ON THE GREENI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 12

ON THE GREENI

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH.

Among the players who have joined the ranks of bowling this season is Mr. E. J. Moss, the popular professional golf coach. Already it is evident from the first few games that he has played that he may equal the ability lie exhibits on the golf course in the gn mo on the green, for he rolls an excellent bowl. Mr. Moss won the open golf championship of New Zealand in 1924 and 1927, also the professional golf championship of New Zealand in 1924 and 1925. If he develops his bowling up to the standard of his fellow-golf coach, Mr. Norrie Bell, jun., of Hamilton, who was the runner-up for the singles championship of the Dominion in 1927, bowling in Auckland will indeed have annexed a brilliant exponent.

The Auckland Club, after a series of most interesting matches, has found its champion rink for the coming champion of champion rinks competition—to be competed for between the respective clubs in Auckland—in Ure, H. Allan, J. Bailey, and C. Muston, the runners-up being K. Macky, H. Neil, A. Brackebush, and M. Walker. The final game was remarkable for the wholesale defeat of the opposing team, the score being 26—#. It goes without saying that Muston’s team played excellent, bowls. E. I. Lyell substituted for Ure on the occasion, and Ijjs contribution to the ultimate victory in the game was a strong factor.

Keith Macky beat M. Walker in the championship singles of the Auckland Club last Thursday. Macky commenced by scoring a three and a singleton respectively on the first two heads, and his opponent failed to even up at any portion of the game. Both players drew exceedingly well, and in this class

'jf shot there was little between them but Macky was wonderfully successful by pressing through the opposing shot bowl when on the jack, scoring in this fashion time after time. The game throughout was a brililant exhibition of the singles contest, and ended 17—21. By this loss, Walker is eliminated from the championship of the club for the season. It marks the first occasion that he has been defeated for this test of bowling since he joined the parent club. His first defeat this season was at the hands of J. P. Aldred, which only goes to show clearly that younger players are coming on in sufficient numbers to challenge the right of the older players to retain their front-rank positions in bowling. Both Macky and Aldred are players with only a few years’ bowling experience.

Quite a brilliant function took plac& last Saturday, when the llemuera and the Auckland Clubs held their annual interclub contest. The day was ideal for the occasion, and the greens were in excellent condition. Both Mr. T. R. Procter, president of the Remuera Club, and Mr. E. A. Craig, president of thQ Auckland Club, made reference to the splendid spirit that exists between these two large bowling clubs, and expressed the wish that this fine sentiment v r ould continue. Fitting reference was made to the prolonged and serious illness of his Majesty the King, and the members joined in the National Anthem.

No fewer than 92 players tdok part in the contest. The team, A. F. Mackay, Forder, and Whittaker, headed by the veteran skip Gregory Osmond, played a hard-fought game against Taylor, Marshall, Jacks, and Woollor, the latter wanning by one point. Oliver Nicholson captained Mills, N. Burton, H. McCrea, against Donaldson, Tudehope, Dixon, Newton, and the latter got home by a three-points margin. Dan Long also beat Janies Duncan by one point, while the veteran Remuera skip, Ryan, handsomely beat Keys by eight points. P. Moir, of Auckland, struggled hard to obtain three shots on the last head to gain a victory over Saxton, but just failed by two to annex the points. m j +

James Coe, Remuera’s popular treasurer, had a "real day out” against Davidson, playing wonderful bowls throughout the game and winning decisively by eight points in the game. M. Walker, who can always be relied upon for a first-class exhibition, and that able player, Bray, were evenly matched on the day, tieing on the final head after a very strenuous game. Remuera’s popular president, usually a forceful player, maintained his reputation in this respect by burning head after head against Scantlebury, but failed by one bare point to annex the concluding victory. As regards the fighting strength of the two clubs, the grand total of the aggregate scores disclosed that there was little between them, for Auckland came out the victor by exactly one point.

The Remuera Club’s extensive property is now at its best. One most pleasing feature is the attractive surroundings of the new green. Quite a generous area is reserved for bank space, which is now’- well grassed, while the lawn, between the pavilion green and the new property, adequately shaded with graceful pepper trees and cool foliage, provides refreshing shade for onlookers, and at the same time makes a charming entrance to the newly-acquired area The new green is healthily grassed and is established well enough for play. It is anticipated that the green will be utilised for play on the first occasion during the New Year tournament. The club is making full arrangements to accommodate a large number of entrants. It is to be warmly complimented on its wonderful advancement in club development. A team of players from the Auckland Centre Executive, comprising Messrs. Hardley, Tonkin, Wright and S. Coldicutt, went to New Lynn on Saturday Last and played against Messrs. Young. Edney, Platt and Rankin, winning by 24 —20. The pre«sident of the club, Mr. R. E. Edney, welcomed the visitors, on behalf of his fellow-members, and the past-president, the Rev. W. P. Rankin, who has a fine reputation from Southland, skipped the home team. The new club is making steady progress, and the prospects for the future are very bright.

The inter-section play of the Auckland Centre’s Christmas tournament will commence on the Carlton Club’s green on Saturday next. The games should prove of more than passing interest to those interested in watching good displays of bowling.

The Ponsonby Club has found its champion rink for the champion of champion rinks competition to be played on January 29 in Somervell,

WHAT’S"* WRONG?

"What’s wrong with football?” is now a more or less regular caption in English newspapers. One of the things “wrong with football” in the Old Country would appear to be suggested by the following paragraph:

"J. Hill, the centre-half of the Burnley Football Club, was transferred to Newcastle United at a fee stated to be between £9.000 and £IO,OOO. The record transfer fee' is a little more Than £ 10,000, which was maid by the Arsenal to Bolton Wanderers for D. Jack a fortnight ago.” There would appear to be something radically wrong with the very core of a game in which such nreposterous prices are paid ior individual players.

Harkins, Jones and Parsons. This is an excellent combination, and three of the members are well-tried pjayers. Somervell led for Parsons when the latter won the championship of the Dominion, while Harkins paired with Parsons when they won the centre pairs championship some three years ago. Jones is also an experienced player. The team should do well in the competition at the end of January.

It is probable that the Australian bowlers coming to New Zealand in January will conduct their games on lines that are likely to vary the methods usually adopted here. For instance* when a 1 short head is required, they shorten the rink •by bringing the mat well up the green. Strangely enough, pur rules provide for this contingency, while few of our players are aware of the real meaning. Rule 9 says: “The winners of the head may place the mat in the centre of the rink between the point where the jack lay in the ditch provided the front of the mat shall not be more than 20 feet or less than 6 feet from the ditch.” It is customary for the lead in the losing team here to lay the mat. Hence, apparently, the adoption almost universally of the latter part of the ruling on this subject. But with the Australians the winning lead will take the mat and await the signal from his skip as to where the mat is to be placed, and so when a short head is required the mat is taken well up the green. SATURDAY’S MATCHES THE FIXTURE LIST Following are the bowling fixtures for Saturday: Auckland Club—Ordinary draw. Avondale Club—Buckle Fours and ordinary draw. Buckland Club—President’s pairs. Carlton Club—Ordinary draw and in-ter-section play of Centre’s Christmas tournament. Devonpoi’t Club—Percentage fours. Dominion Road Club—Ordinary draw. Edendale Club—Ordinary draw. Ellerslie Club—Open day or competitions. Epsom Club—Ordinary draw. Glen Eden Club—Ordinary draw. Grey Lynn Club—Ordinary draw. Heleneville Club—Club games. Henderson Club—Club competitions. Mangere Club—Smokers v. NonSmokers. Manurewa Club—Percentage fours. Mount Albert Club—Bennett’s competition. Mount Eden Club —Ordinary draw. New Lynn Club—Ordinary draw. Onehunga Club—Ordinary draw. Otahuhu Club —Percentage fours. Papatoetoe Club—Ordinary draw. Ponsonby Club—Ordinary draw. Pukekohe Club —Ordinary draw. Rawhiti Club—Open day (visitors). Remuera Club—Clear day. Rocky Nook Club—Ordinary draw. St. Heliers Club—Ordinary draw. Stanley Club—Ordinary draw. Takapuna Club—Community bowls. Te Papapa Club—Ordinary draw. Waitemata Club—Open day. West End Club—Open draw.

EXCITING POLICE RAID

WHOLESALE CAR THEFTS MOTORS FROM ALL OVER LONDON Exciting moments inside and outside a Blackfriars garage were described to the magistrate at Tower Bridge, London, when he had before him on remand Edward Condon, Samuel Hayes, Alfred Philpot, Ernest Doolan, and Patrick Fitzgerald. They were charged with being concerned in stealing a car and contents, value £llO, and Condon, Hayes and Philpot were also accused of the theft of another car and contents, worth £I4S. Philpot alone was charged additionally with stealing two more cars, valued respectively at £l5O and £6O, and a motor-car Excise licence, value ss. Mr. Barker, prosecuting, explained that prior to the arrest of the five men the police had kept observation on a garage in Bennett Street, Southwark, stated to be rented by Philpot. On the night of September 22 Philpot was seen to drive up in one of the cars alleged to have been stolen and put it away in the building. He then went away, but returned five minutes later with Hayes and Condon, and all three went into the garage. Detectives who were on watch followed them in and detained them inside, while other officers remained outside. About two hours later another car arrived. Fitzgerald was driving, and with him were Doolan and a man not in custody. Doolan peered inside and then shoouted, “Look out!” The waiting detectives arrested Fitzgerald and Doolan, but the third man got away. Later, at Kennington Road, Philpot remarked: “The car I brought in to-night I ‘pinched’ from the West End. The other car the other kids brought in 1 ‘pinched’ a week ago in Kingsway.” Mr. Barker added that when the garage was searched a motor-car body and a number of motor fittings and accessories were revealed. Those had since been identified as belonging to cars which had disappeared from various parts of London.

Detective-Sergeant Ellis, describing the arrests of the five men, stated that he was in the garage with Philpot, Condon and Hayes, when the second car drove up. “I heard voices,” he proceeded, "and someone cried, “Get in quick.” The door was opened from the outside. I ran out and saw the car standing at the entrance to the garage. Doolan, Fitzgerald and another man not in custody were running from the car. I gave chase, but was tripped up, and fell to the ground. I rose and went to the assistance of Detective Lee, who was on the ground with Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald observed to me, ‘I am sorry. I did not trip you. You were accidentally tripped up.’ Fitzgerald was arrested by Lee.” Accused were remanded and bail was offered to Doolan, Fitzgerald and Hayes.