BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 5

BOWLING

By Jack.

FIXTURES December 25 and 26.—Christmas Pairs tournament. January 18.—Club day and appeal for contributions to Crippled Children's Fund. February 15.—Final of four-rink championship, elderly bowlers' day, and South Otago tournament. March 7—Otago v. North Otago. March 7 and 9.—Champion of champions. March 14.—Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill; shield matches to be played the same day. March 21.—Otago v. South Otago. March 21 and 23.—Adess Shield matches and leads and seconds tournament. March 28.—Otago v. Canterbury, at Dunedin. April 10, 11, 13 and 14.—Easter tournament. The big Dominion Carnival will be held in Christchurch next January. CLUB OPENINGS Bowlers were unfortunate on Saturday in the matter of weather, the heavy rain in the forenoon saturating the surfaces to such an extent that it was deemed inadvisable to play the time-honoured first-of-season game, President v. Vice-presi-dent. This was certainly a wise decision, for the damage that can be done'on such conditions at the opening of the season may take months to repair. No fewer than 16 clubs held their opening functions, and there now remain only four or live that have not yet commenced active operations on the green. The follownig greens were opened on Saturday, the presidents' names appearing in parentheses: —Dunedin (Mr H. L. Smith), Kaikorai (Mr 0. B. Ufton), Otago (Mr J. Henderson), Anderson's Bay (Mr S. Peaked Roslyn (Mr D. A. Q'Connell), North-East Valley (Mr E. W. Bruce), St. Clair (Mr J. Henry). Caledonian (Mr J. Seddon). St. Kilda (Mr E. Longworth), West Harbour (Mr A. G. Thomson), Taieri (Mr W. Allan). Brighton (Mr J. N. Cauldwell), Logan Park (Mr L. Watson), Tainui (Mr A. G. Rennie), Mornington (Mr D. H. Cunningham), Fairfield (Mr J. B. Kirkland). The Leith, Caversham, Green Island, Outram, and Balmacewen greens will be opened on Saturday, and the interclub matches will be commenced on the following Saturday. INTERCLUB CHAMPIONSHIP The Dunedin Centre's booklet containing the season's programme of fixtures is, as usual, complete to the smallest detail. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the regulations governing the interclub championship games, the following may be of interest to them: — 1. Each club competing shall on or before the time set down by the executive notify the secretary of the centre in writing of the number of rinks (in sections of three) which it will play during the season. 2. All clubs must play their full strength as entered or lose points for each rink they may default. Clubs must notify the secretary of the centre by Friday at 4 o'clock of their intention to default. 3. All games shall be of 21 heads: in case of a rink tie an extra head shall be played to decide a winner. 41 The scoring points shall be as follows: —One-section club (3 rinks), 4 points for each rink win; two-section club (6 rinks), 2 points for each rink win; three-section club (9 rinks), 1 1-3 points for each rink win; four-section club (12 rinks), one point for each rink win; fivesection club (15 rinks), 4-5 point for each rink win; six-section club (18 rinks), 2-3 point for each rink win. Any club which has a bye shall, for the purpose of estimating points scored, count a bye as a win. A club having a bye or byes shall submit all its rinks to the centre for the purpose of balloting, and the list must be in the hands of the secretary not later than 5 o'clock on the previous Wednesday, when the draw shall be taken in the presence of the secretary and one member of the executive. 5. Where all the matches fixed for any day have not been completed, the Match Committee shall decide whether the incomplete matches shall be completed or the" whole fixture annulled. 6. In case of a match or section being completed after the programme date, the same players who were originally picked to play for that match or section shall play in completing the match. 7. The Match Committee, in the event of inclement weather during any Saturday forenoon, shall decide whether the fixture is to be played or not. Its decision will be available at the Otago Sports Depot or at the office of the secretary before noon on that Saturday. Games not played on the date set down shall be annulled. 8. In the eve*fit of wet weather occurring immediately before or after the matches have started, the duty shall devolve upon the skips, associated with any member or members of the Centre Executive present on the green, to decide whether play shall continue or cease temporarily or altogether. If more than one member of the Centre Executive is present •he senior member to be chairman. Players must wait at least half an hour after the rain starts. 9. In the event of a section game being completed on any Saturday the section shall stand, but shield points shall only be counted provided all other games set down for that Saturday are played or finished, either that day or subsequently. Those playing originally in the games that stand shall not be included in the subsequent games for that particular round. 10. If two clubs which have not been playing an equal number of rinks during the shield, competition should tie for first place the club playing the greater number of rinks shall select its usual number and submit them to the secretary of the centre. The Match Committee of the centre shall then make a draw by ballot of the section or sections entitled to play sgainst the opposing club. No alteration of the names of the players in the sections drawn shall be made, unless the Match Committee consents to such alteration before play is started. 11. The Match Committee reserves jurisdiction to decide all questions arising under the above rules or arising generally in regard to matches. It may in special circumstances dispense with strict compliance with any of these rules. Its decision is subject to review by the Centre Executive. Note. —The Match Committee is Messrs T. Smith (convener), J. G. Butler, and F. W. Venn. In order that an official record of wins and losses shall be correctly kept, it is imperative that secretaries of clubs promptly notify results of games played to the secretary of the centre. FOUR-RINK CHAMPIONSHIP The Four-rink Championship, which entitles the winners to wear the Holmes Feathers and to hold for one year the Australian Friendship Clock (at present held by the Dunedin Club), will, as usual, be played in two sections —10 clubs in one and nine in the other.- The first series of games must be completed by November 16. Each game shall be 21 heads, and will commence not later than 5.45 p.m. In cases where a substitute is being played, he must continue if four heads have been decided. Centre Executive will fix the greens on which games are to be played. In the event of a tie in the aggregate number of points, the last rink to finish shall play an extra head. Should rain stop play after a game has commenced, the match shall stand adjourned if the game has averaged six heads over the four rinks, but if six heads have not been played the match shall be replayed. No roll-up shall be allowed before any game commences. THE CLYDE CLUB A heavy shower on Satruday morning marred the official opening of the Clyde Bowling Club so far as play on the green was concerned. The afternoon was fine, and a fairly large crowd was present, ineluding a number of Alexandra players. The green was declared open by the president (Mr R. N. Paulin) after Mrs

Paulin had rolled the first bowl. Mr W. K. George, president of the centre, handed over to the Clyde president the centre shield, which was won by the club last season, and congratulated the club on retaining the honour for the second year in succession. Card games were then played in the pavilion, and altogether a pleasant afternoon wa6 spent. A SILVER JUBILEE Many foundation members from all parts of the Dominion gathered at the Hataitai (Wellington) Bowling Clubs green for the opening of the season. The occasion was of more than usual interest, as it marked the silver jubilee of the club. The official opening was performed by Mr C. E. Macmillan. Minister of Agriculture. Mr E. A. Wallace, president of the club, extended a hearty welcome to nil those present, and especially welcomed Mr Macmillan, as an old bowler. "It in indeed pleasing to u& to find that those extremely busy men who are controlling the destiny of our Dominion can relax from those arduous duties for an hour or two .to attend a social function such aw this, and to encourage us to continue with that very old and most enjoyable game of bowls," he said. A BOWLS LEGEND Did Admiral Drake play bowls on Plymouth Hoe in July, 1588, when the Spanish Armada was sighted? This is a question asked by a leading member of the English Bowling Association. Therj is no evidence in the records of the City of Plymouth to prove that the game took place. A Spanish tract written in 1024 is authority for the story. Those wiio say that Drake did play his game out before sailing point out that the story wae current among men who had fought in the Armada. Mr E. F. Benson, in his " Life of Drake," declares that had Drake delayed an instant, knowing that he would have to sail his ships out of the Sound in the teeth of the wind that was helping the Armada towards Plymouth, his behaviour would have been that of a lunatic. Furthermore, there is l no shred of evidence ns to the existence of a green on Plymouth Hoe in Drake's time.