BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18510, 22 March 1922, Page 6

BOWLING.

By Jack. Congratulations to W. Foster, the Caledonian Club’s champion, on winning the Champion of Champions contest. Foster went right through without losing a game, and his bowling when he was hardest pressed was a revelation to the spectators. His play has been of a very high standard this season, and his chances of securing the coveted title were much fancied by hie olub mates. Foster won the Caledonian Championship in 1918, and in the same season won the Dominion Championship Singles. In 1919 he won the Southland Singles Champion of Champions contest, and also skipped the Champion Doubles. Probably the finest game of the competition was that between Foster and D. Sloan (Green Island) on Saturday. Both players gave of their best and spectators were given- a demonstration of the high degree of skill that can be brought to bear on the game by capable exponents. Foster won, but was extended to the limit of his skill, and Sloan, on his form m this particular game, would probably have won against any other opponent. 1 also extend hearty congratulations to W". R. Piddington (St. Clair), the runnerup. Piddington played capitally throughout the contest, and his two losses were at the hands of Foster. The showery, cold weather made the conditions unfavourable for the players during the progress of the games, which, however, were got off with as little delay as possible. It was unfortunate that the Balmacewen and Otago champions were not found in time to take part in the contest, and it is to be hoped that these dubs will not be so dilatory next season. If advantage had been taken of the fine weather there is not the slightest doubt that all the club championships would have been completed in good time. The following is a list of previous winners of Champion of Champions:— 1909. —C. J. Payne, Kaituna. 1910. —F. Smith, Kaituna.' 1911. —J. M'Fadden, Taieri. 1912. —J. M'Fadden, Taieri. 1913. —E. Harraway, Dunedin. 1914. —W. M’Laren, Dunedin, 1915. —J. Scott, Caledonian. _ 1916. —D. Oormack, Caledonian. 1917. —J. G. Bentley, Dunedin. 1918. —J. Veitch, West Harbour. 1919. —W. Carswell, Taieri. 1920. —J. Tonkin. North-East Valley. 1921. —J. Scott, Caledonian. The Otago representative team which played the Southland representatives at Invercargill on Friday would not by any means be considered a strong combination, and in view of last match, when Southland defeated a'| particularly “hot” Otago team on the Dunedin Club’s green, the visiting players’ chances did not seem rosy but they rose to the occasion and regained the “ashes” by a margin of seven points. Principal credit for the victory must be given 'to the South Otago rink—a particularly strong quartet of players, comprising Woods and Watson (Balclutha) and Sharp and Pryde (Kaitangata). The South Otago players were pitted against a Riverton rink, and romped home by 35 points to 14, their score including a seven on the last head. The surface of the green was rendered very slippery by heavy rain which preceded the commencement of the game, a fact which was accentuated by the size of the mats used on the green (the North End). The mats were about the size of a respectable-sized pocket handkerchief, and when a player lifted one foot in delivering his bowl his weight not infrequently made the mat slip, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Quite a number of the bowlers had narrow escapes from falling, while some who were less fortunate measured their length on the green. Driving was attended by considerable risk, and therefore was not indulged in to any appreciable extent. The game was played in a fine sporting soirit. denoting the fine feeling of camaraderie which exists between the players of the two centres. No more than a few points separated the teams at any stage of the game, and an exciting finish was witnessed by a large number of spectators, who impartially applauded good shots by players on. either side. Considering the state of the weather prior to the match it is a tribute to North End green that its condition rendered play possible on Friday. The Otago players were entertained at dinner in the evening in the Federal Tearooms. The sun was shining brightly when the Otago players arrived at Balclutha on Saturday morning, but heavy rain fell during the forenoon and this, following on the rain of the previous day, gave, the green a thorough soaking. The officers of the South Otago Centre had spared no effort to make the, short stay of the Dunedin players as enjoyable as possible and in this they were entirely successful. All the details were attended to by the energetic and enthusiastic secretary, Mr R. Culbert, in a manner which left nothing to be desired. Dinner was provided for the visitors at the expense of the local centre. The green, though decidedly heavy, had been given a wry careful preparation and, all things considered, its condition was very satisfactory. As some of tho Dunedin men were unable to remain and take part in the match a six-rink game was played. The Dunedin Centre team was altered very considerably from that which took part in the game at Invercargill, but the reshuffling of the players did not tend towards improved combination. Otago started promisingly and established a slight lead in the early stages of the game, but the country players soon showed that they were to be reckoned with, and, forging steadily ahead, won comfortably by a margin of 21 points. Onlv two of the Dunedin rinks were successful —in one case by the odd point. Pryde’s rink, which put up such a splendid performance in Invercargill, was opposed to a rink skiped by W Anderson and started off in great stylo, establishing a lead of a dozen or more points in the first seven heads, the score including an eight on the second head. Pryde and his men played a fine all-round game, giving a capital exhibition of clean drawing an 3 accurate driving. Watson (second player) played a great drawing game, while Sharp showed much versatility, his drawing being sound and his driving of the deadliest variety. Pryde gave his team solid support. The Dunedin rink, however, after they had become accustomed to the green, gave a much improved display, and by the time the final head hod been played the southern rink’s lead had been reduced to one point. In winning the Dunedin Club’s singles championship this season E. Harraway has established a notable performance, as he has now won his club's championship five times, including three years in succession—the hat trick. Ho was also champion of champions in 1913. The final game in this year's contest between Harraway and J. Hutchison' was well contested. The score at the 11th head was 11 all and 15 —14 in favour of Harraway op the 14th head. The latte* then did all the scoring. Keen interest is being taken in the final match for the inter-club banner which will be played between the Caledonian and Kaituna Clubs on Saturday. As the Caledonian Club is a four-section club and the Kaituna a three-section club there lias been a considerable amount of discussion as to whether the former should be permitted to select its strongest nine rinks or whether it should select 12 rinks and ballot one section out. I have already expressed my opinion on this matter, but I would point out that the present position emphasises the necessity for the centre to make provision for cases where there is a tie. If for instance Dunedin (a five-section club) and Fairfield (a one-section club) were to tie in the last round, how absurd it would be. for 12 of the Dunedin rinks to be balloted out. A suggestion has been made to me by members of the Dunedin Club that the match might be played on the Dunedin Club's greens (the large and the small greens). This is a suggestion which I think would find strong support in each of the clubs concerned, as it would provide a neutral playing area. When the two clubs met earlier in the season two sections were played on the Kaituna Green and one on the Caledonian Green. On Saturday the Port Chalmers Club will hold a .Gala Dav to wind up the 192122 season. There will be numerous games .and competitions for both women and men and a large attendance of members and visitors is anticipated. The championship doubles of the Southland Centre was won by Stephens and T. Donaldson, of the Te Rang! Club. Donaldson is well known to the majority of tho Dunedin players, having played for the West Harbour Club last, season. The annual match between the Baimacewen and Otago Clubs, which was inaugurated lasi year, will be played on Saturday afternoon. Sixteen rinks will represent each club, and the winners will lie presented with the "loving Cup.” In the evening tho members of both clul-s will forgather to spend a social hour. The dominion singles champion. Air J, Rigby, was entertained by his fellow-mem-bers of the N.E. Valley Club at a social I evening, at which there was a large muster I of the bowling fraternity, including rqpre-

eentatives of the Dunedin Centro Executive and members of sister clubs. The proceedings were of the most harmonious nature, and Mr Rigby was the recipient of very hearty congratulations for his splendid performance, which resulted in Dunedin again securing the honour of supplying the champion. _ 'ihe toast list was appropriate to the occasion, .and an enjoyable programme of vocal and elocutionary items was submitted. The singles championship of the Wellington Centre has been won’ by J. Brackenridge, jun.,_ winner of the singles in last year’s dominion tournament. In the dominion tournament, which was played in Dunedin in January, Brackenridge, sen., and Brackenridge, jun. (skip), won the championship doubles.