BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 21

BOWLING.

LABOUR DAY FEATURES.

HOW WE NEARLY WON.

THE CANADIANS AEE COMING,

(By TRUXDLER.)

The erratic weather that is always associated with Labour Day, rightly or -wrongly, was again in evidence this year, and all the tournaments made a late start. Carlton's special day was celebrated by a larger tournament than ever, and it was a great sight to see the four greens in a row, all occupied with eager

players. Cutting out the first round seemed a necessity when half-past ten arrived before a start could be made, but when the day turned unexpectedly fine, with almost summer warmth, after lunch, there would probably have been more satisfaction if the committee had announced that it would be reinstated. Of course, it is always hard to know what to do when a programme is interrupted, but it goes against the grain with most players in Xew Zealand when they have to stop at 4 o'clock, after playing for only live hours on a whole holiday. It is 'also just possible that the additional round would have eliminated some of the ties,-in which case there might still have been only the semi-finals and finals for next Saturday. However, this is purely a' conjecture, but committees might bear the point in mind when a similar position recurs. Naturally the short games and the heavy greens in the first two rounds brought a good * many unexpected defeats, and some of the big guns were soon booked for the bank. In point of entries, and also in the calibre of the players, the tournament almost ranked on a level with a centre tournament, but a good many were doubtless wondering how some of'the rinks qualified to follow on, and it was not surprising that tliey als'o were soon on the bank. There is alwavs one redeeming feature in a wet day, however,- and that is that e^ e r\ player can put up a good and sufficient reason for not winning.

The Match We Nearly Won.

These would fill a book, but every tournament revives a few more, especially after a day like Monday, when a vet morning cut short the programme, putting on tlio bank a. lot of good players who usually figure in the intersection draw. However., it would be liard to beat the bad luck that robbed a wellknown Mount Eden bowler of a spectacular win in one of the Cambridge tournaments. Playing the last head, when lie still wanted a few points, Ins opponents were lying two or three when he went to the mat. He ran past the Lead with his first, whether intentionally or not has never been settled, and the opposing skip drew another counter with his fast bowl. "Now, boys," shouted Mount Eden, " the jack in the ditch for eight." He hit the jack right enough, but instead of going i ight through it hit. his own nearest bowl a«V came back the head to gi\ e his opponents sis and a big win. Another species of bad luck occurred on Monday, in connection with Mr. J. W. Hardley's promised visit to Whakatane, to assist in the official opening, timed for Labour Day. It rained in torrents all morning, and nobody went near the green, so J.W.H. motored back to Rotorua and caught the evening train. JJain pursued him even there, and it did not stop till he got to Mercer, only-to find on getting home at night that Auckland had enjoyed a beautiful day, after showers in "the morning till about 9 o'clock.

The Canadain Tourists,

Fairly authentic advice has "been received that the party arriving on December 30 will comprise 32 players and 13 ladies. Fortunately they now propose to spend a week longer in New Zealand than originally planned, so this may give a few extra days to Auckland, although it is understood that this will include a trip to WMngarei. It has been suggested that it would have a good moral effect, and pave the way for future visits from overseas, if four of them could pull out to play in the Kemuera tournament on January 1 and 2, for it is understood that this will be the biggest club tournament in the world. The Canadians would ha\ e something to talk about if a rink played there, so that they could give first hand information of what New Zealand can turn on for visiting bowlers, especially if thev can corroborate their accounts of it by the photograph that is intended to commemorate the big venture. The club are leaving no stone unturned to make it a record in every way, and it will be shown in an aerial photograph, a splendid method in grounds like Kemuera, where the greens are separated by hedges.