BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 5

BOWLING.

By Jack. The Dominion tournament of 1028 has come and gone, and the results of the competitions show that the southern bowlers have done more than well. The success of the Caledonian team in the rinks competition was not unexpected, after Foster and his men reached the post-section play. The elimination of Maxwell Walker’s team by Foster, and later that of Edwards (’i’emuka), indicates clearly the strength of the Caledonian rink. Each player contributed his fair share of work, and all merit the praise deservedly bestowed upon them. Otago bowlers extend to them their hearty congratulations on their success in the most important event of the season. It is hoped that other clubs from Dunedin will enter for the next tournament in greater numbers than hitherto, as there is no doubt the material is hero to giro the best in New Zealand a good go for the honour.

Another popular win was that of Jack Scott in the Dominion Singles Championship. The Caledonian player proved once again his sterling ability and generalship as a bowler, and his success in this event shows him to retain his position as a player of outstanding merit. The Caledonian Club has, therefore, to its credit the remarkable aciiievement of winning both the Dominion Kinks and Singles in the one year. Doubtless they wUi duly celebrate it iu proper style. Scott as a bowler is a stylist, ilis easy natural delivery helps him considerably in his play, and " those who wish to improve should make a point of seeing him in action. Clarke, of Auckland, the runner-up in the singles, and last year’s winner, once again demonstrated that his bowling is quite of the highest standard. All through tno tournament ho had played consistent bowls, and he gave Scott quite a good game in the final. The Aucklander is a clean sport, and if he retains his form next year will be with the best of them at the finish. The Rosiyn team skipped by Tyrrell did very well indeed, whilst Ferguson, of Balmacewaii. put up a sterling performance in the singles. The success of these players should stimulate their elubmates to enter more teams in the big annual fixture. Other local players who did well were J. D. Smith’s rink from Dunedin, A. Smellie and D. M. Fastier in the pairs, and Dowland, of St. Kiida. A statement made by Mr D. M. Fastier at the centre's meeting on Monday night makes clear why the “ sixers ” in section G of the Dominion tournament went forward to post-section play. Reference was made in these columns, and the regulation quoted showing a section tie should have been played. The explanation is that the regulation quoted, and given iu the book, was superseded last September at a meeting of the council by a new one, which states that where teams in a section tie with six wins each, such teams shall go forward to post-section play without further play. In other words, each shall bo counted as a winner of that particular section. This explanation clears up the matter, but it does not make clear who is to blame for allowing an obsolete regulation to appear in the official book. The Christchurch representatives on the council cannot be complimented in overlooking the new regulation. The matter, of course, was made known before the rinks started on the Thursday morning, so no harm was done. Mr Fastier also stated that the criticism made was justified on the regulation which appeared printed. However, it is pretty safe to say that a large number of bowlers will still hold the opinion that if the sixers in one section are allowed to go forward, all other sixers in the other sections should go forward also. The Victoria bowlers will probably arrive in Dunedin on Tuesday, February 14, by train from Southland. Bowlers with cars are asked to meet them on the morning of the 15th, and show them the city, whilst a match will probably be played in the afternoon on the Dunedin green at 2.30 p.m. In the evening a smoke concert will take place at the Savoy. This programme is subject to confirmation. The party consists of 20 players and five ladies. The match South Otago v. Otago Centre will be played at the Caledonian green on February 11 at 1.15 p.m., whilst the interprovincial match against Canterbury takes place on February 23 on Rosiyn green. The suggested date for the Southland match at Invercargill is February 29. Club members desirous of taking part in any of these fixtures should sec their names arc sent in by the secretary. The Saturday chib matches were favoured with fine weather, and good games resulted in many eases. Several clubs were unable to play their full strength, Dunedin suffering in this respect, as it was without the services of many of its best players owing to the tournament and holidays, as well as the cricket match. Good scores were: Buchan (Balmacewan) 32 to Forster (Caversham) 9, Omand (Balmacewan) 31 to Forrester’s (Caversham) 15, Blackwood (Caversham) to Baird, (Balmacewan) 11, M’Faclden (Dunedin) 38 to Allan (Kaituna) 19, Nelson (Dunedin) 33 to Napier (Kaituna) 10, J. Sanders (Kaituna) 33 to J. Hutchison (Dunedin) 14, Irvine (St. Kiida) 39 to Matheson (Rosiyn) 19. A question was raised by a prominent centre member regarding the following episode. A player sent away his howd on the wrong bias, and it collided with another bowl being played in the adjoinipg rink. It was decided that the wrong bias bowl should be played again. This decision is not correct. Apparently rule 53 regarding bowls colliding was taken as the authority in this case, but rule 51 governs it, viz., “Any bowl running on the wrong bias, and passing beyond the side boundary of the rink, shall be dead, and may be stopped.” Directly, therefore, the L‘owl. passed the side boundary it was dead, and the later effect of colliding with another bowl had no bearing on tne matter. The only bowd to be replayed was the bowl from the adjoining rink. Another point which may be stressed here is the dead bowl in the ditch. It is the third’s duty on either side to see a dead bowl is removed to the bank. A “toucher” or the jack striking a' dead bowl in the ditch must remain where it comes to rest after doing so. Some players have penalised their side by neglecting to remove a dead bowl from the ditch, owing to the jack striking it, and rolling to their opponents’ nearest bowl, whereas had the dead bowl been removed they would have scored themselves. The rule that a bowl is burnt if it is interfered with, or displaced other than by the effects of play, is one that is often infringed. Custom decrees, however, that as a “ toucher ” must be marked with chalk, a third or skip may place his hand on it for that purpose, and custom also admits of a third or skip turning over a bowl for ascertainment of which side it belongs to. Even in this latter case he should ask his opponent’s permission to do so, as strictly speaking he has no right to such action, whilst a lead or second doing this may lead to a claim for a dead bowl. A leading bowler complains that in the rink he was playing against last Saturday no fewer than three of his opponents were playing with bowls which did °t have one of the recognised stamps on it, and an examination of his own side showed also a player whose bowls did not comply with the rule. He considers the centre should make a rule that all skips be required to inspect their opponents’ bowls before the game starts, as no one likes to draw attention to them during the game. In this particular case he feels sure two sets of bowls would not have passed the standard. One may say at once, his is not an isolated case, and certainly it is up to the centre to realise it has a duty to perform, not only to those players whose b nvls are properly stamped, but also to those who arc mean enough to take advantage of the fair player. There are, unfortunately, too many bowls being played at the present time not bearing an accredited stamp, and it may possibly occur that some club in.the final stages of the Saturday matches may find itself penalised by its players not having a duly stamped bowl. Bowls which lo not bear one or other of the following stamps, viz., D.N.Z.B.A. 25, or later years, are disqualified, and the game awarded to the opnonent under the association rule. The following extract from “ No. 3’s ” notes in the Wellington Poet is rather

interesting reading: —“ Boomerang,” in the Sydney Referee, iu commenting on the recent A.B.C. tournament, held in Melbourne, says that whatever the cause there were undoubtedly many straight bowls used during the tournament. During the- recent carnival the question of challenging was once more warmly debated. Many bowls would undoubtedly have been challenged hut for the personal side of the question. Players are always chary about questioning an opponent’s bowls, because of the aftermath. Here is an absurd position. The officials say that a man who helps to get rid of straight bowls is doing something to handicap the game. If he takes the step, he is regarded as a bad sport, and oven the powers are apt to think that he might have made a mistake. As a result the players refuse to take the responsibility. Why should the individual bo saddled with the responsibility at all? The local association or the A.B.C. should take the matin' up without delay, and put the onus on the clubs to see that every bowl in the various pavilions hoar the current year’s stamp on them. It is distinctly unfair to the testers and it is unfair to the man with correctly biassed bowls. Some horrible rubbish was played in this carnival. The New Zealand system of having all bowls examined as to their bias on the day of the tournament is an excellent one. The present system is a farce, and some means will have to be found to relieve the individual of the responsibility. “ Boomerang ” sums up tiie position very fairly. Local players invariably refuse to take the responsibility of challenging another player’s bowls, for the reasons stated by him. The local association should insist on all bowls bearing a proper date stamp, and make it compulsory for all bowls to be inspected before an'- match starts. It seems advisable for clubs to get through the final section game in the fourrink championship, as in the event of a tie in either section this could be played oft some evening whilst the Summer Time Bill is in force. Th e final between the section winners is set for March 3. It is time that clubs made arrangements regarding publishing the results of Saturday matches. Nothing appeared about Caledonian v. Kaikorai and Taieri, and seieial other clubs forfeited sections, consequently the table of records is difficult to keep up to date. Strangely enough, a strong club like Caledonian did not win a section last Saturday, owing to many members being away to the tournament and others on holiday leave. Several other clubs suffered in this respect also, and it is doubtful if the date is suitable for an interclub fixture each year. Also in some cases only two rinks ‘took part in the section play. The following is the position of the clubs now: Sec. Sec. Won. Lost Pts. T. Anderson’s Bay .. 1 2 4 16 Balmacewan .... 3 i 9 54 Caledonian .... Caversham .. .. 1 2 4 in Dunedin 3 3 6 52 Fairfield .... 1 .40 Green Island .. 2 12 42 Kaikorai .... 3 12 og Kaituna .... 2 1 8 44 D eith 1 1 6 30 Mormngton .... N.E. Valley ..1 2 8 32 Otago 1 2 4 24 Outran! 1 12 Port Chalmers .. 2 12 36 Rosiyn St. Clair .. .-. 22 6 24 St. Kiida .... 4 Taieri 2 f2 48 West Harbour .. 1 1 6 36