BOWLING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 11

BOWLING.

SYDENHAM CLUB.

THE PENNANT QUESTION. A special general meeting of the members of the Sydenham Bowling Club was held last night to consider the circular from the Centre on the subject of pennant matches. Mr C. E. Hollis presided over a fair attendance. The Centre submitted two proposals: (1 That pennant matches to be continued same as last year, with restriction on transfer of players between sections; and (2) that a four-rink club championship be played, one team ot four rinks from each club; friendly matches to be arranged for tho remainder of the players. Kopiying to a question as to whether the Centre or the club would arrange tho , friendly matcnes, the chairman said that it was not clear from tho Centre's circular wincn would do so; he assumed that the club would arrange.--.

Air G. Laurenson said he was opposed to the four-rink proposal. He moved: "That we support the scheme to play the pennants as last season." Mr it. H. Humphries seconded. Ho said that if tli© tour-rink proposal were agreed to, sixteen members would have all the fun and all the other members would be cut out.

Mr T. I. Freeman said that he was not, and had never been, in favour of making a selection of a few members, and give them the best of things to the detriment of the others.. The star players would have a very fine time, but Heaven help the others I He would rather see the whole of the club engage in a friendly roll-up, happy and comfortable, than to send sixteen men, even if they should win all tho matches.

Ali- J. Kent endorsed Mr Freeman's remarks, and said that the four-rink proposal was not a fair one. Mr E. L. McKeon said that the four-rink proposal was no good to the average player, but he could not agree with the suggestion to go on the same principle as last season. If they entered the same number of rinks as last year the selector would be probably met with the same difficulty, and be unable to fill the rinks .required. The, club would have to make one or two forfeits. The four-rink proposal obviously made a class distinction between players. To do, as was done last season—enter three-quarters of the club's strength—was to court disaster, particularly in the A pennant competition. Hq moved, as an amendment: | 'That we recommend the Centre to inaugurate an inter-club competition based on a, percentage of at least 50 per cent., and no classification. Mr Laurenson.said he favoured Mr McKeon's idea; it was a scheme that was carried out in Dunedin. .Mr C. Taylor said that they should advocate a method whiijh would evolve the best players. He was quite satisfied that . there had been no system that had tended to that end, • and, the only possible way to do so was to pit the best players against best players. It was the duty of the Centre to evolve such a scheme. Ho was in favour of the four-rink proposal; otherwise the club would never evolve bowlers to pit against bowlers from other, parts of the Dominion where the best players were pitted against each other. .The Centre should formulate a scheme for the other players. Mr J. Scott favoured the pennants being conducted •aS •" they were last season. He had always advocated that it was the duty of the club to cater for as many players as possible: if they restricted the pennants to four rinks, they would not be catering for the majority. Since he had been secretary they had tried' to cater for. all the members.'; ' . ' ,

Mr Taylor: Hence our weaknessr Mr Scott: "Not necessarily; we have tried to strengthen the weaker players." He added that Mr McKeon's suggestion was a good one if the pennants could be brought up to full strength. Ha also favoured the idea of young players being pitted against young players of other dubs.

Mr J. Turnbull said that he had been unable to find out why it was desired to make any alteration. He had had a good deal of experience in pennant, matches, and- bowlera were never happier than when playing club against club. He vas opposed to the tour-rink proposal. • Mr J. Russell, who seconded the amendment, said that under'the fourrink proposal, eonsideraibl© difficulty would be experienced in selecting the club s best players. It was a good idea for the club to pick out its best sisteen players, but it was up to tho Centre to find them.

_lho chairman said that he favoured Mr McKeon's suggestion, but what would be the position if it were not adopted H

iyjx McKeon said he was willing to add to his amendment that: "in the event of recommendation not being given effect to, tne club should agree to the pennants befng carried out on the same system as last season."

.ihe chairman said that that would meet the position. He did not like to see any section of the club favoured, but when the club went into a competition lie liked to see it hold its position. The club inust cater for all its members.

Mr Jf'reeman said that though the club entered a large percentage of its members for the pennants last season, it did not win the. A pennant, though they went near doing so. They had won one of the B pennants, however. -After some further discussion the mover and seconder of the motion were given permission to withdraw it, and Mr McKeon's motion was agreed to in the following terms:—"That we recommend the Centre to inaugurate an inter-club competition, based on a percentage of at least 50 per cent., and no classification: in the event of this suggestion not being given effect to, the club's delegate to support the continuation of the pennant matches as last year."