BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14439, 4 February 1909, Page 10

BOWLING.

Norns by Jack. It is too early yet to express any opinion as to the prospects of getting together a team strong enough to lour the North Island under the auspices of tho N.Z.B A. it is probable that stronger support wili como from Canterbury than from Otago and Southland. Xo doubt there are many followers of the game able to spare the time necessary, as it should be an ideal holiday trip, but whether the number is sufficient (o constitute a team strong enough to represent the N.Z.B.A. cannot, he known until entries close on the 15th inst. The itinerary suggested provide* for the team leaving on the 27th hist., and arriving at Wellington on the following day. Ihe Ist and 2nd March is to be devoted to playing matches in tho capital eitv._ On the 3rd a match will lie played lit \Vaiv;anui, and on the 4fii u t Xew Plymouth. Auckland would be rcachcd on the sth, when the team will lie the guests of the Auckland Provincial Association at a. steamer excursion, and play the first test, match in the afternoon. On the 6th tho team would be the guests of the Auckland Club in the morning, and of the Mount Eden Club in the afternoon. On '.lie £th tho visitors would be entertained in the morning by the Auckland Association, and in the afternoon the second test, match would probably bo played. A start would be made for Rotorua on tho 10th, and some names would be ployed them on lho lltli. tin the return journey it is suggested that matches bo played at Xapier and I'almcrslon Xortli, the team arrivine hack at Wellington on March 19. This should prove attractive to those who can got. away. | Somo informal references were ma;lc at the smoke ijcmoert. at Christchurch to the matter of the North Island Association amalgamating with tho N.Z.B.A. Mr Nash, of Palmerstoti North, and Mr Webb, of Wellington, gave it as their opinion thnt there was a strong feeling in the north in favour of amalgamation, but Mr Ballinger, of Wellington, appears to have, never heard of the subject being mooted. Mr C.allaway, the vice-president of tho council, expressed himself us warmly. favourable to the idea. It is very doubtful if thorn is the slightest feeling in the north in t.ho direction of amagamation. The Xorih Island howlers deliberately seceded from tho N.Z.B.A. and formed an association of their own, awl although thore has boon some grumbling at the work done—or possibly at what has not becu done—by the executive, that dissatisfaction has not boon in the direction of swapping governing bodie; but, of doing away with the supervision of the governing body ami managing thvir own affairs. This is shown by tho formation of a centre in Wellington and a Provincial Association in Auckland. tn reality the movements in the North and South Island have been of a very similar nature—the development of strong local governing bodies reducing the functions of the governing body to seeing that the laws of the game are observed, and that ihese laws are in coisonance with t.he views of tho bulk of the bowlers, and in the best interests of the game, also acting as an appeal body, and generally attending to affairs which do not come within the scope of the, centres inasmuch as they affect all centres.

The Taisri Chib played two centre championship matches on Saturday, and won both. It. was thought the Koslyn men on their own green would have given the Taieri playtis a great run for it, and theso expectations were realised by two rinks, It. 11. Scott, supported by W. Millo-i-, .1. Cameron, a.nd G. I l '. Dodds accounting for Curswell, Cousins. C'aji>pt>aM, and W. Allan by 27 to 15, while All'imtt, supported by Thomson, Wilkinson, and Matthews were only 1 point liehind M'lntyre, who had witli him A. Cameron, A. W. and 1). L. Chr.ist.ie. The veteran Matheson could not hold J. Tait, who ran up 33 to Koelyin's 8; and as the rink skipped by 0. Wedderson only put on 13 to 1). Stevenson's 20, the Koslyn toa-rn !<»( by 23 points. In the championship match against the Valley played later in tho atiernoon. tho l'lain men won by 20 points. Tail's rink tied wii'li J. H. Spencer's, 18 all. whilo Stevenson was beaten liy 2 points by Barnes' rink. Cat-swell defeated li. Kidd by 22 to 9, and M'lnty»*. got. home on Dunn by 22 to 15. The Valley is to be congratulated on I'ho exroHejit stand inado against its formidable opi»ncnts. St. Kilda just manage! to defeat. Port Chalmers in the centre championship games, winning by the narrow margin of 3 points. White, for St. Kikki, was 1 point up against. J. M'lxiohlan, while M'Curdy defeated Cirav by 24 to 14, Moll'ison atxl Murray tied at 20 each, whilo Carter went down to Aitkou by 22 to 14. So far St. KiUa lias only suffered defeat a>t itbo hands of the Dunedin Glut), having won four games out, o[ the five played.

The scoring card in the game lielween W. Oarswell and K. H, Scott in the championship game-, on Saturday is a curiosity in its way. Carswell and his men began with a 3, and then the Roslvu skip notchcd 1 and 4. A single to each followed, and then Scolfc scored 6, followed by a single—l 2 Roslyn, 4 'I'aieri at the seventh head. C'<vrswell than notched 4, and then 3 and a single; but Bcott was not quite idle, and at Iho fourteenth head had 18 on tlie board to farewell's 12. Thereafter the Taieri men scored a single and 4, and then halted, the Koslyn men fooring at the fast five heads, bringing their total up to 27.

The game played last evening bel-wccn the Otago and punedin Clubs for the champion-ship.wa-i f.omewhat too one-sided to lie interesting. The Dunetliii Green proved lobe rather too keen for the Otago players, who, fearing to find the ditch, were frequently short at oiitie.il stages. All the Dunedin rinks had such a lead that towards tlie close somo of tlio players liecame a trifle slack. The majority of 70 poinls which Dunedin finished up with is a large one. but it must not. be concluded that all the Otagc players were "off." It to a large extent reorescnted Ihe difference between the game of players aocustoni'Kl to a keen, true green, en which a-n inch or two counts, and the plav of howlers accustomed to a sword neither so keen nor quite so true. In other words, the visitors' bowls would frequently lie a foot beyond the jack, or 6a or so in front — not bad shot; in tboir urn-®, but not oounteM-

The Dunedin Centre Four-rink Championship is drawing io a close. Some clubs iti each section havo (hopped behind with their jjanies, and. as iliey havo no cliance ot winning in the scction, they may not keep all tJi;ir fixtures. The Dunedin team are the_ winners of Section A, having won all the.ir five games. ]n Section B tho Tai&ri ami Green Lsland teams have to meet to decide wliich lea.ni sliall winner of the section, after v;hiol» the winner plays tho Dunedin to#m to decide which club shall bo entitled to tho championship - banner. Taiori and Green Tsland teams havo each ■veil four games. Ihe followinsfishows the position of thi> in .the two sections :■ — "A" Section "B" Section. W. L. -if/ jj Dunedin .... 5 0 Taiori .. .; 4 0 St. Kilda .. .. 4 1 Green Island 4 0 kaiUina ..2 2 lioslvn o a Port ClrtJwcrs J a Caledonian ."15 Otago .... 0 ,1 X.E. Vallcv ' 1 2 St. Clair .. 0 2 Cavcrsham .. 05

The ordinary Saturday interelub games of the Dunedin Ccntro 6till excite a fair amount of interest, but it is difficult to ■know the exact position of the various elttbs, as some secretaries do not acquaint the secretary of tho cciitre with tho result of the play. So far as can bo mado out the following tabic shows the position W. L. W. L. Dunedin .. .. 5 0 Port Chalmers S i Green Island ..5 1 Caledonian ..2 4 Kaituna, .. .. 4 2 Balmacowcn 1 5 Otago .. .. 5 3 Cavcrsham .. 2 5 St. Kilda .. .. 5 2 X.E. Valloy .. 15 OutTAm .... 4 1 St. Clair ..13 Boslyn .. .. 1 4 Fairfield .. 0 6 Taieri .. .. X 1 In the Wednesday afternoon matches the games played so far havo resulted: — W.L. W.L. Dunedin .. .. 4 0 Balmacewca 1 2 Green Island .. SOS. Clair • ..11 N.E. Valley ..3 1 St. Kilda ..13 Port Oluliuers 2 2 Kaituna ..0 3 Roslyn .. .. 2 3 Caledonian .. 0 1 Olago .. .. 1 0 Cavcrsham .. 0 8 " Skip," of the Southland Times, reports that Southland put a slop to North End's victorious carccr this season by winning against .that club 011 Wednesday last by a margin of 3 points. Mr Macdougail, vice-president o[ the Christehureh Club, who did so much in tho way of entertaining visitors during the recent tournament, lias liccn spending his holiday in Dunedin with his wife and family, and .has been able to engage in ai few friendly games despite tho ba»l weather. The lnvereargiTl Centre tournament at Easier is alrcidv exciting Mmc attention, and a large gathering is anticipated. Thus early in the day some Dnnodin players are bespeaking accommodation.

There is an entry of 147 plavers foe tho Victorian Bowling Association's Singlehanded Championship. This constitutes a record for Victoria, the entry including the cram of tho players.

A 7 ietorian bowlers are desirous of emulating the big tournaments of tho ?;iyw Zealand Bowling Association, as will'ho seen from the following from tho Australasian: A competition (suggested by Mr Wallace, ot the North Fitv.rov Club)) amongst tho country clubs affiliated with the A T ietorian Bowling Association was approved at tho meeting of that body on "Wednesday. January 20. The president (Mr Clausccn) has provided the trophy. Eaoh club will bo allowed to enter one rink, with tho c-ption of entering two rinks if desired. Thore will bo no entrance fee, the executive being of opinion that this competition, which is to bo played on the best greens in Melbourne at Master, will lie some additional recompense for the annual subscription of £1 Is these chilis pay to the association. There are now over 100 bowling clubs in the State—over 40 in Melbourne, and about 60 in the country districts. Tho movement is considered to lxj only the initial step towards bringing all clubs in, Victoria, together for a groat bowling tournament, such as is held in New Zealand, whoro liowlers from about. 100 clubs from all parts play in Singles, Pairs, and Rink for several days at some particular city. Thus it would bo possible to hold a tournament of this description one year in Melbourne, the next in Ballarat or Bendigo, and possibly other country ce.nt.rc«. Waii:ouaiti bowlers journeyed to Palmerston on Wednesday to play the return match at. bowls. Falmerston> put- a strong team in I'ho field, and won by 26 pointa, The AVaikouaiti players were cordially welcomed by Mr Lefevre, and during the aflornoon tea was kindly provided by Mesdames J.ofovro and Fielder. Tho AVaikouaiti rink skipped by White and comprising Pagan, Orbell, and MaJJoch defeated Itass (s), M'lirtosh, l'orteous, aid Fimllay In- 18 to 14. Sloan, KiJgour, Smith, and Lefevre (s) 22 beat Crisp, Lawless, Fmish, and Hunter Is) 19. Gwyune, Crump, Fielder, and B. H. Clark (s) 21 beat J. Maitheson, MTamncy, Temploton, and Reid (s) 13. W. ltoss. Mirir, Peattie, and Dr Hislop 39 beat Davis, S. K. Smith, Carsou, and Fell (s).

Gore bowlers visited luvercar.gill on Thursday, and scored a w.in against To Rti.ngi Club. Three rinks played a time limit game against. 'North End in the morning, the North End winning hy 52 to 38. Five rinks aside took pant in the game against Te Kangi, which was won by the Gore' Club by 4 points. For Gore, Brown and his men defeated Lock by 24 to 20, Fioburth boat .F. Dewar by 28 to 16, auid Patereou beat FmdJay by 24 to 22. Porks was defeated by Harper ky 25 to 10, and Cunningham ami MaeGibbon tied at 21 points each. < An exciting game took place an the Outran! Green when 11.I 1 . Wright met ,R. M'Donald in thosemi-finalsof tlio Handioap Singles. Wright, who was playing a steadygame. scon get a. lead, and al tho second last head was 6 up, wlien M'DonaJd, by a beautiful trail, carrkxl t-iie kitty, and got 3 isholß. The last head saw M'Donald again drawing well, w.itli tho result, that he notched another o againeit. his formidable opponent, making the scores level. As extra head was play«l, and M'Donald drow a shot about six inches from tho kitty, Wnigiit, just failing with his last bowl to effect, a,n alteration.

Some unfavourable comments wore made at tire last meeting of the Invcroargill Borough Council on the p&villions erected by lawn tenuis and km-lmg ekibs on I,lie town reserves. Tile Southland Bowling Oluh's pavillion and buildings came in for Eome scathing comment, and Cr Bain declared that the 'Ixakltng said to ho a Icol shed was really a bar. Cr Martin denied Ml a soft impeachment, but. Cr M'Kav, who is a member of tho chib. supported i"'r Bain, and declared he bad eeon tiho beer keg which had made the mark declared by Cr Martin to have been jnado by a tin of white load. Cr Bain said tho important point was that tho building wa« not a fit one to bo erected- 311 a plaoe like a bowling green. So far as tho drop of boor was continued, they could drink as much as they liked, but they ought to comply with the borough h.v-laws. The discussion appoare to have closed without deciding on any action being taken.