WINTER BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 221, 18 September 1934, Page 13

WINTER BOWLING.

VISITING ON SATURDAY. TROPHIES CHANGE HANDS. REMAINING WINTER FIXTURES. (By TRUNDLER.) A pleasant surprise greeted bowlers last Saturday when a showery morning gave way to a warm and eunny afternoon, with the greens showing very little indication of the light sprinkles which threatened to ruin the afternoon's sport. Consequently the greens were well patronised, although many of the players attended obviously prepared for rain. It takes a lot to keep bowlers at home, even in the winter, especially those whose only opportunities to make friendly visits to other clubs occur in the slack season. The Press and the Printers continued their annual round of visits to the various clubs, which they instituted twelve years ago, on this occasion to the Mount Eden green. They were warmly welcomed by the club president, Mr. Arthur S. Dignan, who expressed the obligation of the bowling fraternity to the Press, although he confessed that most of them were more pleased when their wins were recorded, than when a loss was staring them in the face. Mr. Diguan's welcome was acknowledged by Mr. R. M. Hacket, who suggested that there was very little likelihood of the president being troubled by a loss this time, for he arid his team were doing remarkably well. This forecast was correct, for the club Bad a great win, the net result to the 'Visitors being one win, one tie and four losses. Strange to say, in all four losses the visitors stopped on 13. The Nomads mustered eight rinks in their visit to Pukekohe, and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful afternoon on a good green. Each side won four gumes, but in the aggregate the Nomads won by 155 to 144j. They were most hospitably received, the club president, Mr. H. J. Sunnier, expressing the hope that they would come again when Convenient. Mr. J. B. Paterson replied to tlie president's welcome and congratulated the club on having the. president of the Auckland Centre as a member, the first time that a president had been elected from outside the city and suburban area. It was also the first time that the Nomads had wandered outside that area. Mr. J. Whitehouse called for cheers for the Pukekohe Club, to which the local members heartily responded. Next Saturday the Nomads will visit Hillsboro'. Carlton took the Edwin Stars from Rocky Nook on Saturday after a wellcontested game. They were all square on the seventeenth, Rocky Nook scoring one on tlie eighteenth, but Carlton scored on the rest, although there was just a chance for Keatley to hold the trophies with a tie, if he had secured what he was after when he tried a most dihicult shot with his last bowl: A. Wright, J. llodd, J. C. Duncan, C. 11. de Lauuay (Carlton), challengers, 18, v. W. Uughtoi:, R. Ellisdon, A. Parley, W. H. Keatley (Rocky Nook), holders, 14. The next challenger is W. Corrin (Waitcmata), followed by W. E. Vivian (Mount Eden) and J. R. Lundon (Devonport). The .Diggers' Badges also changed hands alter a close game: J. C. Yeo, W. O. Cameron, W. A. Cadwallader, G. Milner (ilocky Nook) challengers, 18, v. A. Mason, J. Cunningham, R.. C. Caddy, J. C. Preston (Grey .Lynn) holders, 17. The next challengers are Ayrett, Stewart,: Coleman, C. M. 'Culpiu (Rawhiti), followed by C. G. Brookes (Buckland's Beach) and S. Vclln (Onehunga), if there is, time to get these played before the sumuier openings. • . A prize-ginng social -evening in the Avqnriale. pavilion on Saturday proved- a. very' 6uccc.sh£ul and enjoyable function. In houour of the club's 2lst birthday, the members bad elected as their president a foundation member, Mr. C. T. Pooley, who was president in 19ly, and he was-in the chair on Saturday. The president of the centre, Mr. P. A. Hosking, was in attendance, accompanied by five members of the, executive. : • Intending players are reminded of the large fixtures .arranged for the rest of the j winter season, in addition to all the | challenge matches, for unl&ss they aro | careful there will be some clashing. Next j Saturday the two-day tournament starts at Mount Eden, with a full entry of 32 rinks, and on the same afternoon the Grammar Old Boys and other colleges will meet on. the Epsom green, and the wholesale and retail leather trade will meet at Balmoral. On the following Saturday, September 29, in addition to the tournament continued at Mount Eden, the Thames Old Boys will meet at Epsom, and a week later, October 6, Mount Eden will entertain the Otagb and" Southland Old Boys. Three or four clubs are opening their summer season on that day, but most clubs are waiting till October 13, and some till a week later, the Saturday before Labour Day. Judging from the numerous ; inquiries, the information may be appreciated by match committees that Labour Day this season falls on October 22, and that Easter Day falls on April 21. In connection with the numerous fixtures arranged, not only in the winter, but also throughout the long summer season, it would seem that many players fail to realise what incouvcnietfcc they cause to all the other players, and particularly to the conveners or the match , committees, by not advising 'of their intentions. . Winter is taking heavy tolU of the elderly bowlers this year, and last week Auckland lost another worthy veteran by the death of Mr. T. N. Peek (Defonport) who had only recently been re-elected green superintendent of the club* Kcierence had been made to his work at Ellerslie a couple of months ago, whenremarking on life membership being conferred upon Messrs. J. Darby, and S. Somerfield, for the late Mr. Peek had received the same honour a few years earlier. In social and commercial life, my - own neighbourly acquaintance, with him dating from a little over 33 years ago, Mr. Peek was always held in the ..highest esteem, and , his death while he was still giving active service to' the game of bowls will be greatly regretted. Those bowlers who know Sydney Trill be surprised and shocked to hear of the death of Mr. Walter McLaren, for he had been secretary of the- New bouth Wales Bowling Association for the past ten years, and his office had long been a kind of rendezvous for local and overseas bowlers. It wa3 only last month, at the annual meeting of the association, that the president, Mr. T. W. Heath, was making complimentary reference to Mr. McLaren's long service to the game, and described him as a wonderful man. tor twelve years secretary of the Aslineia Club, of which he was a life member, he had latterly been a member of Petersham for many 'years, living just opposite the green.