BOWLING

Dunstan Times, Issue 3499, 15 December 1930, Page 3

BOWLING

If anyone would take the trouble to watch on any green he 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 the line the bowl takes, and reduces his effort to so much guesswork. By standing at the opposite end of the rink any onlooker may see for himself how hundreds of narrow, useless bowls are sent up 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.

From what I can hear the Queenstown green is immeasurably better than it was last year, the result of generous top-dressing and sowing and expert care. This is as it should be, for it is one of the main factors in the success of this popular holiday resort. The experience gained by the Roxburgh rink in many Jolly Cup matches enabled it to easily withstand its eighth challenge since winning the trophy at the end of last season,“♦Miller’s Flat failing by 20-12. This weekend a Cromwell rink is making the trip in quest. What distances these country bowlers travel in their enthusiasm, while some of us in town kick up a fuss if sent to Outram or even to Port!

What is the record for touchers in a head? Probably it would be too much to suggest that somebody at some time has kissed kitty with every bowl in the course of a game, or even that every bowl played in, a head has come in contact with the white, but some sort of freak play is possible somewhere. However, in a doubles game at Lyall Bay (Wellington) last week-end ten bowls were touchers at one end, which must have been closely contested, as the final result of the head was only one point. According to Mr J. C. Redmond (Wellington Club), who has just returned from Sydney, Australian bowlers will be represented at Auckland in January by a New South Wales team of a dozen players, accompanied by nine ladies. As far as could be determined by inquiry from official sources it did not appear, on the 21st ult., that any other State was likely to send representatives, but the position may change before the closing date for nominations on the 6th December. The general state of business in Australia at the present time is such that no one likes to commit himself too far ahead. It is tentatively proposed that the team spend five weeks on tour, leaving Sydney by the Ulimaroa on Saturday, January 3, and arriving at Auckland on the 7th. The team may then pay a visit to Rotorua forthwith and return to Auckland on the 11th, in time to take part in the tournament beginning next day. The team will leave Auckland possibly on January 20 to visit other centres in the North Island, places mentioned as likely being Hamilton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Napier, Masterton, and Wellington, arriving there on January 30. The South Island may also be visited ; but no fixed itinerary "could be drawn up, pending a meeting of those concerned.