BOWLINS NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 14

BOWLINS NOTES

[By Dhaw.]

All communications for publication in this column should reach the ‘ Star ’ Office nob later than noon on Tuesday. Question and Answer. “ Offside ” asks for a clear meaning of the law of the game in regard to representation of fours at tournaments in various parts of New Zealand. “ Offside ” should be able to get the information asked for in bis Bowling Law Book. The composition of teams comes under the heading of ‘ Conditions of Association Tournament,’ and naturally these conditions will relate to association tournaments only. There is no provision governing the composition of teams in centre tournaments, but each centre would have the right to adopt the association clause or frame conditions for the composition of teams entering for a tournament.. Condition 17, composition of teams for New Zealand Association tournaments. is as follows;—“Players must be bona fide members of an affiliated club, cither ordinary or life members (honorary ■or associate members arc not eligible), and any player failing to produce satisfactory evidence to that effect will be liable to disqualification. Fours may be composed of three members of one club and one member of another club, but the odd man shall not skip; this rule, however, shall hot apply to a four from any club in the tournament centre, which must be composed entirely of members of the same club. In the pairs both players must be bona fide ordinary or life members of the same club.’’ The clause relating to pairs has been amended, and now provision is made for a pair entering who may be members of different clubs, provided they are part of a complete four entry' as allowed under condition 17.

Last Week’s Rain. The rain which fell last week was really the first for six months that had penetrated the ground to any great extent, and though play was suspended for the balance of the week and interclub matches were cancelled last Saturday, the rain has had a most beneficial effect on the playing areas, and all the bowling greens in and about the Dunedin Centre will be improved by it. The Match Committee last Saturday made an early decision in regard to putting off the matches, and its action was greatly appreciated by, at least, some of the club greenkeepers, who, owing to the very wet state of the greens, found themselves faced with the question of risking the leaving of the cutting until later in the day or setting to work on very sodden ground, which is not in the best interests of a green.

Four-rink Championship. A start has been made with this popular competition. For the first time since the inauguration of the event some 20 years ago it is being played in three sections, as against the usual two, this change being brought about principally because of the petrol restrictions. The draw was arranged so as to reduce travelling as much as possible. Section A comprises the following clubs:—Green Island, Caversham, St. Clair, St. Kilda, Anderson’s Bay, and Tainui. Section B: Balmacewen, Roslyn, Kaikorai, Otago, Kaituna, and Mornington. Section C: Caledonian, Dunedin, North-east Valley, Opoho, West Harbour, Logan Park, and Leith. iFour of the .games will be completed by the end of this year and the balance in the new year, and the final should be reached by the end of February. St. Kilda .won the competition last season, and it will no doubt put up a big fight to retain the honour. Pavilion Pars. Visitors to Dunedin greens during the week were Messrs Edwards and Virtue, of Ponsonby Club (Auckland). The former was president of the Ponsonby Club three years ago. Some clubs in the Dunedin Centre have already begun working for the appeal to assist our brethren in Great Britain. The bowlers in this district are endeavouring to raise at least £SOO, which should be available at an early date. The object of the appeal is such a worthy one that all bowlers should do their best to make the sum raised as big as possible. * It should be remembered that games in the Saturday and Wednesday competitions when put off by the Match Committee owing to the weather are really cancelled. The Leith Club is unable to play five sections each Saturday and will in future play four. The Valley Club is desirous of taking up this section and playing six sections in place of five as at present. The centre is fortunate in having a club ready and willing to fill the gap caused by the default of Leith in one section. Clubs should not overlook the fact that the champion of champions competition will this season be held earlier than usual. Entries for this series will close on February 25. Club-tie committees will therefore have to be on the alert so that the club championship will be concluded to allow of nomination of their champion. The success of the St. Kilda four in the “ one-day ” tournament held by the Tainui Club last Monday was mainly due to the good drawing of the whole team. Wellbalanced teams are generally cloSo to the trophy at the end of the day. The Port Club unfortunately did not receive enough entries for its “ one-day ” tournament to justify it being held, and the officials were reluctantly compelled to abandon the tourney.

Bowling Umpires’ Association. The monthly meeting of the above association was held last hriday evening, when there was a record attendance of members. The large attendance at recent meetings of this association is proof that at least some of the bowlers in this centre are anxious to get a better understanding of the laws of the game. Players generally like to have a competent umpire in charge at tournaments. but there are other ways of making the games pleasant, and one of these ways is for all competitors to have more than a passing knowledge of the laws of the game and the rules and regulations relating to government of certain issues.

At the meetings of the association any bowler is welcome irrespective of whether he wishes to become an umpire or not. The object of the association is to discuss laws and get understandings on problems that at first sight might look a little puzzling. The association deserves and should get the full support of all clubs. A problem in connection with two bowls played from rinks next to one another has claimed the attention of members during the last two meetings, and the various laws concerning the points in question have received full attention, the discussions having done a lot of good. Although the members present expressed their opinions on this particular problem, it was decided to ask the New Zealand Bowling Council to give a ruling or expression of opinion on the problem. The association is acting wisely in going to the fountain head to obtain an opinion on a question which when discussed here has brought about divided opinion,

Teams for New Zealand Championships. There should be a fairly representative entry from the various clubs in the Dunedin Centre for the national championships, which will commence on Wednesday, January 8, a( Christchurch. Balmacewen will have at least two entries. Avent, Kindle, Davis, and A. Macdonald will comprise one of the teams, and the other will be Bennie, Buchan, T. Ferguson, with another player. Roslyn will he represented by C. Dickson, A. F. Anderson, A. S. Armstrong, and W. J. M'Kay. Kaituna is sending one team

only, and this will comprise A. G. Robertson, C. Cook, H. S. Reid, ami J. J. bans. The Dunedin Club has so far forwarded three entries —A. Gregory, A. Silver, W. Easton, and J. Veitch; W. H. Naylor, H. Walker, D. Rewcasle, and K. Morrison; and the third team will be C. Beecroft, J. Rigby, J. Hutchison, and W. Anderson. This team, with the exception of Beecroft, won the South Island fours championship last season (Best was a member of that team). North-east Valley has one team for certain. It has played together in matches and comprises A. J. Rice, C. Symon, J. Hope, and R. Gemmcl. The Caledonian Club will send at least three teams as follows: J Porter, E. Clancv, J. Seddon, R. Aitcheson; T. Lambert, W. Elliott, J. Williamson, S. Hutchison; H. Lloyd, A. Davidson, J. Ainger, T. M'Carthy. There is also a possibility of another team from this club. There are many other learns making the trip, but the names arc not yet available.