Bowling

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 16

Bowling

(By “Sir XTaucjs.’’)

The greens on Saturday were keen, and for nearly the first time this season bowlers had the opportunity of practising on the sort of surface it is probable they may have for the big tournament. Needless to say a good many players were entirely at sea, and the ditch became a favourite resting place for bowls. The friendly inter-club games on Saturday were nearly all rather closely contested. Victoria beat Petone by 176 to 169, Newtown proved too good for Karori by 112 to 101, while Johnsonvillo defeated Khandallah by 12/3 to 109. The challengers have been' having a bad time of late at Victoria. Langdon and Townsend had a try for the Wells' Stars, but Hatch, and Redstone were by no means prepared to give them up, and won tlio argument by 29 to 16. ’ Fossett and Norwood also had a try for the Townsend Buckles, but found Longmoro and Witt had too strong a hold, the defenders winning by 25 to 15. Since Holland's team won the Edwin Feathers from Thorndon some time back the Hutt players have successfully resisted several attempts to take the coveted trophies. On Saturday a Karori four, with Cooper in charge, came very near to success, but the Hutt players, fighting the issue to the very end, had a margin of one point to the good on the 21st head.

There have been several attempts to capture the Thorndon Roses from Petersen, Robieson, Cohen, and J. M. King, but this doughty quartet have no present intention of parting with the handsome ornaments. Vice-president Chitty led an attack on Saturday, but failed badly, the defenders winning by 27 to 13.

In a. match at Toowong recently a player named Steele accomplished the remarkable feat of winning by 32 points to. nothing. There have been instances in New Zealand of players failing to score, but they are very few and far between.

At the last meeting of the English Bowling Association, held on October 14th, it was stated that there were 40 clubs affiliated, with a total roll of 4000 bowlers.

Quite a number of bowlers are going over to Blenheim for the Christmas holidays. The local green is in splendid order and the Blenheim bowlers, headed by that good sportsman. Captain I’aulkner, are first class hpsts. Under the circumstances tho visitors should have a very merry time.

Wellington . and Thorndon intend trying conclusions this afternoon, eight rinks a-side. The Blues have been showing improved form this season and they should make an even fight with the big dub.

Hataitai and Khandallah are having a friendly four rink out and home interclub match this afternoon. Judging from the form that the Hataitai trumllers have been showing of late Khandallah will have some trouble in averting defea.t j ♦ ♦ ♦ Newtown and the ' Hutt are having a friendly trial of strength to-day, eight rinks being in action on either side. Quite a host of bowlers took advantage of the fine weather on Thursday, and alter recording their votes repaired to the greens where, for a while, political strife was forgotten in friendly rivalry. A large number of, club matches were got through. . It. cannot he said that theproposal to send an Australian team to New Zealand is likely to give the selection committee' a great deal of trouble (says the “Arrow”) as far as New South Wales’ combination ’s concerned, for up to date only two people have sent along their names. Mr Sbadforth has an idea that there are more to follow, and expects his list to bo at least a little bigger before it is forwarded to Mr. Monro, the secretary .of the Australian Council, in whose hands all the names must rest on or before the Ist prox. However, the team appears to have been made up, as a cable has notified us that it is coming over. , On the Links Vardon in Form. Harry Vardon, open champion, was in splendid form at Llandrindod Wells, when he not only inflicted another reverse on ex-Ghampion James Braid, but went round in a score of 71, which equalled Whiting’s record for the green. Braid lost several strokes on the way out through weakness on the green, and Vardon turned with the useful lead of three strokes. Going home. Braid got level at the 15th; but he lost a stroke at the 16th, where , his ball was badly pulled and lodged in a hedge. Vardon had a capital three at the last hole; and he finished the round two strokes to the good, in 71 to 73. In the afternoon a four-ball match was played, T. Brace partnering Braid against Vardon and the local professional, George Humble. The match was close to the turn, which was reached with the latter ‘couple leading by one hole. Then 10th went to the local player, who ran down a 10yds putt for the hole, and, after four halves, Vardon increased the lead of his side to three up at the 15th. The 16th was halved, and Vardon and Humble won by 3 up and 2 to play. A notable feature of the foursome was that 13 of the 16 holes played were halved. Braid Turns the Tables. Braid, however, had his revenge at Muswell Hill, where he defeated Vardon by eight strokes iu the medal round iu the forenoon. Going out. Braid picked up strokes at the second, -fourth, and 'eighth. At the fifth Vardon made up for getting out of hounds by holing an Byds putt. Coming in, Vardon got back a stroke at the ,10th, but at the 11th he took a 9.1 He was bunkered off his drive, played out into a grassy hazard behind the green, where he found his ball in a rut. He lifted and dropped the hazard under a penalty, and promptly topped his shot back into the rut, and had to lift again. Then his next was short of the green, and he took three more to get down. Braid’s 69 was a record. for the course. ■ In the afternoon a foursome-was played. Braid and Mr Howie beat Vardon and Saunders, the local professional, by 4 up and 2 to play. Golf as an Exercise. ' ’An English journal points out that one of the strangest developments of ,the

game is. its popularity as a mettiod of training for more strenuous sports, i latest convert to its charms is BiUy Wells. England's champion bQ “ r -; m “ rather in a quandary at the time anclesto^eet^Crummr e trhai h e 6 kep? on'« b | was doing would be to-run the risk of Turning UP to the contest over-trained. In this dilemma a goffing inend. bethought him. of the value of cleek and rlr?Ter and around his training quarterJ nt Leigh-on-Sea the Bombardier started whacking the elusive rubber-core as to the manner born. . . The value of golf as an. exercise for football players bas, of course, .been generally recognised lor some time. -Newcastle United, are, as a team, distinctly keen on it, and in Scotland the present League champions —Glasgow Hangers have entered a couple for the Scottish foursomes championship before now, the latest development in this direction, however, is a 72 hole homo and home challenge match between James Galt, whom Ibrox' enthusiasts are wont to see figuring in the half-back line, and Jamie Lawson, of the Dundee I' .C. It will be rather curious if this kind of thing diverts the fickle fancy of the football match spectator to the fascinations of the links.