BOWLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 9 December 1931, Page 3

BOWLING

THE SHIELD COMPETITIONS NEARING THE END. SEMI-FINALS ON SATURDAY. The second round of the Shield competition has been played, in which Havelock North, Kia Toa, and Waipukurau were eliminated. Next Saturday the third round will be played between Hastings and Bluff Hill, St. Leonards having a bye. High Scoring. Some big scores were registered in the Shield games last Saturday. At Bluff Hill Havelock were soundly trounced tc the tune of 26—10 and 30—8. The home teams were strong combinations, and gave the visitors lit • chance to score. Bull was in great form, and time and time again he trailed kitty or drew the shot. He was ably supported by Cunningham, ThorneGeorge and Holt. In the other game Scmerset-Smith, Barlow, MeLeay and McLennan (s) all played well. If Havelock is to do any good in competitions they will have to select their teams at the beginning of the season and get that "team spirit” that is so important in competitive games. Picking "scratch” teams at the last minute is not fair to the club, nor to tho teams they have to meet. Kia Toa. Km Toa went down In the Shield games last Saturday with a bump, Burge’s team being defeated by 33 to 11, and Sykes’ by 24 to 12. There were eight dead heads in the latter "auie. Evidently a lot of driving was done. Hastings Club. The Hastings Club is very strong this season, and are in the position to several first-rate rinks in any competition. Two teams will meet Bluff Hill on Saturdr and they will not have such an easy time as last Saturday. St. Leonards. The above club is again inaugurating night plav, and rink tournaments will be held on Tuesday and Thursday each week, commencing at 7.15 sharp. The green is in splendid playing order at present, recent rain having a very beneficial effect. Distinctive Marks on Bowls. Writing in tho "Otago Daily Times,” "Jack” quotes the following extract

from a letter from the secretary of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association, dated 18th November:— "With regard to tho letter from the Caversham Bowling Club, asking what is the distinguishing mark on bowls, 1 would like to mentio that the rule has bee further amended, and reads as follows: 'All bowls played in tournaments must bear a distinctive mark apart from a number on both discs of each bowl.’ This, you will see, makes the matte- quite clear, in as much that numbers are not accepted as distinguishing m.rks, and all bowls must bear some distinguishing mark which will enable the umpire or others in charge of the game to distinguish one player's bowls from another.” Hard Driving, To be successful in the game of bowls it is necessary to be an all-round player, and ono very essential qualification is the ability to drive fast and accurately. A good skittle shot is often as diffl cult to play as a draw shot, and it takes a lot of practice to become a skilled driver. Some men, of course, do nothin" but drive, drive, drive, and when they reach th -t stage they are not only a menace but a nuisance, for the thing has then become an obsession, and they can see nothing else ahead of them but a general smash up and "scatteration. ” That is all right up to a point; but it is not always the boldest and best manoeuvre to drive, miss the mark aimed for, and break up the head, when a nice firm draw or a yardon shot would have been preferable. Team Work. What constitutes a match-winning rink! (asks "Boomerang,” in the Sydney "Referee”). It does not follow by anv means that, because you select the best four bowlers in the club that you have a match-winning rink. Team work is impossible with some combinations, and I have found that the best results are obtained from men accustomed to play in positions from the leader up. Number three who is used to skipping is not out of place. A leader should strictly follow out these few golden rules: — In laying the mat, place the front of it with a si joth "get-away” in front. Throw, or, rather, bowl, the kitty to tho skip's feet, as near as possible. Settle down immediately, after a preliminary practice, to the "good” hand, and stick to it. „ If the opponent gets "on the jack,” don’t attempt to "push him out,” and overrun the head. With the leader, as with the other players, "second shot” is very desirable. Don’t change your hand merely because the opponent looks in the way, but be guided by tho skip in this. W’hen the opposition is weak, a constant change of length prevents them from settling down mechanically, but make the skip’s feet your objective until he decides that this policy is desirable. Team work is essential to success. If you play a short or narrow bowl, nobody in the rink with whom you are associated should condemn you, for each will play his quota of bad ones before the day is out. Never be forced off the hand you have been playing well, because your opponent has put his first in the way—without it is so obviously short as to "wreck” you for certain. And don’t get "huffy” if the skip directs with cither the first or second bowl. He does so for the side’s good, and for the club’s success, not for any demonstration of superiority over your intelligence. Second Man.—ln the rink you are associated with, at any rate, you are particularly valued. Second man contributes largelv to match-winning. Your job is "draw, draw, draw,"and if you are content to do that, with other shots allotted you as the game progresses, you are earning the gratitude of the club. Don’t particularly attempt to push the opponent off the kitty without being specifically asked to do so. Draw on or around it, but remember that a bowl in proximity belonging to you has a chance of being pushed up or trailed to. Thus "pots” against your side are avoided. If you play a bad shot, short, narrow, or wide, the skip you are associated with should not be saying anything about it—don’t imagine by any outward movement by him that he is. Co-operate with the third man as far as the rules permit, also the leader. Any suggestion to the skip will be welcomed, and should bo made in crossing. Play your natural game, and don't allow any occasion, no matter how important, to put you off it. Third Man. —Third man largely contributes to the sueeess of the rink, and the team. Bear in mind that ytiur skip regards you as not inferior to himself, but the right man in the right position. Neither he nor you can succeed without the other’s co-opera-tion. When crossing, any suggestion will be welcomed on points of policy, etc. It is always a good policy to keep tho side impressed with the importance of securing second shot, when big losses seem imminent. If any member of the rink, skip included, is not playing his usual good game, or is apparently "off,” try to "bring him back” with sympathy—it’s a good tonic. The skip will give you your head, without danger looms, and do the same towards him. He should never take exception to a suggestion. Take the bad with the good, and pull together, then success may be expected. The Skip.—Human nature plays a prominent part in match-winning, or losing. Some leaders, seconds, and thirds are as timid as rabbits, and the least thing may "put them off” for the remainder of the game. Even a change of expression, a shrug of the shoulders, turning toward tho bank, etc., will "settle” the temperamentals. I am no believer in carrying a box of chocolates up and down the rink, coaxing a good shot out of a nervous player, but there are other methods. It is no use telling a man he is wide, narrow, short, etc., he is painfully aware of it. The best plan, I think is to have a round table conference with your rink, and lay down a policy. Tell your third man, candidly, that

you don't expect him to dominate you, that you want your head, unless there is something you do not understand. Play to the board, and keep on keeping on looking for the good bowling points in your men. Certain leaders, certain seconds, and certain third men cannot play for certain skips. Sit down and reason out the reason. Men without big hearts should not burden a good rink with their presence, but it is possible to put “heart” into a timid player.