POSTURING AND CAVORTING

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29985, 21 November 1962, Page 7

POSTURING AND CAVORTING

PERTH, Nov. 20. England’s bowls four cavorted its way into the headlines on the opening day of competition in the Empire Games yesterday.

Their antics dominated the day’s programme on the Dalkieth greens as they swept to decisive wins over Scotland and New Zealand.

For spectators accustomed to the leisurely style of playseen in New Zealand and Australia, it was bowling burlesque. Incredible Display Taking advantage of the tolerance allowed under international rules, the Englishmen chased their bowls right up to the head with an incredible display of posturing.

S. Drysdale, the skip, provided the star turn. He always followed his bowl up the green, sometimes stalking it, sometimes boldly running after, but always exhorting it to find the target. He jumped and squatted and pleaded and gestured—and the better the gallery reacted the more he performed. Occasionally he screamed: "I’ve done it, I’ve done it.” D. J. Bryant, the No. 2, was a studious-looking school teacher with rimless spectacles, a pipe, a natty hat and a squeaky voice. Very quickly he became known as "David boy” to spectators who had heard Drysdale’s encouragement to him.

A typical comment from the skip was: "Beautifully greened, David, boy.”

And other: "Come on, David, boy. That’s it. Oh, a beautiful wood, David, boy." Whenever Drysdale played a good shot (which was often) he would be clasped and hugged and shaken by the hand by team-mates. They had the cameramen gathering almost as quickly as the Perth flies. Scottish Rivals The Scottish players rivalled the clowning of the Englishmen in the morning game. The skip, J. W. Black, sprinted after his bowls with a culminating leap.