BOWLING

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 10

BOWLING

(By “Toucher.”) Last Saturday afternoon a progressiva tournament was inaugurated on the Southland green, twenty players putting their “bob” in. The games proved very enjoyable and when time was called A. Ayling was found to be the winning skip, while W. Martin and G. Finlayson tied with three wins each in the leading section. Finally Finlayson was awarded the prize for having a greater number of points to his credit on the first .two games. It was previously decided that half the stakes go to the winners, the balance towards improvements to Southland green. “Willie” Martin, who is the appointed ranger on the latter green, has been especially energetic of late in coW lecting all “slier” he can possibly lay his hands upon, in order that funds be raised to improve the general surroundings of the oldest green in Southland. When the paying out process of the above tournament was at hand, our esteemed bowling friend was not far distant. Probably he was talking within ear-shot of the stake-winners how grand it would be if there had been forty players in the tournament —that would have meant £1 towards green improvements. A few minutes later he was looking the most satisfied man on the green. He had got the whole bang lot of the stakes!

During the last day or two Mr M. Angus, well known in local bowling circles, but who is now a x - esident of Christchurch, has visited the various greens and renewed old acquaintances. The Gore Club were the winners of the Hamilton Cup last Wednesday, comments on which apear under the heading “Wyndham Notes.” * What a shock I got when I learnt that Galder had replaced Thorn as skip in the Mataura rink to contest the Hamilton Cup at Wyndham on Wednesday. Surely Thorn was ill-treated after his fine display in the Crawford Shield competition at Invercargill the other day? It will be remembered that Calder was playing third for him on this occasion. I wonder if it was through that wonderful drive of Calder's in the HainThorn match that won Calder’s selector's admiration?

Very little has happened in local circles since my last notes. The various club competitions are well ahead and within a short time I hope to be able to publish the names of the winners. At present there is much discontent amonj local bowlers regarding Wednesday and Saturday matches. There is a weakness here in the rules of the Centre in allowing men who play in Wednesday competitions to take part in Saturday games, or vice versa. There are many players who cannot possibly get off for a game except on Saturday afternoon and from these men the, majority of complaints arc heard. The Wednesday competition, so far as tlie Centre is concerned, is the "all important” and the week-end games are arranged only to please a few. What a misapprehension: Saturday contests are termed “friendly”—there is not even a silver "pannikan" attached to the latter. But that doesn’t matter, the week-enders look only for a bit of fun. Any other association which governs two separate competitions—Wednesday and Saturday make a strong rule setting forth that members must register either in the mid-week or week-end division. But our local Centro does not think it worth while to upset their ancient book of rules to insert such a clause. The result is working havoc and dealing a deathblow to our grand old game. What do we find? Any Saturday afternoon you may choose, Just go along to a "friendly" match and there you will find probably some of the best Wednesday skips piloting a rink against an unfortunate —or rather fortunate, so far as tlie future of the Club is concerned — rink who has not solicited the help of a Wednesday "cock of the North.” On the bank you will invariably see half-a-dozen or more Saturday enthusiasts who had turned up to see if they were wanted, but no, their places were filled by Wednesdayites, and so there is only one alternative left them —walk from board to board and curse their luck that they were not born better players. Some times a rink in a Saturday game is short of a player. If Mr Wednesdayman is within whistling distance, well and good, let him fill any position given -him, hut don't ailow him to be chosen days before the match is played. These men generally hold the star, positions in the rinks, many of them refusing to play In an unimportant position. The greed of winning is the sole trouble. "Friendly game!" is now a fight for mastery and the happy feelings of meeting friends

seems to have vanished. You seldom see a good shot applauded hy the opposition, and the meetings and partings are just anyhow. One of our clubs tries to run separately Saturday and Wednesday teams and once or twice you hear of a match between the two, hut when it comes to meeting an opposition club on Saturday afternoon, the best men available are chosen from both sections to go and win! win!! win!!! The above does not apply to this certain club, but to all. This is probably the duty of the Centre lo alter or leave alone as their wisdom prompts them. Four-rink championship games, so far :i! I can learn, are played only in Invercargill. After one season’s trial come Centres threw them out, but our body still continues to cater for this class cf competition. These games are made of far too much importance, and, moreover, %ery few cf the players in tlie rinks look happy—it is too much of a life and death struggle, competitors

being out for a win, win at any cost. We have the Crawford Shield games, where four selected players are chosen from each club by their respective selectors. Members do not object to this —thej' get rather enthusiastic about it as there is a lot of "blooming honour” should their club rink be successful. But the majority areffed up” with the system of the four-rink championship. The latter appear to cause nothing but jealousy and friction. The best players get together at the opening of the season and you will find them still there when the curtain is rung down at the end of the season. There are two classes left, viz., "the next best” and the "beginner.” What sort of entertainment is left for them? Only a few evening games arranged for by their club with an occasional eight rink match thrown in. New arrivals from foreign greens come along and are simply "rushed,” while the hidden talent in our younger members-is allowed to rot. It is too late to make any alteration this season, but lot us hope the matter will be given serious consideration when our local body is making ready for season 1916-17.

The foregoing may be open to severe criticism by the Centre, but if bowling is to maintain its high position as a friendship-making game the attitude of the expert players will need remodelling and the demonition of the four - rink games will be a step in the right direction. WYNDHAM NOTE^S. The annual contest for the Hamilton Cup took place on the holders (Wyndham) green o’n Wednesday. Heavy rain fell most of the morning, but by midday the sun had peeped out and at 1.30 the appointed time, play commenced. Of course the green was heavy, but it drew fairly well. Kach 'team entered its choice rink, and perhaps.the best way to sum un the play would be by saying that good, bad and indifferent play all had their place in the contest. In the first round Gore, represented by Graham, Brown, Stewart, Perks (s), met Hokonui’s select in Leishman, Blakie, McGibbon and Paterson is). The Hokonui players were quite outclassed by the Gore rink, which proved a real strong combination. Paterson saved frequently and played a good game, but the support he got was so little that he was unable to avert defeat by fully twenty points.

The Mataura rink, composed of Broom, Reid, Thorn and Calder. met the local rink, Beeby, McKerrow, .jLittle and Murphy. Broom led in good form and on the whole beat Beeby, who was not quite as reliable as usual. All the players seemed fairly evenly matched and an interesting game took place. Calder managed to snap a six near the finish and this gave him the lead. Then on the 19th head Mataura were lying four near kitty, while Wyndham had several in a handy position behind. Little just failed to trail, and Murphy had similar luck with his first bowl. Calder drew another, making Wyndham five.down. Murphy tried a difficult draw in the hopes of saving, but lie only saved one. On the next head the local rink got a wellearned three and scoring again on the last head they finished two down —Mataura 21, Wyndham 19. Gore were right after Mataura in the final. They opened with a couple of fours, and on the third head, when Mataura lay one, Gore left it well along and played for position. Then Perks notched a pair of singles, followed by a three and next a four, making the score. Gore 17, Mataura 1, with seven heads gone. Luck sojourned with Mataura on the eighth head and they scored a popular six amid much applause. On this head a burnt bowl was left unnoticed on the green and a rather wide draw wicked on it and got home. None of the players seemed to notice this and frequently one sees the necessity for more care in this respect. Gore began again, bagging a five, a two and a three in quick succession, while Mataura managed a single. Many 1 goods heads were being played and the 15th proved very interesting. Broom drew a great shot, but a wick to Brown gave Gore the shot. Thorn, however, lifted the bowl out but Perks with his last bowl touched kitty and lay three. Calder came to light and with a drive caught the white and registered a very creditable single. Long heads were now the order, the Mataura lead drawing some lovely shots but his side were beyond recovery and Gore won a rather one-sided game by 33 to 13.

No doubt the Gore rink were a solid lot. Graham is a great lead, but Broom quite held his own and deserves credit for the way he played a loosing 1 game. Brown and Keid were fairly evenly matched, though Reid was hardly at home in his position. Brown is inclined to play rather short on a heavy green and spoilt several bowls through not getting them away on an even keel. Stewart was too many for Thorn who played well but is in rather much of a hurry to get his bowls played. Perks is a solid skip and played a great gahne giving Calder much trouble. The Mataura men seemed to lack unity, each player being inclined to go on bis own a little and as a consequence the beads were not well built and thus, as the score reveals, Gore "pots" were too frequent. At the conclusion of the match Mr Aitken, President of the Eastern District, in congratulating the Gore Club in their win, said that the winners had played remarkably well and would now have the honour of retaining the trophy having won it on three occasions. Mr Perks in returning thanks said he had enjoyed the contest and was delighted to know that Gore had become the owners of the coveted "Hamilton Cup. Cheers wore given for the ladies and Mr Abernathy, who umpired fairly and capahljVFor they arc Jolly Good Fellows” was sung in honour of the winners. Says an exchange ; “Just what effect an incident in the seventh head of the final round of the rink tournament had upon the result of the championship lecently decided in Christchurch v ill etei remain unsolved. With the third players finished. Christchurch lay three. Laughton (Newton skip) did not altoi the position with Ills first shot. Torrance played for safety. Laughton then drew a good shot, which cut Torrance out of his three. Tremendous applause followed this effort and in the excitement one of the. Christchurch players overlooked the very important €act that his skip had to play another bowl in fact, everyone seemed to forget it except Torrance —and the player referred to, thinking the head finished, kicked the bowls away from the jack. Torrance had his head turned momentarily, picking up his last bowl, when he became aware of the unfortunate position. As it vas one of his own men who had disturbed the head, Torrance had to accept the penalty, a lost howl. It was an exceedingly regrettable incident, and the drawing in the next end suggested that it. was not without its effect on the nerves of tne players.” .Mr Torrance, in the course of his remarke at a reunion of howlers held doling Ihe recent championship tournament, mentioned the fact that the North Island had won the banner each time it had boon competed for, namely, in 1911, 1910, and lOlfi. He heartily congratu.atea the winners, although he had hoped to win on behalf of Christchurch and the South Island in the present tournament.