BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 4

BOWLING.

By Jack

The thirteenth annual tournament of the Dominion of Now Zealand Association was successfully launched on Monday, when a start was made on the singles championship. Up to the present the weather has been entirely favourable, Tuesday and yesterday in particular being' ideal days for bowling. The result is that all games have been got off according to schedule and no hitch of any description has been experienced. Additional interest has been given by the participation of a big of the British tonring team, including Wade, a recent holder of the singles championship of England, and the play of the_ visitors has been closely followed. It is quite obvious to those who have closely watched the visitors on the green that they have not been able to do themselves justice owing to the greens being much keener than the playing surfaces in the Old Country. The visiting Britishers, or at least the leading players among them, have demonstrated that ihey have an intimate knowledge of all tlio arts of tho game, but their great_ difficulty has been to strike and maintain an accurate length, without which no player can achieve much as a singles player._ The first thing that strikes the onlooker is the manner in which the British visitor follows his bowl up tho green. This, of course, is a breach of tho rules of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association, but in the case of the visitors it has been decided. 1 think wisely, to honour it in tho breach, ps the custom in the Old Country is to follow the bowl —that is, if a player wishes to do so. But it, is the manner in which the bowl is followed that amuses the spectators. In the instances that came under the notice of tho writer a player after delivering his wood would wait until it was nearing the he.ad and would, giving it that handicap, apparently run a race with it. Th© visitors have some great sprinters, and some of them must have run a marathon during the course of the singles game. One thing, however, is outstanding—they are true sportsmen, and accept defeat in the proper spirit, and already they have made themselves very popular among tho local bowling fraternity. Tho singles championship attracted a record entry—2s6, and was thoroughly representative of the bowling strength of (ho Dominion. In addition to last year’s champion, .7, Best (Dunedin), cx-cho.mpions M. Walker (Auckland), W. Foster (Caledonian), W. Carswell (Taieri), J. .’by (North-East Valley), and K. Harraway (Dunedin). As was only to be expected with such a gathering of champions some high grade howling was witnessed, but one by one topnotchers have been relegated to the bank, and now only four players remain in Foster (Caledonian), an ex-champion, with two Jives, Carswell (Taieri, also an exchampion), one life, Trotheway (Caledonian) ono life, and Edwards (Tomuka) one life. All four have been showing excellent form, though probably 'Foster. with _ almost machino-like accuracy in maintaining a length, has been the most consistent performer. With his two lives intact, his chances are most favourable, though each of the four players who still survive has to be reckoned with. Players have certainly had every opportunity of giving of their best, ns the greens have been in splendid condition for play. _ Foster has had some big victories, but his most notable was against Dayman, of Edgeware, the Christchurch player’s total consisting of a single, on one head. Particular interest was taken in the meeting between Foster and MTntyre, of Hamilton. The latter is well known in Dunedin as he is an old Taieri _ player, and his chances of annexing the Singles Championship were fancied in many quarters. Tho Caledonian crack, however, never looked like losing. He opened with a three on the first head, and with three heads played led 6—o. MTntvre then got a brace, and Foster retaliated by adding another six on the next three heads, making the score 12—2 in his favour at the conclusion of the seventh head. . This was much too big a handicap to give a player of Foster’s calibre, and the task proved too heavy for the visitor. Foster continued to dominate the game, and, with 11 heads completed, led 17 —4. Tho .Hamilton player then began to improve his position. and with a 3. 1, and 3 to two singles by Foster, reduced the latter’s lend with 17 heads played to 19—13, but a two to Foster on the next head put the issue beyond doubt.

One of the finest gamcs seen during the second day’s play was that between two old club mate a, the veteran W. Carswell (Taieri) and MTntvro (Hamilton). As each player had only one life there was much at' stake, and those who expected to witness a keen contest were not disappointed. The game was fought to the last bowl, and the play at times attained the height of brilliancy. In the earlier stages Carswell's play was the more impressive, but his deadly drawing was counteracted in part by MTntyre’s accurate driving. The latter soon found his length, and he set to grimly to reduce Carswell’s lead._ In this ho was successful, and in the closing stages he went to the front. Carswell, however, is never ’beaten until the numbers go up, and he quickly reduced the gap separating his score from that of his onponent. When the jack was thrown up for the last head M‘ln tyro had a lead of one. The (Inal head was one of the most brilliantly played ever seen on the Dunedin Club’s Green. Both players were drawing to inches, and in turn robbed each other of the shot. Finally Carswell got his wood close in behind the jack for first shot, boating M'lntyre for the counter by a bare inch or two. A tie seemed inevitable as the position was too risky for MTntyre to .attempt to come into the head, and he therefore played for safety. The position also presented considerable risk for the Taieri veteran, and it was generally thought that ho would let well alone and chance his luck or skill on the extra head. He closely examined the head, and then, with his usual deliberation, set himself to go for a winner. A more perfect shot could not have been played. The bowl had to bend round one that was slightly -short, but Carswell rose to the occasion—by placing his wood right on the jack without moving it an inch. The veteran was showered with congratulations, hut none were more sincere or hearty than those of his opponent. Two players whoso play impressed the onlookers wore Wright (Auckland) and Gray (Kelburn). Both were responsible for some attractive displays before being finally eliminated. Wright showed himself to bo an accurate driver, and to this he owed his win against Anderson (Caledonian) on the second day on the Cavcrsliain green. The Caledonian was the more consistent drawer, hut the Aucklander did not hesitate with his drive when the head was banking up'against him, and in this style of play he was very successful. Anderson required two to win on the (Inal head, and with two howls played looked like a winner, as one bowl lay on the back of the jack and the other on the front, presenting no face whatever. Wright’s drive with his last wood, however, did the trick, the head being burnt, and the Aucklander got a single on (ho extra head. Wade, the ex-English champion singles player, gave promise in Ilia earlier games of running well towards the final* hut the second morning on the Caveraham green proved fatal to him, as ho went down in two games in succession. In his second game (against Anderson, Caledonian) the green had obviously become much too keen for him, and he was never able to strike a length. In fart, be scored on only throe heads—a total of seven —and three of the?o were obtained by driving the kitty to the ditch. Corning from the heavy greens in the Old Country was no doubt responsible for the Englishman’s comparatively poor display. If the wenlher continues fine some good play should lie witnessed in the singles semi-finals and finals, but. in the meantime the rinks arid pairs championships will claim altentinn.

'Hie feat cf starting a bowling club with four plavers, acquiring a site, and constructing a. full-sized green has been achieved by the El I rick Club. Mr J. It ion Inn is president, Mr W. bcolf vice-president, and Mr It. D. Colville secretary, Cn Saturday last Mr Ttiorrlaii declarer! Hie green open. A match, president v. vice president, resulted in a win for the former by 146 to P 6. Before dispersing Air Rooney (president, of Hie Roxburgh Child, Air J. IV, Nicholson (Tapnuui). Air IT. T\ ; ng (Heriot) and Air L. Foreran (Miller’s Flat) congratulated the Ftfrick Club on the success of its effort and on the condition of the green. “Well, .yon bowlers, you make your greens so wide and so smooth that one is reminded of Hie. path that leadeth to destruction,” remarked Pir Francis Bell amidst loud laughter when welcoming tho British howler* at the Cnverument reception in Wellington (says the Evening Post). Continuing in humorous vein, Sir Francis reminded the visitors that when viewing Parliament. Buildings they would find I hat provision was made for the recreation of legislators on greens of cloth (the billiard room). Tho game which parliamentarians played was straight >u»d imd free

from bias. Kvory day Mr Speaker prayed tbat, matters might be decided in a manner free from bias and party interests. “I suppose your advice will bo to keep at it.” proceeded Sir Francis, to the accompaniment of further laughter. In his reply, Mr heorge Wright, the captain of the visiting team, said that he was pleased to hear lhal provision was made for members of Parliament to play various games. Sir Francis Hell had spoken about (he path that leadeth to destruction. ‘‘This game, [ am pleased to t/II you," remarked Mr Wright, “has |,.d us to New Zealand- (laughter and applause)--! think you at least will claim that that is bettor than destruction; and wo appreciate the fact highly.”—(Applause.)