THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10680, 29 January 1913, Page 3

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

THE GAME OF BOWLS.

THE DUTIES OP PLAYERS. By "JACK HIGH," in tho "Sydney , Mail." (Concluded.) LUOK IN BG\?LS. There is another fiction about bowls, tie., that it is a very lucky game; or, rather, that luck plays a big part in the winning or losing ot a gamo. No doubt the clement of luck, if there is such a thing, enters into everything; but in bowls 1 think there is less than in many other sports. In the .recent tour of the Australian cricketers they generally lost the toss, and their opponents had the choice whether to bat or send the Australians to tho wickets, llie cTioico generally in-cant the Australians taking the field, and, subsequently being called upon to bat on a damaged wicket, so that their luck was out in that respect. But in bowls both sides play under equal conditions all the time, and, however bad the green may be, if players aro in form, it should not take many ends for them to pick up the mysteries of the green. Luck in bowls, as in billiards, happens very frequently where the green ia at fault, or when the topBotcners are not engaged. But I have «een two cracks playing on a perfect green, and there was not ono lucky jhot—i.e., one that was not played for —during the whole journey of 31 up, , and, as most bowlers will admit, this is a pretty long journey. The novico in billiards and howls will bring off some wonderful shots, though he cannot explain how he got thom or do them again if he tries. A friend once said to me: "I think I will take up bowls. I,was always pretty good at rifle shooting, billiards, and most other things I went in for, and I think I'd be a champion at bowls." I gladly nominated him. Bowlers have no feelings of jealousy for better men, and, however keen some of them may be after the club championship, all will do their utmost to gather in a brother to the fold. Jim took to the gam 3 kindly, practised regularly, and, when there was no one else about, played forehand against backhand. One day he was so engaged, when the president of tho club entered the green, unnoticed by the aspirant. The president watched tho colt put up his four bowls, which were none of them of much account. Jim looked at the head thoughtfully for a while, and then exclaimed, "It looks so ■ very v easy, bnt it is 60 awfully hard." Jim is* not the only man who has started to learn bowls under the impression that

it looks so very easy and found a diffi t culty in getting out' of the maiden class. It is the difficulty of acquiring proficiency and maintaining it that makes one of the chief fascinations of the game. To-day a man feels very fit, and hurries to the green in search of a victim, and finds himself scalped. Or he feels "rotten," and mopes mi the bank till some kind friend lure? him. to put on his shoes for "11 up." He may fro out and find the green at ouce, playing a »ood game, in which ease he forgets bis troubles and goes liom© very pleased with himself.. THE FREEMASONRY OF BOWLS. What, a good old leveller the game is I Who- would ever think of calling anybody—if he is a bowler —Mr on a bowling green? : However high he may be in the business, social or political world? he is just Jack "or "Mac" on :a bowline green. It is not his money or his position that counts there', but his 'prowess with the No 3's. And , what friendships are formed through bowls! You cynics, just go down to the nearest bowling green .and await developments. You are a stranger to the players and the other fellows watching the games., After a while you will find thesa nonipliiyers looking in your direction, and by-and-bye two or three of them will walk over to you. They do not regard vou as a trespasser, but if you are a tiowler vou will be invited to have a Toll up, will be introduced to all present, and the health of your late club will be 4 toasted, if such convenience exists. In a few minutes, instead of feeling a stranger, you will find yourself surrounded by many friends, who will vie with each other in striving to make you feel at home. To-morrow Jn the city you will meet many of these men, ana they will introduce vou to other bowlers," not necessarily from the same club, and before the day is over you will find yourself with half a dozen invitations to different greens. These bowlers you will meet in tho city may be^very;busy folk; but they'll finii time to stop" and have a few minutes' chat just to make sure that' you have been invited to come to the green again, to inquire if you like the place, if you fire, going to stay here, if they can do anything to facilitate your inquiries, if. they can help you to get fixed up, etc. And tliev mean what they say, end you will find when you go to the green again that they have been making inquiries and can tell you something that is going and tho best man to see, because Tie is a bowler, for there is as 'great a freemasenrv in bowls as there is in the order of that name. Another aspect of howls which makes it so attvactiye is the ability of old and young men to engage in it without the fcge limit being introduced. STAR—Game of Bowls TWO Certainly, many more young men are playing the game now than there *vere a few years ago; but, though the young fellows have more vitality and their sight is keener, they cannot oust the old fellows from their position at the head of'.the rinks. True, there fire -many young skippers an.d old eaders. I remember one rink—and a very successful one, too—Mn which a veteran of seventy led for a skipper t)f twenty-tnree i—son of a skipper, too —and that old man felt honoured on being asked' to lead for "Tommy." And didn't he catch it, too, sometimes when he failed to.be up! But, taking it all in all, there is no pastime in which grey hairs are more respected, and a man on the bowling green is only judged by his ability to play the game. Caste 'only enters into" tho sport where a man is disposed to show points; but this kind of a player is rarely, if ever, met with. For the most part bowlers are jovial, clean sportsmen, who play the game for the exercise and the enjoynient- it gives, and who wish for nothing more than that the better man shall win. RECENT EVENTS. AND-CON-'CLUSION. Now to come to the state of the game to-day. At the recent tournament in Melbourne the champion State proved to be Victoria. This was not unexpected, but it was certainly a surprise that New South Wales did not come a hot second. The luck was »gainst them is the fact that two matches were lost, each on the very last shot—if it may be called luck! This State, moreover, was in the

curious position that it would have strengthened its ranks by calling on Hie men who were " on the bank," but who had not nominated for the trip. Of course, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania may have been similarly situated, but it is improbable. In the circumstances., the team as originally picked had to be retained; but it would do no harm to put some elasticity in the rules for future tournaments. One very powerful rink formed part of the New South "Wales team. a good third substituted for Yeo It had been beaten by another rink shortly before leaving Sydney; but—veil, things happen sometimes! The champion rink was: Arnott, G. Chapman, Yeo and Moses. As a leader Amott has no superior; as a second CliufJiMtin's average gamo is better khan the avorajjc game of any other

second I know; Yeo was probably the best player in tho to ain which lately 'toured England, with the possible exception of Thorpe; and Harry Mosey is tho best skip in the State. As a rink it was a world-beater, and no ono was surprised when it won the rink championship of Australia. Victoria .won til© interstate matches, and the individual championship (Sayers, of Ballarn.t); but New South Wales was not without distinction and trophies. Nevertheless this State cannot rest contented until it is tho chamnion State, and tho selectors are always on tho look-out for promising players. A great many young men arc now playing tho gamo, and this now development is bound to have an important effect on tho pasti.no. "It is tho billiards of out-of-doors" is tho frequent comment when a player first becomes acquainted with a good green and realises what there is in tho frame. Tho ideal club is tho one where the pot-hunter is discouraged. Probably. tho most popular club—not the strongest, but the one that crimes nearest to all that a. club should be—is the Kti-ring-gai Club, near Horn shy. The green is perfect, the surroundings are beautiful, the members are kindly hosts and tho standard of play, if approaching brilliancy only now .and then, is quit© satisfactory. Ku-ring-gai is a sort of 'semi-rura.l club, and to go there is a delightful holiday. These notes may bo rend by many neople in the country. There are. splendid opportunities beyond tho metropolis for the formation of flubs. No country town should be without its green, and fhould anyone be inspired by these nr!,i"lcs to be no and doing he will soon rank as a public benefactor. There was once an idea that bowls and whisky woro inseparable. . Perish the thought! Come with me to Ku-ring-gai sreen, and at four o'clock adjourn with the members and their .guests to havo tea on the wide verandah. That is the modern picture of a bowler. "Tja-oh, bo>?!" —the caretaker rings jhe bell, and in they troop. Here's to the good old game!