BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 55

BOWLING

BY

JACK.

For the Saturday interclub games the following clubs have entered: —Dunedin 18 rinks, Caledonian 15, St. Clair 12, St. Kilda 12, Otago 12, Kaituna 12, Balmacewen 12, Roslyn 9, North-East Valley 9, Kaikorai 9, Caversham 9, Mornington 9, Taieri 6, Green Island 6, Anderson’s Bay 6, Leith 6, West Harbour 6, Port Chalmers 6, Fairfield 3, Outram 3.

For the four-rink championship the entries are:—Dunedin, Caledonian, Kaituna, Otago, Baimacewen, St. Kilda, St. Clair, Caversham, Mornington, Kaikorai, Roslyn, Taieri, Green Island, Anderson’s Bay, Leith, West Harbour. North-East Valley, Port Chalmers, Fairfield, and Outram are not taking part in this competition. The number of interclub games to be played this season is 11, and the fourrink will probably be six games in two sections of eight each. In the interclub games the entries are similar to those of last year, with the exception that the Caledonian Club has entered 15 rinks. St. Kilda had intended increasing their entry to 15, but an analysis of the membership showed that it would be impossible to get a representation of 60 players each Saturday. As the age of bowlers go, Tom Ridgeway (the Lyon street, Carlton, skip) is certainly a youth'(writes “Boomerang” in the Sydney Referee). He was one of the Australian contingent that spent £IOOO each to tour Great Britain. Two days before the main body was due in Scotland, to test the strength of Rob Roy M'Grefor’s and the descendants of Bruce, Tom it one of the provincial bowls centres, and kept his identity where the flapper keeps her purse—in his stocking. He noticed a rather impatient elder of the kirk casting furtive glances towards the entrance gate, and at a later stage that worthy, who was a fair player, remarked to our hero: “D’ye play, man?” Tom modestly replied that he did. Modesty is Tonrs long suit. It transpired that the elder had a match on, but his opponent hadn’t turned up, hence the invitation. Some bowls were procured for the Australian, and, with true Scotch confidence, not to say generosity, his opponent remarked: “I’ll gie ye 10 start, ma lad!” The Hielander scored 10 in that opening bout, and then he piped: “Y’r tae guid, m’ lad, a’ ten. I’ll gie ye eight start this time.” He got eight in that game, and then, smilingly, Tom ventured: “Suppose we play level for one?” And when the Scot got 10 after the Carltonian had “come in smoking his pipe, hard held,” the latter was kept busy answering questions as to his identity. And when, in due course, he confided to his new-found friend and admirer that lie was one of the Australian team, and a skipper, his heart bled to witness the dejection a.nd utter confusion of that braw Scot. Tom was known after that as the boy bowler. The thirteenth annual report of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Asso-

ciation, a copy of which I have received from Mr R. Hanning, contains much that is of Interest to bowlers in general. Eight) new clubs have joined the association during the past year, the number on the register now totalling 288. The total membership now stands at 15,149 —an increase for the year of 55. A summary of centres, clubs, and membership in the North and South Islands respectively works out as follows:—North Island: Nine centres, 168 clubs, 9506 members. South Island: Ten centres, 121 clubs, 5643 members. The Wellington Club heads the list in the matter of membership, the total being 217, and Dunedin Club comes next with 191. With such a membership the latter club, with an entry of 18 links in the interclub competition,, cannot be said to be playing above its strength. The Caversham Club held a very enjoyable social recently, the object of the gathering being to entertain a popular member, Mr George Porteous who is severing his connection with the club as he has purchased a farm in the St. Bathans district. Mr H. Stubbs (president) expressed the keen regret felt by the club at the loss of so valued and popular a member, and on behalf of his fellowmembers presented to Mr Porteous a leather suit case. Mr Porteous feelingly replied. The defeat of the Summer Time Bill came as a bitter disappointment to Auckland in general, and the bowlers in particular (writes “Trundler” in the Auckland Star) for all the objections have been so fully answered that it looked as if it would go through this time. Of course, nobody takes seriously all the vague platitudes about decreasing production, and the “detrimental influence on the primary industries,” for all who took the trouble to read the evidence before the committee of the House would remember how conclusively it was proved that it would not affect milking and haymaking, as the farmers would always be free to choose their own time. The amazing feature of the voting is that the 16 against} the Bill included the whole eight Auck-* land members, not a single one supporting it One can readily understand the two Southland members not supporting it, for the summer evenings in that latitude are already so long that there is no desperate call for another hour. But in a subtropical latitude like Auckland, where darkness sets in all too soon, opposition seems utterly inexplicable. However, Mr Sidey has set a wonderful example in cheerfully accepting defeat, just like a bowler, and bowlers will also have to accept it philosophically—until next year. The Dominion singles championship, which has been competed for on 13 occasions—l9l4 to 1926, inclusive—has been won by players in the Dunedin Centre on seven occasions, W. Foster having secured the honour on two occasions. The only other player to achieve this distinction is Professor Maxwell Walker, of the Ponsonby Club (Auckland). E. Fountain (Roslyn Club) was the first to bring the championship to Dunedin, Fountain winning in Christchurch in 1916. W. Foster (Caledonian) won in 1918, E. Harraway (Dunedin) in 1920, J. C. Rigby (North-East Valley) in 1922, W. Carswell (Taieri"' in 1924. J. D. Best (Dunedin) in 1925, and W. Foster (Caledonian) in 1926. Some bowlers could be well reminded of the havoc wrought on a green, especially a soft one by “squirming” players. Of course, the contortions of such players at the time of delivery are done unwittingly. In most cases when their attention is drawn to the manner in which they have cut up the green they take care that it does not occur again. Sliding the sole of the foot along the green is bad enough, but when the side of the shoe is used it does great damage to the surface. Tapping the green with the toe of the shoe is another but less harmful action. Then , there is the player who has the temerity to play on a. green with goloshes over boots. Expert greenkeepers aver that this habit is little better than playing with the boots unprotected. Some clubs absolutely prohibit the practice. Apart from the slovenly appearance it gives to a player, there is no question hut tleat it is ruinous to the surface of the green.