BRITISH BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 16

BRITISH BOWLING.

A NEW ZEALANDER LOOKS ON. J ENJOYABLE BRITISH METHODS. (By TRUXDLER.) A correspondent in London sends details of the international bowling ! matches, between England, Scotland, J Ireland, and Wales, which took place • this year in Wales, at a, place called Llandrindod Wells. The various presidents welcomed the competitors, the Irish president causing much laughter by telling the Welsh team tnat if they were as hard to beat as some of their places were to pronounce, then the other teams were- in for a rough time. Each country put in five rinks, each playing the other three countries, and it took three days. Only one green was occupied, and it accommodated the whole of the players. On the first morning England beat Scotland by Hβ to 79, and in the afternoon Ireland and Wales tied with 94 all, so there were never more than five rinks engaged. On the next day Scotland beat Ireland, and England tied with Wales. On the third day England played Ireland in tho morning, and Scotland played Wales in the afternoon. Heavy rain was falling during the morning's play, and the mail closed before the matches were over, so the results are not yet known. The green looked like a thick carpet, with not a sign of wear, which is wonderful considering all the dry weather previously. Scottish Superiority. These matches have been played every year since 1903, except during the four years of the war, and during that time Scotland won thirteen times, England six times, Wales twice, and Ireland once. This makes it hard to follow our party in their tour last year, for they were beaten by England and Wales, but they got all over Ireland and Scotland, beating each by four rinks to one. However, the greens were very heavy 1 during tie early part of the tour, and the keener greens later in the season suited our people much better. They certainly nurse their greens well, according to all accounts, and all will remember that when the British party were here in 1925 they seemed much more comfortable on the two or three greens that were a little heavy. Enjoying Their Games. I The correspondent draws attention to what was noticed here, that they get far more fun out of bowling than we do in the Dominion, and he proceeds: "Our red tape rules that say you must do this and you must do that, you must not go more than 15-feet from the mat after delivery, are obsolete. If the members of the Dominion Council could come here and see how they enjoy themselves they would return to tho Dominion and burn their rules. There is far too much of the schoolmaster stunt about them. Imagine such a thing as this in a Dominion championship: bowlers ran after their bowls, stooping clown while the bowl is in motion. They seem to be just about an inch off it with their hands or feet while guiding it aa it were. They certain enjoy their game, and they play keener than we do in the Dominion. Even opposing skips shake hands with each other when tho shot goes against them, just as if it was one of their own team that had drawn the shot. When a member of the Scotch rink draws a good shot all the three players run up the green to shake hands with him. It looks like a 100 yds race. Imagine two or three rinks on the green like this, and you will see what an animated picture it makes. Morrison runs up the green after delivery, and gets there before his bowl, talking to it and saying several times, "Is he coming?" What does it matter if the game takes thirty minutes longer. The bowlers pay for their pleasure, and no council or centre should have the right to control a man's individuality. The time is coming when Dominion bowlers will see the style and conditions that other bowlers in different parts of the Empire play bowls, and will themselves demand greater personal freedom in their play." Opinion In New Zealand. There is really nothing new in these observations, for this difference was noticed every time when they played here. It was certainly a great surprise to those who had never been to England, for it was always understood that the English and Scotch were not demonstative, whatever may be said of the Irish or Welsh, whereas when they played they followed the methods that are usually associated with the French or Italians. Their actions seemed to contradict all that has been said about their determination not to show their feelings in the accepted Continental style, for they raced across the green at a pace that has never been seen in Auckland, before or since. As for their jubilation when they draw the shot, it is considered good form in Xew Zealand to look quite unconcerned, as if that was a common occurrence, and only'in exceptional circumstances is a man here seen so much off his guard as to throw his hat in the air, or give the other signs of jubilation that are the regular thing on a green in England. Restrictive Rules. The correspondent seems, however, to exaggerate the influence of the rules in bringing about such a difference in the styles, for there is very little difference between their rules and ours, except on the one matter of following up a bowl, and Auckland has been trying for years to get that altered. In all other important respects there is no more restriction in the New Zealand rules than in the Scottish (which are used all through the British Isles.) People here can shake hands as often as they like, and give all the other signs of joy that are so common in Britain, for all the rules have to do with it. A careful examination of the Scottish rules will at once challenge any suggestion that we should burn ours, for they allow all the freedom of individuality that is seen in England, except on that one point. Honouring a Bowler's Memory. An interesting ceremony took place at the Ellerslie green on Saturday, when Mrs. Garmson was in attendance, accompanied by her son, to present a garden seat to the club as a memorial to her husband, the late Mr. F. G. Garmson. This very appropriate memorial was accepted by tire president, Mr. A. J. Coppins, who eulogised their late member as" an ardent worker in the interests of the club.