BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 4

BOWLING

[By MuASPiutE.]

By the defeats of Dunedin and Caversham Clubs in last week’s interclub games the position is simplified, and Caledonian and Kaituna Clubs aro left to fight it out for possession of the banner. When these two meat a good game should result, for each can put in three really strong sections. Mornington, I understand, had an easy win against Caversham in two sections. The Caversham men, somehow, fail at the finish. .... Kaituna had no difficulty m maintaining its position when opposed to Anderson Bay, The final tablo of interclub results for the season is given below;

R. Ailcheson won the North-cast Talley singles final from J. Tonkin, his accurate drivirm being the deciding factor. J Robertson, in the final singles game at St. Kilda, led from the start against W. Jacobson, and won easily. At Balnmcowcn the position is that F. Lambeth and T. Ferguson aro loft in, each with one life. The Kaituna. championship lies between D. Gormack and T. Sanders, the latter with two chances. J. Holgato will represent Mornington Club. E. Ham way defeated J. Hutchison yesterday afternoon, which loffc_ the two to play another game to decide Dunedin Club’s champion. . R. Watt and P. M'Caskill played the semi-final yesterday for Otago pionship, and the former won. Ho has now to meet A. Walker in the final. W. Ik Piddingtnn and 0. Amtman are left in St. Clair‘singles. At last, after four postponements, it was found possible to settle the four-rink championship contest. At midday yesterday pi aye Vis' concerned received notice that they must bo up and doing at 4 o’clock that afternoon, and it shows tho loyalty of bowlers to their executive that the response was complete. Dunedin Club was expected by the majority to win. It did so, but not at all easily. St. Clair was up in one rink, C. Amtman playing a strong game as skip against W. M. Hogg. On several occasions Amtman’s. shots made all the difference, and his lead of 5 points was deserved. J. 11. Hancock (St. Clair) put up a game fight against J._ Bentley, and after being in a more unfavorable position finished only 1 point down. W. 11. Piddingtou (St. Clair) and E. Harraway also fought it out all the way, and the Dunedin men had to play nil they knew to finish with a lead of 5 points. J. Soddon's (St. Glair) rink was in trouble right through. The opponents (J. Piotcrsen and his men) were as steady as a rock and consistent throughort, and their lead of 14 points turned the scale in Dunedin’s favor. Pieterson’s rink would take a lot of beating at any time. Tho final scores were : Dunedin 88, St. Clair 75. Dunedin thus retains possession of tho handsome cose of ferns. Many comments were passed on tho improvement shown by Otago Club’s green. The change is very marked, and can only have been effected by skilful supervision and hard work. Mr C. Speight (superintendent) and Mr Beattie (greenkeeper) deserve a lot of credit for their work, ami doubtless find full reward in tho present line condition of the green. Otago Club officials (who have been pub to a lot of trouble in preparing for the postponed games) looked carefully after players’ wants, and did their full share towards helping tbo game along. At time of writing (Wednesday) nothing was to bs learned definitely of the names of those likely to represent Otago against Southland in next Friday's match at Invercargill. Presumably tho selectors arc finding some difficulty in getting together a team to suit them. Even with fine weather till tonight there will bo a hit of a scurry in some clubs to find the champion. Resolutions should be made and carried out next year to got a move on earlier. The play in the Champion of Champions contest begins to-morrow morning on Cavorsham and Otago greens, Caledonian green being used in the afternoon. Survivors i will "continue at North-cast Valley on Saturday. ' At a meeting of Christchurch Centre it was agreed to write shanking tho Dunedin Centro for tbo manner in which the Canterbury players had been entertained and cm the arrangements for the interprovincial match. Sumner Club won the Christchurch A pennant competition (equivalent to our champion banner contest), defeating Liuwood Culb in the final The latter was expected to win, bub the young seaside club had the lead in two of three rinks, though it was down on total points—ss to 61. As some of tho players aro well known in Dunedin, full scores aro given: —Sumner —F. C. Cooper, C. H. Newman, T. F. Chambers, \V. Henley, 12; Linwood—T. Hilson, W. Healey, F. Williams, E. Hcaloy 24. Sumner—F. Marne, C. Forrest, W. Raphael, H. Wilson, 20; Linwood —C. Tustin, A. Bryant, G. W. Iggo, J. Marriott, IS. Stunner—R. Wallace, W. Mitchell, H. Barlow, W. J. Hampton, 23; Linwood—A. Kinvig, R. Howarth, H. Read, G. Cooper 19. Three rinks from Caversham played at Seacliff yesterday, and three rinks from St, Kilda Club intend to engage the players there next Saturday.

Mr J. C. Rigby, champion bowler of the Dominion, was specially honored by his North-east Valley clubmates at a smoko concert on Saturday night. The attendance (including members of the council and the executive) was largo enough to overcrowd Dormer's Tea Rooms. Mr If. J. Duncan, president of tho club, was in the chair. The main toast of tho evening was honored with unusual cordiality, for Mr Rigby is a great favorite, not only with his fellow-members, but with Dunedin bowlers generally. Everybody who spoke expressed pleasure at his victory. Mr Rigby’s remarks in reply were apt and amusing. Ho said ho was naturally pleased at obtaining the high honor of champion, and recognised that good fortune had attended him. Nice things were aho said ot the council and executive, and a toast that mot with a great reception was that of the champion rink from Taieri, the members of which were present. A hard-working committee looked after the wants of those present, and, like all functions fun by the Valley Club, the gathering was successful without reserve. A deputation representing the privatelyowned bowling - greens in Christchurch, including the Canterbury, Linwood, and Opawa Bowling Clubs, wailed on the Christchurch City Council recently for the purpose of showing reasons why there should be a remission of the rates on pri-vately-owned greens, bringing them into conformity with clubs using portions of municipal reserves. Mr F. J, Good (Linwood) said that the Linwood Club’s rates were £l6 6s, and its interest charges £2B; the Christchurch Club paid £3O 11s 3d and £63 ss; the St. Albans Club paid in rates £37 3s. On the other hand, Beckenham, a club which used part of municipal property, paid £5 in rates, Edgewaro £7 10s, ana Sydenham £7 10s for grounds about as big as those of rhe Christchurch Club. In answer to a question as to whether clubs would agree to have their greens vested in the council, a member of the deputation said that they would “jump at ihe cbancD.” Tho nutter was referred to the Finance Committee. Mr Duncan, president of North-east Valley Club, mentioned at Saturday night’s smoke social that the club’s present membership was tho highest yet attained. Having now a better tenure than could previously be secured, the committee felt

tion for additions. It was also contemplated to provide a billiard table. This is good nows. The Valley Club deserves to make more rapid progress. Karangahako, which is about ninp miles from W.'iihi, was onco a flourishing gold mining town, but it has fallen upon "evil days, and is now practically a deserted village. At one time Karangahako had a, presentable howling green, and a rink skipped by E. Jury won the rinks competition at the Dominion championships three years ago, and again last year. To-day there are cnttl grazing on the bowling green, and the pavilion liq£ been removed to fulfil a more useful function, elsewhere. Jury is now playing for the’ Ponsonby Club, and is still a champion. The test match between the Australian bowlers about to visit the Old Country and the English Bowling Association has been fixed for Dulwich oh Juno 10. Wellington proposes to send a team to play test games against the Wanganui and Manawatu Centres.

The Wellington Centro is strictly enforcing all rules in connection with its champion of champions competitions, and bowls without an approved stainp will bo barred. The new rule requiring players to keep one foot wholly on the mat when delivering their bowls will also bo rigidly enforced, and the various clubs’ representatives must have a written statement from their secretaries to the effect that they have complied with the conditions governing the competition.

, When in London Mr A. Provan, one of the New Zealand bowling team, had manufactured several fern leaves—the badge of the team—in silver and gold. To each of the five clubs in the Western District, Southland, he has presented one, to be played for by first and second year players (known, as “ colts ”) in each 'club. Tha competition will bo known as the Provan Fern Leaf Singles, and the winning cults may extend Iho play so as to meet and decide the winner for the Western District.

Wins. Losses. Pts. Tl. Pta, Caledonian .. 3 1 2 18 Kaituna 3 0 2 18 Caversham .. 1 2 0 16 Dunedin 1 4 0 16 N.E. Valley .. _3 0 2 16 Gieen. Island 3 0 2 12 Taieri 0 0 0 12 West Harbor 0 2 0 12 St. Kiida 3 1 o 11 St. Clair 3 1 2 11 Jlornington ... lloslyn 2 2 1 2 2 1 10 9 Kaikorai 4 0 2 8 0 / V Balmacowen .. 2 2 1 Otago ... 0 4 0 0 ■■ Outram 0 1 0 6 Port Chalmers 0 2 0 6 Fairfield 0 1 0 4 2 Anderson Bay 0 ■ 3 0