BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 4

BOWLING NOTES

[By Measurer.]

FIXTURES. January U to 25.—Dominion tournament at Christchurch. January 23 or February 27.—Dunedin Centre v. South Otago Centre. February 13. —Elderly Bowlers’ Day. February 13.—South Otago Centre rink tournament. Entries February 9. March 12 and 14.—Champion of champions. March 19 and 23.—Adess Shield. Easter, 1932.—Dunedin Centre tournament.

D.M.—.There is a paragraph below on wood v. rubber bowls. ■ Have you ever noticed that compo. bowls are rarely seen here in the semi-finals and finals of a tournament ? Is not this evidence in favour of the reliability of the oldfashioped “woods"? Those players going by rail to the big tournament in Christchurch are advised that parties of six (not necessarily from one club) going and returning together are entitled to travel first class at second class fare, or second class for three-quarters of the ordinary fare. The Christmas Pairs promoted by the Dunedin Centre proved more popular than ever, and there was not one poor green in the eleven needed for the first two days’ play. The Otago green, on which the finals were played on Monday • was at its very best, and Mr Thomson (greeukeeper) was deservedly complimented. The final game between Mooney and Read (Bay) and Mackay and Forster (Caversham) was a full 21hoad one, and some very fine play was witnessed. The game started favourably for the Bay pair, the score being 7-0 at one stage. Thereafter the run of the play changed, and Forster, helped by a six on the eleventh head, scored 19 to Read’s 2. the score on the sixteenth head being 19-9. Careful mixing by the Caversham players prevented the possibility of any “ pots,’’ and the game ended Caversham 20, Bay 16. This is the first time in the history of the Caversham Club that a Centre certificate has come its way, though it has been runner-up on two or three occasions. The Caversham pair have entered for the dominion doubles at Christchurch, and the Christmas tryout should be to their advantage there. Some of the preceding games on Monday were quite as interesting as the final. The one between Ramsay (Kaikorai) and Read was very close. The scores were equal on the twelfth head, but then Read went away. Veitch and Falconer also had a good go, the issue being in doubt up to the last two ends. Greenwood (Mornington) in his game with Read was one up at the last head, but a cl ever cut-out gave Bay the game by 1 point. Tho game between Kaituna and Caversham, also that between Bay and Dunedin, were most interesting and exciting, the result being decided on the last end. Those Dunedin players who journeyed afield for the Christmas holidays report having spent a pleasant rime. The Queenstown green was, as usual, well patronised. The heavy rain on Christmas morning precluded play for that day, but there was a full muster for tho Boxing Day tournament, several visiting and local players being crowded out. The sixteen lucky rinks played four games, and the first prize was won by C. Ruben (St. Clair), W, Harpur, D/ M'lnnes, and W. Thorn (Mataura), who won all four games. Coull, Will, Taylor, Oraand, and Lambeth each had three wins, and in the play-off for second prize T. Coull won. Monday’s games resulted in a win for A. Melville, J. Scott, D. Scandrett. G. Will IS, C. Ruben, T. Davidson, W. Nelson, J. Nisbct 14 taking second prize. Mixed rinks (ladies skipping) were played on Tuesday, Mesdames Stubbs, Dogfish, and Ruhen each getting three wins. Mrs Ruhen won the play-off. At the Alexandra tournament V. Cavanagh (Caledonian) reached the final in the singles contest, but then went under to Wilkinson (Cromwell). “Vic” was also runner-up last year in this event. The rinks contest was won by a quartet skipped by P. Farrell (Milton), who downed a strong Caledonian rink (Latham. Seddon, Cavanagh, and Foster) in the final by 6 points. Foster and Cavanagh each won his section in tho doubles, but were defeated in the play-off. The winner was Jolly. Commenting on the play in the Auckland singles competition, “Trundlor” (writing in the ‘Star’) says: “It is always a surprise in singles, even more so than in rink play, that not one player availed himself of the liberty to lay the mat where tho jack finished. All carried it back to within six feet of the ditch, whereas there must surely be an advantage occasionally in carrying it forward to the limit when wanting a short head. It would certainly add variety, besides giving one or more of about six separate advantages, as compared with the monotonous system of kicking hack the bowls to the ditch. Incidentally, it would discourage the seeming fondness of some greenkeepers for laying scrim at the ends, for the players could get right past it, thereby avoiding the experience of one player who found the mat so slippery on the scrim that he wanted to dispense with it altogether. His opponents could not have objected if he had made a practice of putting it past the scrim when he bad the right. In Australia and in the South Island it is quite usual to utilise ward, thereby saving the green by the liberty to carry the mat well forhesides making the play more interdividing the wear over a greater area, esting.” From time immemorial (writes an old and experienced bowler) tradition has exemplified the use of the wooden bowl to have more buoyancy and fife in its allotted sphere. This sphere. I maintain, is the damp or partially sodden turf. We are prone too much to follow the popular belief that the rubber or composition howl is good enough at all times, because the game is mostly played during the summer months. Claiming to bo a fairly observant individual at most times. I have carefully watched results recently in this regard. I- say most emphatically Hint where players of reputedly equal calibre meet the bowler with wood bowls invariably achieves the desired object more readily that he who perpetually adheres to the compo. Recently on damp greens 7 have seen it forcibly demonstrated oyer and over again. To my mind the philosophic bowler is the man who possesses bowls suitable for the occasion. With practice he acquires' readily the requisite draw or strength required. For the heavy green he has hjs lignum vitro woods; for the fast dry sward he has the even-running rubber or compo. bowls. On a dry day the rubber undoubtedly is superior in running; it perhaps “holds” the green m a way unlooked for in its rival. Again, onthe well-grassed rinks after rain, the rubber seems to have become like lead, deadened to its detractory influence, this is my accepted theory borne out in actual games.

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