BOWLING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 92, 16 March 1927, Page 6

BOWLING.

(By “Trundler.”) The New South Wales and Auckland bowlers who played in Palmerston North last week were very unfortunate as regards the weather they experienced. On Tuesday last the visitors from Australia encountered a bleak autumn day, with a cold half gale from the south-east. There was .practically no shelter from this quarter on the Manawatu green, and bowling under the circumstances was most difficult, particularly for the Cornstalks, who are apparently not used to “fiery” greens. Their defeat under the circumstances was not surprising. To make matters worse leaves from the trees at times swept across the green. They were a jolly lot of tourists, however, and made the best of the circumstances. They are accompanied bn their tour of the North Island by Mr Spora, of the Auckland tourist office, who has been of great service to them, and Messrs J. W. Hardley (president) and Mr J. Thomson (a member) of the council of the Dominion Bowling Association, whose great knowledge of Dominion bowling has been a decided asset to the visitors. In the evening the New South Wales players were the guests of the Manawatu Centre at a smoke concert, when a pleasant time was spent, but it was regrettable that there should have been such a poor attendance of local bowlers, whose absence was not at all complirrlentary to an overseas party honouring Palmerston North with a visit. Steady rain fell during part of Thursday morning and in the early afternoon when the Aucklanders were in Palmerston North, and at one stage it appeared as if there would not be any play. However, the rain laden clouds mostly passed over and, except for an intermittent shower, the afternoon was fine, enabling the local games to be proceeded with at 2.30 p.m. on the Terrace End green which, in consequence, was somewhat heavy. Despite their all night train journey, the Aucklanders played very well and, due to one or two easy wins against weak teams, managed to win on the aggregate by four points. Had it not been for the big margin in favour of the local centre in the three matches played at Feikling, the northerners would have secured a big victory. The smoke concert tendered to them was in regard to attendance a marked contrast to that on the Tuesday evening, there being a very large number of bowlers present. The proceedings were most convivial and were brought to a conclusion at an early hour to enable the visitors to enjoy a much needed rest as they had to connect with an early train next morning for Wanganui, their match against this centre on Friday last resulting in their defeat by a small margin. Standing on the bank during each match the writer was impressed by the number of Palmerston North bowlers who played in ordinary working clothes. Nothing looks so bad in an inter-centre or other big contest to see bowlers not in proper uniform, and the Manawatu Centre should make it a condition before a club sends a team that its players shall appear in proper uniform. In this respect the Woodville Club’s players on both the Tuesday and Thursday were a distinct credit, being correctly attired in all respects, except that one did not have a bowling hat. Another matter which was brought to the writer’s notice was that of two tjocal players—one on the Tuesday and one on the Thursday —who expectorated on or near the green. An abominable practice it should be strictly prohibited l . It is a great pity that centre clubs do not send the strongest possible teams when invited to meet touring sides. Several of the players sent on Tuesday and Thursday last, were noticeably weak and did not improve Manawatu’s chances of victory. While the “game is always the thing” it is not a commendable practice on the part of clubs to despatch just any players desirous of a game to centre matches. On the Tuesday good rinks were spoiled by a weak member, and it might have meant the difference between victory and -defeat. On the Thursday the position was somewhat different in that each club was invited to send a rink and here again some that were selected were lamentably weak. The centre should ask for a strong rink in all such cases and if it is not available it might be possible to draw on the clubs in a better position to supply experienced players. NOTES. The Pahiatua Club four which won the Manson and Barr Cup from Feeding several weeks ago have a strong hold on the trophy as they have vanquished all subsequent challengers, the latest to fail to wrest the trophy from them being a Takaro team. Playing in the semi-final of the West End Bowling Club’s singles championship, F. Needham, formerly of the Palmerston North Club, was beaten by J. F. Hosking, who beat W. Bremner in the final.