NOTES ON BOWLS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20772, 4 February 1933, Page 5

NOTES ON BOWLS.

.... _. ,- —♦ [By Jaw.] The programme for the annual Easter tournament has just been circulated amongst the clubs, and "Jack" acknowledges receipt of a copy from tho Centre secretary. The usual bill of fare is provided, trophies to the value of eight guineas and certificates going to tho winners, and trophies valued at four guineas to the runucrs-up. Entries close with tho secretary, Mr H. B. Oakey, 108 Glaudovcy road, Fendalton, on April G. The order of play is as-follows:—Fri-day and Saturday, .three games of sixteen heads, Monday two' games of sixteen heads, and first round,of section winners.

Thi3 year "Elderly Bowlers'' will be the guests of the United Club, and they are asked to assemble at the green not later than 1.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 23. Clubs are asked to advise the Centre secretary of the names and ages of any members who are eligible to take part.

In connexion with the Centre championship competitions., entries will close as follows:—Pairs, February 14; rinks, February 28; and singles on March 7.

The annual Barnetc Tiki match is set down for March 4, at Wellington. One of the most popular events on the local bowls calendar, this fixture is always looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation by thosewho get Iho selectors' nod of recognition.

A very unusual incident occurred on the Canterbury green recently. A spectator standing on the bank knocked the ashes from his pipe, presumably into the ditch, but a hot ember lodged on one of the bowls lying in the ditch. Noticing smoko arising from the ditch a few moments later, led one of tho players to investigate, and he found one of the bowls smouldering. The hose was played on to it with no effect, so the bowl was immersed in a bucket of water. Tho "firo" wis still obdurate, so tho bowl was buried, and when subsequently unearthed it was found that a hole had been burned right through it.

An flxtraordinary incident rccenilv occurred on the Suva green, stated the "New Zealand Bowler." One of tlw plavcrs missed liis bowl and discovered it had fallen through the green I In endeavouring to recover it, the player also disappeared, .having only his head above ground. The explanation of the incident lies in the fact that the Suva green was built over a portion of the beach, which was supported by a coral arch, and it was undermined by subterranean waters.

Opawa was unable to withstand Papanui's challenge for the Watson trophy last Wednesday, but the game must be counted as one of the finest ever played in the series of splendid exhibitions resulting from the struggles for possession of the shield. Six down with four heads to go, the prospects of Papanui were anything but bright, but three, two, and three in succession put a different complexion on the game. Opawa equalised on tile last head, but an the. play-off Bandy's rink drew two and recaptured the Shield. Opawa had successfully withstood seven challenges this season, and it-will be recalled that Papanui were equally difficult to dispossess last year when the holders.

Club competitions at Elmwood arc progressing towards finality though the winners aro not as yet easy to pick. In the rinks E. Smith'plays E. Bartlett and W. Norrio plays J. Hayman, each having one life. In the champion doubles E. Taylor plays Bartlett, the winner to meet E. Smith, who also meets tho winner of the other section, T. D. Lennio v. W. Walls. In the singles D. Nicholson and F. Allen aro in tho final in A- section. In the other J. K. Smith;7pl%vs',E. A. Smith, the winner to meet Hayman;;';; • If'anyone would, take tho trouble to watch on any green ho would have no difficulty in picking out one or two players who most pronouncedly bowl across their knees on the .back hand—of course, it could only apply to, the back hand. It really means this: The player by failing to face the direction his bowl is intended to go (many .face straight up the rink) misses tho line the bowl takes, and reduces his effort to so much guesswork. By standing at the opposite end of the rink any onlooker may soo for himself how hundreds of narrow, useless bowls are sentrup owing to this fault. Another hindrance is the way some players hold the coat, or blazer by the button, so that the delivery has to be over the left hand as well as the knees.