ON THE BOWLING GREENS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1929, Page 5

ON THE BOWLING GREENS

, POINTS OF ETIQUETTE

ARE YOU A SPORT? MATCH PLAY DEPORTMENT.

(By

“Toucher.”)

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial; We should count by heart-throbs. He

most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.

There was a time when bowls was played only in pothouse alleys for bread-and-cheese and snifters, and the prevalence of betting led to legislative ban. Now its proudest boast is that it i game for gentlemen, without regard for social altitudes. Its votaries re(►resent every class and vocation, which s bound to* reflect habitual attitudes and provide diverse conceptions of the spirit of the game. Under such conditions it is imperative our. bowlers should. be educated up to the best usages of the, pastime. The .Press nfay thunder, the association appeal, and club presidents exhort bowlers to mend their loose ways of doing things, but reform will come only when there is, a f eneral understanding of obligations due o a “game for gentlemen.” . ' z . Some day, perhaps, a treatise on the etiquette of bowls will be written. When such a publication is made available I will pout a copy to more than one player with the hope that a more earnest consideration for the comfort and proper treatment of his- .fellow players might result. I do not wish to obtrude myself among my fellow bowlers as possessing some special qualifications for the teaching of bowling conduct on the green, but I can mention a few matters which bowlers might make a mental note of; and, if they feel so disposed, submit themselves to a little self-exam-ination concerning their conduct on the green. Do they always, for instance, come attired for the game in proper

bowling costume ? Do they ever consider whether the spilling’, of spent matches on the green might be a shot spoiled 1 Do the player ever reflect that, racing half way down the green after he has delivered his bowl, and returning to the! neighbourhood of the mat in quite a casual fashion while' his opponent is waiting to deliver his wood, is apt to be most disconcerting to the opponent? “SHADOW OFF THE JACK!’-’ Expectoration on the green is scarcely A gentlemanly" accomplishment, and crowding round the head and almost at times jostling one’s opponent when he is trying to “get a look in” does not savour of gentlemanly conduct. A player' should never have a'to call out “shadow's off the jack, Nor should it be necessary to remind a player of l a neighbouring ririlY that he is holding your shot up because he is trespassing on your green. ; 5 A very objectionable practice among 'some bowlers is standing,: in front of a flayer about to deliver (his shot from hoAhat,- and frequently moving off up towards'the head just before the player has delivered his bowl! This iri riiost disconcerting arid is frequently the means of causing a bad shot to be played. Moreover, it is the. essence of bad form. A !

■ For such games as the shield matches the player . who dons street apparel should'be legislatively barred; the president, or his deputy, who omits to welcome a visiting team to his green is unfit- to uphold the prestige of his club. ■

In shield matches, and like games the measures' only should remain on the •green when the skips are playing their •shota, while the leads and scorers should take'*up- their position on the bank. ■Under the existing law, it distinctly States that players must stand six feet behind the “kitty,” but often, through 'the eagerness of those bowlers concerned, there is a crowding and jostling that is disconcerting to the skips, , whilst the No. 3’s are not able to get a proper ?erspective of the situation. There ccrainly cannot be any reason why others than the thirds should be on the green at this stage'of the game, and, at the same time, a better . vision of the play would.be given to onlookers in these matches. MATTER OF TASTE. There are points of etiquette and matters of taste, entirely outside the rules of the game, which if duly observed by players tend to promote good feeling and increased pleasure among players. A few may be appropriately set down: —

The player in a rink who wants to be lead, scorer, measurer and skip is a confounded nusiance. The loud talker, who knows how each shot should be played, and thinks nis judgment superior to that of his skip, is obnoxious.

The player who because he is not third or skip sends down his bowls in any old way is the worst kind of a sport. The player who refuses to play in a position in which he is placed resembles a spoilt child. The third who endeavours to cheat when measuring, or in other ways tries to put one over his opponent is unfit to be associated with decent men. The lead or second who persists in moving about among the bowls, sometimes disturbing them, is another nuisance.

Don’t distract the attention of your opponent by addressing him when he is delivering his bowl, and don’t try the subterfuge of moving the mat. Both these offence are unsportsmanlike.

Always display an interest in the green by omitting to do anything that is likely to be detrimental to it, as, for example, recklessly running when the turf is moist and impressionable. Should you cut the turf, always replace it or smooth it down. ’“DON’T BLAME THE GREEN.” Avoid the vexatious fault of bowling short woods, which are invariably futile and often enough obstruct your second bowl, and also those of your partner. “Reach the jack with your first bowl” is a golden rule. In bowliim place your foot in. the centre of the mat. It helps to preserve the green. Some players will persist in ignoring this simple provision. ‘ When measuring always offer your opponent the slip ends of the pegs, and don’t kick the bowls up at any head until he is satisfied as to the result. Don’t b’ame the green or the bowls

for your bad play; the fault may be your own." Remember that at times every player bowls with better results than at others, not as a result of luck, but as the outcome of greater skill and effort.

Always be friendly disposed to the novice and be ready and will to include* him in your rink. Cliques often disturb the harmony of a club. Avoid invidious distinctions on the green.

Don’t irritate your opponent by holding the mat too long by placing yourself in such a position as to obliterate his view of the bowl. Inversely the succeeding player must remember that a player is entitled to the possession of the mat until his bowl stops.

Don't pride yourself that you are such a wonderful player and that you are only wasting time' to play with a novice. . “PLAY THE GAME!” Don’t forget that when you are dodg- | in<r playing with the nOvice, he sees through your game, and is laughing up hits, sleeve at you.and always bears you a “fond” remembrance. Don’t forget to play the game. Don’t borrow bowls; buy your own. Don’t think you are the best player in your club; there are plenty better. Don’t forget that on the green all are equal. Don’t growl; play the game. ' Don’t play with unstamped .bowls. Don’t chalk a toucher . till the next bowl is delivered. Don't .-interfere with the scorers. Don’t interfere with the measurers. r Don’t attempt to direct the skip unless he asks for directions. Don’t interfere, with the bowls before the thirds have decided; silence is golden. Don’t lay the mat carelessly and off the square of the peg. Don’t throw a long head when the skip wants a short one, and vice versa.' Don’t drive when a draw shot is wanted. Don’t think you ought to be a skip; your club selectors know your position. Don’t argue with your skip. He knows best. Don’t drop your bowls on the green — it’s a common occurrence. Have confidence in your skip. It is essential to the .success of your rink. Never dispuite the direction given by the skip. ; Howls is the finest game a man can ’lay. But, above all, play the game. Let your aim be to be- honest, steadfast and true, and'your example will go down the ages as that .of men whose lives were worth while, and who were of some, worth to mankind while they were members of the community among which they lived, THE SHIELD MATCHES. The shield ' matches commence this week in the Taranaki centre. Those set down for this week are: — Northern division.—November. 2: West End B v. Vogelton, at Vogeltown; Fitzroy A v. Fire Brigade and Awakino, at Fire Brigade and Awakino; West End A v. Paritutu; . Fitzroy B v. New' Plymouth B, at Fitzroy. “ Non-competition game: New' Plymouth A v. Waitara, at Waitara.

Western division. —. November 2: Warea v. Auroa, at Auroa; Pihama v. Rahbtu,' at. Pihama; Kapo'uga BV. Opuiiake, at Opunake; Kaponga A a bye. WAREA CLUB. • : •' 7 The official opening of the Warea Bowling Club took place on Saturday, October 19, visiting bowlers from several outside clubs attending. The'usual President v. Vice-president matches were played, the president’s rinks winning. The banner matches will commence next Saturday. The Warea club will be represented by the following players against Auroa at the latter place,: —W. Barsen, F. Roebuck, G. Lewis, J. Henderson (s); A. E. Pearson, H. Wells, C. Muir,'W. Lawn (s).