BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 57

BOWLING.

Becr*l«rl«* »re r«que*tod to forward particular* a I game* p'.ayed and of forthcoming match**.

NOTES BY JACK. It is anticipated that there will be a larger gathering of bowlers in Dunedin for the association tournament on the 12th January next than has ever been the case before. The Australian team, whose visit is now assured, will be in Dunedin during the tournament week, and a largo and representative Wellington team will bo here at the same time. Despite the attractions of the Exhibition, it is anticipated several rinks from Auckland will take part in the tournament, one of these being skipped by Mr Casey, vice-president of the association. Entries arc also expected from Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki, and a strong contingent from North and South Canterbury. The’ local entries are expected to top the record. It is anticipated that all the local greens will have to be x.tilised to accommodate the players in the rink competitions, and as for the pairs, it may be necessary to nsc greens outside the Dunedin Centre. The Dunedin Centre’s inter-club matches were commenced on Saturday. The weather was dull and overcast, and most of the greens on the heavy side. The play in the three sections resulted as follows: — ASSOCIATION SECTION.

Roslyn 59 beat Taicri 51. St. Kilda 58 beat Green Island 42. Dunedin 76 beat Outram 43. Fairfield 69 beat N.E. Valley 60 Kflikorei 61 beat Kaituna 57. Caledonian 58 beat St. Clair 64. Otago 51 tied with Port Chalmers 51. CENTRE SECTION. Roslyn 78 beat Taieri 59. Caledonian 66 beat St. Clair 56. N.E. Valley 88 beat West Harbour 43. Green Island 47 beat St. Kilda 45. Kaituna 70 beat Mornington 41. Balmaceweu 62 beat Otago 42. Dunedin 107 beat Caversham 93. DISTRICT SECTION. Kaituna 70 beat Mornington 54. Roslyn 54 beat Taieri 52. Dunedin 60 beat Caversham 48. N.E. Valley 67 beat Fairfield 50. Caledonian 82 beat Balmacewen 40. Otago 65 beat Port Chalmers 88. In quite a large numlior of the mutches the totals were close, and the contests must have been keen. In the association section the game between Otago and Port Chalmers ended in a tic. Dunedin, Caledonian, and Roslyn won in all three sections; Kahuna and North-East Valley each won in two sections and lost in one; Otago won in one section, tied in another, and lost in a third; St. Kilda, Fairfield, and Green Island each yvon in one section and lost in one; Kaikorai won in the only section it had a team playing in; Balmacewen won in one section and lost in another; Mornington, Caversham, and St. Clair each lost in two sections, and Taieri lost in all throe sections. There were some surprises—more, perhaps, in individual rinks than in a whole section team. Very few, perhaps, would have selected three rinks of the Kaikorai Club to beat three rinks (good on paper) from the Kaituna Club, last year’s champion. But the ranks of the Kaikorai Club have apparently been strengthened, and the team in the association section seems likely to have more wins before the competitions close. As to how the throe-sect ion system will work, it is yet too early to say. One thing is certain: it puts much more work upon the shoulders of the hard-worked secretaries, who have to keep the records and supply information to the centre and the. press. In this connection skips should make a point of seeing that their second players make up the scoring-cards properly and fill in on each card the name® of the players of both sides. Some of the cards returned to secretaries last Saturday were anything but a credit. Some scorers had used lead pencils

which marked eo faintly that after the card had been handled during the play the writing was quite undecipherable and the secretary had to spend a lot of time in discovering the names of players from other sources. In quite a number of other cards the scorer had not taken the trouble to write the names of the opposing team, and the secretary was put to a lot of inconvenience, especially if the secretary of the opposing club had retained the cards of his own team.

The Wakatipu Bowling Club (Queenstown) opened its season on Monday, 27th ult. (Labour Day). As the day was fine, there was a large attendance of the public and visiting bowlers. The green was in perfect order, and reflected profit credit on those who had charge of it. The president ot the .club (Mr W. D. Warren) declared the green open, and Misa Warren rolled the first bowl, after which a match, President v. Vice-president, was. played. After a most enjoyable game, victory rested with the President’s side by 79 points to 62. The Queenstown Brass Band played on the pavilion during the afternoon, and the iadiee kindly dispensed afternoon tea - to the players and spectators. About a dozen of the members of the Arrow Bowling Club were present, and at the conclusion of the match Mr A. Good Icy, on tho;r behalf, returned thanks to the Queenstown bowlers for their hospitality. 'lho programme of the first tournament of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association (what a ridiculous title) has been issued in book form. Play is to commence on Monday. January 12. There are four rink competitions, three games of 21 heads being played each day. The entries will be divided into sections of 16. On each green one rink drops out at. the end of the fourth game, two at the end of the fifth gome, and one at the end of the sixth, so that on the third day 12 rinks will be competing in their respective competition* on the sudden death principle. At the end of the third day the champion rink will be known but the concluding guinea in the Canterbury, Southland, and Ofago competitions will not be played till the following week. The pairs competitions will be played off on the same system os the rink*, and will thus extend over three days. The winner of the Champion Pairs Will be known on Saturday, January 17. The Singles will be taken on the following Monday, and will be carried out on a modified two-iife system. As the entries for the tournament close on the 3rd January players who go out of town for the Christmas and New Year holidays will have to form their rinke before the end of the rear, and may also find it advisable to enter. The fees lot entering are £1 10s for the rinks (7* 6d per player), 15s for the pairs, and 5s for the singles.

Five rinks from tho Fairfield Club Jour* uoyed to Stirling on Labour Day to mee* the Stirling and Kaitangata Bowling Club# in a triangular match. The Stirling Green was in fine condition and very keen, but 4 strong wind made things rather unpleasant and put good play out of the question. Fairfield met Stirling in the morning, ana managed to secure a win by a good margin, all the rinks being up except one. Fairfield then met Kaitangata in the afternoon, and the game resulted in a close finish, Fairfield -winning by 2 points. Two out of the five Fairfield rinks were up, H. L. Christie'* rink securing a win by 17 points, and H. Mann by 4 points. Thanks were expressed to the Stirling and Kaitangata Clubs for their kind treatment of the visiting bowlers. The South Canterbury Centre has issued a booklet giving details of the Christina* tournament. There are two rink competitions and two pairs competitions. The com/petitors will be drawn into sections of eight, and play 16 heads. Tho losera in the fiiai round of the South Canterbury Rinks and tho Geraldine County Pairs pass into th* , Tiraaru Rinks and the Wa ini ate County Pairs respectively. Entries close on December 10. or as soon as. 48 rinks and 96 pair*’ vhave been nominated. The arrangement*, are in charge of Mr W. J. Bardsloy and the executive of the centre, and any bowler* going to Tirnaru may rely on having * good time of it. I have received a letter from “Old Bowler” supporting tho request of th* Dominion Association that all bowlers taking part in the association tournament should don flannels and wear their dubs* colours— i.e., blazers. “Old Bowler” suggests that the doing so should lx* made compulsory. Certainly it would look well if all players were in uniform, but it should lie remembered that bowling ie the most democratic of aJI games, and that of lat* veal's the tendency lias been to make membership so expensive that the worker has td stand aside. To do anything that would add still further to the expense of tho game „ would bo a serious mistake. A married working man with a family would have to think twice about following the game if made more expensive than at present. In iScotland, tho home of tho game, more than one-half of the very best and keenest placers cro miners or factory hands, and to. insist on uniforms there would be to bar them. Some years ago Lord Eglinton had in his team his gardener as third, a ploughman as second, and a groom as third, I should certainly like to see tournament players sporting flannels and blazers, but let us keep bowls democratic and bar no one so long as he is dressed ,in decent clothes. The North-East Valley bowlers journeyed to Balolutha on Labour Day for their annual match against the local club, and a morrt enjoyable day. The match f which was greatly marred by the strong wind, was from a social point a decided success, and resulted in a win for the local players by 120 points to 112. Before embarking on the homeward journey, Mr P. Gray thanked the Balchdha members for the hospitality extended to the North-East Valley. Mr J. Ritchie (vice-president of the Balclutha Club) responded. Four rinks from the Otago Club journeyed to Waikouaiti on Labour Day and played a match with a combined team representing the Waikouaiti and Palmerston Clubs. Tho weather was warm and the green very keen, but tho players found the nor’-wester at times rather troublesome. Tho Otago men easily held their own throughout the game, all the visiting rink* being well up at tho finish. On behalf of the visitors Mr C. R. Smith thanked the members of the- local club for the game, and congratulated them on the condition of the ereen. Ho «uo-go«t(vl that, a return match be arranged at an early date on the Otago Green. PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN TOUR. LONDON, October 29The English Bowling Association has decided that it is unable to .accept .Australia's invitation, as It would be irapo** sible to bring the men together. < W,., ■. , 7 ( • j