BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 4

BOWLING.

By Jack.

For the opening day of the intcrclub matches on Saturday bowlers wore favoured with fine weather, and, on the whole, Rood greens. Tiro form shown, generally, was good, but it is too early yet to gauge the strength of the majority of the clubs. Dunedin, however, judging by its opening performance, is going to make a strong bid tor premier honours. The old club is playing six sections and won m every section, in some instances by big margins. Under the new system of scoring the maximum number of points per game is 12, and Dunedin, therefore, secured two points in each section. Against Otago one section won by 84 points to 30. each Otago rink crashing heavily. Thu heaviest defeat was suffered by R. Watt, who scored only eight points to M’Cullough’s 31. In the same section Stewart (D.) defeated Weir by 27 to 11 and Best (D.) accounted for M‘Kinnon by 26 to 11. In another section Dunedin was victorious b v 72 to 41, Rigby, with 28 to Robson’s 14 and Easton 24 to Smith’s 14 being mainly responsible for Otago’s heavy reverse. The remaining section was well contested, Dunedin getting home by the narrow margin of one point. Dunedin played two sections against Green Island, and although winning in each instance, the games were well contested. Dunedin’s sixth section met Outram and won with a big balance to spare, St. Kilda (four sections), last season’s shield winners, met Caledonian, the game finishing with honours easy, each club winning in two sections. One section from Caledonian (five sections) met Kaikorai, winning by 70 points to 54. St. Kilda thus commences with 6 points to its credit and Caledonian with 7 1-5 points. Several of Caledonian’s prominent players appear to be considerably short of practice, and their plav suffered in consequence. Two games in which particular interest centered wore those between Foster (C.) and M“Curdy (St. K.), Tillie (C.) and Brackenridge (St. K.). In each case the Caledonian representatives proved much too strong for their opponents. Foster’s rink winning by 22 points to 11 and Tillie’s rink by 26 points to IX. Summerell (St. K.) inflicted a heavy defeat on Abbott’s quartet, the score being 26 to 11 in the former s favour. Leith mot Kaituna in two sections, winning one and losing one. For a young club, Leith is making good headway. In the ihree-scction game between Mornington and North-East Valley, the former won two and the latter one. The scores as previously published, showed each club as having won one section, the remaining one resulting in a tie. This mistake was due to some of the rinks having been sent m in the wrong order. The outstanding score —a cricket one —was 40 compiled by Hopkin’s rink (N.E.V.) against Neil (M.), whose total was 20. Sixty points for a 21-head game is tall scoring, and docs not speak too well for the defence shown. Cavcrsham has made a promising start by defeating Fairfield (one section) and winning one and losing one against Taxen. Against Anderson’s Bay Roslyn won two sections and lost one. Balmacewan has started the season well by securing 12 pqiats out of a possible of 12 at the expense of St. Clair, winning ab four sections; and Port Chalmers, bv winning back its sections, also secured the maximum points. The following table gives the results of Saturday’s matches, and also shows the method* of scoring (maximum number of points, 12).

* One win by bye. Attention is being directed to an attempt in Britain to initiate a two-bowl singles competition From tho New Zealand point of view, there does not seem to bo much gain in such an innovation. But a four-bowl pairs competition played, as ih Australia on the two-bowl principle, should commend itself at once for trial during the season. The disadvantages of the present pairs system now played in New Zealand (writes “Jack High” in tho Auckland Sun) are so apparent and numerous that it calls for little elaboration. Commentators have more than frequently been loud in their denunciations of a game that permits splendid drawing on a head to bo displayed by leads only to result too often in a scattering to tho four corners of the green by the skips when the change over takes place. Tho method adopted in Australia is to play two bowls and changeover until all tho bowls arc played. This certainly has the disadvantage of doubling tho walking on the groon, but at tho same time it has the great compensating advantage of preventing the head from being made tho target for indiscriminate driving, and turning the game immediately into a splendid two-bowl game with all its outstanding claims on brilliant skill. It is said, with a largo degree of truth, that if a player cannot get a lair measure of accuracy in length and green with four successive bowls, he is a very indifferent player. In fact, the accuracy usually displayed by the average player is very pronounced, and probably that is tho greatest weakness of the present pairs game. Hence by turning it into a two-bowl game, by changing ends overy two bowls, as m rink play, it is immediately elevated on to a much higher standard of skill altogether. For this reason it should at once commend itself to Now Zealanders for trial this season. Some idea of tho immensity of tho preparations for tho Australian bowling < amivul can bo gathered from tho news that between 800 and 1000 motor cars will bo requisitioned for a pleasure trip which is incidental to the carnival. Tho secretary of tho carnival writes: "We hope to take ail the visitors for a trip to Fern Tree Gully, over tho Dandenong. The reception will be held at tho Melbourne Town Hall, and, as all bowers will be welcomed, it is hoped that the hall, which holds over 3000, will bo well filled All arrangements arc being made to entertain tho ladies, and those who play howls, croquet, or golf, will • c veil looked after.” “Boomerang,” in the Sydney Referee, is most persistent in his anxiety to use the concession kindly granted New Zealand players by the Australian Bowling Council regarding the one foot on the mat question, as a chopping block to get the Australian rules amended, and get our ruling adopted there. Ho states that “ New Zealanders will bo tickled to death to kick off with. For tho more trouble wo create among ourselves over tho mat question, the better chances there will be of unformity.” To justify his contention, further, “ Boomerang ” adds, “ there has been a war -in progress between tho Maorilandor and tho Australian for all time over this vexed question of stopping off the mat.” This will bo news to New Zealanders, who have always found Australian bowling legislators ready to meet players from this side of the Tasman in a generous spirit in dealing with tho ono foot on the mat rule in force in this country, and their action in allowing New Zealand visitors to play in their own particular style when in tho Commonwealth is much appreciated. Tho Nascby Bowling Club opened its season on Saturday last The president (Mr H. Graham) declared the green open, and a most enjoyable game followed between (earns representing the president and vice-president, resulting in a win for the former. The green was in good order, considering that it had not been rolled much this season, and it is well grasscd. The heads arc not yet altogether covered, but with care this should soon be remedied, as it has been decided not to indulge in general practice till after next Saturday, hut the holders of the Jolly Cup will be allowed to practice. The first challenge is from Ranfurly Club, and will bo played on Saturday.

Six-section Club .. Points for Each Section Win. .... 2 Five-section Club . 2 2-5 Four-section Club . 3 Three-section Club 4 Two-section Club . 6 One-section Club . 12 Anderson’s Bay Wins, fosses. Points. .'. 1 ' 2 4 Balmacewan .. .. 4 — 12 Caledonian .. 3 2 7 1-5 Caversham .. 2 i 8 Dunedin .. .. .. 6 0 12 Fairfield .... . . 1 — Green Island .. . . 2 — Kaikorai .. .. . . 3 — Kaituna .. .. ,, 1 o 4 Leith .. 1 i 6 Mornington .. 2 i 8 \ T .E. Valley .. .. i 2 4 Otago 3 — Outran! 1 — Port Chalmers 2 — 12 Boslvn .. .. 2 1 8 St. Clair .. .. • • — 4 St. Kilda .. .. o o 6 Taieri I 6 cst Harbour 2* 12