BOWLING SPASMS

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6, 14 October 1916, Page 22

BOWLING SPASMS

[By "The Ditohbb."]

Epsom Notes. THE name of Epsom (England) is universally known as the classic ground, where the Derby and Oaks are run', and Avitnessed by enormous crowds, of the votaries of racing in the Motherland. Epsom (Auckland) is not quite so famous as its compeer, but it is known to votaries of ' the elusive sport of trotting, which the public, in their blindness and -seal for "getting rich quick" think they can. pick the winners. It is also famous for the Rugger game, and many Homeric struggles have been witnessed on Potter's Paddock ground, but now bearing the fashionable name of Alexandra Park, in honour of the beloved Queen Mother. For some years it has. been the centre for the Auckland. Provincial Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Show, and although up to the present it cannot rival Christch-urch or Palmerston North Shows, it will when Auckland "comes into its own" possibly outrival those above mentioned societies. However, to return to our muttons (revenons nous moutons), it is the home of one of the most popular and sociable bowling clubs in the Auckland Province, where the elusive, harmless and ancient game of bowls is played without the adjunct of gambling, etc., or rough and unsportsmanlike play, which is often in strong evidence when the Rugger and Northern. Union game is played at Alexandra, Eden or Victoria Parks. The tenth season was officially opened on Saturday, the 7th October, 1916, under most favourable, auspices by the new president Mr A. Jones, ex-temporary secretary, a genial knight of the hammer whose presence on the green is noted tor its hilarity. The successor to Mr Jervois Wright, late secretary, "who held office since the inception of the club with the greatest credit and satisfaction, whose perennial smile would belie such a "man of iron, _ is Mi* Alexander Wright, who, being a "Star" of the first magnitude, will doubtless endeavour to emulate bis predecessor. The old. treasurer has been re-elected, much to the satisfaction of those members Avho are desirous of securing an advance without security. The senior vicepresident is one Professor Farrer, who is a thorough sport, and deadly on the "Drive." The general committee consists of the general favourite the "Judge," the ex-presi-dent, a public philanthropist and an ex-member of the Ellerslie Bowling Club, who is a great builder of heads, if not of "Castles in Spam. The match committee, judging from their experience and impartiality should give satisfaction in selecting teams for home and mter-club matches, comprises one who, although not a "Potter," is made of Good Clay " Another is the good natured and unselfish '"Walter," and the last but not least of the trio is. one who will worry his opponent like a ferret does its quarry in it® Warren.. One «f the most important positions, namely that of green superintendent, is retained by the victorious "George" of single fame, which is rather incongruous for a benedict. In order to keep the olub from hai*assing its bankei*- for- an over■daft, K the finances are severely audited by the popular but just Judge Baron w whose well known financial judgments are/proverbial. The old proverb that "nearer the bone, sweeter the meat" is exemplified in the popular and skilful Irish-Scotch green, caretaker, ,-wno

gets* so excited when be is. playing that he causes much, merriment by his expressions.

Remuera Notes

A fine afternoon on Saturday saw the Avinter green well occupied, and an interesting and exciting game for the Finlayson Badges. The holders—Tempest, 0. Smith, Hegman, Badeley (-)■-—were challenged by Hunt, Dawes, Williams, Wooller (s.). On.the seventh head, Badeley was 12 to Wooller'e 4. However,

the next head Wooller scored 7, making him 11, and he gradually scored until, on the twentieth head, the totals were: Badeley 19, Wooller 24. Requiring 5 to tie, it seemed that Wooller must win, but though he was lying 1 and with the bowls apparently well mixed, Badeley, with his last bowl, played' a running shot, the, jack came back off a bowl, and he made the 5 required to tie. An extra head was played when, by good play, Badeley again succeeded in drawing the jack with his last bowl and lay 3, thus retaining the badges. The. opening of the green for the season, which was to have taken place on the 14th inst., has been postponed until the 21st inst., on account of the parade of the 18th Reinforcements to be held here on the 14th inst. « * at Ellerslie Notes. Saturday was an ideal bowling day, and all on the green enjoyed themselves to the full. The contest for the Lang Ferns evoked a lot of interest, and was an even game up to the fifteenth head, when the challengers' team, skipped by the president, forged ahead, and was ten up at the finish. Elley and Burns, for the winners, played well, and A. Ferguson, as lead for the holders, kept his end up right through, as did Laud, playing third. R. Millen has a team chosen to try conclusions with the holders, the game to be played on Saturday week, 21st inst. A team skipped by E. Howell will represent the club at. the Labour Day tournament on the Rawhiti green. . » , Rocky Nook Notes. In the game between teams skipped by Eagleton and Hodgson, the former made the pace a cracker right from the jump, and had got well into double figures Avhilst his opponent was scoring six. Afternoon tea seemed to have agreed well with Hodgson and his team, for play after that event was of a much more interesting nature, but the lead established by Eagleton proved too big a "hurdle, who ran out a winner 31-26. Some tall scoring Avas seen in the game betAveen Martin and Gladding as skips. At half-time the latter had an advantage of ten points, but a sixer to the former reduced the gap. A few heads later, however, Gladding Had his revenge;, and also notched a six, Avhich now made the game eight in his favour. Close play took place from then to the finish, Martin eventually acknowledging defeat by four points. Gladding's score comprised a six, a five, six threes, one brace and three singles, whilst Martin's was made up of a six, one five, one four, two threes, two twos, and five singles. Pearce skipped a team against one Avith A. Clark on the end, and got into his stride from the start, the score on the sixth head reading 14-1 in his favour. When the fifteenth head was; reached, however, there was only three the difference, but Pearce and his men agaita. ran away and soon had a majority of twelve. A seven then to Clark gave him a fighting chance, but he could not quite make up the deceit, allowing his opponent, to claim victory by four points. Scores: 29-25. An interesting game of pairs took place between Kayes and Ellisdlon and Dransfield and Wakerley. There Avas very little difference in. the scores all the. Ayay through, and, with one head to>o, Wakerley was three up. On the last head Waker-

ley"~A*va_r lying well; but"" Ellsdoi-, with his last bowl, drove out all his. opponent's nearest bowls, and lay four, thus winning the .thatch.by a point./ Scores: 29-28.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

Prominent among Queen' Street pedestrians this week .was Archie Waddell, some time Hawke's Bay football representative, and more latterly of City Club, Auckland. Archie represented Auckland .and the North Island in 1909, leaving the following year for England l , where he played for St. Helen's, Lancashire. On the outbreak of war Waddell went in with the New Zealanders (organised by Captain Lampen) in England, eventually joining up with the Main Body.< in Egypt. Getting through the landing safely, it was some weeks before the knock-out came in the shape of a high explosive shell, the concussion from which left him senseless and with hearing partially gone. Recovering slightly, he hung on to the Peninsula for four months longer, when the giddiness and' deafness caused by the explosion had their effect, and he was shipped off on the Acquitania to hospital ; in England. The voyage, proved' 'both eventful and distressing, 50 burials at sea taking place within ten days. Archie looks extremely fit, -and except-that he -is quite deaf in one ear, and that occasional attacks of giddiness overtake him, is as sound' as ever.