BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 17037, 7 May 1919, Page 7

BOWLING

[By Measurer.] Several clubs, including Caversham, Kaitttna, and Caledonian, closed for the season last Saturday. At Caledonia.n President \V. Honaghan did things in a style reihiniscent of old : times. Visitors met with the heartiest reception, and were made to feel very much at home. Refreshments were provided on a lavish scale, and the arrangements were such that file large number present who preferred the pa\ilion to the green, owing to the cold wind., found plenty of entertainment. A first-class orchestra, comprising Messrs J. White (violin), J. 11. Page (clarinet), A. M. Hope (piano), and Ci/Laidlaw (cornet), were of great service in brightening proceedings. At Caversham there was no great display. The green, still playing well, was largely availed of, and the club's consistent lady friends were there with their cups of tea and other refreshments ready for all and sundry. Kaituna closed with little ceremony. The final rounds of several club ties were decided. The full list of prize-winners in club events for the season is as follows : Championship singles: W. P. dale 1, W. H. Shepherd 2. Handicap singles :W. H. Shepherd 1, R. A. Johnston 2. Colts' singles: C. G. Scolon 1, W. G. P. Shephard 2. Championship doubles: A. Langford and T. Sanders (s) 1, A. M'Naughton and H. Campbell (s) 2. Invitation handicap doubles: A. E. Clino and W. H. Shepherd (s) 1, A. M'Kenzie and T. C. M'Lennan is) 2. Junior doubles: T. Herron and W. H. Shepherd (s) 1. C. 11. Hughes's trophy: D. Scrymgeour and J. .A. Haslett isi. There was no rink competition this season. Dunedin Club close next Saturday. Their club ties resulted as follows:—Champion singles: E. Harraway 1, A. Rawliuson 2. Handicap singles : A. Summerfield 1, A. Burk 2. Pairs: IT. F. M. Mercer and J. 11. Wilkinson (s) 1, K. Rosevear and A. Black (s) 2. Binks: Rev. Whitehor.se, A. M'Naught. J. H. Wilkinson, and A. Black (s! 1; W. Crawford. 11. H. S. White, J. B. Frame, and J. Hutchison is) 2. Colts: A. Archer 1, W. Crawford 2. Balmacewen, in an endeavor to overtake their ties, do not contemplate closing till Saturday week. The season may now be considered as closed. It has not been one of the most favorable. Like all other games, it was interfered with sadly bv the influenza epidemic : and the weather, on the whole, was unpleasant. Tho new system under which int-erclub matches were played has been only a qualified success. Rinks counting as against totals is not satisfactory to a largo proportion of players. There is no doubt that it is in favor of smaller clubs so far as heading the average goes. It is more likely that Fairfield, for instance, will score 100 per cent, with their three rinks than Dunedin or St. Kilda will with their 15 rinks. Not that many will begrudge. Fairfield their win. This plucky club, with a total membership of 14, came along unfailingly with their three rinks to engage all comers. They have reason to be proud of the fact that the championship banner will grace their modest pavilion this year. What was a real drawback was that no club knew where they stood comparatively while the competition was proceeding. In order to ensure that all engagements should be filled, the executive ordained that no games should count unless all opponents were met. For instance, Dunedin Club were engaged on one Saturday to meet Caledonian nine rinks, Anderson Bay three rinks, and Outram three rinks. * Outram could not send in their men, consequently the Caledonian and Anderson Bay games were in vain so far as Dnnedin Club were concerned. I think that the Outram game was not picked up, but at any time it- might have been bymutual arrangement : so that there was always an uncertainty as to where the larger clubs, with multiple engagements, stood. This took a lot of interest out of the club matches. An innovation that did catch on was the four-rink champion competition played in the evenings. Two of the town* clubs (Roslyn and North-cast Valley) did not enter, for their own reasons. The value of this competition seems to me to lie in the fact that it provides an outlet for the extreme competitive spicit. The Saturdav games afford opportunity for the average or even inferior player to find a place—that is, if a club enters up to full strength. The four-rink game, however, saves a chance to the more advanced section. Of course, there will be diiferences of opinion as to the selection ; but it may be accepted that those taking part in the four-rink games are in the first flight. Should there be more than 16 top-notch players in a club some must necessarily stand aside in each game ; but it is poor sport for all outsiders to condemn an institution because they cannot find a place. The fact remains that tho four-rink contest caused considerable interest, and 1 quite, expect that it will find a place in next season's programme. The winners this season came from Otago Club. Numerically the club are only average—some 60 members, I think—but they proved that they are able to assemble four rinks that can make all opponents extend themselves. Their win was popular, for they are good sports. Formidable Dunedin Club were runnersup. With the talent Dunedin Club possess, the victorious opponents have reason to congratulate themselves. Several secretaries have favored me with complete returns of the club's doings. Similar records from others will be welcome.