BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 5

BOWLING NOTES

[By Draw.] Otago v. Southland. ■ The annual match between these two provinces was held at Invercargill last Saturday afternoon. The Otago team travelled by rail on Saturday morning, and on arrival , at Invercargill were received by Southland centre officials ', and a number of bowlers taking part in tile game. Much rain had fallen, dur■iag the previous-days, and: the Southland. Green, on-.which the .match was played, was decidedly , heavy and certainly made it very difficult! for a . number of the Otago men, who prefer ' ~the faster greens of Dunedin. Though the weather conditions were unpromising, the only interference was a short shower late in the afternoon, vgopthland won by 188-162, and it was generally conceded that the heavy green assisted the Southland players in no small degree, particularly in th* forward portion of the fours taking part. : Only three of the Otago combinations won their games, ', and- these were skipped by AW." Macdonald . (Balr macewen), C. Tyrrell (Iloslyji), W. An.'dcrson (Portobello). J. Chettlebufgh, who was lead in Anderson’s team, played an exceptionally fine game, his long head play on the heavy green '' being of a very high order. The Otago selectors may have been a little disappointed over the result, but if the ■ same teams met , again on a green under . faster conditions the writer feels certain ■that the same players would reverse the . result of last week. We must not, however, overlook the fact that South- •" land players won the game well under , the conditions prevailing, and deserve : to be congratulated on their victory. V.; After the game the Otago players .J’were the guests of the Southland centre at a picture evening, and on Sunday afternoon were taken for a motor drive, around the western districts. At Otautau the members of the party were entertained at afternoon tea, and this item was thoroughly, enjoyed by all, The journey was continued, and Winton and surrounding towns were passed on the way hack to Invercargill. The Otago players fully appreciated all that was done for them during their stay in the southern capital. Mr Harry Gaazard, the president of the Southland Centre, was most earnest in his endeavour to see that the visitors were looked after, both while the game was in progress and during the other stages of the visit. Returned Soldier*’ Match. Eight rinks of returned soldiers also journeyed to Invercargill to play the Southland returned soldiers. The returned men of Invercargill have a full size howling green attached to their dub rooms, and the match was played on this green. By the way, this is one of the best green's in Invercargill, and the Dunndin "diggers” were high in •jjjfcfr poafce o# its tUpyjeg surface. The ■■won tn® pone 'hf

the outstanding game being the one in which Jim Rigby skipped a South African four to win by 37-12. On , the Saturday night the soldier players held a smoko in the Friendly Societies’ Hall. This function was of a most enjoyable nature, and allowed the returned men of both districts an opportunity to talk of things that happened during the Great War period. The writer was present at the social by invitation and thoroughly enjoyed the stories which were passed over. T was greatly impressed with the wonderful good feeling which existed between the returned men, and though some of them were showing scars that had been received in the great conflict of a-quarter of a century ago these men voiced the fact that they would endeavour to do all they could'to see that the men who returned from the present conflict would receive the rights to which they were entitled. The spirit of the returned men is certainly wonderful and the howlers generally of this Dominion should be proud to have such men now closely associated with the game. One speaker referred to the game as a godsend to any returned men, and there is no doubt that it lends itself as a means of later-life

enjoyment to many of the returned men. It is interesting to note that Mr “ Bill ” Perry, the president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, was president of the New Zealand Bowling Association in 1937. Many returned men have held or are holding prominent positions in clubs and centres throughout New Zealand, and this is proof again that bowling is a most suitable game for our ex-soldiers to take up.

I understand that the local men are looking forward already to the next game, which will lie held in Dunedin, when they hope to be able to return in full the kindness shown to thorn on the trip to Invercargill.

South Otago Tournament, The South Otago Centre holds a oneday fours tournament annually in February, and it is well patronised by players from the Dunedin Centre—in fact. 31 of the 5-1 teams were from the Dunedin Centro. It is pleasing to sec the good entries from this part of Otago, as the South Otago players are good supporters of the Dunedin Centro’s Easter tournament. The success of Mornlngtou Club’s four was popular, and certainly not unexpected,

as the combination is quite a strong one. The Anderson’s Bay four which contested the final was comprised ox young players, and their endeavour was very pleasing to their clubmates and friends. As usual the ladies associated with the game in South Otago were to the fore looking after the. wants of the visitors, and tea was prepared many times during the progress of the tournament, The control was in capable hands, and Mr Les. Moffat, the centre secretary, was most attentive to his duties. Phrenix Club’s Tourney.

This club last year started a One Day Fours tourney, and play is confined to that club’s two greens, hull entries were received for this year s games which were held on Saturday last. Five teams from the Dunedin Centre made the trip and the two rinks from the Dunedin Club reached the semi-finals. J. Veitch’s team, consisting of Silver, Beecroft, and Dr Porteous, lost to Martin, skip of a Meadowbank rink, and the other rink consisting of Rawlinson, Grant, Sissons, and A. N. Smith (skip) won from J. Brown’s Phoenix rink, but lost the final to Martin, who had associated with himself Carson, Robertson, and A. Smith. Martin’s rink lost their first game to D. H. Thomson’s rink, and were fortunate to get an opportunity for post section play by winning the section tie. The fours skipped by J. Brown (Phoenix) and A. N. Smith (Dunedin) won all their games in section play.

Four Rink Championship. This competition, which is played in two sections, concluded section play this week, and we find that the St. Kilda Chib has won the A section, going through without defeat. In section B there has been a merry mix-up, and'we find four clubs each with 6 wins and 3 losses. These clubs are St. Clair, Kaituna, Leith, and Balimicewen, and I understand) that arrangements have been made to play olf the ties on Thursday evening of this week, the winners to play olf next Monday. Should weather conditions allow of this being carried out, the final game will be played next Wednesday evening between St. Kilda and the winner of section B, on a green yet to be arranged.

Elderly Bowlers’ Day. When players and others entered the Dunedin Club’s green on Saturday, a largo sign caught the eye with the words: “ As years go past, may friendships last,” thereon. A glance into the club’s enclosure on Saturday would have impressed one with the truth of these words in regard to howlers who have passed the three score and 10 period.

Besides entering into a friendly contest, the veterans also took the opportunity of renewing old friendships and making new ones. It was the late Hector Mercer who was responsible for the initiation of this great day, and on Saturday, Miss Oliye Mercer, a daughter of our old friend, took the opportunity of presenting to the gathering a special banner which will bo used at all functions connected with elderly bowlers. It is usual for the president of the Dunedin Cub to take part in the gathering each year. Unfortunately, owing to illness, Mr Harry Gardiner was unable to take bis place, and Dr Newlands acted for him throughout the day. Mr E. Rosevear takes an active interest in the gathering, and _ for a number of years has acted as its manager. He has quite a collection of data with reference to the gathering since its inception in 1914-15. He appears to get a vast amount of pleasure in looking after the running of this function. Others who assisted greatly in the arrangements were the club’s ladies’ Refreshment Committee under Mrs Heeuan, the Social Committee with Mr W. Abbot as secretary, and Mr Higgins in charge of general details. The whole of the expenses of the gathering are subscribed by members of the Dunedin Club, which is responsible for the carrying out of the day. Pavilion Pars. Mr A. E. Whitten (Bert), of Auckland, a member of the New Zealand Bowling Council, was in Dunedin on Friday and went south on Saturday. He was an interested spectator at the interprovincial match, and appreciated very much the invitation to accompany the team on its trip through the western districts of Southland. To the writer, Mr "Whitten spoke in high terms of the kindness of bowlers he had met in the good old southern parts of the island.

-Mr J. Forster, one of Otago’s selectors, went south with the team, but did not take part in the play. His co-selector, Mr S. Devorcux, was a playing member. It is certainly good for the game to see the selectors so interested in their work.

Clubs should be busy with the selection of their Acless Shield fours. The competition commences on March 2, and entries will close probably about the 24th inst.

Coming Events. February 21.—Final four-rink championship. _ March 2 and 9.—Adess Shield (single rink championship). March 2.—Dunedin Centre v. Korth Otago Centre, at Oamaru. March 7.—Otago v, Canterbury, at Dunedin. . March 9.—Dunedin Centre v. South Otago Centre, at Dunedin. March 15 and 16.—Dunedin Centre’s champion of champions.