BOWLING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3093, 16 January 1909, Page 5

BOWLING.

NORTHERN ASSOCIATION'S TOURNAMENT. THE CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY NAPIER. By Telegraph—Press Association. NAPIER, January 15. The Northern Bowling Association's Champion Fours were concluded today on the Napier Green in unsettled weather. The morning was dull. A couple of showers fell, necessitating a stoppage of play for a short period. There was a large attendance of spectators to witness the final between Napier and Feilding, play being closely followed. The following are the teams Napier: R. Holt, A. E. Wrightson, J. P. Smith, H. Bull (skip). Feilding: W. Irvine, G. Manning, 11. C. Stewart, G. Saywell (skip). The game was a brilliantly exciting one, and the result was in doubt till the final head. I The opening was all in favuur of feilding, who won the first seven heads, and had 13 to their credit before Napier opened. Play at this stage had to be suspended on account of a shower. On the eighth and ninth head Napier scored two and thres respectively, and on ; the 10th head, with a brilliant drive, Bull cut out the Feilding bow! and drawing the jack with the final bowl scored three. Napier got one off the 11th head, and Feilding got a single off the next The leading throughout was distinctly line. Feilding had a little the better of play in the next few h»ads, but on the l*7th tiie scores were level (37 all). Sayw.ill robbed Napier of three on the ISth, and added one to his own score. Feilding then got three more on the next head, but Napier scored two on the 20th and the score read—Feiiding 21, Napier 19. The final head was badly opened, and was practically the worst of the game. Manning sent dewn a fine shot, and lay behind the jack, while Stewart repeated the operation. Feilding were lying two. Smith then played a beautiful draw, which carried the jack with it, and Napier were lying three. This shot practically won the match. Bull placed his remaining shots with unerring skill, and each of them scored. Saywell failed to change the aspect of the head, and Napier, lying five, won a magnificent game by '24 to ?.l. Feilding ?nd Bluff lii!l played off for second place. Ttie match was distinctly good, and attracted considerable attention, but Feilding opening on the first lead with three upheld the advantage throughout. Bluff Hill made a gallant effort to catch their opponents, but Feilding were not to be denied, and won by 19 to 15.