Bowling

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 20

Bowling

By "No. Two"

BOWL TESTING

AND LOADED BOWLS

MORE DISCUSSION

As a result of recent experiences in the matter of bowl resting on the admittedly heavy Wellington green, thero has been much discussion on the advisability of! testing so early in the season. The question whether or not loaded bowls are allowed to be played in this country has also cropped up. Doubts on the latter point may speedily be set at rest: loaded bowls may be used provided the loading is not done after tho bowls have been tested. Although through somo oversight in printing the vital words were omitted, tho correct reading of Bule 95 is as follows: "The use of bowls that have, in the opinion of any committee appointed to manage or regulate any association tournaments, centre tournaments, inter-club matches, or club games, been tampered with, or altered by weighting after being stamped as passing the test, is prohibited in all games under the auspices of the association, and any player playing such a. bowl shall be disqualified for the competition in which he was playing with such bowl." The words omited when the rules were being printed were "after being stamped or passing tho test." As to whether bowl testing should bo done on-a heavy green with a very poor draw is likely to be a debatable point always, as some people will contend that so long as the bowls draw the same as the standard bowl there is nothing to cavil at. According to the minutes of the N.Z.8.A., "The standard bowl is defined as a bowl approved by the association for the purpose of testing other bowls. It shall have a major diameter of 5 l-Bths in; and weight not less than 31b 4oz. Its draw shall be 4ft. llin ia a run of 80ft on a standard green, and such mn shall be determined at the 15ft mark on a testing rail 17ft long, with a gradual rise of 4ft over its whole length." The testing this year has been done on the Wellington Club's upper green, which has a heavy sole of grass on it and which has not been remarkable so far for its good drawing characteristics. The lower green is also running heavy still, and has not much pull m it. It is very doubtful whether a draw of 4f fc llin is possible on either green in its present condition, and, indeed, it is questionable whether a test is yet a fair thing until the greens have had more play and cutting and Tolling, let alone the influence of sun and wind to make them run a bit more freely. High-crowned, or composition bowls certainly have a hard row to hoe as it is compo. bowls having a tendency to be somewhat less "lively" than wooden bowls on a heavy green. The vexed question of the respective merits of the green and table tests again arises, and it would not bo a bad thing if it could be settled once and for all. One thing is certain: the table is not subject to such variations as the green, and therefore would appear to provide a fairer test. Tboso who advocate the appointment of green umpires to see that bowls used m the Pennant matches aro stamped, and others who say they know of some bowlers who have been playuig "pokers" for years, would do well to concentrate on having the testing controversy settled (if that be possible) before attempting enforcement oi tho rules regarding stamping and the adoption of reforms. The green test is wider suspicion by reason of its very nature, and the association might well consider reverting to tho Üble. One bowler recently suggested to r.o. 2" the adoption of a surface oi_ very thick glass covered with green baize as a suitable runway. This might be all right; but in Sydney Mr. W. Vaughan, who was formerly official tester to the Queensland Bowling Association, used a slate bed,. 30ft lOin long ami O.tt across at its widest part. It is claimed that the top cover, which has two thicknesses of green art serge, represents as nearly as possible the surface of a natural bowling gveen. Every set of bowl put on the tablo is tested, both on the fore and back hands, by the test bowl itself. The chute is shifted to a different angle before testing each set There is no fixed place tor the test, bowl always to run to, so tracking is avoided. The top layer after use recovers itself at once, being, ox a woollon and not a cotton material. Last year, Mr. W. A. Scott, or Duncdin, the official bowl tester to the New Zealand Bowling Association, gave some interesting information regarding bowl testing to "Jack," of the "Otago Daily Times." Mr, Scott" said he had designed a number of machines for tho delivery of a bowl on the green, and also for table use. Ho believed that the one adopted by . the present New Zealand Association was the acme of perfection, and tho data supplied to tho assoeiati'/i showed that the scheme embraced a standard bowl, a standard green, and a standard distance. All bowls had to draw alike on a standard green, which meant that some bowls drew less than the standard bowl on a very keen green, while bowls of another shape drew more than tho standard bowl on the same class of green, the reverse taking place on the Sreen heavier than the standard. The.Australians had found this out and were trying to remedy matters by having only one shape of bowl, but up to the present they had made a total tailure of it. , , , "Much is talked about a. standard bowl," said Mr. Scott. '|Whero does it come from? -What is it? How is 'it retained? I answered theso questions for the old New Zealand Bowl; 'ing Association. A committee of four ! was- responsible, of whom I remember two—the late Mr. J. H. Hancock, and Mr J. J. Marlow, whoso lucid explanation of the method of applying the green test has been much appreciated by bowlers in all parts of the Dominion. The standard bowl was widened by inches at a time until it was considered that a point had been reached between a drawing width and a driving one on a standard green. This means, of course, that the width is not too great, so that the tendency to draw ia greater than it is to drive. This standard was made to be a divergency of 4ft llin on a standard green by a standard bowl, a, distance of 84ft. Now we get this represented in a particular bowl, and we call it a standard bowl. I understand that the association has such a, bowl somewhere in a glass case, or at any rate it was a standard _ bowl at ono time, but just what it is now I am unable to say." The centre at its meeting on Tuesday night discussed the matter of bowl testing on the Wellington green, and a sub-committee was set np to confer with the official tester on tho question whether or not the testing apparatus should be taken to another green. Mr. H. G. Mayer, the Wellington Club's delegate to the: centre, stated that tho Wellington green was one of the last to be opened, and the grass had been too long for testing.

Pennants on Saturday. The senior and junior pennant matches will begin on Saturday. Seven rounds are to be played in each corn-

petition, which will conclude on 12th March. The 10th and 2«tli March have been assigned for postponed matches. As some of the greens aro still in a somewhat heavy state, no better advice can lie given than to "Be up!" ! The Soatoun Trophy. A pleasing ceremony took place at tho Seatoiin Bowling Club at'the weekend, being attended by members of tho Seatoun, Newtown, and Hataitai Clubs. The president of the Seatoun Club, Mr. W. L. Page, referring to the great friendship that existed between tho three clubs, said that it was the wish of the Seatoun Club to strengthen that friendship still further. To that end a trophy presented by himself, called "The Seatoun Trophy, "would be competed for by tho three clubs at weekends. The first contest would take place on the first week-end in December, each club to put in two teams. It had been decided that the first and third week-ends of each month would be most suitablo for all parlies. The winning team would be found by calculation on a percentage basis, the winning side to hold the trophy .till the next season. • The trophy is a very handsome piece of worki. the base, and pedestal of mottled rimu being surmounted with a circular mat of silver, from which a figure of a bowler, also in silver, is seen in the act of delivering a bowl. One side of" the trophy bears the inscription "The Seatoun Trophy," with date and name of donor. On the sides aro badges of the Seatoun, Newto-wn, and Hataitai clubs. The whole design is very, striking..-. A silver plate, for the-winning names completes the work. Woburn Green. A- team of.' Wellington. Club players •who visited the "Wobum Club on Thursday. .last. .to take, part ..in. a ..friendly game, speak Tiighly of the green, which they report ran fast and true, with a wide, even draw on each hand. Messrs. John Jones and George Martin, the green directors, have every reason to be satisfied with the results of their efforts to" provide the members of the young club with such a speedy and consistently running sward.

Selecting Teams.' The nrethod adopted by the St. John's Club, Wanganui, in s.electing its teams ; for club competition.is as follows: All the skips' names are put in a hat, the first one drawn outliaving first choice of "threes," and the last one out, to compensate for having the last of the threes, has first choice of "leads," the last choice, of "leads" being the lot of the skip who had first choice of '' threes.'' The names are again put in the hat. and another ballot for choice of "two's" is made. N.Z. Bowling Association. The executive pf the New Zealand Bowling ' Association met recently at Christchurch. The.. president (Mr. H. B, Oakey) referred to the great loss the bowling world had sustained by the death of Mr. J.-"W. Hardley, of Auckland, and on his motion his wonderful services were placed on record and the sympathy of the council extended to Mrs. HarVUey and family. Communications were received from the Queensland and Western Australia Associations, expressing regret at the deaths of Messrs. Hardley and H. Watson. The Victoria and Queensland Associations wrote expressing their willingness to persuade some bowlei'S to enter in the New Zealand tournament from Australia. ... .. ... The WAstpoi't Bowling Chib- -wrote expressing tlie' thanks of tho various clubs for (he granting of permission to form a Buller Centre.^ A liew club was being formed, to be-Jtnowii as the Waimangaroa Club, to'-.form part of the Buller Centre. . \ -.' ■ Permits for the following tournaments were granted:— Taranaki Bowling Centre: New Plymouth, Ist January. Open rink, New Plymouth, commencing B.sth.January. .FulLrink, Eas-. tcr, 1932. ":' • ; .-..

Wauganui Bowling Centre: Christ- | mas tournament, commen.cing; Boxing Day. Easter, tournament on usual dates. East; Coast Contrc: New Year tournament, commencing Ist. ..January. Easter tournament, three days. AVest Coast Centre:" Tournament, -Bth February to 12th February. South ■■Auokland Centre: Full rink ■tournament, 26th, 28th, 29th December. Wairarapa ' Centre: Annual • tournament, Ist, 2nd, and 4th January. South- Canterbury Centre: Tournament at Tim'aru','2sth, 26th, 28th, and 29th December./' ~ The secretary" (Mr. George Brass) reported that some centres had only returmrd one stamp, whereas ho had requested- the 'return of ■ all the stamps that had boon, in uso since 1925. It was resolved that a further request be made to the centres- for the return of all the old stamps as, in the- opinion of the .executive, it was thought desirable that these- stamps should not be left lying about. The change-of -colours of the Karori Club, Wellington, to maroon, black, and fawn was granted. British Visit "New Year. It seems likely that a visit from a British bowling team will take place next year. According to the information received .in New Zealand, the British team intend leaving the Old Country, in September, 1932, for Australia, and will'be' in New Zealand about Christmas or New Year. Cats On the Kbof. A recent authority stated that there aro now approximately 2,000,000 mem-.bei-s of associated bowling clubs in the British Isles: Of late years clubs have been springing up like mushrooms all round London, and still every club has long waiting lists of applicants for membership. It was thought that the indoor games, full-size rinks, totally enclosed, would ease the pressure, but apparently have increased it, "as if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on." The latest is that bowling greens are to be laid on the roofs of large buildings both in London and New York. Cats on the roof then, all right!

Playing Up to a "Hatful." One simple fact appears to be little appreciated by quite a number of "skips" (writes "Measurer" in the Dunedin "Star"). It "is that it is easier to save "a pot" by playing up to and among the scoring bowls thau by trying to draw the shot on the open hand. One rarely sees an end played in which the score is heavy without evidence of ignorance of this detail being appsirent. It is a beginner's error to think that a bowl played on to an opponent's scoring bowl or bowls makes them score more or be more difficult to beat. A seven scored was tbo result of a skip playing his men — and himself, of course—on the open hand on a'very keen green, while his opponent-was "piling them up" on his scoring bowls. The loser had not realised that every bowl which the winner tallied might just, as easily have been one of his own. It. is ' well for skips and would-be singles- champions to realise- that it-is easier for a man to "play-up" to a group of bowls than to'draw to a foot or two with a "hatful" against him. Psychology makes it ao.