BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 14

BOWLING

[By Measuiu.ii. j

' The weather kept up all right for Saturda}- afternoon, and the live dubs which opened were patronised by many I visitors. Taken altogether, there seems I a quickening of interest in matters I bowling this season. This is evident in I several ways. An official party, comI prising Mr C. J. Payne, Mr D. C. Cam- | eron, Mr J. J. Marlow, Mr R. H. LedI lie, Mr A. J. Sullivan, and Mr K. HanI ning toured the city greens. Caledonian Club green, looking in its ' usual splendid condition, was tilled with players and the banks were crowded with visitors, among them a very large proportion of ladies, the Misses Greensi a do (daughters of the dub’s patron j ess) being noticeable. Mr W. H, I M'Leod (president) made the usual | speech of welcome, and Mr C. J. Payne j (president of the Dominion Association) : also had a few interesting remarks to j make, it was mentioned that the dub intended to celebrate its jubilee in proI per stylo, and this can easily be under- | stood. The pavilion looked bright and fresh outside with its new paint, and lady friends had gone to much trouble with the inside decorations, with artistic effect. Piper Yardley promenaded the banks at intervals in-full blast, and j the St. Kilda Hand pleased highly with ! their selections. Tt was an excellent start for the season. I There were so many visiting players I at St. Kilda green that very few of the ! dub’s own members could be included i in the actual play. Mr E. S. Wilson (president) cordially welcomed every* ! body, expressing his pleasure at so large a turnout. Mr I). C. Cameron (president of Dunedin Centre). Mr J. J. Marlow (member of council), and the Mayor of St. Kilda (Mr R. W. Hall) also made short remarks. Lady friends, who had decorated the pavilion prettily, were active in their attentions, and Orchestra played excellent music. President Wilson should have a, good year. St. Ciair Club had the green tilled, many visitors being among the players. Mr 11. Malliday (president’) made them very welcome, and trusted they would enjoy themselves. There was no doubt of this, for everything was done to see that such was the case. One could not help noticing the groat improvement Unit has taken place in the condition ot the green, which was in much better order than it was last season. The greenkccpcr and supervisors should be pleased with the result. An excellent orchestra and attentive ladies made things very pleasant. At Anderson’s Bay green the attendance was large, and an enjoyable afternoon was spent. Mr A. .1. Gall (the president) made a, brief hut hearty speech ol welcome, and many visitors joined with the local players on a green which is apparently well mi the way to ho really good—better, perhaps, than ever before. As a matter of course the lady friends of tho club did their share t.o tho success of tlie afternoon. At the opening of the Port Chalmers green on Saturday last Mr W. J, Wilson, the vice-president, in declaring the season opened, referred to the fact that it would he the liual one on the present green, which was formally opened in the year 1892, Mr N. Dodds was the only original member to be still taking an active part in the club, being closely followed by Air J. Watson, who joined in the following year. Tne chib, be-

sides running the usual club ties—viz., champion singles, handicap singles, doubles, and a two-bowl double—has been presented with four silver ferns by Air J. Gray for competition. Air Harwell, the greenkeper, has also signified his intention of presenting a trophy for the last official competiton on the present green, final of same to bo played on closing day. The new green is coming on well, being cut and rolled at the rate of about twice every three weeks. Mr Fletcher Roberts, civil engineer, again took the levels a few days ago, and reports that it is practically level, the four corners of the kerb being only 3-1000 part of an inch out, after being down for twelve months. This reflects great credit on the contractors, Love Construction Company, for the manner in which they carried out this work. The club intends to make a start with the erection of a pavilion towards the end of the present playing season, the idea being to have it ready for the incoming winter for social evenings. Mr S. Bolt lias been heartily congratulated by members of the clu b on winning the bowlers’ billiards championship. The lady members of St. Clair Club had weather and other conditions in their favour for opening on Tuesday afternoon There were many vistors from sister clubs, who were made cordially welcome by Mrs John Seddon, the president. Mrs G. G. Adess (representing the Ladies’ Association), Air it. Hanning (Dunedin Centre), and Air H. Halliday (president of the club) wished the ladies well, and after Air T. J. Walker had declared the green open and Mr ,J. H. Hancock had rolled the first bowl, the ladies formed rinks and proceeded to enjoy themselves. St. Kilda ladies started on Wednesday, and were patronised by all tiie other ladies’ clubs in Dunedin, the attendance being very large. A fair number of men players looked on. Airs J. Whitton (president made a short speech of welcome which was quite a gem in its way; and Airs Wallace (Ladies’ Association), Air I). C. Cameron (president Dunedin Centre), and Air E. 8. Wilson (president Si. Kilda Club) wished the ladies good luck for the season. A lot of attenion had been given to the pavilion decorations, with artistic effect, and a specially enticing afternoon tea was served. It is pleasing to be able to write that several chibs have gained an accession of members this season, some to a considerable extent. St. Kilda Chib, for instance, has been so strengthened as to fee) justified in entering a fifth section for the inlerclnb games, thus obviating the awkward bye which existed in the original draw, ft is understood that Otago Chib, also with many new members, was prepared to fill the gap, but acknowledged St. Kilda’s prior application. St. Clair and Cavcrsham, too, have stronger memberships than last season, and all round there seems to be more interest taken in the game. It is certain that there is a busy time ahead. A visit to Bnlclntha is to he paid by St. Kilda players (men and women) on Labour Day. The executive of Cavorshnm Winter Chib met last week to wind up the season’s activities, and the balance-sheet disclosed a credit- of £2l. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the ladies tor their faithful assi,stance during the winter, and also to Air if. Stubbs (president) and Air A. Blackwood (secretary). The committee in charge of the Civil Service howlers’ annual tonrament has convened a meeting in the Land Board i room lor Alonday, November 4, at 7.31) p.ra., instead of the date originally fixed (October 28, Labour Day), The committee is anxious that alf bowlers in the service and those who have retired.shall be present, and show a little more enthusiasm, as if- would be a pity to allow the tournament to lapse lor want of interest. In past years this tournament has been most- successful. Apart a I together from the bowling aspect, it is the one day in the. year on which officers past and present moot together for friendly intercourse. Such games serve a most useful purpose. Club secretaries are reminded that names ol players for interelub mutches must reach this office, addressed to “The Sub-editor,” by fO o'clock on Thursday _ morning of each week to ensure publication. A total amount of .£356 Lia was subscribed to the earthquake relief fund by tile bowling clubs of the dominion. The ladies, commence their inlerclnb games next Thursday, the draw being: -—Dunedin v. Otago, at Dunedin; Leith V. Green island, at Green island; Valley v. Bay, at Valley; Cavcrsham v. Alornington. at Cavcrsham; Port v. St. Kilda. at St. Kilda ; St. Clair, a bye. Cavcrsham Thistles soon changed hands, as Stubbs's rink, after a week’s tenure, went down easily to Mackay Edlin, Anderson, mid Lock, who have already received two challenges. A player who was very prominent in Caledonian Club ranks some years ago was once more on the green on .Saturday. This was Los," Campbell (;. mighty driver in mure souses than one), who was shifted to the North Island, and is at present a member oi the Dominion Road Club. Auckland. Old friends are always pleased to meet Les, _ There is no limit to the generous conviviality of bowlers—some. A Dunedin player who recently went fur a trip to Suva had a game there with a rink skipped by a highly-placed Australian knight, who invited his team in to tea, and showed them the way to do it properly by planking down sixpence for himself. It was reported at last week’s meeting of Christchurch Centre that the resolve to start a four-rink mid-week competition had not met with much favour, only seven clubs out of twenty-four having entered. One delegate doubted the wisdom of proceeding with it under the circumstances; but another urged that the centre should carry on. “They will all be jumping over one another to come in next year,” lie said. The competition will bo carried out. HINTS TO BEGINNERS. —Tlie Leader.— The following concludes the extract from Melbourne 1 Bowls ’ on the duty of first players : 4. If your first bowl is fortunate enough to find a place directly behind the kitty, even perhaps actually' touching it, then it were better to draw a little to the side, and slightly strong, on the hand towards which it may seem more likely for the kitty to move should contact be subsequently made with it by either friend or foe; or, perhaps

better still, to bowl ou the hand you can best rely ou lor obtatinuig good lateral position. In this one particular case you a.ro justified in not bowling to bo ai tiio OacK, there being obviously no reasonable expectation ol the kitty being pushed duck to mams such back howl subsequently profitable. 5. But it your ur.st bowl is actually touching tiie kitty, or very muse to a, but diagonally behind u, then bowi to jam tiie nitty on to your own uowi. .on are /ar muio nmiy io retain good seoimg pas.lions inis v.ay uian ,>y ta.i.ng tee oroauer target yiesuiiteu to j„u, and iviui a snot too strong, earner taxing your snot ixnvl away minx tne Kitty, ui, worse still, tile Kitty away from the bowi. 6. if your next uowl is; in your draw, and so badly short that limbering may mean the loss of both howls, tliou change your hand, unless there is sumo very special appeal to retain it owing to the position of your opponent’* howls. There must be no mere pique on your first, failure, no effort to better; it, and show that it can bo done. This little private luxury yon have to forgo. You are howling for your side, not yourself at all. Yon feel sure you can get round that first bowl without going too wide. Of course you do. and, hems; quite a clever bowler, and a most do lermined devil to boot, you will do it, and do it no doubt quite nine times out oi ten. But what about the tenth time, when you have made a mess of it? jour side eventually loses the match by a single point. Who lost it? Why, you, my clever friend, who would persist in showing what you conk, and only succeeded after all in showing what you couldn't. 7. If your opponent is lying shot—that is, shot in any sort of dangerous proximity; not the shot that is yards) away, the shot that is not shot at allthen your business is to draw on the open hand if there is one, so that you. have his back howl to rest on if ,oo wide and strong; or ins snon howl to lace, if too short and narrow, contingencies which you take into reckoning as an admission of your fallibility, while actually playing, of course, for the absolute dead draw. The special case where your opponent may be actually resting on the kitty is practically provided for here, the open hand coinciding with the broader target. Such are ; in the writer’s opinion, tha main principles of good leadership, possibly conflicting in some points ith your own. That is quite all right; mi hotter ones if you can; but see at you have principles of some soi. or other. Bowl with your brains, and howl for your side. It is not enough to beat your man; two bowls close to the kitty are better for your side than one resting on it and the other yards away.