On the Greens

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1922, Page 14

On the Greens

CENTRE TOURNAMENT

"SUDDEN DEATH" v. "TWO LIVES."-

' , (By " Ntimbeb Two.")

The programme for the centre tournament at Christmas time was approved at this -week's meeting of the Centre. The bone of contention was whether the "sudden d-eath" principle-in post-section play should be retained, or rejected in favour of the "two life, system. The secretary, Mr. E. W. Shallcrass, presented a memorandum f&vouring the latter proposal, his report being as follows^ "The system adopted at the last Centre Tournament for conducting post sectional play does not have much to recommend it. Upon looking through tne annual report, it is found that no section was won with less than seven games, and that; in consequence, the system of post section play adopted worked out satisfactorily. A set of conditions should, however, work out under all circunv stances, and it was extremely fortunate at the last tournament that the circumstances were favourable. The system adopted was cumbersome, and may' have caused considerable trouble and annoyance. It has apparently \been chosen for the purpose df giving preferential' treatment to the teams successful in the sectional play, but it is quite possible that its obect in'this respect may be defeated. The following illustration may be considered. The number of teams qualified to engage in post sectional play is 14. Of these two have won' 5 games, two. six games, three seven games, six eight games, and one nine games. The two with five wins play the first round. The ■ winner is then sent forward and drawn ,with the two teams which have won six games. This creates an odd number and necessitates » bye. The team with the bye stands oat, and the other two teams play the second round. There are three with seven wins, and these with the two (going forward make five, necessitating another bye. The remaining four play the third round. This concluded the post sectional play for the first day. During the whole of this time,' the six teams which have won eight game* and the one which has won "nine games are standing on. tlie bank— twenty-eight nien doing nothing. The following day, the three teams which go forward are drawn •with, the six which have won eight 'games '.necessitating- an--other bye. Those remaining play t th« fourth round. . After this round six teams are left. This will necessitate giving two byes, of which the nine winner is entitled to one. The fifth round is then played, after which four competitors are left. After waiting one' whole day and two-thirds of the next, the nine winner is now drawn in the evening game of the, second day's post-eectional play. He may meet a team which has worked its way through from having only five wins in sectional play. It Hag struck form, has the touch of the green, and meets the winners of the nine games in the sectional play, who have been almost two days on. the bank, and gives them a jolly good hiding. This is the first loss which' the team with" nine wins in sectional_ play Has had, and out they go. Certainly, the team with' nine -wins in sectional play will get into the inglorious position of being in the semi-finals by standing on the bank for almost two days, but that very inactivity will probably be, thair undoing. It will be seen that in the set of circumstances mentioned, a large number of byes aie required. ■ The circumstances may not be at all unusual, and the necessity to give byes is always an irritating feature of a competition. In any case, conditions for a tournament should be so framed as to meet any set of circumstances which may occur, and to meet them fairly for all competitors. It is recognised "that sectional play is practicaly a' qualifying test as to the calibre of the teams engaged,[and the essence is merely to' qualify and not for one to qualify better than another. All teams which qualify should be placed on an equal footing, and a reasonable chance given for them to proceed without having to suffer^ unduly from any misfortune. In golf the NewZealand ' Association '• has adopted the principle of having tvto rounds, and in bowling vtKe Dominion Council has adopted the "two life system." ' It affords a reasonable 'chanci for all the teams engaged in post-sectional play, and reduces the risk of a good team beinfr put out by any ill-luck or accident. The system which was adopted last year by ths Wellington Centre, in post-sectional play was practically the. sudden death principle, and no matter whether the team won six or nine games in sectional play, it was out on the I first game lost in post-sectional play. In the "two life system" it certainly would have a chance to recover itself by having • another game." The matter was debated at some length, but the Centre finally decided to adhere to the "sudden death" principle/ on the ground that it was desirable to save as much time as possible and not prolong the tournament unduly. There has been a proposal amongst members of the Wellington Club to construct a winter green on the site of the three-rink green at the southern end of the club's property. It has been suggested that if this green were covered in and a suitable playing surface laid down, games during the winter would prove so popular that the expenditure on converting the green to the new use would bo justified. How the subject could bq financed is a pispblem that few have so far ventured to solve, and it would seem that the club would be'well advised to retain what playing space it, has available now in order to meet the, needs of the large and growing number of members who desire to -play Ibowls in the summer season. However desirable the winter green scheme may be, the proposal as yet seems to be. just a trifle too ambitious.

The Hutt Club now possesses i two, greens, a new green having been laid down, since last season. This new green was formerly the site of the old tennis, court. In exchange for, the tennis court, the directors of the club gave the tennis people a vacant piece of -land adjoining the property, consequently there are now two full size double courts as well as,a single court. The pavilion has also been removed to the southern side of-the-pro-perty and now runs east and west mr stead of north and south as it did before. Other improvements have also been effected, with the' result that, the Hutt greens should be more popular than ever to bowlors. The new green is shaping fairly well, although the strike of grass has nqt been quite so good as could be desired. The greons -will bo opened "lor play on 21st October. .: ■ ,:

Drawings for the annual centre tourliament will be mado r at the next meeting of. the Centre. ' '. i

'■' The Non-town Club is considering the matter of shifting the clubhouse from

the western to the eastern end of the green. The shadow cast by the building has an effect on the green, which is not at all .-desirable. It is , likely that, the change will be made, at the end of this season, the cost, of tjie work to be covered by .debentures..' In all probability, the clubhouse. will be enlarged to pro videj more accommodation for members and visitors. . .... ■'■'.:'

■■ Three names have been struck off the roll pf members of the Johnsonville Club, and posted as defaulters for not having ipaid back dues. The aqtion of the club has been endorsed by the Wellington Centre. ■'.. ■ • ; ■

An invitation has been received from the Wairarapa Centre for dx or seven Wellington rinks to visit Wairarapa during the present season. Last'year a similar invitation was issued, but only one rink went from the Kelburn Club. This was somewhat unfortunate, and it is hoped that more clubs will be able to send a team away this season. If clubs are in favour of the visit it is likely that it will take place some time in February, but a definite decision on the matter will be come to at next month's meeting of the Wellington Centre. Mr. J. C. Maddison, the well-known Christchurch bowler, is at present in Los Angeles, California. In a postcard received in Christchurch the other day, he stated he had' improved greatly in health and that his sojourn in the United States was doing. him an immense amount of good. Later on he may, go to England and the Continent.

Mr. Victor Casey, who is well known to New Zealand bowlers, and.who is at present at Home > with the Australian team, writes from London: "We have had a glorious time. We did fairly well as a team, and had the best average of any colonial team so far." Mr. Casey, who is accompanied by-his wife and daughter, is now in America, and hopes to arrive in Auckland (his home town) late in December.

Some merriment was caused at the annual meeting of the Whakatane Bowling Club when the retiring president (Mr. J." A. Canning), in the course of a few remarks, stoutly denied the current idea that the bowlers gave no .thought unto their wives and homes. "We held a bowlers' social," lie said, "which %as a pronounced success both socially and financially. I would very much ilike to see the social an annual affair, as it gives'an opportunity! for "bowlers with their wives to enjoy an entertainment Hogethter at least once in the year, thus forever' disproving the gross misrepresentation that bowlers are selfish mortals who neglect their wives." (Laughter.) Mr. W. Jacques, of the Opawa Club, one of the t oldest bowlers in Canterbury, who has been seriously ill, is now well on\^the way to recovery. | Teams 'which ■ enter for annual centre tournaments at Christmas should note I the new decision which had been come »o ,in regard to defaults. At its last meeting'the. centre decided that a team failing to be present at the appointed time may be subjected by the disputjes committee to. a penalty of £2. Some delegates favoured a penalty' of £1 a man, or £4 per rink, but the moderate opinion was that the penalty system was being, tried for the first 'time, and it was desirable to see how it 1 worked out. It, was pointed out that the disputes com- < mittee would always take into considera- i tion any extenuating circumstances which might arise to prevent a member | of a team keeping an appointment.A conference, of honorary green super- ' intendents is to be held shortly to discuss matters of mutual interest in connection with the' improvement and preservation of greens. The proposal emanated from the, Seatoun Club, and was ■warmly endorsed by the majority of delegates at th"c' last meeting of -the Wellington Centre. 'Mr. E. 6. Reed,.secretary of the Seatoun Club,' has been charged with the duty of 'making the necessary arrangements for the conference. Mr. Reed thinks that it might be possible' for experts from the, Department of Agriculture to be present at the conference, tcv impart infoftnation which would be'of the utmost value to green superintendents. - / -Framed certificates are to He given to each member of a' winning rink at" this year's centre tournament, also to the winning , clubs. This is a new departure which will be much appreciated. The annual tournament of the Dominion Bowling Associatipri is to commence at Auckland on 10th January. A record number of entries is expected. At the annual meeting of the D.8.A., Mr., F.f Meadowcroft suggested that the " sudden death" principle be adopted -in postrseetion play, but it was decided to adhere to the " two-life " system. It is intended to insist on the observance of the " one' foot on the mat" rule at

the tournament.

Owing to pressure of business, Mr. H. J* Wyatt hag had to resign his membership' as the Seatoun delegate, on the Wellington Centre. Mr. B. C. Reed, secretary of the-Seatoun Clab^ Has' been appointed ,to' fill the vacancy, and he ■was accorded a hearty welcome at'the last meeting of the centre. New South Wales and Queensland Bowling Associations are to be invited to send teams to Now Zealand this season.----t The following clubs are opening their i greens, to-day:—JTohnsonville, Kelburn, Newtown, Petone Central. , Writing in the Christchurch "Press," "Skip" states that he has received the following letter from a prominent bowler which should prjve of interest to those who follow the game, closely :—"Having seen bowls t««t*d on the indoor rink, I am convinced that the reteults to be obtained there are infinitely raoTe satisfac-, tory than any I have seen in green testing. No change of weather will interfere with the work itself or the certain running of the'green'. Any corrections necessary can be more easily effected indoors, and any necessary lathe or other appliances set up. A central testing placo is more convenientrjfor all parties except the members of\the club where the bowl-tester is quartered, \ and the members of that club must at times find the bowl-testing a nuisance. Unless a bowl is obviously flat to the eye, or possesses some abnormality, the original cread should never be interfered with; a slight reduction in the weight at one «nd or the other is all that the lathe should effect. .If the tester alters the tread of the bowl, what is to prevent the owner (or a future owner) also malting corrections ? In the -past bowlers have been disinclined to challenge bowls; but any doubtful bowls should be referred to the match scommittce of the club, or in cases of tournament to the person in command of the play, and the latter should invite one (or two) of the disinterested bowlers present to assist him in judging the matter. In tournaments the green commander should have the nerve to challenge the bowls himself."