ON THE GREEN '

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 144, 8 September 1927, Page 8

ON THE GREEN '

Bowls and Bowlers

(By

JACK HIGH

It. speaks well for efficiency in organisation that no fewer than 1,008 bowlers will jointly take part this year in one bowling event—the inter-club pennant competition. Such a huge army of participants in one competition must be considered by kindred sports as a revelation In management, and at the same time, a matter for warm congratulation to the Auckland Centre executive, that this popular competition has grown to such substantial proportions. Comparative figures with last year show that the total involved 912 players from 20 clubs, while this year the clubs participating have increased to 29. The following are the days fixed for the competition:—lst November, 10th and 17th December, 2nth February and 3rd March. The :10th and 24th of March are reserved for any postponed rounds and the final. AN UNEXPECTED DECREASE After such a wide expression of opinion had been ventilated at the meeting of delegates held in July, it was expected that a general request for large increases in the quotas would be made by the clubs participating in the competition. The impression gathered there, although it did not find expression universally in actual words, was that there was a marked desire to regard the competition more in the light of a glorified inter-club competition, for which it was originally intended. However, when the requisitions did come forward, it was found quite the reverse was actually the case—there was desire on the part of quite a number of the clubs to have their quotas decreased instead of increased.

This evidences the fact that bowlers continue to regard the competition merely as a test of playing strength. It may be advanced that this is disappointing. If the clubs could uniformly grade their plaj ers, this interpretation would be justified. As it is now, there are so many difficulties surrounding the competition from a competitive viewpoint that it can never hope to give entire satisfaction from this point of view. However, in arranging the competition. Mr. A. H. Yeoman is to be warmly congratulated on making out of an apparently hopelessly tangled skein a most satisfactory arrangement. And if the clubs on their part will carry out the* original intention of the competition, there is no reason to fear that it

will not give universal pleasure to all win* participate in the giant bowlingevent of the year now definitely scheduled. N.Z.B.A.’s ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association for tho season 1926-27 has appeared in print. It shows the finances of the association to be in flourishing condition and bowling in New Zealand progressing satisfactorily. On the social side, probably, the outstanding feature was the entertaining by Mr. J. W. Hard ley of no less than 4,200 guests at an “At Home” and Garden Party held in the beautiful grounds of the Auckland Racing Club at Ellerslie on Saturday, January 15. The report correctly adds that “the scene will linger long in the memory of all.” The total number of clubs now in affiliation totals 303, an increase of 1-1 over the preceding year. The total membership is 15,453, showing an increase for the year of 304 —5,736 are in the South Island while the North Island claims no fewer than 9,717. The Auckland province has a membership of 4,557, and eight new clubs for the year. These figures clearly indicate that bowling in Auckland has a remarkable claim to popularity. Mention is made of impending visits of bowlers —Victorian bowlers in February, and South Australians in March. It is also stated that it had been decided by the International Bowling Board of Great Britain and Ireland to extend an invitation to New Zealand for a touring team to pay them a visit, in 1928. No official advice of particulars, however, has been received.

NOTES AND COMMENTS To-night Mr. J. W. Hardley is entertaining the members of the Auckland Centre and the local members of the Dominion Council at his private residence at Ponsonby. On Saturday in the Edwin Stars competition, a jack from a neighbouring rink displaced the jack in play. The latter was replaced without any argument; but with a little adjustment as to alignment by the player on the mat, the game proceed. Some sticklers for rules might easily have made quite a fuss about the incident. It is well for the sport that they have not become numerous. •