Bowling

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 24

Bowling

ay "No, Two"

THE PENNANTS

tYALL BAY'S 100 PER CENT,

A FINE PERFORMANCE

SENIOR PENNANT.

Result of Second Hound (First Round Postponed).

Fortune smiled on the Wellington Centre last Saturday, and it was possible to get off the second round of the Pennant competition, although the high wind blowing did not conduce' to gooß play, the result being that players who were engaged on exposed greens did not have a very pleasant time. The outstanding feature of the day ■was the- wonderful performance of Lyall Bay in winning all its games, thus scoring 100 per cent, in championship points. At the end of last season Lyall Bay was in tho doldrums. Its membership was reduced, and in consequence its quota of rinks for the Pennants was cut down from eight to six. This season tho club has had an accession of membership, and in J. M. Braekenridge and Naylor it has two most formidable skips, whose presence must serve to stiffen up the rinks. 'In any case, figures toll, and Lyall Bay scooped the pool last Saturday, in friendlies as well as competition games. Last year Eastbourne, with four rinks, got a 100 per cent, win, but it was never expected that a club with six rinks would be so successful. Lyall Bay's record of last Saturday gives the club a very substantial lead, because there are only five rounds altogether in the competition and the club would require to have some very bad losses to bring down its average. It was expected that Hataitai would do well, although from, the rinks it put in it would seem that Selector George Halliday was out to give, everybody a chance of playing. Probably for its size Hataitai can put in as strong a set of rinks as any club in the centre. Ardell, 'Halliday, Fielding, Brightmg, and Wellings are skips capable of giving anybody a most excellent run. for their money, and they generally do. The club got an 85 per cent, win against Wellington and Thorndon, winning five out of six "■ames against Wellington and 3% out of four against Thorndcm. Three of. the games, however, were won by a majority of one point only. It would be impossible to have a closer call than that. ' Woburn met Upper Hutt and won three games out of four, thus bringing this young club up to third place. Island Bay 'played eight rinks against Kelburn, and won five ot tlie games. Against a strong club this was a pretty meritorious performance. In addition, Island Bay played two rinks against Seatoiin, where' they.had onewin'and one loss. Seatoun's-one wm was the only one that tho seaside club got, it having been severely trounced by Lyall Bay. . Hutt certainly did not have anything like a day out. It gave Wellington an opportunity of maintaining a fair average by allowing the parent club to win four games out of six, and it also enabled Thorndon to get into a high position 'by losing all four games to that club. Hutt therefore finished up the day with two rink wins out of ten, which, however, was a little bit better than Seatoun. Kelburn did not have a very success-. ful day by reason of losing both games against Lyall Bay, and five games out of eight against Island Bay. This made Kelburn's percentage 33 1-3. Petone met its neighbour. Central, in a six-link match, and won four out of six games. Victoria had three wins and three losses'' against Newtown, and managed to get 2i wins against_Karon, bringing its percentage to 55. Johnsonville is a little higher up the lißt than is usually the case. It played a drawn gamo against Plimnierton, but got 1-J wins against Thorndon out of two matches. All the other clubs maintained a fair percentage, round about the 50 mark, but they will all have to spring off their tails to catch Lyall Bay. An Upper Hutt Tournament. One-day tournaments are immensely popular in Auckland, where clubs will Teccive as many as sixty entries. Wellington players will have the opportunity of taking part in. a. one-day tournament on Tuesday, 16th December, if they so desire, for permission has been given to the Upper Hutt Club to hold a tournament on that day. Tho idea of the tournament is the double purpose of raising funds and stimulating interest locally in the game of bowls. All the clubs in the centre are urged to enter one rink. The tournament is to consist of lb rinks, divided into two sections ot eight, play to commence at 9.30 a.m., three games of nine heads in the forenoon and two games of nine heads in the afternoon. The winner of each section is to play a final game of -1 heads at a time and place to bo agreed iipon by the teams concerned. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Players may make their own arrangements for lunch, but the committee •will arrange for, luncheon to be served at the local hotel for teams requiring such an arrangement to bo made. The entrance fee is £1 per rink. For the first prize trophies to the value of £1 will be awarded to each player in the winning team, and for tho second prize trophies to the value of 7s Gel will be given to each member of the rink. Seeing that the object is a good one, it is to be hoped that the tournament will be liberally supported. Missing Bowl Wanted. . The following letter received by Mr. E W Shallcrass, secretary of the Wellington Centre, from Mr. A. M. Thomaon, secretary of tho Marlborough Centre, explains itself: — "The Awatere Club has a foreign bowl in its possession—large disc C.H. initials, No. 1 bowl, 1030 test stamp, Wellington. They have a V.B. bowl missing, and it seems that this particular bowl has been taken in mistake for the C.H. bowl. Wo cannot trace the owner of the C.H. bow!; we think it belongs to one of the Wellington.players at our last Easter tournament,' or to one of the members of the Wellington Centre party which visited us early in the year. We will be glad if you can make inquiries among your clubs with a view to having the matter adjusted. 5' A Doubting Thomas. Last week a paragraph appeared in this column regarding ten touchers having been obtained in ono head during a game at fiyall Bay. The information was quite accurate, but there is one doubting Thomas who does not believe it apparently, for "No. 2" has fSSjsSffiSfl the following anonymous let-

ter from "Old Bowler," Kilbirnie:— "Your, articlo in connection with a 'touching record' is a good one; iv fact, I think the joke is on you, and I shall bo,pleased to have a drink at your expenso when I call in. We often hear about somobody doing something wonderful, but nobody seems to have seen it. Perhaps (?) you could givo more particulars in the 'Post' about that wonderful fourth head aud its ten touchers." It is not usual for notice to be taken of anonymous correspondents, but in this case "No. Two" feels that ho must defend his veracity against the implied sneer of mendacity contained in "Old Bowler's" letter. In tho first place, "Old Bowler" is informed that there is no joke about the matter, and it will.be of no use his coming in for "No. Two"; though not of an ungenerous nature, has gone on the water wagon for a somewhat indefinite period. If "Old Bowler" cares to incur the expenso of a twopenny tram ride to the Lyall Bay green he will find plenty of people who were eye-witnesses of the occurrence, and who will be prepared to swear on their honour and by all the saints that it took place. Ho; will even be given an elaborate illustration of the lie of the bowls on "that wonderful fourth head," and how the touchers were got. "All men are liars," said the Psalmist; but this is one instance, "Number Two" is reliably assured, in which King David of Israel was wrong to make such a sweeping charge. Some people seem to doubt everything—even their own existences. The Hill Pins. After two postponements owing to wet weather, the game for the Hill Pins was- played on the Wellington green yesterday between Wellington and Island Bay. The scores were: Wellington': Dalrymple, Innes-Jones, Dimock, E.. J. Hill (s.),- 29; Patience, Glass, Duncan, Ferkins (s.), 22. The- game was remarkable for the great recovery'made by the Wellington team in the concluding stages of the game. Up till the 17th head it looked as if Island Bay, who were then three points in the lead, would maintain their position, but the 'Wellington players suddenly came to light, and they scored 13 points in three heads. At the last head Island Bay wanted eight points to tie. Patience, however, sent his first bowl up on the wrong bias and that settled the argument. Island Bay got a shot out of the head, but it was too late. InnesJones and Dimock played some splendid shots for Wellington. Tournament Dates. Bowlers still contemplating entering for the Dominion Bowling Association's tournament to bo held at Auckland in January are reminded that entries close next Saturday, so that they have not much time in which to make up their minds. The entry fees are: Rinks, £3; pairs, £1; singles, 10s. All entries must be certified by the club secretary that the players are members of the club mentioned. Present indications do not point to a very large entry from Wellington, although it is usual for about 15 rinks to go from this centre. Hazelwood (Lyall Bay), Goodwin (Thorndon), Ardell (Hataitai), and Duncan (Wellington), are some of the local players who are going. Entries for the Wellington Centre's Christinas tournament close on 13th December. So far one entry has been received, that of J. B. Beid (Welling"Put Your Name Down." There can bo no doubt that the sys.tein .practised by many clubs of "put your name down on arrival," is prejudicial to.the sport (writes "Boomerang" in the Sydney "Referee.") The system,, is:.. For members of a club to put their names on the blackboard upon •arrival at the club, and before 2 o 'clock rinks are then made up from the names subscribed. Good, bad, indifferent, the impossible, and all the "other kinds," are jumbled into fours, and a "happy afternoon" is spent—for the novices and the never-will-be's —but an extremely unhappy one for those who regard the game as something more than time spent in. mucking about with no set purpose. Clubs are cram ■full- of one class of bowler, and that class is nearer the Z -than the A Grade. No wonder! ' Members never get any variety—never able to indulge in a singles (four-bowl) game, and, consequently, never find- out the many varieties of shot that go to make up a first-class player. The cry that the good players selfishly play among themselves, or desire to do so, is so much humbug. Clubs have no right to a man's personality as soon as he arrives on a green; he should have the right to say what kind of a game he wants to play—rink, pairs, or singles. In Victoria that principle ia followed, and unless there are no rinks vacant for others who come later; the singles or pairs are almost invariably indulged in in all Melbourne clubs. That is why we see the Jack Boyds, the Jimmy Hills, the young Jeffreys, and the like, springing up from apparently nowhere, and winning the classics. What chance is there for a "surprise packet" to come to light in Sydney? None, absolutely, for as soon as a man begins to bowl, he is seized and put into a "mug" rink, and stays there till he dies. The system is all wrong, and produces hundreds and hundreds of players who will never be any good; but coming champions, where are they? Clubmen should refuse to bo "arrested" and "put to work "at any old trade. What do Wellington players think of the above opinion? There are some players, possibly, who will think that it is quite sound, but in "No. Two's" opinion they belong to the clique variety who think themselves so expert that none but they are competent to play a good shot, and that they should always be giving exhibition displays for the benefit of their less skilful brethren. "Boomerang" is welcome to his opinion, but all Australia or Now Zealand will not agree with him. Australians in England. "Jock" Henley, who toured with the Australians in England as a Now South Wales representative, says that ■they saw and had to put up with many tilings that caused them "to count ten '' before they spoke. Heavy greens and straight bowls were included in this category. In many places the folk circled rouiul them, regarding them curiously, aud he had been creditably informed that not a few were surprised when they found the Australians to bo white men. Permanent Indoor Bowling. A well-known outdoor bowler, struck with the possibilities of the indoor game, has decided to open a permanent indoor bowling green right in tho heart of Auckland, says the "Star." The contract has been let for laying down a perfect floor. The building will accommodate nine rinks, and still have ample room for spectators, who will find raised seating accommodation arranged for them around tho playing area. It is hoped to have the green ready for play within tho next three weeks. The green will bo open day as well as night, and on 'wet days should be popular with green bowlers.

■ - names. Wall Bay li ' Bataital 10 Woburn 4 Petone ti .Tohnsonville ■ 4 Island Bay 10 Victoria 10 Eastbourne ......... 4 Karorl 10 Newtown 10 Plimmerton 2 Thorndon 10 Kliandallah C Wellington 12 Central 8 Kelburn 12 Upper Hutt 4 Hutt 10 Seatoun G ttms. J ' 0 8% 4 2^ •> 1 4 1 1 rev can. 100 S5 liG.6-1 G2.5 GO 50 50 no DO 50 41.66 41.66 33.'33 20 1U.GG