BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 8 September 1926, Page 11

BOWLING.

THE PENNANT MATCHES

I'ROORAMME FOR THE SEASON

(By TRUNDLER.)

With the elimination of the four-rink championship in the coming season. renewed interest has centred in the nennant matches, and this p'l.nuses tv be keener than ever, now that u>w:<.rs have returned to their first love. af:er all the distracting influence of the championship last year. Considerable curiosity has been evinced regarding the ijuota of teams allotted to each i-lul>, and the following iist shows the winparison with last years, together with the percentage of wins last season: —

SECTION A. [Vreent,'lub. 10-'«. I! , --"'- : WCarltoii -" 18 «"■-" Remuera HI 1+ 60.23 Epsom 14 14 .vj..-,k PonsoDby ..„.••■ 14 14 31.i0 Wpst Kiid ...... 12 14 44.32 Dominion Rd. . . 1" 1- 47.8(i Grey Lynn S 1" .".4.1 T Eden.laic 0 •> so.fin EllPi-slle c 0 .V.33 Kavrhtrl 0 0 44. !4 Howick 4 4 37. ."0 Mangere 4 — — SECTION B. Percent('lub. 102tJ. 102:3. a- rp Auckland 14 14 r>3.3 T Devmport 12 in 4.0.11 Moiinr Eden 12 12 r>2.20 Onehun;ra 1- 12 1>0.32 Mt. Albert 1" S ".rt.oo Horky Xnok 1" l't "m.IT orahuhu S l! i>l .Hβ I'apatOPtoe f> <"> ec.Hfi St. Helier's »i t> 50.0(1 Stanley « r, X 3.521 Takapuna t> lo ?2.7.j Avondale 4 2 62.50 Papakura 2 — — It will be seen at one glance what alterations hare been made since last year, and the percentage of wins under the previous allocation will' no doubt give cause for the usual criticism as to whether the alterations are justified. Theoretically, if the competition were run on the handicap principle, to give every club the same chance of winning, all above the 50 per cent mark could have their quota increased, and all below it could be cut down. Fortunately, however, this is not the governing principle, some clubs wishing for a larger quota in order to give more of their members a game than would be possible if membership figures or previous successes were the only guiding factors. This is a very desirable spirit, and as there is no prize except possession of the banner for a year, there seems a possibility that in time this competition could become a popular substitute for the old-time interclub matches. It is, therefore, regrettable that Waitemata pulled out for this season, giving as their reason their desire to cultivate social games, for this is the great aim of the competition itself. Of course, there had to be a good deal of give and take in adjusting the quotas, in order to make them fit into suitable groups, a duty which is usually entrusted to Mr. A. H. Yeoman, and he must be congratulated on his success this year, for it is probably the best draw ever produced. Section A is divided into six groups of 20 rinks, and section B into six of 18. this giving two perfect features of prime importance: It gives five rounds (just a nice number), and it. avoids a bye in either section. It now remains for the clubs to enter heartily into the scheme, and if it is viewed from its social aspect, which seems to be proved by the welcome entry of Papakura and

the new club at Mangere, rather than j from a winning standpoint, there will [ probably next year be a call for a general | increase in the number of rinks, so as to | give everybody a game. j Tournament Prizes. A correspondent writes suggesting that for the forthcoming Dominion tournament the prizee should be much more valuable, mentioning the attraction this would be to the competitors expected from Australia. Of course, this is impossible at present, as the prizes are up to the utmost limit allowed by the con-

s-titution. and it is questionable whether public opinion would sanction the raising of that limit. However, this raises the whole question of the object of a touinament such as will be run off next January. For local competitors it will cost a week or a fortnight, and a pounc or two out of pocket. To all outside the city it will cost the full fortnight, and anything in cash from £10 to £50. To Australians it will cost three or four weeks, and something between £50 and j £150. Now. what is the attraction? There can be only three inducements: First, the hope of a prize, and why would people give this time and money for a prize, whether worth £5 or £50, when a lucky fluke on the last head might take it away? Second, the honour and glory of a championship, an inducement whicli | will take heroes to the uttermost parts | of the earth. Third, the pleasure of tak- | ing part in the most attractive tournament in the world. Goodness know? what the inducement is in Australia, where people travelled 2000 miles to play j one game, and then sat on the bank ! from Monday to Friday, till their next anil only remaining game came off. No wonder there were SI defaulters, a thing unheard of in New Zealand. But we ruu our tournaments to give everybody a a good time, and the increase in the prize would be no attraction, in addition to which it would lower the standard of what bowlers claim to be the finest game ever invented for men of mature years. As long as we can offer every competitor 15 games for certain—and there will probably be 16 guaranteed next January —there will never be a dearth of interest, even if there is no prize at all.

All that is now required is to improve the conditions of the tournament itsolt. and this is gradually being done as the necessary alterations suggest themselves from year to year. Next Wednesday the Dominion Council will have their annual opportunity to make the conditions still more attractive.