REVIEW OF THE EVENTS OF THE SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1854, 3 June 1887, Page 27

REVIEW OF THE EVENTS OF THE SEASON.

The bowling season of 1886-7 has now closed, and the admirers of the game have reason to congratulate themselves on the very successful • season. Not only have the club matches been, as usual, keenly contested, but the main feature has been the impetus given to the game by the doings of the Bowling Association. Supported loyally by all the clubs in existence at the close of the last season, 1886, it has introduced bowlers who had little or no prospect of ever meeting to test each other's skill, and all the games have been played as they ought to be, with the kindliest feelings and characteristic keenness. For the Association medals Balclutha beat Oamaru Dunedin „ Milton Invercargill „ Canterbury Ohristchurch „ - Caledonian Boslyn „ Lawrence New Plymouth „ Auckland. The tournament, under ilie Association's auspices was also an unqualified success, and remembering that the game was first established by the Dunedin Club only 14 years ago, the fact that 112 gentlemen met in Dunedin, representing nine clubs, and coming from Christchurch and towns from Invercargill northwards, shows air enthusiasm that speaks well for the game in the future. It resulted in a win for Canterbury Club, Invercargill taking second honours ; Dunedin and Milton following closely. A tabulated statement will be found below. The Association has now 12 clubs connected with it, and from all reports strong additions may be expected next season, consisting of a second Auckland, a Wanganui, a Kelson, a Wellington, a ■ Napier». a Timaru, a second Oamaru, a Mosgiel, a / Kaitangata, a Green Island, and a Gore club. .The meeting of the Association will therefore" be looked forward to with much interest by the members,' and, as shadowed forth, it is quite a likely thing that among other matches there will be North Island v.' South Island, and it will be decidedwhether a single-handed match will be also played. Certainly enthusiastic bowlers may expect a good hard time of it next season. The Association should also in plenty of time endeavour to arrange] to make up a team of at least four rinks to visit Sydney, at the time when Victorian bowlers are in that city, and try conclusions with all comers. All clubs should therefore keep this matter before them, and make arrangements accordingly. Thus with the Association medals, the annual tournament, pnd the ordinary olub matches, the coming

season should prove an "active" and" interesting I

The above table is only made from "the interclub matches, the tournament and the medal matches under the auspices of- the NeV Zealand Bowling Association not being included: It will be seen that ' Dunedin holds the well; deserved, position of premier club in the Middle Island, having played 10 games, winning seven.Roslyn has played 10 games, but unfortunately they lost five and won five. The points show a little in their favour,- however. Christchurch, Tnvercargill, and Milton follow Dunedin, being placed respectively second, third; and fourth. All these clubs played capitally, and the com- ■ peting clubs did not lose anything in the competition- Caledonian, like Roslyn, won arid lost - an equal number, but- the' points scored are not in their favour. This club last year took the lead as the winning club, and better things were expected from it this season. At the ; start of the season they appeared very elated— a result, of their successes last ■ year — and displayed ~ a r certain amount of bombast, but I think this has been taken out of them, and they now quietly take a back seat. It is not my intention' to -refer again to their decision to play 'six rinks aside against the Dunedin Club, although in : the re- ; turn match they could only turn up with four, and even sustaining a beating at the hands' of the Dunedin Club ' with the reduced number. In the next order come the Balclutha, Canterbury, Lawrence, and last, Oamaru, • who 'only played one match, and lost it. They will, however, no doubt, make a much better record next year, as they have among their number several very enthusiastic bowlers, and another club starting in the town will give them- a better, opportunity for practice. Taking the matches as a whole, the clubs are to be congratulated on the genial way in which the games have been played, and the hospitality the clubs have shown ' each other. The year has been a fortunate one in many ways, and I tru3t 'the next season may be passed as jovially as 'the one just finished. 1 The bowling greens are now- all ; closed, and the keepers have them in hand, preparing and topdressing where required for next season. The clubs are to be congratulated upon the fine state of their greens during the past year,' thus making the play good and more enjoyable/ »> Before the start for next season's play I hope' some steps will be taken to provide a cup for - competition, to be subscribed for by the players: - If this suggestion should be adapted it might be named the' Jubilee Cup, in order to 'celebrate the year in which it will inaugurated. v < In the issue of the Witness of > the 15th April, a letter, appeared from Mr Robert Struthers.In the first place Mr Struthers asked the question, 1 " What is the best game for inter-club and ' other matches?" and, in the second place, headvocated a game of so - many head or ends/ There is certainly something to be said in favour of a time game— that is, in an inter-club match in ' which ttie whole of the rinks are finished at the same time. Mr Stiuthers' objection' to the time game, "that there is a temptation to the leading rink to waste time, and so prevent the smaller scorers from getting up with their own," -. is one I earnestly hope only exists in his mind, and that -he has never come across' a rink that was inclined to play in that manner. I may state that my own expeiience is that players on both sides are too keen to score and play to cause any unnecessary delay. Mr Struthers also advocated four-bowl single-handed tournament matches. I should also like to see a competition of the sort started ; also two-handed four-bowl ' matches. Should the tournament take place in Christchurch next year, I hope the Christchurcb. Clubs will try and arrange such matches. By the way, I should like to suggest that the Christchurch Club should hand the Cunningham Cup to the Association for that body to arrange the competitions. - *'■ •-"- Mr Brackenridge, whose letter appeared* in the Witness of the 29th April, strongly advocated single-handed matches, and for rink matches so many heads, say, 25, which is, in his opinion, ft good game. . The Caledonian Society in Dunedin might very well think seriously over giving' a prize or^ two for either single-handed or four-bowl twohanded matches. They would find that they would. have sufficient entries to cover the expenses, and that bowlers would roll up from one end of the island .to the other to take part in the contests. New Year would be asuitable time for those at a distance to take a trip to Dunedin, if sufficient publicity were given of any intended bowling matches. • - . '■ A lengthy correspondence between "Mr E. J. Dowling, of the Oamaru Club, and Mr Thomas Callender, president of the Association, ' appeared in the Witness. ' The subject under discussion was the New- Zealand Bowling Association roles in comparison with those of the Victorian Association. ' In my opinion the Victorian- Bowling i Association rules are ■ far too stript, ' and could with advantage be relaxed. somewhat. Oh the other hand, there is an elasticity about the New Zealand rules that apparently does not commend them to all bowlers. So far as 1 can see, however, nothing can be done until the bowlers of New Zealand and .Victoria mcct 1 in conference at some future time, and make rules to suit all parties. At the present time it is almost im»' possible for New Zealand bowlers to; comply with the Victorian rules, and .should a visit be paid to Victoria, and the visiting team be compelled to play to the Victorian rules| a certain . amount of v illfeeling would be sure to be engendered on one side or the other. Instead of one set of .rules for eacb of the colonies, rules ' should be drawn up in addition which would embrace the whole of the colonies, and' suit all players. There is no earthly reason why the Victorians should not be allowed to play with both their feet on the mat, or the New Zealanders with, only one foot on, but to compel either to follow, the others' rules wouHsbe anin«.

" - i F.

'justice,™ Una" before a game' is playe3~some w arrangement of the sort should be'arriYed'at. "An ■ amusing incident from ''the Far North has •reached this quarter of theglober'^On abowling green dvershadp.wed Joy, Mount Bgmont a gairje, was proceeding^ and '^amorig the' nlayerswas'an* archdeacon,' k^Presbyterian clergyman^and ; a ! banker of- a very excitable temperament./ ' The banker, was skip; his opponents were "lying,"; and he, playing a draw,' played a little too wide! Consequently the bowl did not 'draw as.exp'ected^ by the, player,; who^beridirig his b'odjf in "tnewSyf .he.wished the bowlto go, exclaimed'at'tttp f same ' time," V Draw, -^—^ it,' draw! " Tfie Presbp terian ' parson tpnehed the banker ' Jon the shoulder^ 'sayingj- "Hus'hj.'the archdeacon, will* hew you.!".. It is ndedlessl' to remark that the banker'did notswear intheir hearmgagain^; '" ciiAhother'BoWling'incident comes t6'r4y',miad : and, l niay as well "relate it as sho.wjng 'the s'taie^ of.exoitability : 'under ' whjch* bowlers BometimW. labour., It' occurred during a f matrch which I ; waa^ being played' on^hV'Dunedin greesii??" The last" bowl, being played for.'aii exceedingly 'fin^di^wf; after delivery theiplayer' followed'upi th'e'b'o'wl/-' .dancing and waving his hand, 7 at' the' same" iame .exclaiming' " You're 'riarrer, you villain, youre 1 narrer, yqt&e harrer, — — it"°yoa ( viflain ? ' : 1 you're narrer," until the bowl stopped very wide of the Jack for which he'had played for.' • * itv< "'' > This- is the last' of Bowling Notes; for' this season. My 'endeavour has been to'trjr and! remedy defects where seen and to give' a full' report of bowling* in New Zealand 'during the year in an impartial' manner/ I trust that "I have succeeded in my attempt, and' if I have given offence I trust it will be overlooked, as any remarks I have' made have been penned^ solely, in the interests of bowling. ' '\ '.

INIBR-OIiUB MATCHES., ; '■ i NameofCliib. S& g ' g 'f* •< & | | I "g 'I Dunedln ... 10 7 3. '31 796 630 Ohrißtchureh ... 5 3 2 18 345 317 . Irivercargill ... 3 2 1 9 172 ■ 165 ' Milton ' > ... 3 2 1 ■ 9 '259. 223' /toslyn ... 10 5 5 31 627 ,588 Caledonian ... 8 4 4 29 625 "' 647 Balolutha ... 2 1 1 • 6 103- a3B Canterbury ... 6 2 4 21 375 440 Lawrence ... 4 0 4 13 249 333 Oamaru "... 1 0 1 3 " '56 ' 68

NaxneofClub. g- f I|| &f .|| |j o ■ » a -■; v.Canterbury ... 2 58 41 , 17 — B* ' --- Invercargill ... 3 83 67 16 ~ 5| — Dunedin ' ... 6 149 124 25 '— ' 41-6 — Milton..: ... 2 ' 49 41 8 i — * 4 — Christchurch ... 2 42 45 — 3 — L Lawrence ... 3 56 61 — 5 — .lV Hoslyn ' ... 3 68 71 — 13 — %■ Balclutha ... 3 55 71 —'• 16 —;• st' Caledonian ... 4 80 109 -r- 2S — „.7: