BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 15

BOWLING NOTES.

GREENS WELL PATRONISED.

TROPHY CHALLENGES FAIL.

ELLERSLIE TOURNAMENT FINAL

I!V SKII". Tho largo attendances at tho various winter greens on Saturday were no doubt duo to tlio fine weather conditions obtaining and tho near approach of tho regular soason. Both factors had a stimulating effect in rounding in the largest assemblage of players on tho winter greens sinco the curtain was rung down on tho last summer season. Three events thal> materially assisted to swell the number of players in action were tho Kllerslie tournament, tho Nomads' final rally aft Onohunga and tho Press and Printers' match at Carlton, which between them accounted for over 300 bowlers. Tho members of tho boot trade, comprising 10 teams of wholesale and retail traders, occupied most of tho rinks at the Dominion Road Club. Onehunga, holders of tho Edwin Stars, had a closo call in tho match with the challengers. New Lynn, only one point separating tho teams at the finish. Tho Now Lynn skip, Rankin, assisted by the champion of tho club, Edgerloy, in the No 3 position, kept Onehunga extended all tho way. Tho winners, however, did not give tho usual good bowling display that tho members of the team aro capable of. McPhail, Waitemata, is the next challenger. Donison Pins Match. When tho two teams, Mount Eden, holders, and Rocky Nook, met at Mount Eden for the Denison Pins it was a caso of one team in form being opposed by a team which was plainly out of practice. However, in spite of tho handicap, Iho challengers held on well, although they were always a few points in arrears. On tho final head Keatley was lying well for a win, but Robertson got one in among tho scoring woods and Keatley only scored three on the head, which mado a difference of only one point, the scores being 17—16. Brake, Takapuna, is tho next challenger. Millen and his Epsom team, comprising E. Taylor, lead, A. Taylor, No. 2, and E. T. Richmond, No. 3, were the successful competitors in the Ellerslie Club's two-days tourney which concluded on Saturday. It was a pity the suburban club, which commanded such a fine entry for its annual big tourney, should have rather spoilt things by injudicious arrangements. Last week I mentioned tho procedure adopted by the club in regard to such large and unwieldy sections, but it appears that further trouble arose on tho final day's play. Through the peeuiar idea of concentrating the two sections on the two greens for the whole two days' play, a rather unfortunato and unfair position came about when the two finalists were to play. It meant whoever won tho toss naturally chose tho green played on the whole time. The difference between tho two greens in point of keenness was also marked and the result was that in a short game the team which lost the toss had not time in which to find the going. Smaller Sections 3tfecessary. All this could have been obviated by having smaller sections and giving competitors three full games each day and thereby leaving the finishing touches to another day. Tho semi-finalists or finalists nro always willing to come another day when a full 21 heads can be played. There is no doubt Milieu's team would have put up a big fight in the final under any circumstances, and it was most disappointing to it that circumstances militated against stronger opposition being shown. However, tho Easter Fours winner played splendidly against all skips and he was assisted in a very fine way by his team. The two Taylors, father and son, proved a very solid front division and Richmond, who played No. 3 for Millen last Easter, was again in evidence with consistent play. A peculiar game resulted last week in the semi-final of the recent Mount Eden mid-week tourney, when Parker-Hill, Papatoetoe, and Flowerday, Onehunga, met. Tho latter was 9 to 1 at one stage. However, tho Papatoetoo toam caught and passed its opponents and was four up with ono head to play. Strange to say Onehunga notched tho four points for a lie and a five-head play-off saw Parker-Hill with a score of 7—l, with two heads to go. Onehunga scored a 4 and 3 and won by one point, Nomads Close Season. Tho Nomads brought a highly-success-ful season to a closo when tho Onehunga green was visited on Saturday and a large number of games was played against members of the local chili. Regarding the tour of the Nomads during the past six months it is interesting to noto that 168 games wero played and 15 greens were played on. Thirty-five clubs were represented and representation extended from as far north as Helensvillo to Wellington in the south, while one player hailed from Perth. Last Saturday was termed Presidents' Day, and nearly every club in Auckland sent, its prosident or deputy along to participate. It is ,fitting to chronicle a presentation made by Messrs. Whitehouse and Clarkson, on behalf of the party, to Mr. Donnell, who has so successfullv and worthily carried out tho various Juties in connection with tho organisation of the scheme. There is no doubt the scherno has done a. tremendous amount for the social sido of the game. Tho lato James I)ann. whose untimely death is reported, was not only a general favourite in his own club, but was also most popular among tourney competitors. Originally a member of the St. Heliors Club he joined Mount Albert about five years ago and at once identified himself by active participation in tho work of the club. His untiring energy in this respect and his cheerful manner on tho green wero characteristics which ' hold him in the highest esteem by all who knew him. Death has also removed a most prominent bowler in tho lato N. Mcßobie. For a large number of years there was no greator identity figuring both on the green, especially in tournaments and in executive work of all kinds. Ho was particularly prominont in work of a social character, which was all tho morn remarkable on the score of his high standing in tho art of playing tho game. Deceased played the game well from nil points of view, and his loss to the Rernuora Club and bowling generally will bo a severe ono.