BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 5

BOWLING.

Br Eihkct, Bowling is booming to such an. extent tluifc it is almost beyond one's capacity cither to regularly visit tho numerous greens or to notice in limited space tho many interesting games which nightly take place. On most of tho greens finals arc thawing neaP, and I sea no way out of a difficulty except by requesting "secretaries; or individual members to drop mo a line or two. It will aid me very considerably, and it will also be tho means of giving publicity to dcurving playors. I Kaihum authorities have definitely decided to follow Mr W. H. Collins's advice, and tho green will bo closed v.'itbiu 'tho next few lias's. The "Ancients" and "Moderns" gamo at Duncdin green last; ■ Saturday was interesting, It brought along several oldtime enthusiasts—men who l have practically. 1 forsaken their shoes and bowls—and they 1 appeared'to revel in the game just as much aa the younger men. Bowls, I suppose, in common with other games, lias, to a certain extent, become moro "trying" than it used to be—it is played moro vigorously, perhaps,—and tho o!<\ champions are gradually dropping out.. More's tho pity. Time was when the half dozen survivors of a score of years ago could command their audiences. Tho greens wore fewer then, and there was intenso . keenness for. tho honours and championships of- tho clubs. Brilliant cricketers-have-their'day;-so do howlers. Only, at cricket, onco. a- man "goes off." it is all up with him, and-re-presentative days—even interolub days—aro Jio longer his portion; but in bowling a player may lose his form—he will get' old and fidgety—but lie can always, indulgo in his favourite pastime. When a man gets past, the bowling ago lie must indeed have lived far beyond tho usual span. This is the impression I had as soon a.? I glanced' around Dunodiu groon 011 Saturday, for there .wore several who had been mighty in their day—and there they were, justas intent as ever on getting .close to " wcq kitty." I believe they enjoyed the game, and if Iheso pleasant little games were made more regular in cur chilis tho result would be that tho good old players would gladly como down and take up their bowls oftener. Duncdin Club has started out on excellent lines, and, even if it may bo late in.tho season to " innovate," another match on Saturday's idea before the weather gets too cold would, 1 feel sure, prove particularly acceptable to the majority of the club's big membership. It says a great deal for the enterprising members of Cavc.rsham Club that thev should have got so early on the way with their new green. It seems only a few months ago that I published in this column a few notes concerning the probabilities of a now green at Caversham, and yet to-day the sward is in playable order, the bowlhouse has been transferred from the old green, and the members aro in high glee over the future prospects of the club. It is only ail instance of what can ho done when the right men arc guiding 11 club's destinies. I congiafulale t.hc club, and, iji singling out any who stand out particularly, the names of Messrs J. A. Kirhy and I l '. Wilkinson deserve mention. These two gentlemen. I am informed, have done yeoman service sineo the inception of the j suburban club. ! 111 spea.king of bowling in tho colonics, as compared with London bowling, Mr J. 11. Howard, of Lainboth-Carltou Club, Brixton, remarked that, tho facilities for visiting the various city clubs in tho colonics were very much more favourable than in the Home Country. In London, for instance, where land was fabulous in price, it was a matter of extreme difficulty to i have bowling clubs within a stone's throw of each other, and consentient on the long distances to lie. travelled between tho greens visits from one club to another were not of everyday occurrence. There aro 600 members in the Lambeth-Carl ton Club, lvut, as tho paying might be, it is a club within a club—lso aro bowlers, the rest following other pastimes. Mr Howard left for tho north on Tuesday. There is no doubt that the Easier tournaments at Invcreargill and Oamarw aro going to draw full houses Almost every club in this district has its teams made up, and practice is in full swing. Wliilst Oarwiru will probably draw, a score M inora

t teams from us, luvercargill will get a) food - share: in fact, if tlicro was a certainty of weather at the southern capital -tho soven- > game tourney -would a-ttract. an overflow-of s entries. , In a two-rink match Given Island v. St. s Kilda, played at St. Kilda, last AVcdnesday, - tho rink skipped by J. Lindsay put up what. : 1 is perhaps a record for a rink—viz., 42 to • 14. At tho adjournment, for tea, Mr Pol- - lock", of St. Kilda, expressed bis belief that f a refreshing cup woidd help tho "Saints" to recover, _ but. jt helped the " Greens" to • pilo up still higher, for with a 7 head ! Vc C^- 0 ' 0 nlnc '° an 8 after, and the 5 " Saints" could not Tccover. > Air John Young, tlio grand old New • South AValos bowler, has passed away. He i has been the figurehead of bowling in the mother Stalo for over a quarter of, a ■ ecntury, and jor 25 years was tho prcsi- > dent of tho N.S.W. fowling Association— " a romarkablo record. In 1877 ho laid out ■ a bowling green at Annandaic, and from this club tlio latlor-day clubs have sprung. 'I ho latO Air Young was probably tlio • greatest bowling enthusiast in Australia, • and lie lost no opportunity in bringing ' together bowlers from the adjoining States. ' Kaituna Club ties aro pretty well con- . eluded. On Monday evening H. Smeatou and J. G. Patterson got home in tlio final : for tho Doubles from J. F. Bailey and R. Taylor. Smeaton tho previous week had won tho club's Single-handed Championship, defeating T, Sanders. Tho latter event was played off in sections—as all ; championships should bc-tho entry comprising 20 players. Caversham put in a creditablo performance last Saturday, when they put six rinks J into the field against Kaituna. Tlio three i rinks which journeyed to Kaituna Green , beat their opponents in the aggregate, but [ at home Caversham lost their chance. It is encouraging to tho younger howlers in ai new club to meet and almost hold reputed bowlors from a strong playing chib. But' ■ Caversham lias a. couplo of excellent mentors in D. Murehisori and A. M'Gregor. R. Hamiing's score of 21 against J. IJailey'a 23 is first-class, and F. Wilkinson also put' up a good fight against R. B. Smith, only losing by -1 point. Ilanning scored 12 timej to Bailey's 9, Wilkinson put. in a like performance against K. 15* Smith, and D. i Mtirehison did likewise in his game againsi W. 1< arrester; while D. Forrester's team (Caversham) was nnablo to hold AV. Smart', team, ditto I). M'lntosh v. A. 11. Crawford and Piddinglon v. S. P. Slartin. Green. Island and Xorlh-Uast A r alley tried' conclusions, but, whilo four rinks from tlio A alley kept their scores pretty even, D. Murray could not shako off tho Uxliibition trip, and 1 AV. M'Donald scored an easy'win. 8 . 00,J '' to °- ' lacl got way from thoso little tricky patehes. and his bowls ran so smoothly that ho quite forgot for the timo being tho nature of tho business; consequently J. 11, Smellio, who was out for figures, ran up a huge score. An old' friend (ouce of Duncdin Clnb), .T. Barnes, met D. Buchanan, and Barnes won. j' Aitchison found AV. P. Cook a hard nut, to crack, and A'allcy's " colt" had a, " good' win." And so Otago have opened their account. Palmerston camo down three rinks strong, but that Arthur street plot proved their undoing. IJven Lofevre, who junketed alt over Australia tho other day as a'member °f l J'« ''AU-AVhitcs," mot disaster at tho bands of C. Fj-nmore. J. Cooke climbed round tlio crevices, and D. Fcrgussoji found some awkward pieces of ground; while P; , C. Corliss had not seemingly, a hope against Dr Hislop. A win! Good luck, Otago. Jlay you be heard of shortly. Caledonians aro getting their ties well forward. Thero has been a great deal of . keen play during the season, the substantial incrcaso in tho membership no doubt help- , ing matters along considerably. So far' results are:—First year's players' match, has been won by J. Edwards, who defeated R. Campbell in the final by 1 point. In tho singles competition, which has reached tho semi-final stage, thoso loft, in aro J. Scott (last year's winner), E. C. Hockin"' It. Powley, and H. Campbell. The semifinal for tho rinks will bo played next' Saturday, when D. Smith's rink meets C. E. Kcast's rink, tho winning team to meet J. Anderson's rink in tho final. Tho latter G. Capstick for semi-final honours. On Tuesday evening J. Edwards again defeated R. Campbell in another single (committee's prize). A. Fibbcs, J. Ogg," A. M'Donald, and B. White arc the four left in the Champion Singles. At Dunedin Green last night AV. Paget ' Rale defeated ,T. Johnson in the Singles, and thus qualifios for the semi-final. AV. S. Young, a first season's player, met D. Avallaco on Tuesday, and won an interesting game. AVallaeo allowed tho colt to get a long lead, and although ho afterwards equalised matters (20 all) the "colt" got •' away again, and won by 1 point. Air Thos. Farra is to ho complimented on his forethought and generosity in proviaing Duncdin Club with combination link pegs. Attached to the peg, immediately below tho rink number, is a small box for holding chalk. It's a wonder they ro not. on' all the greens. Tho Bowlers' Annual is now ready, and any bowlers, requiring a copy, if unable to obtain same'through tho sccrctary of their club, may havo it posted direct on receipt of 3s. Three rinks from the Caledonian Club intend trying their luck at tho forthcoming . tournaments, hvo going to Oamaru and: otio to Irivcrcargill. 1), Smith, who goes to' Oamaru, has a strong rink—A. M'Donald J. Collins, W. S. Cessford, D. Smith, j' Ivvans will lx> supported by l'. Foley, D. - Shaw, and A. Fibbes. T. Callendor has a full loam of colls, which he intends to pit against the Southlanders. On March 23 four rinks from tlio Caledonian Club will go lo Palmerston to play the local club. Mftibov of rinks from ilie Caledonian Club intending making- a tour of the country districts at Easter. Tlicy leave hero on Good Friday, playing Clulha in the morning and Stirling in tho afternoon. They play Lawrence on ]Saster Monday, returning • to town on Iho Monday night.