BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 14

BOWLING.

The revival of tin" old "Auckland Bowling Challenge Pairs." better known as the "Diamond Buckles,' , is on the boards, and was lo have been discussed on Thursday evening at the Match Committee meeting of the A.P.B.A. The badges for these pairs are two silver buckles, inscribed "Auckland Bowling Challenge Pairs'' and also "Leader" and "Skip," and the rules under which they were competed for stated that they were to be worn on the right sleeve, about three inches above the cuff, with the ribbon of the club to which the holders belonged. These interesting trophies were instituted in 1897 by the Auckland Bowling Club, and for several years keen competition ensued for the honour of holding them, but for some time past the buckles, relegated to the shelf, have grown tarnished with neglect. The Auckland Club, with the idea of reviving interest in the veteran trophies, have handed them over to the A.1.8.A. An elaborate set of conditions were azta-Jft-inn to contests for these "Diamond ■ Buckles," which were to be defended against all challenges from members of Auckland bowling clubs, and worn in every challenge match, with forfeiture to the challengers without contest for failure, while it was set forth that "these buckles may be worn by the holders while playing in any bowling tournament." The rules further stated "All challenge pair matches shall be played upon two diamond-shaped figures marked lengthwise on the green, and outlined with some white substance which will not leave a permanent mark on it. These figures shall be six feet long by four feet wide, and at half their length they shall each be divided cross-

wise into two equal parts. Their two innermost points shall be 80 feet apart in the direct line of the centre of the rink, and the other two points are to be at equal distances from the edge of the green. Thirty feet from one edge of the green, uud in the centre line of the rink, there shall be placed a very small! mark, to be called the 'Shot head mark.' " Another rule referred to the "Point | Bowl," to be placed upon that point of | either figure which was nearest to the I ditch by tlie skip whose side had the lead. This bowl counted only in addition to the shot bowl or bowls when the jack was within that division of the figure nearest to it, provided it had not been moved completely outside the figure. Jt also counted if moved inside the figure. The contests consisted of 15 j heads up, long and short heads alternately, while the rule of the "jack" set forth that if it were moved out of the figure the side whose player did so should forfeit one point to their opponents, except in the case of a toucher. Whenever the 1 jack was moved outside the limits of the figure, all bowls in the nearest division were to be put off the green, the jack i ; replaced (the point bowl replaced, if necessary), and the head continued, even if there were only one bowl to play. In scoring, no bowl counted (with the exception of marked touchers) whose centre was not clearly within the inner edge of the outline of the diamond, and if the jack were outside the figure at the end of the head, only marked touchers counted. As nothing of a nature approximating to the "diamond"#game has been played on Auckland greens for live or six year* past, the prospect of such a revival will give room for speculative interest, particularly among the topnotch trundlers of the wooden bowl.