BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 18

BOWLING NOTES.

BY SKI I'.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

NEW SYSTEM INAUGURATED. POPULARITY AT RAWHITI.

The conclusion of a season's play generally leaves for discussion a number of interesting points which have arisen during tho season. Such points should ho kept carefully in mind for full consideration at the proper lime—that is, tho annual meetings of clubs beforo a new season. A case in point is the new system lor finding the senior and junior champions, put into forto by the Rawhiti Bowling Club in connection with the singles competitions of tho season just closing, and found to give general satisfaction, i am indebted to Mr. P. B. Thomson, the originator of tho scheme, for the following details:— »

The number of activo members in the club was 56, and these were classified into tho usual four grades, skips, thirds, seconds and leads, ..with the skips and thirds' approximately equal in number. Tho seconds and leads were combined in ono class and three sections were established as follows: —No. 1, skips only, numbering 8; No, 2, thirds only, numbering 10; No. 3, seconds and leads only, numbering 15. Finding the Finalists. Section play then proceeded on tho two-life system, running to six or seven rounds. Tho first round was drawn by ballot and so were the second and subsequent rounds, winners, cf course, playing winners, and losers playing losers where possible. When the three section winners were found the winner of No. 3 section w;yi declared the junior champion. He did not, however, finish at that, but was eligiblo to go forward to play for senior honours against tho other two section winners. Tho three finalists all started over again with two lives each. There arc many points in favour of this system. All clubs classify their players as skips, thirds, seconds or leads, and by this it is inferred that in a match any such skip-should beat a second or a j lead. I

In the llawhiti senior club championship, before the institution of the new system, there was an instance when a particular skip played five matches and did not meet a single player in his own class; all his opponents were thirds or seconds. It is hardly consistent that one skip, by luck, should have easy victims and another skip—possibly a better player —sliouid have to play four skips a*rid, say, one third player, and be eliminated at the finish. This unfairness is avoidable, as 110 skip or third player lias any reason to object to meeting others in his own class. Hero is equality as near as possible.

Seconds and leads also would consider it fair to moot each other in a combined class, or in two separate classes if deemed advisable, owing to circumstances. What they would consider unfair would be for one of their number —a lead, say—to be drawn against skips or thirds, while another lead went through, meeting only lends and seconds. Increase in Entries. Obviously, the best senior and junior champions cannot bo found under a system so much under the control of luck. There is; not a wide margin between skips and thirds, as they have learned to play (lie same type of game. The introduction of'the class system should make the matches keener and more interesting. The third who wins through his section has a certain amount of satisfaction, even if he fails to beat the winning skip for the senior championship. The popularity of the scheme, even on its first try-out, was evidenced in an increased entry from the less prominent bowlers of the llawhiti Club. Last season there were only four seconds and no leads in the contest, whilo this season there were 15 of the two classes—leads and seconds.

The whole scheme stands or falls on the question as to whether the classification of players would be acceptable to the multitude. /There is no doubt the senior men would get . good games among ' men of their own calibre, but this may not be the case with men of lesser standing. There is always a demand from the latter players to play against more prominent men so that they mav improve their games. Under Mr. Thomson's scheme these people are ostracised in their particular class, and have to prove themselves first before encountering men of sterner quality. With three players remaining to contest the final a bye is unavoidable, aud this is certainly a drawback. However, Mr. Thomson's scheme has much to commend it. and at any rate should form the basis of some interesting discussion. The Club Competitions,

The veteran bowler, P. Macfarlane, of Remuera, can still be ranked with the best. He has concluded a. highly successful season's play by winning, in company with Norton, the champion pairs competition of his club. Persistent practice has been their watchword for the, season and they have met with the success they fully deserved. E. Ash ton and I. Short were the pair with whom they generally practised. The results of this practice can be seen in the play of the respective leaders, Norton and Ash ton. The former is already noted for his fine and consistent play, and be, was one of the best leading men seen on any green in Auckland this season. Ashton's work as a front division man was also good and all tl;o more remarkable because his play was not wholly confined to dead drawing on account of his playing in higher positions. It is not often one hears of such assiduous practice by four players, but their example might well be copied by many more bowlers.

Lust season (J. A. Wynyard skipped llio winning team 'in the percentage fours competition at West End. On .Saturday lie led another team tc victory. The West <Jsnd player lias mot with considerable success in club play find would probably lie equally successful in open competition. In the one outside event in which he is able to compete annually—the Rotorua tourney —he always gives a good account of himself. Successful Mount Eden Bowler. A popular member of the Mount Eden Club, W. E. Vivian, succeeded in winning the club's percentage fours last Saturday. A player who has benefited largely by active participation in open tournaments, ho lms a good winning record. In the final ho met his regular tournament partner, I). ('. lirasor, who was the first to "discover" Vivian. On this occasion, however, the pupil turned the tables on his one-time teacher.

Tho Tiawhiti Bowling Club is in the field with a definite winter program mo 'for tournament enthusiasts, The scope and conditions are novel and should cater in manv ways for a largo number of bowlers, h is proposed to liavo four pairs tournaments, and each one will occupy two Mondays, plav, commening at 10 o'clock each day. The' first event is on May 13, end finishes on May 20. For full rink combinations a tournament covering five Wednesdays will be commenced on May 22, and two games of 14 heads will be' played daily.