NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS

THE TOUR OF AUSTRALIA.

AUCKLAND 'MEMBERS RETURN.

.' -i '- i A SUCCESSFUL VISIT. . : ' The Auckland members ; of the New Zealand bowling team -which toured New South Wales and Queensland returned to Auckland -by the. Makura yesterday. '.The I bowlers were met by Mr. W. Coltman, president' of the Dominion Bowling fessooiation. The Southern members or the team left Sydney by the Ulimarba for Wellington, with the exception of Mr. H. | F. M. Mercer, of Dunedin, who remained in Brisbane to recuperate. ,■ The latest advice was that he was fast returning to his normal health. ' The team played 29 matches, winning 22, losing six, and drawing one. The hospitality extended to the visitors in New South Wales and Queensland was most marked and lavish, no efforts being spared to make the trip pleasant ana memorable. The groups, with ■ singular exceptions, ■were excellent, the. sward in every case being couch grass, which make* a good bowling surface. In Australia , rubber bowls are mainly used, and it was noticed that one brand ran cleaner and more evenly on the surface than the wooden bowl. So pleased, were the members of the team with the results achieved by the rubber bowls that 11 full sets have beenbrought to New Zealand. Time will tell whether these will be affected by climatic conditions. The crouching attitude adopted by the Australian bowler does not appeal to the New Zealander, as it is considered the upright delivery tends to truer results. The New Zealand bowlers were allowed to play with one foot on the mat. but it was compulsory ' for the ' Australians to have both feet thereon. It was realised that this gave the New Zealanders an advantage. There is no doubt the absence of restrictions makes one : - feel more at ease when delivering a bowl. The official disbanding of the team took place at Brisbane on Thursday, July 12. At this gathering Mr. A. D. Thomson, manager,- and Mr. T. H. Steadman, secretary, were presented with framed photographs of the team. Mr. W. Smith, treasurer, was presented with a goldmounted pencil; Mr. Alfred : Coutts (rangatira), with a fountain pen; Mr. James Whitelaw and Mr. A. R. Crane, luggage masters, with a handbag and case of pipxjs, respectively. „ -