BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21007, 22 January 1932, Page 4

BOWLING NOTES

[By Mkasuhbr.]

Cnlfdoniao held a threc-player-a-side two-bowl competition last Saturday, and aftei some keen and enjoyable play Smythp’s team proved the winners, with Isaac runner-up. _ A similar competition will be held this Saturday commencing at 1.45 sharp. What is considered one of the most enjoyable fixtures of the year by the Otago and Balmacewen Clubs is their annual match for the Loving Cup, which is fixed for to-morrow. As the Otago Club are the hosts on this occasion the smoke concert in the evening will be held in their pavilion, and a very pleasant evening may be looked forward to by members of both teams.

West Harbour held a progressive pairs tournament last Saturday for prizes donated by Mrs Anderson and the club. G. Woodhouse proved the winner, with J. Veitch second, A very enjoyable afternoon was spent by all. In a singles game played at an Australian carnival “ A ” had two, at right angles and close up to the jack; “ B ” drove the jack through without disturbing either of his opponent’s bowls. The toucher and jack lay snugly together in the ditch 20ft away, unbeatable. For the purpose of satisfying the curiosity of the scorer, an examination was made, which proved that the toucher could not pass through without touching both bowls. _ Evidently the moving bowl had lifted on its w r ay to the jack. A member of the St. Clair Club writes: “I feel sure that many Dunedin bowlers, who spent their holidays at Queenstown, will join me in heartily endorsing the thanks given to James Nisbet (Balmacewen) for his able and pleasant management of _ the Christmastide games. It is nice to find, a bowler of his rank who will give time and thought to the general interests instead of ‘pointing’ for engagements with tin crack players. In his voluntary work'as selector, Nisbet has the valuable assistance of Victor Seandratt (secretary of the local club), and after Nisbet’s departure, Scandratt carried on the good work df making visitors known to one another, and so arranging games _ as to give everyone a look in, until in the second week of the New Year ho was called to Masterton on account of the illness of his brother. It helped a great deal with numbeis of bowlers of all grades that the two gentlemen named displayed such a brotherly and sporting spirit.” the dominion tournament. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. To-day I have seen some very fine rink play on Christchurch Greens, and also some which must be termed very poor. Certainly five days’ play is_apt to make a team become stale, but there should not have been so many narrow, short, and feeble shots from players who were good enough to reach the post-section stage. The three greens in use to-day nave stood up well to the strenuous play inseparable from such a tournament. The St. Albans Green is the headquarters, and is in as good condition as when play opened, but the Canterbury Green is somewhat patchy. The Christchurch Club’s green, though slightly heavier, is more closely turfed than the other two, and is lookfug exceptionally well. The venue of the finals is not yet decided, but I expect to hear that the Christchurch Green has been chosen for the rinks and St. Albans, for the singles. It is hoped that all finals null have been decided by Friday evening if the present weather continues. Max. Walker (Auckland) had a very close call in hie first game this morning (Wednesday) when playing Calder (Phoenix). The Oamaru team caught the conditions quickly, and led 13-4 at the ninth head and 18-6 at the thirteenth. Then Walker and his men started a grbat run, and on the nineteenth head he was only one down, 19-18. Calder got a two on the next head, and the Auckland man had to get three on the last head to tie — which he did, and in the extra head, by superior tactics, led his team to victory. Both rinks played very fine bowls. Armstrong’s (Roslyn) rink played Bremner (Auckland), but lost by eight shots. The thirteenth head saw Bremner eleven up, and thereafter enjoyed a comfortable lead, though Armstrong scored a sensational six on the eigh-

teenth head by cutting BremneFs ona shot out and landing the kitty in the ditch. In the next game Armstrong eliminated Goodwin (Thorndon) from the contest, 26-21, but in the evening game lost his remaining life to Sprosen by 2 points. Forster (Caversham) failed to ■ win a game to-day. This rink was somewhat disorganised through the lead (Mackay) having to. return home this morning on business; but the team as a whole failed to show the form of the previous days. ■ Hutchison’s rink put down a muchfancied Christchurch hope by defeating Ives, 27-10. but in the following games lost both lives to Moyes (22-16) and Bandy (19-14). ~ The game between Dick (Ashburton)',' and Foster (Caledonian) looked a good thing for “ Wattie ” at the start, as he led 8-0 on the fifth head, but the Ashburton men improved on every head and left Foster to' get 4 to tie on the last head, in which he failed. In the next game Gray (Kelburn) put Foster, right out of it by 22-20. It was a good go. Gearge Deare is now the only Dunedin rink left in with two lives, and by the time this appears in print it should be known. whether he has justified the hopes of the large contingent of Dunedin folk here by winning the blue riband of the sport. To-day’s wins were comfortable ones (24-14, 25-10, and 27-13). The St. Kilda ripk, ; the other Dunedin hope, with one \life, contains three out of the four, when the “ Saints ” won the honour in 1930. M'Curdy is a staunch barracker. In the doubles, Chapman and Coull (St. Clair) put up a meritorious showing, this pair being the only Dunedin one to get any games off to-day, winning two. A Sumner ■ pair, however,, put them out of it this evening. Forster (Caversham) will- have Hanning leading for him in his pairs game tomorrow. The outing on Sunday afternoon was attended by a large number ,of bowlers and their friends, 160 cars being heeded to accommodate all. After a tour round the district, a most' interesting and refreshing time was spent at Riccarton, where the working of the .largo totalisator was explained and demonstrated. We witnessed the sight of a' well-known Methodist layman and bowler dealing out tote tickets! ' There were 700 bowlers and their lady friends at the social last night as the guests of the president of the New, Zealand Bowling Association (Mr.H.'BOakley) and his wife. The dress to be worn by the men was “ bowler’s costume,” and certainly I have never seen so many different colours, and stripes in blazers. The social was, voted a great success by all present, .and a very fine programme was submitted,We joined whole-heartedly in two community songs with strictly bowling application, and thoroughly enjoyed Professor Walker’s contribution to. the programme. , Other items in'the social round were a couple of outings for the. lady visitors—one to a garden party at Kaiapoi, the' other to ,a motor run,’ with refreshment at Sumner. t A game to be played to-morrow wilt be unique in the history of the sport here. The newly-formed ladies’ section’ of the Beckenham Club has invited three rinks of Dunedin ladies to their pretty green for the, first game of the kind in Christchurch. I hear 'that scores of local bowlers are going out to criticise. ..... •* On several greens the caretakers,: when only five rinks were occupied, extended the pegs to make the rinks 16ft or more. This also has been discussed among players. On one. green.,it was particularly noticeable. ■ The bowls did not work« smoothly* _ .If., tlje, bowl sent out wide, it did not come in ah expected, and when the player reduced his green, the bowl, when finishing,cut rapidly across the head. These effects were, of _ course, caused by, playing between rinks! I have frequently drawn the attention of caretakers and green superintendents to this irregularity, hut they will not agree with me. They declare that it makes no difference where the rink is on the ,green, that it will,play the same. My experience is to tho contrary. . , Bill Bremner had the same fault to find last Saturday on No. 1 -ink at Canterbury. I sat and watched different bowls sent down by Adess’s and Bremner’s rinks, and all bowls actfd similarly. Caretakers, especially m big tournaments, should lay out the iocognised rinks. If they want to.givo, the competitors more room, them miss one rink and play on 1,3, etc.— No.; Three,” in ‘ Sun.’ TOURNAMENT CLIPPINGS,

A very fine eight was scored by Nat Leach’s Runanga rink in its game against Frank lledpath (Lmwood)— aIP drawn shots. The Linwood rrak was at sea on the short heads. This is actually the result of bowlers carelessly throwing the jack the full length of the green to save kicking the bowls back after each end is played. Alllengths of heads should be used, and skips should stand at the spot to which they want the‘jack thrown, instead of talking and allowing the lead to throw, the jack the full length of the greeu or wherever he chooses. J. Tonkin (North-east Valley), the veteran, is playing as well as ever, but he is not getting the support that, is necessarv from his rink, Nevertheless, \ he is enjoying minute on the gt The Stratford rink .is composed of four of the Skoglund family, father,-: his two sons, and his brother. In Woodville rink, skipped by Horne, : there are an engineer, a policeman, a clergyman, and an undertaker! They,; are a very happy family and thoroughly, enjoy the tournament, . '' I Dickson, of the Roslyn Club,- says. that it was worth the top alone, apart; from the bowling, to got such fine,' warm weather. He felt the benefit of tho change from Dunedin, . M (St. Kilda), who has played in the last! fifteen tournaments, but now cannot Stand the strain, is having a holiday,• visiting the different greens and re.’ newing old acquaintances. Like the old war horse when he hears the bugle,Mac is just as keen as in the past, ana would love to have another go. A visiting player from the North Island, who is a doctor, has a set of bowls with the discs made of gold, with 1 a coat of arms engraved on each. One sovereign’s weight of gold is represented on each bowl. , . ; While the bowlers bowl their wives sit round and talk. Not all the bowlers bring their wives. Some are on a holiday. Of course, the wives don t Understand the game much. When she is listening to her husband tell how he drew the jack with his last howl she is thinking about a hat or somethings Still they sit and look on and Mrs -is proud of her husband,: “ Jack is a good bowlei'j” she told me.-, “ He never takes off his pullover and shows his braces like some I could name. The only time he ever got a' stain on his trousers was when he sat on a strawberry. I had a terrible tima ; getting the mark out. I used salts of lemon. I’ve kept his pullover a good colour. I use Lux, and hang it out on a coat hanger. He always folds his trousers and puts them under the mattress, and he never drinks. .He is one of the good bowlers.” I watched mu bowl, “Ho is not a good bowler, A said. “ He’s only a good husband.”-