BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 8

BOWLING.

By Jack. Tho Kaituna Club’s annual report shows thal the club made steady progress during the past season, and there was no lack of enthusiasm by members. Fifteen full and two honorary members were enrolled, while nine members resigned owing to removal from Dunedin and other causes. The membership now stands at two life members, 67 full members, and 15 honorary members, a total of 82, exclusive of 29 lady members. Mr J. Davidson proved a capable greenkeeper, and the condition of the green, despite much unfavourable weather, was very satisfactory. The club was well represented at the dominion and other tournaments, and Messrs J. Sanders, D. Melville, D. Cormack, and T. Sanders had the honour of winning the Provincial Rinks at the Dunedin Centre s Easter tourney, while at the same tourney Messrs G. Baker and H. Campbell won the City Pairs. In the Four-rink Championship the club, though strongly represented, did not meet with the success anticipated, winning tliree and losing four matches. In the interolub competition three sections (nine rinks) participated, the final being played between Kaituna and Caledonian, the latter winning after a keenly-contested game. The committee is strongly in favour of four sections taking part in next season s competition, considering that the membership of tho club warrants each a departure. , , , , i The ladies’ section of the club showed much enthusiasm during the season, and several of the players showed considerable skill on the green. The Handicap Singles was won bv Mrs W. Shepherd, and the Doubles by Mesdames R. W. Glendinmng and W. Shepherd. At the annual meeting the following office-bearers were elected: President, Mrs J. H. Walker; vice-presi-dent, Mrs W. A. Grieve; secretary and treasurer, Mrs H. F. Sincock; rommittee Mesdames W. H. Jfayward and H. Frapwell. . . Notice of motion has been given to bring the following proposal before the annual meeting of the Kaituna Bowling Club*. “That the executive of the Dunedin Centre be recommended to institute an interclub rink championship in plaoo of the present four-rink contest.” I presume that the object of the mover, is to substitute a championship contest consisting of one rink from each club, but as the four-rink championship has become very popular with players I do not think there is any likelihood of it being scrapped. At the first meeting of delegates to tho Dunedin Bowling Centre Mr E. Falconer (Otago Club) will submit a scheme for the grading of players, arid will move that the players in tho various clubs be graded, and that the scheme submitted be adopted. Ido not think there is the slightest chance of Mr Falconer’s motion being carried, but good, healthy discussion on tho subject is desirable. There really ai-pours to bo little or no demand for_ a change from the present system with which 1 feel assured the vast majprity of local players are quite satisfied. At the same meeting Mr W. Allan (Taieri) will move— “ That the present system of playing interclub matches be continued, subject, however, to this modification, that for the purpose of calculating banner points the _ aggregate number of points for and against each club on each Saturday shall be taken into account instead of the number of sections won and lost—a majority to count two points, a tie one point, and a minority nil.” This motion, if carried, would practically mean reverting to the old system of scoring. Mr W. Jacobsen (St. Kilda) will move—‘That tho method of scoring for interolub matches be altsred by making a two-rink win in a section of tliree count as a win for the section.” A new law comes into force this year, and ono of the first penalties ever to be inflicted in this game is that which follows the breach of the foot on the mat law (savs London Sporting Life of Anril 29). " Clause 3of law vii has it laid down that each player when delivering his bowl shall have one foot entirely on the mat, Tho 1622 interpretation adds that should a player, after a warning, repeat the offence of having both feet off the mat the umpire shall order his bowl to be stopped and removed to tho bank ns dead and out of play. It is now recommended by the E.B.A. that the size of tho mat shall not exceed 22 by 14 inches, and shall not be less than 20 by' 12 inches. It must be of rubber. Another now ruling is that if a game should end in a tie. before playing an extra end the opportunity of throwing the jock first shall be tossed for. Jacks must now be spherical, and made of composition, not pot or earthenware. These jacks must not bo less than 2iin in diameter, nor more than Sin in circumference, and not more than lOoz in weight. The E.B.A. asks that club officials should keep a strict eye upon illegal woods used in competitions, and put law 2 into operation should necessity arise. The association asks all players to ascertain that their bowls are at least the minimum of No. 3 bias.

The residents of Winton are just now gaining a lot of amusement over an incident that occurred in connection with the laying down of a bowline green on the reserve in front of the railway station (says the Southland 1 Times). Soon after the work was taken in hand, the reserve became flooded, and a resident, seeing possibilities in the situation, ingenuously constructed cardboard representations of a hut, a man with a gun and a number of ducks. The hut ho placed at one end of tho reserve with the man standing with his gun pointed at tho ducks, which floated on the pond. Those who appreciate the joke most of all, are the objectors to the reserve being used for bowling. A •ladies’ evening was held in tho St. Kilda Club’s pavalion last week, progressive euchre and a musical programme providing an enjoyable bill of fare for tho large number present. An interesting game of billiards was played on the St. Kilda Club’s table on Wednesday night between Burtenshaw (the well-known local cueist) and Adoss, one of the St. Kilda Club's leading players. Tho game was of 700 up, Burtenshaw conceding his opponent 400 points. Burtenshaw quickly settled down to his game, and_ gave a capital allround exhibition, his principal breaks being 56, 41, 40, 39 , 37, and several of smaller dimensions. Adess’s highest break was 26. Burtenshaw won by three points. GREEN MANAGEMENT. A well-known local bowler, who has made a close study of everything pertaining to a bowling green, has kindly supplied me with some very useful hints on green management. He says: The treatment of a green depends first of all on local conditions and on tho manner in which it has heen laid clown. By local conditions I moan that, while certain grasses may do well on ono green, on a similar green perhaps only two miles

away different grass may have to be used to got the best results. A green properly laid down should have a clay bottom with proper allowances for drainage, which should be under the control of an expert, otherwise if not properly drained the ground may become sour. The system of watering a green depends a great, deal on its success, and though a lot of our best greens are watered from the top this is not the best method. The best way of watering a green is from underneath, and any irrigation engineer will bear this out. On a dry green where the system of watering on the top is in vogue, the turf cannot bo as deeply rooted, and therefore will not resist a drought as well as a green, that is watered from underneath, for the simple reason that when the ground is dry the roots are looking for water, and when watered from th e top the roots are inclined to come to the surface, whereas with the other method they grow downwards and the grass thrives better. A big factor in a good green is rolling by a roller that is not too heavy. A good many bowlers have the idea that heavy rolling makes a good surface. So it does for the time being, but eventually trouble crops up. Take any green and examine the soil, and beneath the surface and you will find the soil as hard as concrete, even when it has been rolled with a light roller. A green that is rolled with a heavy roller will, in dry weather, be inclined to crack, and the bowls will nimble as if running on a hard board, and when a green gets into that state the grass cannot make headway, and the ends where there is a lot of play quickly become bare. An ideal roller in my opinion is one 4ft long weighing not more than six hundredweight. The narrow rollers that are sometimes used are not good for a green, for if there is a depression or' hollow the weight of the roller inclines into the hollow and tends to make them deeper, especially in wet weather. Cutting and rolling should always be done the opposite way to what it is intended to may, or sometimes from corner to corner. This will always avoid the tracking of bowls in their course. A good greenkeeper who takes an interest in his work will always examine and oil his machine before he starts to cut, and one thing he should always do is to feel his shaft to which is attached his revolving blades to find if there is any movement in the bearirtgs, for when the shaft is too easy in the bearings the machine will not out so well and quickly becomes blunt through bruising the grass off instead of cutting it properly. If there is a lot, of play on the green the pegs dividing the rinks should be shifted daily to avoid gruelling the ends. A good idea is to play in proper position, say, on Monday, shift two feet to the right of this position on Tuesday, and two feet to the left on Wednesday; change across on Thursday and so on to the end of the week. When a full green is not required play in between rinks on off days. In next week’s notes methods for treating a green after it has been closed foi the season will be dealt with.