BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16293, 28 January 1915, Page 8

BOWLING.

Notes by Jack. Rain on Saturday afternoon put a stop to the play in most of the Dunedin Centre's inter-dub matches. In a few instances it was found possible to complete the games, Tho Dunedin Centre, not having made any special provision in the case, of games commenced but not concluded, and, a.s a consequence, all sorts of theories are put forward as to the position in the, case of the games interrupted. It has been claimed that where more than ten heads have been played the club leading must be declared winner. Tho position is that the Centre does not recognise unfinished games. It recommends clubs to make their own ar rangements to play off such matches at sucn times a.s may bo mutually convenient. 'lho game tor the Holmes leathers, between tne Cii'ecn island (holders), and 'laieri (challengers), provided an exciting contest, and on tne iilst head tile scores were even. Ulio rules make no provision for such a contingency—tiiey state that the game shall be one ot twenty-one heads. Alter some consideration it was decided to play an extra head and submit the point to tiio Centre for adjudication. It was held by some that as tne holders were not defeated alter 21 heads had been played they were still tho holders ot the foatners, so that they must be beaten at the end of 21 heads, no provision being made for playing an extra head. It was contended that it was manifestly unfair to decide the match on the result of one extra head, and that if Taicri was entitled to have another try beyond the extra number of heads specified, then another 21 heads should be played. The Centre lias decided ttiat as challengers failed to win oil the 21st head the Green Island return possession of the feathers until actually defeated. It may bo added that laieri scored ill the extra head played as a precautionary measure.

The Duneain Centre's programme for an Easter Tournament has been printed und circulated. It will be iield on the 2nd, 3rd, and sth April. Rink and Pairs competitions arc arranged for. In such instance a qualifying round will be played. The winners in that round will continue in the Provisional rinks playing on tile sectional system at at- least, four games of 16 heads, or a time limit of two hours. Tho losers will go into tho City Rinks competition, and play on the same system. The same system of play will bo carried on in the Pairs competitions. In each case green winners will play off on the sudden death system. Entries will close on Friday, 26th March. The Christehurch Centre delayed so long in preparing tho programme for tho South Island tournament and neglected to give publicity to the fact that it was intended to hold such a f;t'l tiering that the fact of only two rinks outside Christchurch entering came as no surprise. The outside rinks were from Takaka (Nelson) and Temuka. Had timely notice hern give it is believe ! at least six rinks would have entered from Otago. The number of rinks entered was 40, and play started on Monday on the Christchurch, St. Albans, and Edgewarc greens, which .vers in good order, and very keen. The wind was somewhat troublesome. As the pav had only reached tho stage of finding section winners in the rinks and doubles, details inay be deferred.

Fine weather is all that is required to make tho elderly Lr.wlers day on Saturday next, on the Dunedin Green, ono of the most interesting functions vet held in connection with the game in Dunedin Already over 100 Veterans have r.otified their intention of taking part, and as Mr Emery, the Duneoin Club's president. and his committee have made elaborate arrangements for entertaining the visitors and elderly members of the club, an enjoyable afternoon may be confidently anticipated. The Invercargill Centre's Four Rink Championship .has been won by the NerthEnd Club this -eason.

Launceston bo.vlers are in a quandarf owing to the decision of the .Australian Bowling Council to abandon the bowling carnival at Sydney al Easter. In tho ordinary course of events the carnival after tho Sydney ono would have been held in Launceston, and in anticipation funds were being raised at that centre for tho function for Christmas, 1915. As tho postponement or abandonment at Sydney was due to tho wir and I ;,;.ltv to th<i Empire, the people (.•!' Tasmania may have to stand aside for another season.

Mr E. H. Fountain of the Roslyn Club, who spent the New Year holidays at Alexandra, is enthusiastic over the hospitality extended to visitors by the members of the Otago Central Clubs in general, and the Alexandra Club in particular. ' Visitors were made really welcome, and care was taken to give them as much play as they desired. Tho Alexandra Green uas in good order, well-gmssed, and keen. The Clyde Club's Green is still somewhat on tho rough side, not having made the progress anticipated, but if looked after it will also soon become a good playing surface. The Cromwell Green is .very fast, but rather bare of grass. If it is top-dressed at the close of the season and more gross seed sown, it should be in fine order next season. The Otago Central players are looking forward to ttie annual visit from Dunedin bowlers, and it is intended to arrange if possible, a town v. country match, in which it is hoped players from Cromwell, Clyde, Alex'andra, Nascby, and Roxburgh will take part. If this eventuates, the town team will find themselves pitted against some very strong players, and will have to play their verybest to hold their own.

It falls to the lot of very few skips to scoro the record of eight points in one head in an interclub match. This occurred in a game between Ko.iti.ina, and Caledonian rinks. The Caledonian rink (Wheeler, Glass, Ogg, and Foster), were playing well together, the third and the skip being very deadly, and the score was 15 to 8 in their favour. The Kaituna players, were Frap well, Young, Melville, and MHutcheson (s). When the skips changed ends at this stage, tho Caledonians were shot with a bowl resting on the right side of kitty, with several other bowls dose on the same side, Kaituna had a bunch of three bowls fairly close on the left of kitty, with three others a yard behind. There was a possible post on the back hand t,o the shot ball, and this Foster failed to cover up with his first bowl. M'llutehe.son then played a beautiful shot, resting out the, shot, and carrying kitty to the left, hehind his other three, lying seven shots. Foster played to turn one of his own bowls in but unfortunately struck it too full, and M'Hutcheson was, left to draw the eighth shot. He made no mistake al>out it, the whole eight, bowls being within a small radius of the jack. This made Kait.:na one up which they increased to five up before the last head.