Bowling

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 27

Bowling

By "No. Two 1

THE PENNANT GAMES

FIRST POSTPONEMENT

SODDEN GREENS THE CAUSE

AVot weather last Saturday caused the first postponement of pennant games this season, which was certainly unfortunate, but unavoidable. The afternoon turned out fine enough, but the soaking rain of the two previous days had made some of the greens unplayable, at any rate, in the opinion of the green committees, hence there was no option but to declaro all games off. In some localities the greens recovered quickly and club games and "roll ups" were indulged in during the afternoon, but in other places the greens were not fit to cut and roll. Even if only one club refused to prepare its green, the Centre would have to agree to postpone play, and on Saturday tliero was certainly ono green which was not fit to get ready for play. Although there have been a lew isolated complaints at the postponement, the decision of the Centre met with approbation for the most part. In the circumstances, the postponement waa justifiable, but it is to be hoped that the Weather Clerk will be in kindly mood for the remainder of the season, because another lost Saturday or two would cause complications, even though the pennant programme is not by any means a-heavy one. The risk of wet Saturdays, or of unplayable greens, provides another reason for keeping the number of rounds in the pennant competition within reasonable limits so that, if •necessary, any leeway can bo made up -towards, the end of the season. ■ ■■ . Tournament Entries. All bowlers contemplating entering for the Dominion tournaments in January are reminded that entries close on Saturday next, hence there is only a day left in which to send in the. names. Entries for the Wellington Centre tournament will close on the following Saturday, So far there is no indication of a very heavy entry from Wellington for the Dominion gathering, It is just a. question whether the fact that such a large number of tournaments, now take place throughout the country interferes with the entry for tho Dominion tournament, and, to some extent, the entry for centre tournaments. in Wellington, for instance, there are usually two tournaments at New Year, following the Centre tournament, namely Hutt Valley and Eastern Suburbs. If* such tournaments are restricted solely to the clubs within the confines of those districts, then no objection can be offered to them, but an open entry raises other considerations, perhaps, and such tournaments become in a sense competitors of Centre tpiu-na? ments. The whole matter is one for the consideration of the Dominion Council. As a matter of fact, there has been some talk of bringing in. a now rule giving clubs in districts such as Hutt Valley and Eastern Suburbs the right to hold tournaments, but stipulating that the entries must be restricted to- their particular centres. This would mean that competitors from outside those centres would not be eligible to take part. There are only about one ■or two teams from outside "Wellington which take part in either the Eastern ►Suburbs or tho Hutt Valley tournaments, but if a wide patronage is sought, then it does seem that to some extent the local and Dominion entries might be affected. Some time ago it was reported that the Dominion Count cil proposed to curtail the number of tournaments in and about the locality where the Dominion gathering was going to be held. As it has nqt been announced that the D.B.A. has declined permission for any such tournament, it is possible that the proposed restricr tion has not been put into operation. It is probable that to attempt to curtail the number of "local tournaments would not mean obtaining jm increa^ei entry for the Dominion tournament, but the general effect of so, many tournaments throughout tb,e Dpminion must be to reduce the importance of the Dominion gathering. Already, many bowlers regard i\ie tournament as of equal importance to the Dominion tournament, and Taranaki is also a popular fixture.. The I^elson tournament at Baxter hardly comes within the range of thjs discussion considering the time of year at which "it is' held. At one time the Dominion tournament, and, in earlier days, the Northern and Southern Bowling Associations' fixtures, were regarded by bowlers as the most fitting way in which to put in their annual holidays, but owing to the unrestricted entry and t)ie necessity for beeping to a hard and fast time schedule, tho Dominion tournament has resolved itself more or less into a strenuous fortnight for the enthusiasts who enter. The widespread and mr creasing use of the motor-car at holiday time is also having an effect on tournament entries, for many motorist bowlers cannot now. resist the temptation to take their vives and families on a jaunt through one Island or the pther, when in other years they would have gone bowling. This is probably one reason why Dominion tournament entries do not show any great increase, but mother ™d the bairns will "not worry very much about that if they can induce father to forget bowls of all descriptions and go on. I;pur in the latest umpteen|htCylin4BF high-powered speedster, provided, of course^ all due care is taken to guard against ending up in the ditch of in the hospital. In this respect, it might be argued that bowling is safer than motoring, but it is remarkable how year by year the number of trundlers who answer the Call of the Road is increasing. Qualifying in D.B.A. Tournament. Conversing with some prominent bowlers the other day who are entering a rink in the Dominion rinks championship, one of them referred to tho number of wins necessary to qualify in this competition, (writes "Jack" in tho "Otago Daiiy Times"). He expressed tha view that during the past two years the qualifying clause one year was an obsolete one as it appeared in the official programme, and the following year it was so badly worded ho for one failed to understand it, and others bowlers also. As a member of the Council Executive was on the green, he was asked for somo information about what was to be done in the coming Dominion tournament regarding the qualifying clause fas the links. Ifroni him the following yfna gleaned. If all the sections are won by a team with seven or eight wins in "each section, pnly these teams will qualify for tho post-section play. If, however, any section is won by a with five wins or six wins (as the "case may be), all six game winners in any section at all will qualify also. If any section is won by a team with only five wins, then as winner of this particular section it -will a}sp qualify, and naturally bring in all the six game winners in the other sections; but it will not bring in anyfivergame winners from the other sections. If a section is tied for by two or, more teajayfe'jligsg 'tea-ing gack gount

as tho -winner of the section, and will go forward.

The Common-wealth Carnival.

Arrangements arc well in hand for tho Australian bowling carnival to be hold at Launcestou. The carnival is a largo undertaking for Tasmania owing to tho ■limited number of greens. The secretary of tho Tasmaniau Bowling Association (Mr. J. E. Melross), however, does not expect nominations to exceed 500, but if there are more arrangements will have to lie made to play a number of tho matches on the. Hdbart or NorthWest Coast greens. Already accommodation in Launeeston has been, booked for 450 visitors. A Hefty Hand. To pick up two standard bowls and two jacks with one hand see-uia an impossible feat, but this was done by a London bowlor with' the greatest case (says a writer in '.'English Bowling News"). Tho performer ia Mr. A. Check, whoso weight is 20st. Possessing a tremendous grip and arm strength; Mr. Cheek wedged the two bowls into the palm of his hand and gripped the two jacks with his fingers. He raised the lot a distance of 5 feet from tho ground, and held them for almost a minute. Considering .the bowls and jacks would weigh over 6ilbj this, surely, is a .record. ■ ; On the Other Side. ' Last month Victoria entered upon the third round of its new pennant scheme," which has attracted 72 clubs to put in 162 teams, representing 2676 players. The New South Wales Association entry -showed that 37 clubs had 92 teams taking part, which meant that about 1400 players would be engaged in the opening round of the pennant games. * N.S.W. Troubles. From comments made by "Boomerang" in the Sydney 1 it would seem that' all. ia not well with the Now Soutli Wales Bowling Association. - "There has been a great deal of unrest on the N.S.W. Association for some time, and it is not difficult to put a finger oaths eruption," says "Boomerang." "The association consists of some 109 cluba, nearly 70 of which are country clubs. Digest these figures. Country clubs and centres are not represented by their own members, but by metropolitan bowlers of niore or less prominence. Some of these are heady, weighty members', and while one or two" in particular talk at, talk of, or talk to, everything raised, the majority of the country delegates are conspicuous by their deadly silence all the year round. A desire to be in the band appears to overcome many who might be more useful at their own fire-, sides, for what use they can be, seeing that they never open, their mouths except at roll-call, it' is difficult to gather. Several clubs are also represented by delegates who are afraid to talk on the matter of. fine points of I the game. No man, no matter what his other credentials may be, should be delg^ted without he is an experienced bowler. It would make for better administration, and better service, if the meetings were held every two or three months, and each country club or. centre send its own delegate. In Western Australia. The "big noise" made by the Western Australian Bowling Association to celebrate with other lines of sport, hasbeen heard on this side (writes "Boomerang" in the Sydney "Referee"). Reynolds, of Perth, won the singles, and several New South Wales players, including S, Roberts, of Sydney, played well into the latter stages. Reynolds is not generally known outside of. his own domains, but is evidently spine class player. The W.A. rink was uncpnquered in tho Dominion, v. Australia Test games, but afterwards failed in the Bpminion rink tourney, ag well as individually in the singles. Some fine bowlers have their domicile in the West, including the A.B.C. winner of 1924, Gustafson. When is the Jack Dead? The question has been askec\: If the jack be driven by a bowl and land on the bank above its level apd then retiounds pr comes" back op to the green, is it alive? The rule is rather vague en the point, but it is invariably decided that once the jack goes above the level of the bank it is dead head. In the prpppsed revision ef the rules sent to centres for approval the jack is dead once it goes beyond the level of the bank, even though it come back to the green (writes ''Jack?' in the "Otago Daily Times"). It is only when driven egainst the bank and then comes back that it is alive. Cm greens where the ditch forms part of a very high bank the jack is considered as driven against the bank, and is alive, but where the level of the bank ends at, say, a foot above the green, once the jack goes over that level it is dead, not having been driven against the bank, but beypnd it. The pegs on the edge of the bank mark not only tho side boundaries, but also the end boundaries pf the. r^nk, and as for the jack and touchers the limits of the rink are the portipns of the ditch within tho boundaries pn greens where the ditch ends at the level ef the bank, 3- jack going above' such level is outside the boundary, and the head is therefore dead.