recently been laid down. They were beaten on wet turf by 11. points—36 to 47. To-day they proceed to Northampton. Here the game is making very rapid progress, especially in connection with the Northampton, the Northhampton and County, and the Northampton County Ground Clubs, which between them possess a .membership of 400. On leaving Northampton to-morrow they put in three days at Newcastle on Tyne, and . also stay a day at Sunderland. Afterwards they play at Carlisle, and on Tuesday week proceed to Edinburgh. . Nothing definite as yet has been ar- - ranged in connection with their tour . beyond the Scottish capital, but it . may be stated that the team intend visiting Ireland and the Isle of Man. Their visit to Newcastle adds ad- - ditional interest to the forthcoming championships of the English Bowling Association, which will take place next month in the Tyneside City. It will be the first occasion upon which international championships south of the border have taken place outside of London. The pastime in Newcastle has become very popular here since the introduction of the municipal rinks, and the lord mayor of the city, himself a bowler, is displaying a keen interest in prumoting the success of the gathering. Newcastle at the present time has the distinction of holding the Charles Wood Australian Challenge Cup, presented to the English Bowling Association by Mr Charles Wood, the President of the Victorian Bowling Association, as a memento of the tour of the Australian team in this country in 1901. Since writing the above the New Zealand bowlers have beaten the Northampton Club by 28 points. Or.e of their rinks (Prince's) was up by 36 to 6.