BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 17031, 30 April 1919, Page 7

BOWLING

[By Mkasttrer.] Several greens, including Mornington, Port Chalmers, Roslyn, and St. IGlda, closed down on Saturday last. Strang's win in the Provincial Rinks was achieved only after a hard fight. Tonkin, after 17 heads, was 17 to 12, and the Invercargill men had to score on all remaining four heads to win, which they did, running to 18 points. The game for third place .in the Provincial Rinks was between C. Lyng, D. SraVth, J. Scott, a-rcd W. Hendry (Cale--1 donian) and J. Grant, J. Pinnock, C. Grace, and D. Hutchison (N.E. Valley). The former won after an uphill game. At one time Vallev's score was 12 to 2," then 16 to 4, and with three heads to go 23- to 18. Caledonian scored 6 points the next three heads, and won by 24 to 23. The principal prize at Oamaru, the Champion Einks, went to a North End (Invercargill) rink skipped by that experienced player J. Ham, whose partners were F. Jovce. W. Watson, ancl D. J. Wesne-y. A rink from St. Clair Club, composed of C. Sunderland. W. Gregory, A. Gregory, and W. F. Abel (s) were in second place. W. W. Dawson, J. Grant, J. E. Broad, and J. Calder (Phoenix) won the Meadowbank Rinks, with S. Stevens, T. Brow, J. Waugh, and W. Smith (Te Rangi, Invercargill) as runners-up. A. Summerfield and T. M. Stewart (of Dunedin Club) beat their clubmates G. Nelson and E. Harraway for the Champion Pairs; and A. Walker and W. Stead (Southland) beat A. Hanna and T. Waddell (Phcenix) for the Phoenix Pairs. Both the Invercargill and St. Clair touring rinks, it wilt be noticed, did good work this Easter time.

At the Gore Easter tournament the singles (played on Thursday) were won by C." W. Iggo (Caversham), J. B. Perks 1 (Gore) taking second place. In the rinks , Caversham were represented by H. Tretha\way, J. Robertson, H. Emerson, A. Trethaj way (a). A. .T. Potting (Mornington) skipped a mixed rink constituted as follows : —B. Iggo. Maitland. D. Alexander. Botting, and secured the first- prize in the Citv Rinks. The three members of his team had not previously won tournament honors. The St. Clair rink who tried their fortune at the Christchurch Easter tournament did well indeed, getting right to the final, when they were defeated by a team from Edgeware Club skipped by J. Gagliardi. A member of the rink supplies the"" following notes:—"ln the first place, the weather 'so large a factor in bowls) behaved itseh" splendidly, the only rain being on Momk.y evening. It was fairly heavy, but Tuesday broke beautifully fine and warm, and although the green (Edgeware) was a trifle damp it played perfectly true, and with a draw exceeding the Caledonian at its best. This club are fortunate in having a young and enthusiastic greenkeeper with decided views of his own. The green is part of St. Albans Park, and the ground is of a peaty nature, and is considered the wettest green in Christchurch. The greenkeeper informed the writer that he had never sprinkled a drop of water on it the whole season. How's that for a tip? The grass on the greens we played on was not up to Dunedin swards," the long varieties being rolled down, as they appear too dead to stand lip to the cutter. The first green we played on was at Canterbury Club, and it caii be described as a very ordinary playing patch. The second was the United, in Hagley Park—a beautifully situated spot, with nice surroundings of flower beds, trees, etc. It was a shame, however, to pick it for tournament play, as the greenkeeper evidently was behind with its preparation, and had spread a coating of flue sand all over it to fill up the hollows. The result was that- muscular force had to be used to send a bowl along, as it carried a trail of sand after it like water on a flooded green. There was widespread dissatisfaction over the matter, and some wag had altered the notice board requesting" players to stand on the bank when not playing' into : ' Players were not to pick up "the pippies (shells) while playing.' I understand the Christchurch Club refused tho centre the use of their green, as, it was too late in the season. This has the reputation of being the elite green in more I ways than one. It did not prevent the j club having a team in the tournament to 'play on other clubs' greens! We were I much struck with the general narrowness jof the Christchurch bowls. Our rink i stood out conspicuously for wide drawers, j and on long heads (Edgeware is 120 ft i square) we were at a decided disadvantage ! when the opponents had possession of the ! kitty. in fact, we lost the final game ! through losing the kitty towards the end j of the game, Gagliardi not being slow to take advantage of long heads, we having I had the lead up till then on the short j heads. One little matter could stand imj provement, and that is making provision I for lunch. The entrance fee was £2 per j rink, am! all that was provided was a I rather shabby afternoon tea, players havi ing to carry their lunches with them and | chance getting a cup of tea, as there was j no eating establishment near the greens. I Otherwise the outing was most enjoyable, | the Christchurch bowlers being a fine, lot 'of fellows; and, as Mr Amtman said in ' responding to a congratulatory speech j from the president oi the centre (Mr i Daniels), if Dunedin bowlers only knew I the pleasant conditions he was siire that J Christchurch would have quite a number ; of rinks up from the southern city, instead I of one, for their Easter tournaments." j Here is a complaint expressed which is i becoming_ quite fashionable, and which ! will receive a lot of support (correspondents, to ensure notice, must give their genuine names, besides nom de plumes if such are thought necessary) : —" Dear 'Measurer,' —I am writing you"to ventilate • what I_ consider a just grievance in connection with the tournaments that are being ; held so frequently. I think they are being I overdone. Why should 75 per cent, of the I members of a club be debarred from hav- ■ ing a game because of tournament play. I ; am not alone in thinking that these are : carried too far. This year we have lost I Christmas and Easter, and what with wet j weather and tournaments we get no play jto speak of. After all, what arc these I tournaments being held for? One does ; not. see any better play than at interclub i matches. There is a lot of dissatisfaction i amongst the non-tournament players, and I I for one am resolved to chuck "the fame •altogether.—l am, etc.. DisGcsxr.n." °

The resolve to "chuck" the game is not. the way to meet the difficulty. Members of a club dissatisfied with thepresent state of affairs should make their voices heard and their votes felt at annual meetings. The Kaituna Club's singles championship was won by W. Paget Gale, W. Shepherd being runner-up. The colts' singles went to C. G. Scolon, and the junior doubles to T. Herron and W. Shepherd (s). The other club contests are still unfinished. The handicap singles contest lies between W. 11. Shepherd and R. Johnston. Three couples are in the champion doubles—W. K. Scrymgeour and H. Frapwell (s), A. M'Xaughton and H. Campbell Is), and A. Langford and T. Sanders (s). It is intended to try to bring things to' a conclusion next Saturday afternoon, when the green wil possibly close down. In the invitation doubles Sliepherd and M'Lennan have yet to meet. It will be noticed that Shepherd has been very prominent this season. The secretary of Kaitgna Club (Mr Bligh) has drawn up a statement of the matches played during the past season, which shows that the total points scored by the club in all matches was 2,313 ; point* against, 2,296. Rinks won, 56; lost, 58; drawn, 4. For Saturday matches points for 1.793, against 1,793; rinks won, 45; lost, 46; drawn, 1. Four-rink championship : Points for, 464; against, 444. Rinka won, 11;' lost. 9: drawn, 7>. Interclub matches were played on 11 Saturdays. Caversham Club close nest Saturday. Their club ties resulted as follows : Rinks: M'Corkindale, Thorn, Mitchell, Emmerson Is)). Doubles : Wills and Fastier !s). Champion singles: Fountain. Handicap singles : Robertson. D. M. Fastier also skipped the second-place rink and was runner-up in the championship singles—a good record. Caversham Green has played splendidly right through the season, and reflects credit on Greenkeeper Shand. By the way, the club's greenkeeper showed his interest in the game by again donating a trophy for the handicap (singles. Caledonian also close on Saturday.