BOWLING

Southland Times, Issue 19690, 24 October 1925, Page 18

BOWLING

(By

“Bias.”

Bowls hold sway again and that the lure of “Kitty” is still as strong as ever has been amply demonstrated by the large numbers who have worshipped at her shrine cn opening days. Indeed, if anything her retinue has increased, and the assertion that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” receives strong support from the large number of seasoned courters who have returned to dance attendance for another summer. Five of the half-dozen town Clubs have held their opening ceremonies to the accompaniment of splendid weather and green conditions and if the season continues as it has commenced there will be no occasioi to fear for its success. But in view ol experiences at the end of last season whick prevented the completion of the inter-club competition, bowlers will be excused foi cherishing the hope that “it ain’t gonna rain no mo’.” The Waikiwi Club holds its opening thia afternoon. The inter-Club games for the 1925-26 season will commence on October 31. The first games in the A and B grade fourrink championships will take place on Tuesday, November 10. The games to decide the winners of last season’s inter-Club competition which was unfinished on account of unfavourable weather will be played on November 5. The four Clubs involved are Southland, Invercargill, Northend and Te Rangi, Southland meeting Te Rangi on the latter’s green, and Northend playing Invercargill on their own green. The position is that should Te Rangi win their contest they will bowl the victors of the Northend-Invercar-gill match in the final on November 12. Should Southland, however, prove superior to the Te Rangi-ites the premiership issue will lay between Northend and Invercargill. The tournament committee of the Centre met last evening to prosecute arrangements for the New Year tournament. It is anticipated that the entries for this fixture will be on a large scale in view of the fact that the Dominion tourney which is this season being held at Dunedin, follows later in January. Country Clubs have a staunch friend in this year’s president of the Southland

Centre, Mr. A. Derbie. “Increased consideration for the provincial Clubs” has town Clubs at their recent openings, and no doubt the players in the country will rise up and bless him as the season advances. From a playing point of view at any rate the Country Clubs affiliated to the Southland Centre can look forward to liberal treatment in the ensuing season, provided Mr. Derbie’s appeal bears fruit. A perusal of the fixtures book which has now been circulated for the season shows that there will be ample opportunity for the arrangement of country fixtures. The inter-Club competition games are so arranged that every alternative Wednesday is free and it is hoped that each Club will take full advantage of this by endeavouring to engage as many country Clubs during the season as practicable.

The Centre announces that the committee appointed to arrange for the services of a bowls tester to fill the position lately vacated by Mr M. Murray on account of ill-health, has been successful in its efforts and in due course Clubs will be informed as to where they may have their bowls tested. “Pavilion,” the bowling scribe of the Timaru Herald, announces that the annual tournament of the South Canterbury Centre at Christmas will be held as usual, the D.B-A. having given the necessary permission. Waimate has applied for and received permission to hold a tournament at Easter time.

A deputation of bowlers, headed by Mr. H. F. M. Mercer, president of the Dominion Bowling Council, waited on the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, at Dunedin last week to ask the co-operation of the Government in connection with the coming visit of the British bowling team The visitors—4o men and 16 women —are yxper.ted to reach the Dominion on December 15. Mr. Coates assured the deputation that the visitors would be given a hearty welcome, and that everything would be done to make their stay in New Zealand a pleasant one.

Southland members as a whole and Invercargill bowlers in particular will be pleased to learn that there is every likelihood of a visit from a party of the English bowlers. At the opening of the Waihopai green the other day the president of the Centre, M. A. Derbie, announced that unofficial word had been received to the effect that some of the visitors would come as far South as Invercargill and his hopes that the information would prove to be of reliable authenticity will be shared by all keen bowlers.

It is expected that about 3000 bowlers will be participating in the Australian bowling tournament this season, so it is not surprising that the “sudden death” principle is to be applied. All the same it is not a great inducement to New Zealand bowlers to enter, for if they should fall in the first round they will have to cool their heels-for the rest of the tournament. They would have to travel over 1000 miles, and two hours’ play may see them out of it. It would be rather rough to get put out by a “dud” team which went out in the next round!

A very large entry is expected for the big Exhibition tournament which opens at Dunedin on Monday, January 18, and bowlers will be well advised to book early. Club secretaries have all information regarding the tournament, also as regards accommodation in Dunedin, and Mr R. Hanning, the Dominion Secretary, is anxious to have the entries in as early as possible. At the last meeting of the Australian Bowling Council (held in Sydney in April) the Queensland delegates reported that composition bowls apparently altered their shape when exposed to the hot sun. In view of this, the council decided to send standard bowls of wood, rubber, and other composition to the various testers, so that the particular class of bowl could be tested against a standard bowl of the same material Further reports having reached the Bowl-testing Committee on the same subject, a series of exhaustive experiments has been carried out, and the committee finds that all bowls, if heated irregularly, alter in shape, the most pronounced alteration taking place in the wooden bowl. Up to a temperature of 130 deg Fahr, the alteration in shape is not very pronounced; but it increases rapidly at higher temperatures, ranging up to 165 deg Fahr. If the bowls are heated evenly the alteration in shapes does not affect the bias, as all the materials (wood, rubber, and excellite) expand evenly with the increase in temperature; but if the bowls are exposed to the hot sun, and one side only is heated, then the expansion of that side affects the bias. Bowlers will be interested to know that bowls raised to a temperature of 212 deg Fahr, resumed their original shape on cooling, and drew equally with the standard bowl.

Mr Wade wTites to the Morning Advertiser, from Leicester, asking for bowler readers to give their opinion on a muchdisputed point—which is more suitable for plaj’ in Australia and New Zeadanl, the old “woods” or the new composition bowls? Mr Wade pins his faith to the latter. “In fact,” he says, “I won the singles championship with composition bowls in 1923, and in the same year I was the winner of the Midland Counties singles, the Leicester County singles, and semi-finalist in the National Rink. Since 1914 I have won numerous other competitions, all with composition bowls, and in my opinion these alone give a bias which is correct and constant for any temperature. Temperature is a consideration which is surely important where the Antipodes are concerned, and where the use of composition bowls is, I believe, practically universal. It would be a pity if a detail like this were to be allowed to jeopardise the chances of England bowlers. Australia has already taken the lead from us in cricket and New Zealand in Rugby football. The polo championship has gone to the United States, and all the lawn tennis victories to France. Bowling is Britain’s last hope.”

In an interesting English work, The Complete Bowler,” by James A. Manson, a wonderful performance is given, which may probably entitle it to be styled “a world’s record.” In July, 1907, the Steatham and London County Clubs played a three-rmk match, which ended in a tie (61 alii. A London County rink skipped by D. A. Ross got in the whole eight on two occasions. The first time Davis lay the shot, with Ross to play the last bowl. The shot was some 9in to the left of and level with the jack, but all seven bowls of London County were lying well around the jack and nearer than the second nearest of Steatham. Ross, with a firm draw upon the shot bowl, sent it onwards, his own bowl taking its place without disturbing the jack, and so securing the eight. The other occasion called for still better work. At the sixteenth head Streatham again lay shot, with London County occupying such a position that, could the jack but be carried several inches towards them, there was a certainty of a bumper score. Once more Ross distinguished himself. He saw that if he could cannon off the shot with his last bowl he might not only send it about its business, but pass on to the jack and carry it in the required direction. This is exactly what he accomplished. The “inwick” drove the shot far enough away to be out of the count, and Ross’s bowl then hugged the jack and bore it about 18in forwards and among the seven other bowls of his own men, again giving them eight shots. Something like a skip this!