BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 16087, 12 April 1916, Page 7

BOWLING

[By Measurer. j Attention is drawn to two advertisements at the head of this column, giving particulars re the Gove and Dunedin Easter tournaments. Tho uncertain weather last Saturday prevented some fixtures; others were decided, though under difficult conditions. Tile second Balk Cup match was played in a limited fashion, live rinks each from Balmacewen and Roslyn taking part. This time Roslyn got home by a single point. lit the earlier game Balmacewen led by 8 points, and, as the aggregate counts, Balmacewen hold the cup for this season. . Another match played was an Association game St. Clair v. Wakari, lour rinks a side. It was a good go, and rather unexpectedly Wakari came out on top bv 5 points. St. Kilda closed down for the season. There was a small ceremony in the paviwhere President A. H. Allen, Vicepresident E, Tamblyn, and Mayor W. T. M’Favlano gave short addresses. The lady friends provided refreshments, and Urn card and billiard tables were kept going. Later on. when the weather brightened, a few doubles' games were played. It had been intended to decide the finals of the doubles and rinks contests, but this was not done. The green is now being par pared for next season under the supervision ot Mr J. Taylor. had intended to play their mixed ladies and gentlemen’s games and to find tho actual winners of their rink competition, but everything was postponed. The club will hold their ladles’ day next Saturday, 10 rinks, each of two Indies and two gentlemen, competing. Tho final of she club’s rink championship fliariett v. Campbell) will also be. played. The rinks final of the Mornington Club was played between A. Boatwood, D. Smyth, A. Blyth. J. Robertson (s) and Simon, Anderson, Hardie sen., and A. J. Dotting (s). After a closely-contested game Sotting and his men won by a point. At the Dunedin Centro Executive meeting on (Monday night a report was received from the Dominion Council which conveyed the intelligence that Professor Walker’s motion allowing weighted bowls to be used had been carried. This I consider reasonable and satisfactory. It is a step toward the adoption of the universal bowl—that of the one size, shape, and weight. A matter discussed shortly by the Centre Executive was the present system of playing interclub matches. Mr W. Piddington, the St. Clair Club delegate, introduced it by asking Chairman J. R. Glover if it were possible to improve upon the present system. He said that there was trouble in St. Clair Club, inasmuch as while they were not strong enough to enter three rinks in each of the three sections, they had about eight rinks at command. Necessarily two rinks could not get games, and there was a threatened loss of membership on this account. Ho was of opinion that it would be better to revert to the old system of club meeting club, according to strength. If tho'Gentre could put in a recommendation for the next annual meeting of delegates it-would be a wise step, for the clubs, at tfieir annual meetings, to be held about June or July, could consider the matter and instruct their delegates accordingly. Mr Glover said that the trouble was to improve upon the present system. The club v, cliib method had been tried, but owing to the different numerical strengths it had proved very unsatisfactory. The svstem under which they played was hard to displace until something belter was provided. Mr P. Carolin said that (Mornington Club were not suited under present conditions. (Mr Piddington made a suggestion that such clubs as Outran! and Port Chalmers might be left out of consideration, as'their circumstances were against them. Nothing definite came from the discussion. Following are the official results of the interdub matches:

The greens chosen for the Easter tournament, if necessity demands, are Dunedin, Caledonian, Roslyn, Eorth-east Valley, and Caversham. Up till Monday 24 rinks had entered, but’’by Friday, when entries close, the number is likely to be considerably increased. The peculiar relationship between players and the two-ieet-on-mat rule is becoming more pronounced than ever. The rule was calmly ignored at the last association tournament at Christchurch under the very eyes of councillors themselves, and now we have an announcement in the Southland limes ’ that the rule is not to be enforced at the Gore tournament. This announcement is probably correct, a? 1 notice that in the copy of tournament rules and regulations sent me by the secretary Rule 12 '■ The two-feet-on-the-mat rule will be enforced ” was scratched out. Is not the position becoming absurd? An important rule, which provoked a lot of discussion and some feeling, was eventually resolved upon ; the great mistake was made of providing no penalty for its inIraction: and now we find both council centres are -ignoring it, though placards are prominent in local pavilions that the rule must be observed. Tho question requires reviewing. Either retain the rule and enforce it, or abolish it and vove.rt to the old order of things. As one who contended that the rule was too drastic, and argued that the case would have been met by insisting upon a player standing with both feet on the mat and having one there at moment of delivery, I am satisfied that the rule as it stands is better than before. Rut a penalty must be provided. Even then, when occasion calls for a protest, there will be a certain amount of unpleasantness; but this cannot bs helped, and some players deserve a sharp call, for they make no attempt whatever to observe tho rule. When an important event is being decided an umpire should be appointed, whose duty it would be to “ no-bowl ” a shot if delivered off the mat, thus relieving the opponent of the responsibility. At the last meeting of the Southland Bowling Centre a letter was received from the Dominion Bowling Association ro various matters. Mr Stevenson (president of the Southland Club), in moving that the letter oe received, jocularly referred to this letter as having put his mind at rest, as he had really thought the head association was dead, it being such a length of time since anything had been heard" from them.—‘ Southland Times.’ The Gore Club singles championship fina’ lay between W. Cox and J. IVELachlan, 21 points up. M'Lachlan reached 17 to 7 ; then Cox caught him and won by 21 to 19. M'Lachlan (who, I think, is'tho one-time Fairfield and Taieri plaver) w?-runner-up last year also. It will be remembered that a dispute arose over the final for the Southland

Centre mterclub trophy, Northern! wishing to play six rinks and Southland demanding eight. The Centre considered the matter, and decided that the match be played to-day, eight rinks a side. Mr F. M r . Penlington,- of the postal staff, _ a recent member of Canterbury Bowling Club, has been promoted to Dunedin.

Won. Lost. Dm. Per Cent. Dunedin 52 16 4 75.0 Green Island 14 8 63.64 Taieri 14 11 1 55.77 Otago 23 19 54.76 Fairfield 7 6 1 53.57 Kaituna 19 18 1 51,51 Roslvn 19 18 1 51.51 Si. Kilda 27 27 4 50,0 St. Clair 12 12 50.0 Caledonian 18 19 1 48.68 B alma ce wen 18 19 48.65 Caversham 16 19 3 46.0 Morningtou 11 15 1 46.0 Knikorai 16 22 42.1 Port Chalmers ... 7 10 1 41.6 North-cast Valley 15 23 2 56.84 West Harbor 4 8 53.5 Wakari 7 18 23.0 Outram 2 10 — 16.6