BOWLING

Southland Times, Issue 17661, 19 February 1916, Page 10

BOWLING

(By "Toucher.”) The following shows the position in the local four-rink championship:— Plyd. Won. Lost. Pts Southland ~..7 5 210 lO Northond ..... 7 5 210 Tc Rangi .....7 4 3 S Invercargill .... 6 2 4 Bluff 5 0 s—o The past week has probably been the worst we have had this season so far as playing conditions were concerned. A heavy wind was blowing with rain-storms. Club games were brought practically to a standstill, only a few players venturing forth and, as a result, many matches set down for deciding club representatives in the singles championships next Wednesday are behind, land will have to be hustled through before this evening. There were three fixtures arranged for Wednesday, viz.; Te Rangi v. Bluff, Winton v. Southland, and' Invercargill v. Southland. The latter was to bo played on the Southland green at 5.30, but rain commenced to fall, and on being put to the vote whether they play or not it was found there was a majority in favour of postponement till the following evening.

Winton motored along four rinks to the Southland green to sec if they could do better than in their match on January 111. Southland again proved too many guns for them, and showed a lead of 5-i points when the tallies were taken. Bowls were trundled north and south for a start, but after a head or two had been tried it was found that the wind from the west was blowing tbc bowls all over the green, so the remaining heads were played "with the wind.” This position was slightly better, but all the same it tended to make some of our best bowlers look real "mugs” at the game. So far as 1 could see there was only one man Stead on the green who knew anything about bowling in the wind. Stead was skipping against Tilley on the rink next the pavilion, and time after time he drew light on to kitty and in many instances saved three and four shots. He was consistent throughout. W. Wcsney (his third) did fairly well at times. Stead's score was made up as follows: —One 5, one 4, five 3.5, two 2's, and seven singles, as against Tilley's four singles and a three. Terrclle was more than holding his own against R. Wesney up to the 15th head, but after this the home players had all the luck and finished winners by 25 to 14.

Piercy had a strong rink opposed to Lindsay, the visitors keeping well withing range up to the 11th head. During the next four heads, however, Southland score was increased by 16 points, giving them a very substantial lead. , On the six remaining ends both sides scored 4 points each. McAlpine’s rink was the only one to go "down" against the visitors, it being a hard fight right through. Tbe losers scored on thirteen beads against the winners’ eight. The card read: Winton IS, Southland 15.

In the course of bis remarks at the conclusion of the match, -Mr Browne, president of the Winton Club, made reference to the lino reception the Lindsay Bros, received - when they won the I'ouhlis Championship in Invercargill at New Year. On behalf of the Winton Club he wished to thank the Invercargill howlers for this, "and," Mr Browne added, "it will encourage us to send down Other competitors on future occasions." There was a chill air about on Tiinrsdav evening when Invercargill met Southland, but, nevertheless. a very friendly game was enjoyed. Both clubs had four strong rinks prepared and it was generally thought the men from down south would make themselves felt, but thev didn't, and Southland registered a fairly easy win. Bremner',: was the'onlv visiting rink to hand in a winning card.

The battle between Main and .Smith ran?cd a great deal of inter.rt, not nia''nly in deciding the merits of noth teams', but by way of the good humour which’pre-. ailed. It was indeed pleasing and save flavour to the game which we

i are not often treated to hereabouts. At the same time play was of more than the ordinary standard, some really fine heads being exhibited. Invercargill's position was weakened on the second, third, fourth and fifth heads through weakness on Uain’s part, ho missing shots that at oilier times would have been child’s play to him. After this, however, Hain pulled himself together and delivered some splendid shots, although he did not always score from them. He missed , the marie on one or two occasions just by a

"whisker.” Smith's performance was one of the best, but he spoilt it on the 13th head by playing on the wrong hand. Invercargill wore lying about seven shots, many of them not within four feet of “wooing kitty,” Tli ere was a good opening for the Southland skip to draw on the south side, but he saw a faint hope of trailing kitty to the south and getting one or two that way. His first bowl was too narrow and fast and with his second he managed to cut out three of the far away opposition. It seemed almost a morn! that Smith would have counted a second to Hain's shot had he tried the "easy" hand. Keid was the ‘sledge-hammer" in Smith's team, doing a lot of breaking up to some advantage. He is a very useful man if you want anything on the fast side. Kerr gave a very creditable performance as second. Hamlieth’s bowls draw very wide, hut with them he was very troublesome to the opposition. Domigan's play was a big improvement on some of his past performances, he finding his distance much better. Whitaker only scored five times against Bromner, hut out of them he got 17 points one 5, two 4's, one 3. and a single. The Southland skip was off his game and could not stand up to his opponent. Fleming (an emergency) played a sterling game, and taking into consideration his general form it is a wonder lie is overlooked when Southlands four best rinks are being selected. Bremner's team played well together and thoroughly deserved their win. Erskinc had a strong rink opposing Crowther, and there 'was no great surprise that the visitors scored on only four occasions. The winning quartette (Dykes, Cook, Taylor, and Erskine) would win against some of Invercargill’s best. There was very little to pick and choose between Miller's and Wilson's rink, the former scoring nine times and AVilsou seven. It was noticeable in this rink that the leads, seconds and thirds were generaly troubled through not taking enough green, and also delivering short "stuff.” Te Rangi fulfilled their engagement with Bluff on the Port green on Wednesday. and players in this contest ivul even a more trying time than we had in Invercargill. It blow that hard in fact that some players hesitated in delivering their howls for fear of losing them? Players tell some real American stories about this game, and there is said to be some truth in them. The following arc the skips and their rcpscctivc scores (Tc Rang! being mentioned first in each case); —Ayling 20, Edginton 20, Smith 34, Cruickshank IS; Waugh 19, George 18; Pryde IS, Steele 15. Totals, Te Rangi 91, Bluff 71. Ryal Bush can boast of having the smallest bowling green and fewest members of any bowling club in New Zealand—if not in the world? On Mr Matthew Muray's property there is a onerink green established and its members total four! Although now in operation close on three years there has been no new members forthcoming, to urge for a full-size area, so the sporting quartette still go on their happy way quite content with their narrow strip of green. Recently an invitation was given to four Te Rangi players Messrs Jelfoate, Henry, Waugh, and Stirling (s) to “come out” and try their skill against the four in question Messrs Coombes, King, Clark and Matthew Murray. The invitation was accepted and after a very enjoyable game the "townies” went under by 25 to 13. The return match was played in Invercargill on Thursday, this time victory going to Te Rangi by 29 to 11.

As the result of play Mr Wm. Smith will represent Te Rangi in the championship singles. After three heads had been played the four-rink championship between Te Rangi and Invercargill had to be abandoned. When play was stopped Te Rangi had a lead of seven points. This match will have to be finished some time so the question now is, will play be commenced from where the game was abandoned or start afresh"?

BOWLING IN RIVERTON. \ _l_ (By “Be-up.”) I have never known a worse season since I have been playing (now a good many years) than the one nearing a close. Wednesday after Wednesday it has been wet and even when fixtures wore on other days the talc was nearly always the same. It has been most disheartening for both players and officials. However, in spite of the adverse treatment of the weather clerk there have been some interesting games on both greens. The most recent of the Western District fixtures (played Feb. 16th) were Orepuki v. Riverton, and Oropuki v. Aparima, both games in Riverton. That against Aparima proved a very tight game, resulting in a win by a bare majority for tbe home team and the one against Riverton proved a rather easy win for the visitors. A very high wind, which was felt more on the Aparima green than on the one on the south side, made play rather wide and erratic at times, and very difficult for the less experienced players. As the fixtures stand now: Aparima lias 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 game to play; Riverton lias 2 wins, 1 loss. S games to play; Orepuki lias 1 win, 1 loss, 4 games to play; and Otautau the same, so you can see how the weather has kept hack the games, the last of which should have been played yesterday. Next Wednesday the four clubs will meet in a one-rink game in Riverton to decide the “Western District” Singlerink Championship, when (weather permitting) some good games should bo seen. The new club, Aparima, have had a very successful season, and if the present membership and very marked enthusiasm keep up the members may feel assured of the permanent success and progress of the chib. The ground is just now a show place with flowers and evergreens, and the green surface is \astly improved since last year, and since the clover has been cut down has been playing as well as many much older greens; in fact it has recently been remarked by visitors that it is second to none in the Western District. This, of curse, must be very gratifying to the members, but they expect to still improve prove it by next year. Tlic youth green is also playing and looking well, and there can he no doubt but that the filter bed put iu two years ago has greatly improved it. "The Western District .Stars.” —Towards the middle of the season the presidents of the four clubs decided to present four silver stars for competition among the clubs. The first possession was decided by ballot, and Orepuki was the lucky club to first bold them. The first challencgers were four players from the Riverton Club (Messrs King, L. Trail' S. Bailey, and G. Mills (s), who journeyed to Orepuki one evening, and like good citizens duly brought the stars home next morning. Congratulations from all .‘-ides were bestowed upon the winning rink, which was looked upon, and frequently said to be, nearly, if not quite, unbeatable after beating lour such players as Mangan, Garden, Wilson and Lopdcll is). However, the stars wore made to go round, and round they continued to go, for a week or two. After their arrival on the Riverton green four Aparima players in Messrs l’h:lp, Instone, Brovan. and Forsyth made pilgrimage across the river and duly captured the coveted "stars," which they continued to hold, defeating a \ery strong rink from Otautau in the meantime, until last, night, when they went back to Orepuki. The game was played tinder the worst possible conditions —fain, wind, and darkness (only J 7 heads being finished). The score was Orepuki 19, Aparima 17. Aparima intend to try to bring them hack on the Ist March, when an excursion to Tuatapere gives the opportunity of a long day in the ".stars” pre-ent home.

The writer and all other bowlers in our little township would welcome another visit from members of Southland or any other Invercargill club before tbe season ends. The last visit from the Southland Club was most heartily appreciated. and the games were keenly

contested as the scores show. Southland being only 3 up against Aparima, and 11 against Kiverton. Following are yesterday's scores. — A. O. Hay. M. Fraser, C. V. De Clifford, J. Instnnc (s) IS Jos. Howlands, W. Fryer, A. E. Geddcs. A. L Adamson (s) Jas. Franks, B. McXce, A. E. Ward. H. K. Philps (s) .. .. 10, McKinnon, J. Cullen, J. A. Siangan, O. Beichel (s) !■» E. Williamson. J. McFaddcn, Smith, C. E. Johnstone (s) 12 C. C. Xicholas. K. D’Arcy, A. Cullen.*J. E. Lopdell (s) • • Jno. Pauli; L. B. Hancock, W. • Kohinson. A. Provan ts) .. 17 G. Murphy, Jas. Muir, L. Cross, G. Kcrse , 54 53 —“Star” Rinks. — A. O. H. E. Philp, J. Instone, A. Provan, J. Forsyth (s) .. .. 17 J. A. Mangan, G. Kerse, J. E. Lopdell, A. L. Adamson (s)