BOWLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 10

BOWLING NOTES.

(BY "SKIP.")

The third round of the Maiming Cup pennant competition was placed Inst Saturday, and the secretary of tho Centre (Mr E. W. Wade) has just issued the percentage table, shoeing the positions of the different clubs. At the present Netv Brighton is oil top, with Opatva and Christchureh running very close. Canterbury and Lin wood, who have the largest number oi rink entries, are well down the list, and it appears they are likely to remain there. However, as there are live more rounds to go, the positions ' ua \ be altered considerably belore the final rounds aro played. * * w There will be no pennant; panics today, owing to the South Cantermuy y - Christchureh Centre game and the Town v. Country matches. I lie lu stnamed game wdl be played on the Canterbury green, while the other games are played on every other green in the City. Given fine weather it should provo a moist enjoyable day lor bowlers. "X" The Canterbury Club has received entries for its New \ear rink tomnament. This being considered a Milficieut number, the rlosure has hrt'ii applied. This should be one oi the best tournaments ever held in ( anterbury, and those who have entered are looking forward to u real good time. The arrangements are in the capable hands of Jiernie Fiunegan and J. C. Smith, who will leave nothing undone for the pleasure and comiort of tho entrants. -X- *&* -XMembers of the Lin wood Howling Club received a great shock 011 Tuesday morning, when it became known that Mr A. E. Olivers had died. For some time, Mr Chivers had not been in the best of health, but he was well enough to have a game on Saturday. Of a quiet and retiring nature, he was well liked by everyone with whom 110 came in contact, and he will be greatly missed by the members of Ilia club. Although he never entered public life, he took a great interest in Freemasonei v, and was :ni active member of the Canterbury < emmercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association. To those lei I behind bowlers express their .sincere sympathy. -X- -'v -XThe annual match between the Canterbury Justices of the I'eace Association and the Christchureh Centre took place on Thursday afternoon. As was to bo expected, the Justices fared very badly at the hands of the Centre representatives. However, as it is looked on as a holiday game. every one enjoyed themselves and everybody Was happy. The majority of clubs are busy with their championship games, and every evening the majority of rinks 011 all greens are occupied. The methods of engaging rinks for games aro many and varied, but the Linwood Club seems to have put up tho ideal one. It is so good that it has eliminated .'ill grumbling, and has enabled the match committee to get well forward with the competitions. -X- vc -}£■ Mr W. A. Cavan, of the Canterbury Club, who has been an inmate of Lewisham Hospital, has now returned to his home. He has considerably improved in health, and hopes to bo amongst his bowling friends at 110 distant date. ■vr * -yPlayers are reminded that entries for the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association tournament, which will be held in Auckland this vear, close to-day. So far only three rinks have been mentioned from Christchurch. Edgeware will be represented by W. Efford, Christchureh by Dr. Marks, and the United Club by Henry Watson. V?* "X* VT The many friends of Mr Robert fialbraith, Mayor of Ashburton, will regret to hear that lie is leaving the district very shortly. For very many years Mr' Galhraith has taken an active part in local politics, and being an ardent bowler ho had many friends in all parts of the Dominion. Local howlers will wish Mr. Mrs. and Miss Galhraith every hnpniness and prosperity* in their new home, which will be Stratford. A Pew Comments. As sx player it sometimes do+:s 0110 good to take a seat on the bunk, and watch tho bowling, often seeing defects in others that may bring home one's own faults, which leaves a mental note to improve ufjon it in future. Ono cannot help being critical while watching the various trundlers. In this instance wo see an ordinary roll up by eight members of the club. Sometimes they are mixed and sometimes good. The good players, don't need commenting upon ; thev recognise they must put up careful play and obey instructions to get the good results they aim for, which should bo the object of every bowler. The mixed rink often starts leader, first bowl 611 short; second leader, 10ft long; the next near the Jack: the second leader snvß: "I'll get vou. Jim." drives, misses, and is in the ditch. Some men won't learn that rink game is combination of the whole. Leaders should never drive, their duty is to draw as near the Jack as they can. Good leaders from the foundation for every game, and very often they are responsible for their side winning. Xo. 2 now plays, he is also short, making a block for that hand. Ah. those short bowls, how often do they spoil the game and cramp the skip from getting bowl out, or play firm shots. Second No. 2 says: "I'll get him/' and comes with a strong shot, misses, and is out of the nicture, instead of building up around the kitty, or a foot-on shot upon the hand the skip directs. So the game goes on, short, long, narrow, and wide bowls, with an occasional good one lvhir-h cannot be repeated twice, no regularity except the main object to "get him." No. 2 should be a more experienced man than the leader, able to drniv the shot when the leader fails, or draw to position where skip directs, thus helping to provide bowls that will be useful in either attack or defence. The thirds follow —some good, some bad, shots are plaved, but often through the game that spirit of "I'll get him—if I don't. Bill, Jack, or the skip will," instead of recognising that they are all part of a cog wheel, which won't work properly if each cog or bowler fails to do his part. A third should be able to draw, take a bowl out, or play firm shots. Then the skips start with their minds in a whirl through trying to got their players to do something they want, and put up, to their own -disgust, erratic play, owing to short woods —blocks —or no position. This erratic style of play we see day after day. "Not « bowler among them." says one onlooker, "and never will be" savs an old player, and yet soiru? of them feel offended at times because they are not selected for important contests, such as four-rink championship games. Be cause they have put up six or eight good bowls they think they h av-e done wonders, and t'orget the 36 bad ones. Again, some, when taxed with their bad play, say, "Oh, we don't take bowls as seriously as you fellows " Often this type growl if a good four get together, and leave them out, saying the others are celfish, and don'* give a man a chance to play with good bowlers. The question is—-do they deserve a chance ? They won't try to

improve, and spoil a game where good bowling is. To become a bowler one wants good bowls to start with, and bowls that suit. one. A lull set (four) of equal weights niul shapes—not two of one weight and two of another. From 31b -4oz upwards are useful bowls, that will liist all one's life. Next learn to grip a bowl. There are three ways. The bowl in centre ol o;;en hand ; when elose, thumb conies over disc, with other fingers open around bowl ; next, with thumb on rings round disc; again, thumb on centre! of howl. In each cast; adopt a grip, and stick to it. In delivering a bowl, either the step forward with left foot, delivering the bowl at the same time; or the rest delivery, by placing loft foot forward, resting left hand or arm on left knee, which steadies the body. Again stick to wr-'il ion you adopt. Half the success of a good bowl is its proper delivery. Swinging the nrm like a pendulum of a clock, from shoulder to hand working as one piece —no jerk, or palm or wrist work, or round arm swing—just a pendulum swing to increase or decrease its pace as length is required, and the bowl glides gracefully and true off the tips of the fingers.