BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 4

BOWLING.

Bt Jack.

The weather conditions were fairly satisfactory on Saturday for the inter-club championship games, although tho wind was troublesome at times. Caversham secured a two-point win at tho expense of Roslyn, winning in two sections out of three. In on o of the sections Cavershum’s lead was only one point, and in the aggregate points in the three sections Roslyn’s total exceeded. Caversham’s by one. There was high scoring in the game between Todd (R.) and Brown (O.), the former winning by 32 to 24. Fiftysix points in 21 heads seems to indicate a number of very loose heads with poor saving play. A great finish resulted in the game 'between Kaituna and Caledonian. Caledonian won both sections played on the Kaituna green comfortably, but on their own green it was a different tale. Kaifj?na. won one section by 16 points, and in tie other section the total points for the three rinks were level when the last rink to finish had one head to play. . Tho Kaituna men drew nicely in this head, and lay/ well when the skips, W. Latham (G.) and F. Smith crossed over to play. Kaituna at this stage lay a few shots, one bowl being tucked in behind tho jack, there was no chance of drawihg the shot, and with the Caledonian skip it was a case of hit or miss, and, as driving is generally considered one of Caledonian’s long suits, the position could hardly be considered safe for Kaituna unless Smith could P ln & block. This he failed to do, and Latham, after missing his first drive by a very narrow margin, hit the kitty fair and square with his second, and, scattering the Kaituna timber, lay three shots and game.

Taieri proved* much 100. strong for NorthEast Valley, winning each of the three sections with ease.

Kaikorai were in winning mood, and by defeating Balmacewen in two sections and Mornington in one added two banner points to their total.

West, Harbour easily defeated Otago in one .section and got home by a single point lu the other. There was some heavy scoring in this game, Silver (W.H.) defeating Gilroy by 55 to 12 and Veitch (W.H.) defeating Crawford by 31 to 11. Robson (O.) wiped off some of the deficit bv defeating Portman by 26 to 12. Dunedin had* to be content with a onepoint win, winning two sections and losi n £T two St. Clair, winning against keitn (one section), and going down to Dutram (one section). Mornington suffered their second reverse for the season by going down to Kaikorai and Balmacewen—one section each. Thomson and Hobbs were tha biggest offenders, suffering defeat by 18 and 21 respectively. Some excuse, however, must He offered for Hobbs, who skipped for the first time, and, through lack of support, was badly defeated. On paper his team appeared very weak but in actual play it proved to be weaker still. In addition to this, ho had to seek the services of a Balmacewen player as substitute. It was touch and go with Barclay (Mornington) against Grater (Balmacewen). At the afternoon tea adjournment the score stood 16—3 in favour of Barclay, but from then o n he scored only six snots. The game resulted 82—21. Grater, who arrived one man short, was ably assisted by Baton (Mornington), for whom a place could not bo found in the Mornington team. It certainly seems strange that Balmacewen should play a Mornipgton man as a substitute and that Mornington, bn ths other hand, should play a .Balmacewen man as substitute. The following table hows thj results of Saturday’s inter-club games, together with the total banner points scored by each club:—

Banner ' points to Club. Wins. Losses. Points, date. Anderson’s Bay —2 0 3 Balmacewen ... 1 3 0 0 Caledonian ... 3 1 2 8 Caversham ... 2 1 2 6 Dunedin 5 3 1 8 Fairfield 1 0 4 Green Island (game incomplete) 6 Kaikorai 3 —2 6 Knituua 3 0 7 Leith 1 0 0 Morningtcn ... 1 2 0 6 N.E. Valley ... Otago , 1 3 0 1 Outram 1 —2 4 Port Chalmers... 1 1 1 2 Roslyn 22 1 3 St. Clair .22 1 ' 3 St. Kilda _. 2 (incomplete) 7 Taieri 3 —2 8 West Harbour... 22 7

A start ha* been made with the fourrink championship gardes, and already some keenly-contested games have been played. Balmacewen gave Dunedin a wholesome fright, the latter just squeezing home by an odd point at tho finish. In fact, right until the finish Balmacewen looked like winning.

The suggestion thn(: an international cup contest for bowls should be established on the lines of the Davis Cup in tennis was made by Mr Hector Ross, a delegate to the annual meeting of the New South Wales Bowling Association. Mr Ross said he understood that a cheque for £SOO would be forthcoming for a cup fund. He also considered that entries should be worldwide., Mr J. C. Redmond, of the Wellington Club, who was present at the meeting, was struck with the idea, which he thinks should receive careful considerat : on “As far as I can see,’’ he stated to “ Number Two” (the writer of bowling notes in the Evening Rost), “ such a contest would have to be confined to Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Ireland, and Canada. Mr Ross seemed to think that they played bowls in U.S.A., but I do not think so. I believe there are a couple of clubs in China. The conditions connected with test, games for cricket, football, and the Davis Cup are totally different from those existing in the bowling world. In the former case, the competitors are carefully trained young men who are able to spare the time and stand the racket of long-continued travelling. In addition, their expenses are paid. Bowlers, however, would have to boar their own expenses, ns there would be no such thing ns “ gate ” money with which to meet such a charge. . Many of them would probably be men who occupy responsible positions and oould not get away at a fixed time, and most of them would no doubt be middle-aged men who, no doubt quite capable of standing the exerton of playing friendly games, would bo chary of entering into a slreiujoiiji contest . for keeps, perhaps thousands of miles away from their homeland. However, we shall see later what becomes of the proposal.” A good story comes from the Auckland Bowling Club in regard to the handicap given to their latest “raw recruit.” Professor Maxwell Walker (writes “Trundler” in the Star). The parent club of Auckland, the oldest south of the Lino, is usually credited with bong rather conservative m some respects, but in the matter of handicaps they have struck out, on novel lines. For theh Anznc Cup there is an unwritten rulo that nil club champions shall be placed on© behind scratch, and as their new member is not a elub champion he is put on scratch and not one behind. Five times champion of Ponsonby, three times champion of the dominion, all this availeth not in the Club, and Max Walker has to win his spurs Dcforo ho is placed alongside the elect! It is understood Hint as ho has never'won a club competition ho is eligible for the Consolation Cup, and it will now bo no surprise to find that be will also ho eiifering for the Maiden Handicap Dear “Jack,” —With a great amount of interest I read your comments on a “Veteran’s” advice in regard to (ho use of the mat to vary the length of the heads. As a leader of a good many years’ experience I have had some healed disputes as lo who should lay the mat- and also about the shifting of the mas to alter the distance I find few leaders, and in fact few bowlers, know anything about the rulo, and in a certain club not 100 miles from Dunedin, when the question arose as to who laid the mat (winner or loser) not one man in the whole club know the rule, all saying the loser put down the mat. It is rather annoying to bo told by your opponent that the loser puts down the mat because certain skips whom I have played for are great believers in altering the distance by means of (he mat. I have seen quite a number of games altered and won by this method. A great many players lose both their green and length if rhe mat is shifted, and I know of players who are easily beaten when the mat is shifted. I never on any account put down the mat if my side is the loser, and have been challenged not a few times in consequence. If I win the toss I always play first, as I like to throw my own distance. ,and when the opposing lead wins the toss I have noticed that he frequently gives mo the kitty to throw, though latterly there has been a tendency for leads to play first when they win the toss. 1 wrote you a few years ago for a ruling about shifting the mat, the reason being a dispute I was involved in about shifting the mat, but despite the fact that you made it clear to every bowler who cared lo read your reply, the rule is quite unknown to a great many bowlers. Hoping this will bo of service to you,—l am, etc., E. CunuiE. Taieri, December &