ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 8

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

Sy

JACK HIGH

A sfromg case it mmde in the following a r ~ Ic to ejrp*4ite the final It lx. g of the many complicated details in cun, meet ioi vrith rhe zoming Australia r. Vesr Zealand bonding zee: match.

X&-S6T that z2 ie Domin on Council of of Xew Zealand As- ■ sociatlon Las dually decided that New Zealand will oLoj the inter-Do-mfnfon bowling- contest against A'is- . iraka. it might be surges ted that the time is most opportune for the many details that surround the selection of the actual representative players to be moved forward toward fnalisafci©n_ ktis contest is pro*hably the most outstanding bowling even: that has > arranged for many years pastin fact* it can be regarded as the fore- • runner of many such fixtures that bid fair to plate the game of bowls right in public favour. This advantage is ■ as-dly needed. Therefore, no stone should, be left unturned : or. in more appropriate terms, no cowl should be ieft unplayed, that will make the contest a brilliant inter-loom in ion sport- . ing event The final selection of players presents quite a few difficulties. It is , not as simple as it appears, when the matter is looked uiio closely. The selectors have not a free hand in the choice of the contestants. They are Pot at liberty to choose whom they wish from the 16.60$ bowlers of Xew Zealand. it is not from this great—army of players that the choice" can be made. Indeed, hey are very limited in this respect- • The selectors are confined to those bowlers whose intention it it to take in the A jrtra l ian Bowling Carnival to be heid next Christmas—no more and no less. But who are the players who intend r taking the trip to Australia next De- ; cetuber? The average bowler is ask- [ lug this big question. At the present time they are an unknown quantity. Is it not time that a show of hands , should be called so that a clear indication can be given upon this most important point? Indeed, it is of utmost consequence that this vital question. upon which the whole success of , the fixture is centred, as far as Xew Zealand is concerned. should be brought to the earliest finality. THE PLAYERS AND SELECTORS The centres could help materially in this most necessary work. It might be suggested that .hey bring all the intending players in theii respective centres together. F rom such meetings the selectors wotild have a working knowledge of the towlers who are available. The show of hands would be thus provided, and matters would be expedited. But better still, the players themselves could be supplied with all the . necessary details pertaining to the trip —expenses, boats, time spent away from Xew Zealand, etc. These, and many other details could be provided at such meetings. It is reasonable to expect that the i players who make up the selection would like to have a first-hand knowledge of the component members of the teams. Further, the matter of temperament is of such vital importance in bowling team work that it is almost imperative that the respective members should know in whose company they are to play. This knowledge should also be supplied. In fact, the opportunities that would be presented by such meetings obviously provide a golden chance to settle all the many questions that surround the initiation of such an outstanding bowling event. A close study of all the many details : should help considerably in making. the Australia v. Xew Zealand bowling contest, next December, the great success that its prominence warrants. It is for those in whose hands the administration lies that the opportunity is presented to. It is hoped at ; least they will put forth every effort that is warranted by this auspicious occasion. It woul be a thousand pities i if the event were allowed to languish and degenerate into a bowling event : of purely the social order. Thus would the work of all those who have laboured so hard and long to bring it ; into materialisation be clearly defeated. It may not be out of place to again remind the Dominion Association and its component parts—the respective centres —that it is upon them that the j success of this outstanding event lies. NOTES AND COMMENT The Australian Bowling Council has notified the I>ominion Council that intending competitors fi om Xew Zealand will be allowed to step off the mat. * but bullock teams,* says “Boomerang’* in the Sydney “Referee,” won’t make the Victorian Bowling Association (apparently) announce how other competitors are to he regarded. ' It is evidence of the vagaries of human nature that whenever a privilege is granted any particular section of people, there is always another section prepared to raise the point for its extension, feeling, probably, that some advantage is being granted to their disadvantage. From practical experience it has been found that the * two j feet on the mat” rule, had to be deleted years ago in Xew Zealand. ’ It was tried and failed to give satisfaction. In Australia, on account of th** Australian bowders* delivery, it has, on the other hand, proved a success. It would be a if a necessary concession to Xew Zealand players were taken advantage of, and made the sub ject of a wedge to drive in to Australian rules. Such methods can be rightiy regarded as un-sportsmanlike. It appears that the Victorian Bowl ing Association is determined to elim-

inate the money element c_: of bowling prizes. The following oy-iaws will be made permanent Ail prizes competed for. in any tournament. shall be in the fem of trophies. but orders for trophies rtiy be issued by the club. Money, cheques, conssmaaeable goods, orders for money wearing apparel, or orders on shops for an-:, shall not be offered, given or accepted as prizes. The value of the trophy for the winner shall not exceed £II for rinks. £lO for pairs and £ 3 for singles. In Xew Zealand arizes are not allowed over £5. Boonyrar* states

r -~ -i~ ~r ~r %- -- -i----that ‘fit looks like irai Latins New Zealand." He might instead have rethat it looks line emulating Xevr Zealand- We have very definite views about the matter cf prize money. The absence of big prize money has done the game no harm. In fact it may be stated, moreover, that the sport has thrived in spite of it. Victoria might do well to emulate New Zealand in this respect. The Australian Bowling Council distributes

bowling prizes running in value zi well over XIM for three events. This sum could be well revta-d in the —«tht of Xew Zealand's expert €®e*r PRESS V. PRINTERS Or. account of the per*«s*£Bt2r wet weather, the press «uid ta:ci was not played until the third: attec.pt. On Saturday last a game irw pLayed against, the winter t>rHnb*fr» cf the Carlton Club. After a heavy debug* in the morning, the aftmosa cleared sufficiently well to allow the toatdfe t* proceed. Only half the listed; players assembled, however. But the caaae was thoroughly enjoyed by these. Mr. W. Ball., preindert of the Cutiton Club, welcomed The visitors bei.rtily, and prominent members cf the Press replied in suitable terms. _ Xot to he denied playing their fall muster, which is forty p ayers in nHM figures, another match will be pharwi next Saturday afternoon on the era green. It Is hoped that the mi’s genial rays, which are so akin to tfee geniality expresses! or: the bcfIVMK green, will be in evidence on that tccasion. The sun and bowls ire mous. That very fine team—W J. Caraj>bell. G. J. Madc&y. G. Cater. P i* Scantlebury—annexed the Zens.** Pins from the Mount Albert teaun—T. Maxwell. T. E. Stevens. J H. GarfWt J. Thomas. The victory was a one. 31 to 20 This week a Mount Eden teaaa. »- eluding r>aisley. Turner. TrxyeS 3B& Fraser, are the ciLtllengers. The **• teams are excel lex. t combinations. *iad a goed game should