BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 4

BOWLING.

By Jack. The unfavourable weather conditions were responsible for a postponement of the interclub games on Saturday. The greens were thoroughly soaked, and had play been permitted it would only have resulted in considerable damage to the playing surfaces. W. Robson, of the Otago Club, who was one of the local players selected for the tour of Great Britain next year, has unfortunately had to cancel his arrangements. The party, all told, will number about 60, about 20 of this number being unofficial members. It is hoped that in the not distant future the inmates of the Benevolent Institution will be able to pass their leisure hours in a friendly game of bowls. A sub-committee of the Hospital Board has been set up to ascertain if a piece of land suitable for a bowling green is available.

It is gratifying to see that the strength of the Dunedin Centre is steadily increasing. The total membersnip of the clubs affiliated to the centre is 1396, compared with 1340 last year. At the meeting of the Dunedin Centre on Monday night the programme for the Easter tournament, with a few minor alterations, was approved. Mr Melbourne Orchard, an ex-New Zealand bowler, who is at present in Loudon, appears to be in good form. He reached the semi-finals in the English championship singles, but was bcjtcn by the ultimate winner, who scored 21 to Orchard’s 18.

The four-rink championship competition, with five rounds completed, is in an interesting position. Taking a line from the competitions of past years, one has come to expect Dunedin or Caledonian — or both —to be knocking at the door. Caledonian, with two wins and three losses is apparently out of the running. Dunedin’s position, with three wins and two losses is certainly better, but in the same section Balmacewan and Roslyn top the list with four wins and one loss each. In the other section it seems certain that the winner will be either St. Kilda or Kaituna, each having five wins and no losses to its credit, the nearest opponents being St. Clair and Taieri, each with three wins and two losses The following are the results of the first five rounds of the four-rink championship ; Section A. Wins. Losses. St. Kilda 5 Kaituna 5 St. Clair 5 2 Taieri 3 2 Mornington 2 6 Otago 1 4 Cavorsham 1 4 Leith S Section B. Balmaecwan 4 1 Roslyn 4 .1 Dunedin 3 2 West Harbour 2 3 Caledonian 2 3 North-East Valley ... 2 3 Green Island 2 3 Anderson’s Bay 1 4 Another eight! In a pairs match at Northend green (writes Skip in tho Southland News), J. Shand and A. CTcdington were having a particularly good time against T. Battcrsby and A. Scrvic'e, with every -'"aspect of a comfortable win, when confi $ ■ descended upon them. At one end hi . vice was lying four shots with his last bowl to go. Baltorsby looked and saw a chanoc. “ Just push, this bowl through and take its place,” he called. Service obeyed orders, and to the consternation of the other pair Tom claimed, and had to be allowed the full tally, eight shots.

As tournaments will soon bo in progress in various parts players should remember that no stamp prior to 1925 will be permitted. Bowls arc examined before the start of the day’s play in a tourney, so players should see to it that they are not caught napping. Should they neglect to have their bowls stamped in accordance with the requirements of the Dominion of New Zealand- Bowling Association, and should such omission escape the notice of the umpire, an appeal may be lodged by any opponent, and such appeal would bo sure to be upheld. A player who nfeglects_ o have his bowls stamped not only risks disqualification on his own account, but also the three other players associated with him in the rink.

In Australia bowl-testing trouble is in evidence. At a recent meeting of the New South Wales Bowling Association Mr Barr, secret arv of the Australian Bowling Council, wrote slating that ho had received' n, letter from Mr Percy Sapsford, of Queensland, in which he stated that the standard bowl which Mr Gvut had forwarded to him had proved erratic. Mr Sapsford further stated that he had procured the New South Wales Standard bowl to compare with it and found a big difference in the “ draw ” of each. “ This statement," wrote Mr Grut, “ is most alarming as I impressed on the maker the necessity for absolute uniformity, and when it was being tested in my presence just before being forwarded, I was of opinion that it was identical with the master standard bowl. I have asked Mr Sapsford .to forward mo the bowl for testing. I would like him to send the New South Wales standard bowl, too, and I will get the standard bowl we have here in Melbourne, and compare the lot with the ‘ master ’ bowl.” The president said there was something wrong somewhere If the standard bowls of the different Slates wore not uniform, then a state of things existed which wore really alarming and must be looked into at the next meeting of the A.B.C. as one of (ho extreme urgency. "No. 3.” writing in the Wellington Dominion with reference to the Dominion tournament, to he held in Christchurch in January, says: “ AVellington’s record of entries in these contests is a very good one. During the last four bowling years, which covers a complete cycle of the tournaments geographically. At ellington has been represented away from home by 58 rinks. Christchurch by 4-1 rinks. Auckland by 24 rinks, and Dunedin by only 20 rinks. It was to be expected that Wellington should head any such list on account of her central geographical position, but. viewed from the same angle. Dunedin’s showing is a poor one compared with that of Auckland. Dnnediin T am inclined to think, has never quite got over the mercer of the old New Zealand Bowling Association in that of the newly-eonstituted Dominion Bowling Association. Either that or something else prevents the southern rity- -the original 'home of bowling in New Zealand—from

being ride pi,at civ represented at Dominion tournaments when the-,- arc 'held away from ’he Ed’nbureh of the south.” The team of New Zealand howlers which is at present touring Australia is faring as most players r.rohably anticipated—had'v. It is tm'Wtnnnte that the combination had pof keen stiffened up by the inclusion of a few more strong players.

Christmas Island, in the Pacific, is so named because Captain Cook landed there on Christmas Day, 1777.