BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 3

BOWLING

[By Measurer.]

It was with some difficulty that the Champion of Champions contest was finished on Friday and Saturday last; showers kept interfering. But the greens concerned played wonderfully well under the circumstances, and there was room for skill to prevail. This was proved by several of tho games. Players competent to express an opinion tell mo that tho games* between Foster and Hamway and .Foster and Sloan (for example) were of the highest standard. The play of t!rf winner, W. Foster (Caledonian), was reminiscent of his form when a few years ago he won the Dominion championship, and defeated Professor Maxwell Walker in that famous final. As a proof of his consistency it may he mentioned that he has not lost a game this season, coming ont of his club’s contests with both lives

(not a bad performance, considering tho calibre of his opponents), and not sustaining a loss when meeting tho champions; and he ran against nearly all_the best of them—Carswell, Harraway, Sloan, Piddington, and Holgate. W. R. Piddington (St. Clair), the runner-up, beat all ho met except the winner, who took both his lives. The St. Clair player’s form may be gauged by his easy win against D. Campbell (Roslyn). Sloan (Green Island) also went down fane© to Foster, in tho last game especially giving a great showing. A player who showed much improved form waa A. Morrison (Andereon Bay), who went out only in the fifth round, defeating E. Harraway en route. J. Holgate (Mornington) reached the same stage, and had a victory against Carswell on the way. Looking over the list of those engaged in this contest, the thought once again arises how small a part, after all, the element of luck enters into the game. There are times when, after noticing tho effect of a lucky wild drive or a fortunate wick, even experienced players are inclined to think that luck plays an undue part; but how is that year after year we find plfers like Carswell, Harraway, Campbell, T, Sanders, and Foster taking part in the competition? By the way, this was Sanders’s sixth appearance as representative for Kaituna. Ho won first in 19C0. This was Foster’s first win in the Champion of Champions event, as will be seen by the following list of winners since its inception:—l9o9, 0. J. Payne (Kaituna); 1910, F. Smith (Kaituna); i9ll, T. M’Fad-

den (Taieri); 1912, T. MTadden (Taieri); 1913, E. Harraway (Dunedin); 1914, W. M'Larcn (Dunedin); 1915, J. Scott (Caledonian); 1916, D. Cormack (Caledonian); 1917, J. Bentley (Dunedin); 1918, J. Veitch (West Harbor); 1919, W. Carswell (Taieril; 1920, J. Tonkin (Northeast Valley); 1921, J. Scott (Caledonian); 1922, W. Foster (Caledonian). The Southland champion of champions this season is T, Piorcy (Southland Club), who defeated W. Bremner (Invercargill Club) in the final by 18 to 11. The other contestants were A. J. Service (Northend), A. Smith (Hokonni), J. Day (Gore), A. Steele (Bluff), R. Allen (Winton), W. Buddie (Riverton), A. L. Adamson (Otautau), G. C. Batchelor (Mataura), J. Peterson (To Rang!), and F. Rouse (Aparima). Tho championship contest of Ceue:

Otago, for the cup presented by Mesr Harraway and Best, of Dunedin, w spoiled to a great extent by the fact that representatives of Clyde, Alexandra,_ and Roxburgh ' were tho only competitors, Fassby, Cromwell, and Bannockburn sending no players. Gilligan (of Roxburgh) was tho winner, the other competitors being Richards (Alexandra) and Sutherland (Clyde). Tho Wellington champion this season in j. Braekenndge, jun., who defeated T. Mayer in tho final. The two loft in for the Christchurch championship are Dr San els ton and W. Spiller. Honors axo now even between Otago and Southland. Last year the southern men won by 6 points: this year victory was with Otago by 7 points. .Owing to Forth. Otago and Central Otago being unable to furnish rinks, Dunedin was called upon to find seven of the eight teams. Fortunately South Otago sent a rink—fortunately, because it was this quartet that won the game for us, tho South Otago men (Wood. Watson, Sharp, and Pryde) having a lead of 35 to 14. When for interprovincial honors it is plain that a first-class team is necessary. The placing of the Dunedin players in the intercontre match against South _ Otago was much of an experiment, and it was not successful, for tho latter had an easy win. One of the Dunedin team, who went south has kindly supplied. 'a few interesting notes, as follow:—Tho run down wa« very happy, Conductor C. J. Payne training tho Dunedin men to sing two choruses,. whjoh wo gave lustily on the green later iii the day. It rained heavily .as we approached Invercargill. Warm

wc reached the preen.- The mayor and chairman of centre welcomed ns right royally. I did not see any of the play until wo hod finished, as I was too interested in my own game; but I did see players every now and again spreading themselves out on the green. In this connection Payne had hard luck, j Ho struck an end rink, one hand of which was absolutely unplayable, and about tho sixth head slipped on the mat (or tho mat went from under him, to be more correct), and he hurt his already injured log. tins affected his play a.ll .tho afternoon. Rmellio, playing Brown (0.l Gore), with his last bowl drew the shot and just won, Bailey, with his final shot—a drive-—took out his only bowl and left Pry do (South Otago) Iving six. Pry do added another. In Bentley’s last head Service lay five, but the redoubtable Joe, with a beautiful "punch" shot, reversed the order and lay one. It was a difficult shot,_ well conceived, ami accurately accomplished. Last Saturday, on the Taieri Clubs green (kindly lent for was played the thirteenth annual match between teams representing Mosgiel Woollen Company and Roslyn Woollen Mills. Iho green placed splendidly. After a keen contest vi'etorv instcd with the Mosgiel men by 60 points. The Taieri ladies provided a splendid afternoon tea. which was much appreciated by all. At the conclusion of play Mr W. Miller (of Roslyn Company) thanked the Mosgiel men for tho pleasant game they had. enjoyed, and voiced tho opinion of all when ho said that such games ns they had had that afternoon were the most enjoyable of all. Ho called for three cheers for their hosts. Mr W. Nicolson replied for the Taieri team, and stated that they had now played thirteen matches, of which tho Mosgiel Company had won eight, while Roslyn had won five. Cheers were given for tho guests of tho day, also a special ono for tho ladies who had contributed to the afternoon’s pleasure. Mr W. Wyatt writes from Sydney that ho is still having a good time on the igreons over that- way, running against some hot stuff now and again, but keeping his end up fairly well. Ho is now an honorary member of Randwick Club, which is giving our old friend Vic Casey a send-off prior to his departure for Home as a member of tfie Australian bowling team. Heedless to sav, Mr Casey was very popular with Sydney bowlers. Mr Albert Fish had joined the Waver ley Club. Mr Wyatt expected to bo going to Melbourne* and Adelaide with “ The Strollers ” team. Ho noticed by the ‘Star’ that Dunedin and St. Clair Clubs had to play off for the four-rink championship, and did want to see the feathers on the D.B.C. wall when ho came back.

Roslyn Woollen Mills, though having in their team such redoubtable players as T, Sanders, C. Tillie, W. Miller, D. Campbell, and J. M'Fadden, assisted by other well-known performers in V. Cavanagh, W. Kingston, Jas. Smith (Mornington), and R, Todd (Roslyn), were not able to down the men from Mosgiel Mills, who gave them the severest beating so far in their thirteen matches—so points. Mosgiel was up in four rinks, tied in one, and lost on© —not a bad performance. Taieri Bowling .Green is in fine order this season, as even after the heavy shower at midday on Saturday, I am told by one of those who played on it, it played really well, and was fairly fast, though at the north end there were some bare patches which made it a bit slippery. One wellknown skip, when running up to see the effect of his shot, nearly turned a somersault.

The annual cup match between Otago and Balmaceweu will take place next Saturday on tho latter’s green. I have received an invitation to tho smoke social in tho evening. On Sunday evening next, at tho Cargill road Methodist Church, tho Rev. R, Rama will deliver another discourse on the attributes of the bowling gamo as applied to daily life, in continuation of the one given two or three months ago. The Cavershara Club members will attend in full force, and members of other clubs are cordially invited to join in. Incidentally, Mr Eaino will say good-bye to the Caversham Club, of which he is a popular member. Ho is takino' over the pastorate of the Mornington Methodist Church, and presumably ho will join the local bowling club.

The residents of Cashmere Hills, Christchurch. who include many bowlers, are to bo congratulated on the businesslike manner in which they are going about tho matter of establishing bowling, tennis, and croquet lawns on the Hills (says ‘ Observer ’ in the ‘Star’). An ambitious scheme is proposed, and the reports indicate that its success is assured. It is proposed to acquire an area of 5 acres 2 roods 26 perches, between Valley road, Tirohanga road, and Walker’s Terrace road, and to cut_ it up into greens and courts. A limited liability company, known as the Cashmere Hills Recreation Club, Ltd., is being formed to finance tho scheme, and the residents are invited to take up shares.