BOWLING

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 4

BOWLING

DOINGS ON THE GREENS APPROACHING TOURNAMENTS. (By “Toucher.”) Wellington Centre, at Wellington, December 27, 28, 2D. Hamilton Combined Clubs, at Hamilton. December 27, 28, 29. Wanganui Centre, at Wanganui, December 28. Wellington Centre, at Hutt Valley, December 31, January 1. Taranaki Centre, at New Plymouth. January 1 and 3. East Coast Centre, at Hastings, January 1 and 3 Peace Shield Tournament, at Gisborne, January 1 aud 3. Manawatu New Year Tournament, at Palmerston North, January 1 and 3. Nelson Centre, at Nelson, January 1. 3, and 4 (16 heads). Te Aroha Club Tournament, at Te Aroha, January 1,3, and 4. Wairarapa Centre, at Masterton, January 1 and 3. New Zealand Dominion Bowling Association Annual Tournament, at Auckland; singles, January 10 ana 11; rinks, January 12; pairs, January 17 and 18. Taranaki Centre Open Tournament, at New Plymouth, January 24. 25, 26. Rotorua Tournament, at Rotorua; first tournament, February 7; second tournament, February 21.

It will be seen by the above that bowlers in Taranaki and in the North Island are well catered for during the holiday season. Several teams are being arranged from the local clubs to take part in the Dominion tournament, and we hope that their doings will find a place in bowling history. So far I have not heard of any Taranaki entrants for the Palmerston North tournament. In regard to the Wanganui tournament I understand a couple of teams from the Fitzroy Club are competing. I trust several Taranaki teams will endeavour to journey to Wanganui to repay the visit of the many teams from that city that took part in our open tourney last year, and thus help to keep alive that friendly spirit and harmony that exists between Taranaki and Wanganui bowlers. Entries for the local New Year tourney are coming in well, and I would remind bowlers that the closing date is December 18. For tho open tournament commencing on January 24 rinks are being arranged by the numerous enthusiasts, and one hears every day of skips seeking for players to make up their combinations, while others have been successful in arranging their four wherewith they hope to secure the coveted honours.

Play on the various town greens was confined last Saturday to friendly games amongst club members. The respite from inter-club play was appreciated by numbers of players, who desired to indulge in the quiet social game, when club honours are not at stake. On the other hand there were many who wondered why shield matches had not been set down for decision. It was pointed out that the commencement of the second round for February was too far delayed, and arrangements could easily have been made for the shield games to have proceeded last Saturday and tne coming Saturday, and also the second week in January, thus avoiding -the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is also pointed out that the delay until February, and the further delay owing to race meetings, will prolong the com petition until well into March, If bad weather occurs, the matches will be still further delayed, and it may be April before finality is reached in the northern division. Then the winners ot the various divisions have to play off, and conditions for ideal bowling will not prevail owing to the lateness of the season. I hope that in future years these points will be given due consideration. At present West End are a win to the good over Fitzroy, and it appears as if the issue in the northern division wil) be between these two clubs. I am unable to give the position in the other divisions owing to lack of information as to the conditions under which the games are being played. THE GILMOUR CUP. Interest in the Gilmour Cup is very keen among the New Plymouth and Waitara clubs just now. Last Thursday New Plymouth put It all over Waitara. Woollett was 13 to Nosworthy’s 7 on the 7th head, but on the 12th head Nosworthy had drawn level—l 4 all. Then he assumed the lead and led 22-14 on the 16th head. With a five and two singles Woollett improved his position, and on the 22nd head the score was: Nosworthy 20, Woollett 25. From this point Nosworthy failed to score, and Woollett securing 4,2 and 1, won by six points. It may be interesting to mention that Nosworthy opened his account on the fi,rst head with a five, but Woollett did even better on the 6th head by scoring a seven. Nasmith never gave Fowler a chance, being 10 to 3 on the 6th head, 23 to on the 17, and 37 to 12 on the final head. J. R. Hill treated Hoskin similarly, being 26 to 6 on the 14th head and 44 to 15 on the 25th. Hill’s score included two fives and three fours. Up to afternoon tea, Washer held the advantage over L, Sampson by 12 to 6. On resuming Washer failed to score for six heads, while Sampson ran up to 21 points. Washer slightly improved his position in the remaining heads, ultimately suffering defeat by five points. To the surprise of most bowlers the Vogeltown-Paritntu combination' gave West End a good “go.” Had it not been for F. J. Hill’s victory over Looney by 13 points, the result would have been problematical, as that was the margin that West End won by. Billing defeated; Dickson by nine points, but that was evened by Jackson being 8 points up on Olliver and Cooper being one point In advance of Petty. SOME ENGLISH ITEMS. The Year Book of the English Bowling Association gives details of all the scores for and against iff the matches between the British bowling team which visited Australia and New Zealand and the clubs which opposed them. The grand totals for the whole of the tour showed that our guests compiled 9432 against our 9405. The most successful skip was Minto, a Scot, who won 26 games and only lost 5. Brook, a Leicester player, won 13 and lost 4. Crawford, another Scot, played the most games, 53, and he won 32 of them. George Wright, the captain, played 51 games, ,26 of which he won. The entries for the English championships last season were as follows:

fSingles 2578, pairs 1893, rinks 949. No doubt more than 4000 bowlers participated, and when the elubs and the districts had -weeded out their entrants and found their champions, the numbers which took part in the finals were reduced to: Singles 28, pairs 26, rinks 25. A week is allotted for the meeting of all these champions at some central green, and decisions must be reached within that time. Sometimes these finals are played when the green is well under water. The membership of the English Bowling Association now comprises 25 county associations, 13 associated members, with a total of -870 clubs. As many clubs have over 200 members, there must be quite 100,00 bowlers affiliated with the association. A test match, five rinks aside, between the visiting South Africans and the English Bowling Association team resulted in a decisive win for England by 105 points to 78. Up to this match the South Africans had played 24 games, winning 18 and losing 6, their shots being 3022 against 2559 by the English county associations and Welsh clubs, a majority of 463 shots. From the first head the visitors found the green faster than any they had encountered, and this made the difference between scoring and just missing. Bowling prospects in Cornwall (says an English paper) are good. The County Association now has twelve affiliated elubs, Bodmin and Camborne being the latest additions. Enthusiasm in the game grows, and this season will see hot competition for the Nicholl Cup. as present held by Penzance. For the first time Cornwall have decided to play all their competitions in accordance with the rules of the English Bowling Association. The membership of clubs seems to be on the increase. Camborne made its green last year, and Wadebridge is understood to be contemplating the provision of one. Ladies are to make their appearance on the Penzance green this year, and four sets of bowls have been bought for them. BOWLING JOTTINGS. A few weeks ago I mentioned an instance wherein in Sydney a head was played where no bowls remained on the green—an extraordinary occurrence. Now it has come to my knowledge that a week after the paragraph appeared a similar instance occurred on the Waitara green, when a pairs competition was in progress. Such incidents are worthy of chronicling, as they are rare indeed. According to a ruling given to the New South Wales Association, no employee in or about a bowling elub in the State can be worked over 44 hours per week. Some time, ago a rink was once sent out to do battle for a certain club in the southern part of the city of Auckland. It consisted of Messrs. Plumtree, Grabtree, Roundtree and Rattray, and one of their opponents greeted them witth the sage remark that they had brought the whole orchard with them. There are quite a number of the City Fathers in Wellington who are keen followers of the biassed sphere. The Mayor, Mr. C. I. B. Norwood, is a keen bowler and an ex-president of Victoria Bowling Club. He is also the originator of the Wellington municipal milk supply. The following bowlers, viz., Messrs. W. H. Bennett, E. B. Burn, H. A. Huggins, W. J. Thompson, and F. Meadowcroft (last year president of the New Zealand Bowling Association) are also on the Wellington City Council. Mr. Geo. Baildon, Mayor of Auckland, is a well-known bowler there, and in past years many bowling matches took plac l between teams picked from William Baildon, senr., and his seven eons. It is unlikely that any but odd rinks will represent New South Wales at the Ackland tournament, as it is the worst time for bowlers to bo away (says the Referee). Country week and pennants will kep them home till February at least. The other States will, however, be well represented, bar Victoria. Teams of bullocks could not drag the average Victorian player away from the pennants, and, as a matter of faet, the talent, takes as a whole, that will visit the Dominion, will not represent Australia’s best. The Dominion has to thank the Redmond brothers for doing a great deal for New Zealand on th.s side. They are the greatest living enthusiasts, and are very popular in all States, where they are well kjiown.