BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 2

BOWLING

[By Measurer.] At Ion? last the local Easier tournament was concluded on Thursday afternoon. ' Caversham Green (ns good as any in the district) and tho fine weather enabling tho players concerned to give a, good exhibition. Nearlv all tho games were unexciting, owing to the difference in tho scores,'but all tho same some expert bowling was seen. In the semi-finals of the Provincial Rinks W. Bridgman, B. Wood, C, Anderson, and G. Wcdderspoon (Roslyn) met J. Sanders, D. Melville, D. Cormack, and T. Sanders (Kaituna). For the first seven heads the scoring was close; then the game went Kaituna’e way, and tho final figures were 17 to 14 against RosIvn. The "’other links engaged wore W. H. Millin, K. Omaml, J. Nisbct, and W. Wright (Balmacewen) ' and G. Povtcous, E. Ball, A. Trcthoway. and W. Blackwood (Caversham). Wright (playing particularly well himself) led from the start, the Caversham men never getting proper!’, into their stride, and Balmacewen won by 16 to 10. In tho ’ final game Wright's rink led slightly at tho start, but after the. seventh head the Kaituna men got in front and remained there. A very fair display was made, snmo of the shots by both skips being brilliant, while their men ably backed l them up. But the capable .ivaituna rink looked lire winners after the first few heads, and won bv 27 to 15. A verv close finish was the result when C. dollop, D. C. Stark, G. Adess, and Jack Robertson (St. Kilda) met M’Lcan, Parkhouse. M'Dougall. and MacGillivray (Roslyn) in the City Rinks semi-final, the hill men winning by 14 to 12. Tho other rinks engaged were P. Load-better, F. Drake, D. Marshall, and J. Hcddou (St. Clair) v. Wilson, Armit, M'Gregor, and Marshall (Kaikorai). Tho St. Clair men won easily by 18 to 9; and in the final against MacGtllivray they also scored with little trouble, winning by 29 to 9. MacGillivrav's and .Marshall’s rinks did more than was generally expected of them in getting so far. Mr F. J. Lough was umpire on the final day. All through tho tournament lie did efficient work most obligingly', and deserves the thanks of bowlers generally and pressmen especially. Tho majority of clubs, I think, have now closed down, and tho season ’unpractically at an end. Closing ceremonies at one time were made rather a feature of. That ia not the case now. some of the dubs, not even making a public announcement of their final games. Kaituna made some show. There was a good attendance of members and visitors. Tho game was hr tween office-bearers versus the rank and file, tho chiefs getting homo by a half-score points. Mr S. P. Mira ms’ (president), in a short formal speech, referred to the club’s doings during tho past reason. Ho said that though Kaituna had not actually won the interclub banner, it occupied the position of runner-up. A rink from the club had won tho Provincial Rinks at the local Easter tournament. Ho referred to the growth of tho Indies’ division of the club, and to tho assistance rendered by lady friends generally. The membership was increasing. In conclusion, Mr Mtrams referred to" tho departure of a valued member, Mr F. Langford, who wan about to start business inMclbourno. and on behalf of Kaitnna members presented Mr Langford with a. case of pipes. The recipient said he was sorry to leave the club. Tho green was then formally declared closed. At Balmacewen tho final game was played with little ceremony. In tho middle of proceedings Mr \V. H. Millin, the president, handed over to Mr D. Bennie (an old member, recently transferred to Bale!utlia) a silver cake dish as a. reminder of many pleasant associations. Tho winners of'tho rink ties for tho sea-son wore A. MMnlosh, J. Swann, C. Beoby, F. Lambeth. The Ca-vorsham Green also closed down, quietly and unannounced. Nevertheless, there "was a, largo muster of members and visitors, all rinks being fully occupied. Tho president (Mr C. J. Thorn) made a few remarks concerning the season's achievements, and paid a glowing tribute (with which all bowlers will concur) to the (splendid green provided by Mr J. draw ford. Special thanks were accorded the ladies for their regular providing and serving of afternoon tea. No time has been lost by Mr Crawford in preparing for next season. Monday morning saw him at work levelling, topdressing, and sowing, and preparing generally to maintain tho excellent surface of the Caversham Green. Roslyn Club closed on Saturday afternoon. Thors was a good attendance of members, several representatives from other clubs, and a number of ladies and visitors. The closing game was played by rinks selected from the players present, and a pleasant .afternoon was spent. Mr G. Simpson (president) stated Hint, although the club had not made a great j showing in the pennant and champion j rinks contests, members had a good lime, j and Imped to do better next season. Ho congratulated the. ladies on the great success of their section, end thanked them for tho assistance given, during the season. Dunedin Club also closed last Saturday, I understand, and Caledonian winds up next Saturday. The- top-dressing of St. Kilda green lias been put in hand right away. On Monday Mr IV. Jacobsen, the green superintenj dent, impressed the .--ei vices of all “millionaire.” members of the club who gather regularly for afternoon play, and many bands mad? light work of (ho job. Confidence is still soaring high among Ht. Kilda members re the prospects of a findclass green for next season, The appeal for relief in rating made to (ho Dunedin City Council by the local executive failed entirely. The reply held out no hope whatever, rind the executive, received it philosophically. Christchurch bowlers met with the same want of success. New Couth Wales won the first two games of tho rubber against both Victoria and Queensland at Easterjjmc. Tho third game went against them m each instance. My Sydney correspondent writes that the New South Welshmen were very lucky to defeat Victoria, Tins opinion is home out by tho Svdney * Telegraph,’ which, describing the first game (won by N.S.W, by j 101 to 95), says: “Four heads to go and I Victoria were 15 points to the good, when | a single shot altered the whole game. Rendlo (Vie.), who had’bcen playing brilliant bowls all tho afternoon, drove (with four against him) to make a dead end. Ho hit the object howl, but only cut the jack across the rink. It was just an inch in play, but it meant seven shots to Alderson. Tho loss of these- points made all the difference to the visitors, for in the last two ends two of the Victorian rinks wont completely off their game, and lost 11 points and tho match. Victoria was unlucky to lore, but such is bowls.” Sydney ‘ Telegraph's ’ writer thinks little advantage is to tic gained by preliminary games on strange greens., He says: “The Victorian Bowling Association recently wrote to tho N.S.W. Association asking for an opportunity to practise on the greens selected for the coming test matches. Queensland also mit forth a .similar request. What benefit (other than familiarising thcmslovcs with surroundings) ’lbesc visiting bowlers expect to derive by playI ing on .selected greens prior to the day appointed for tho game I cannot understand. The V.B. Association has in tho ! past thrown open its greens for prnetirb at 11 o’clock on the morning of the match, and New'South Wales bowlers invariably avail themselves of this opportunity for n brief roll up, and consider this quite sufficient practice. President Spence quoted an incident in this connection. Other bowlers have had similar experiences. He one© practised on a Victorian green in the morning, and left for dinner with tho im- ; preesion that he had gauged the green correctly. During tho meal interval the grconkccper ironed out the green, and when our president had a roll up before tho commencement of tho game ho found that his ideas of pace and yridth were entirely erroneous. The conditions had completely altered. This may happen to visiting bowlers here, so what is the advantage of playing on the green until, say, half , an hour before the commencement of the , game? If a bowler cannot pick up tho strength of a, green within: that time, ho should not bo in nay intcr-State team.

Our officials will do all in their power to meet, tho wishes of the visitors, but it is difficult to understand why experienced howlers should make such a. request.” The Australian Bowling Council has a rule to the effect that tho test greens shall bo prepared (cut and rolled) by 11 o’clock on the dates of tho matches, and that they shall not bo toadied again until after the conclusion of the day’s play.