BOWLING.

Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 3

BOWLING.

[By Leader.! —-Four-rinks-a-Bido Interdub Championship.— , Saturday was a perfect bowling day, and everything had been arranged by human be mgs nothing better could have been ordered—a lovely, calm day, a perfect green, and enthusiasm at boiling point. The Caledonian Green was chosen by the Centre as the battleground whereon Taieri and Dunedin were to meet to decide the much-dis-cussed question of which club were the stronger. Whilst Dunedin Club were entitled to the honor of being in a position to send out four of the most expert combinations it would be possible to select from any single club in New Zealand, tho Taieri had quite a host of supporters, who confidently believed that “ the boys ” would make things very warm for tlieir opponents. It was well known, too, th.it the Taieri teams had been for some lime past practising in deadly earnest for supremacy in the Dunedin Centre. This is a lesson that might be taken to heart by other clubs. It is undeniable that Taieri play the game for all that it is worth j but it must not be forgotten that they have learned and thoronghly digested the essential feature in the game ot bowls—viz., obedience. A rink, taking for granted that is is composed of players who thoronghly understand tho manipulation of a howl, can never be successful unless implicit obedience is the outstanding feature when a hard tussle is being waged. Spectators who watched Saturday’s game surely were impressed at the way “the boys” strove, without tho slightest hesitancy, to follow the instruc-

tions of their skippers. It may he that instances occurred during the final game on Saturday when a doubt fid call was made by Taieri skippers, hut there was no question asked. No, the player was given ;i shot to play for. and the player bent himself to accomplish it. The inference must not be taken that Dunedin teams did not "try." They did, indeed; hut there was something lacking. Maybe there were two or three men who did not play up to their true form. Perhaps Taieri were favored with a large slice of luck. That is a matter of opinion. Certain it is that Taieri played a wonderfully fine game, and they have put up a great record in defeating the parent club. There was a time—not more than half a dozen years ago—when TaieTi were considered invincible. That was when they hatl in their ranks such top-notchers as Campbell, Howell, Tom Mackie, and one or two others whose names I cannot at the moment recall. And yet without the three players mentioned the club have always been prominent when a contest of note took place. For many yr>a.rs Taieri have been well up in the N.Z'B.A. and outside Easter tournaments. Ami why? Beceuse they "lay themselves out" to win, just as tbey did on Saturday. For my part. I believe their success is due to the lessons inculcated into the younger players by the veteran*. There is a something about this outside club thai the larger city chilis fail to appreciate—possibly it is a. general desire to help one another, and in the hour of victory or defeat to applaud or console, as the case may be. A clap on the shoulder, a handshake, a kind word, make no mistake about it, all have a tendency to encourage one to do better; but indifference on the part of one's cluhmates has a depressing effect. The writer has at various times been twitted with " booming" Taieri at the expense- of other clubs, but bring along the next four rinks from where you may, Taieri has to he beaten! Before proceeding to note the play I take the opportunity of congratulating Taieri Club on their great victory. When play opened it was plain that no '" chances" would be taken and no opportunities thrown away, both teams being extremely careful. At the first head singles were the order, and three of the boards showed that Taieri had opened their account. And they took care to keep their figures going. At the seventh head they had a lead of 9—30 to 21: Carswell 5 v. M'Laren 9, Tait 9 v. Gillies 2. MTntyre 9 v. Sinclair 4, Stevenson 7v. Bentley"o. In the game between M'Laren and Carswell it appeared to me that the Dunedin skipper had the , stronsjer team, A. Black, W. P. Gale, and J. Johnson being, in tberir respective places, very " warm," and with M'Laren as skipper the great "William" from the Plains had a hard row to boe. W. Allan and Gibson were steady but not brilliant, and Gilligan appeared anxious. Tait has been considered a quiet player, one of these who play a slashing game when they have an expert behind them, but in his game against Gillies he demonstrated ability to both draw and drive, and, generally speaking, exhibited first class generalship, as he would need to in meeting a player of Gfllies's standard. A. C. M'lntyre's name is familiar to bowlers. All know his worth. Be it draw, drive, trail, block, or a packed head, he the "man from Galway" every time. I regret that space forbids me chronicling in full bis game against M. Sinclair. The latter is a veteran who has nothing to learn on the bowling green, and he mixed things considerably for Mlntyre; but the Taieri man. ever, alert and resourceful, kept the business lively. He would persist in beinsr up ju6t at a time when Dunedin seemed about to score! Sinclair's team, as a whole, put irusterling woik, but there was alwayi a " nasty " Taieri bowl about. On the end rink a great battle wa6 going on between J. Bentley and D. Stevenson.

game was almost even up to the seventh head. Taking the play of the two teams. I think they were evenly matched. M'Jlwrick, however, woe. nervous, and this meant a good deal to Bervtley. Davidson, in the lead, gave Harraway a severe task, Joe Smith, as second, tackled his work in Trojanlike manner, and sent down excellent bowls right through the game. On the whole, T. Neill played splendidly, and Bentley gave him plerity of stiff hardies to

negotiate. -M'Leod, too, was verv fair. Of the 6kips, while I have always "held a high opinion of Stevenson, I must acknow-

ledge that he surprised me on Saturday. He is jnst as easy-going as Bentley, but ■when it came to real rock-bottom work Steveneon was very handy. Bentley's recent performances in the Association tournaments axe easily remembered. He mav have had some share of bad luck on Saturday, but then—were not the other team playing a grand game? The count up at the fourteenth head showed that Taieri had increased their lead—62 to 48. At this stage it was apparent that, unless Taieri's fortunes underwent a sudden change, all Iwpe of Dunedin beating them was out of the qnestion. M'Laren's was the only Dunedin rink up—--13 to Carewell's 12. Taieri began to play ■with, if anything, more care. Even the tea adjournment .did not "put them off." In the List seven heads Dunedin failed to make up their leeway, the only event that " happened"' to them being a 7 scored again* Carswell. He was generous; took a chance to "bump up" a Taieri bowl, missed it, trailed kitty, and gave M'Laren! who bad a heap of wood at the back, a 7. Thus was brought to a conclusion. with Taieri Club as champions, the first of the series of interelub contests held under the auspices- of the recently-formed Dunedin Centre. —Notes.— There was a representative attendance at Caledonian Green on Saturday, many ladies also bein? present. ' " | Mr Angus M'Diarmid (Dunedin Club's ▼eteran) saw the final played on Sat.ur'av, and took a keen intcre.«i in the contest! But for failing eyesight he wmiM! still be "following the wood." his health beinnremarkably vigorous for a man well into the eighties. M«era J. J. Marlow (chair-1 man Dunedin Centre), R H. Scott (vicechairman), and J. M. (Jallaway (vice-presi-dent. N.Z.P..A.) were also sj-ectators. The Ptoslyn feathers have been the means of a good deal of friendly competition Last week the holders |R. Frew and It Wales) were challenged by J. Patereon and A. M. Huxtabta, when, after an interest.!ncr game, Wales and Frew proved themselves capable of beating their challengers. Ifuxtable had 6 to 1 up at the fourth head ; then scores underwent a change 6 all, 8 all. Then Hu.xtable and Paten-nn got the lend. Darkness coming on made play difficult, but Wales managed to r.-ct in a 6 at the last head, and won. Afternoon tea was provided by Mr C. P. Green6ladc at Caledonian on Saturday, Mr 4. Hopkins soservisiuz.

St. Kilda Club ties are nearing completion. MolKson's rink won the rink competition, and the final for the doubles is to be played between J..Wilson and J. White Is) and W. Smith and E. K. Broad (s). In the championship three players are left in, and J. M'Lennan will meet the winner of W. Smith and F. Carter in the final. N. D. Cochrane has qualified for the final in the colts, and A. Walker for final in non-winner's prize. St. Hilda have had a very successful sear son with their interclub matches, and recorded a good win against Taieri on the Taieri Green. Only one more match has to be played, against Roslyn on 27th ihst. Balclutha Club intend coming to town and playing St. Kilda Club on 3rd April, when a hearty reception awaits them. The St. Kilda Green has greatly improved, and GreenkeepeT Mercer deserves every credit, as he has pot a lot of work and careful attention into it. St. Kilda are entering freely for Invercargill and Oarnaru tournaments. J. White, J. M'Cirrdy, and D. Cameron are taking rinks south, and the northern town is to be visited by rinks skipped by G. P. Mollison, F. Carter, and T. Irvine. It has been decided to class St. Kilda Green on 17th April, as the soil for top dressing is to hand, and the greenkeeper wante to get an early start preparing for a first-class green next season. Club ties on Roslyn Green rrre progressing rather slowly. The rinks have reached the semi-final stage. A. C. Alcock meets W. A. Wilkinson on Anniversary Day. In the doubles C. Dickson is into the semi-final, and waits while W. Miller and T. Howard play off, the winner meeting R. H. Scott to decide who is to meet C. Dickson for the final stage. The singles arc not sufficiently far advanced to even guess at a probable winner.

On Saturday two rinks from the latelyformed Wakari Club went to Roslyn Green and met two junior rinks, and considering th at several of the new club men had not proviously rolled a bowl, they did not come off so very, badly, though suffering a defeat. They look forward to having their own green going next, season. Roslyn Green has much improved tinder the hands of the new greenkeeper, Mr More, and members now have some pleasure in playing, as it is now running much more smoothly and keener, and players can depend upon getting in the shots they play for.

At the beginning of this season the president, Mr R, H 'Scott, presented a pair of " challenge feathers" for competition. Quite a number of doubles have been made up, and had a try. So far the most successfnl pairs have been Messrs R. Frew and R. Wales and A. Bamett and Jae. ScmillaT.

Tt is not only these who are members of the clubs that- take a keen interest in bowlint;. Mr Robert Hudson has laid out an ideal plot on his property in Cumberkind street, and at times the came is very liyely. Mr Hudson extended me an invitation to "roll up," and o.long with several friends I spent a pleasant afternoon on his green. It is 95ft long by o6ft wide. and. for the time it hss been down, is remarkably level. Mr Hudson intends closing shortly, so a 6 to be early in the field at the beginning of next season. On the day I made a visit sides wore chosen—. North end v. South end—the teaniß being : South—Richard Hudson, John White, J. Johnson, W. Alloo (s); North—D. Moloney. Geo. Hudson. Roht. Hudson, J. P. Peake (s), the game resulting m a win by 1 point for the North. Mrs Hudson supplied afternoon tea. The Valley Club are pushing their ties to a finality. In the Champion Singles Brown plays Watkins and Barnes plays Kidd, the winners of these games meeting in the final. In the semi-final of the Handicap Singles Kidd meets Abbott, and the winner plays Cope for first place. There are still a few games to be played in the rinks. The rink skipped by Frame is the only one that has not suffered defeat as yet. Two rinks from this club are formed for the Oamaru tournament at Eitster—viz., Abbott. Kidd, Dunn, Barnes (s), and Pizey, Wright, J. Allan. Gray (s).

Thtf Valle}- Club pnrpoec making a trip to Milton on Tuesday, March 23, to pby a return match with the local club.