SHORT HEADS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 1

SHORT HEADS.

NOTES FROTTHTGREENS.

(By THIRD PLAYER.) Save for the fact that rain interfered with the final, necessitating tbo abandonment of the game after ten heads had been played, with, a fresh start two days later, the Maddison Trophy competition proved highly successful in every way. The final, between A. Jack (Sydenham) and R. Torrance (Christchiirch) provided a fine exhibition of single handed play. In the early part Torrance showea particularly good form, and ho led for more than half the game, after which Jack asserted himself, finishing up a comfortable winner. Torrance is a very fine drawing player, but ho is also a first-class _ driver. .It was his fondness for driving that proved. his undoing, as more than one of his fast ones went astray, or produced unfortunate results. Jack,. on the other hand, relied almost entirely on steady drawing, with an occasional firm resting shot. Even , when .ho .was considerably in arrears he kept pegging away with tho_ draw, and in the end, when Torrance's drives proved unsuccessful, the Sydenham champion got in four good scores. I have for a long time been _ convinced r that in a., single the drawing gaiuo is iho winning game. Ihave seen many good drivers operating iu singles, hilt as a rule they, crack up sooner or later, and then the drawing player takes his points in big lots. I do not wish it to he inferred that .1 plaoe no value on ability to drive. This is a very valuable qualification, in fact, hut the fast ones are most effective when employed only on odd occasions, when it is necessary to open up a head, or when the head does not appear open for a draw. In singles especially, the player who makes driving his chief weapon of attack is apt to fall an easy prey to the steady drawer, provided the latter does'not allow himself to be rattled by the hustling methods of his opponent. I have rather drifted from the filial of the Maddison Trophy, but I*must offer my hearty congratulations to A. Jack on his win, which wa!s thoroughly deserved. It was the first success gained by a representative of the Sydenham Club in any of the Centre's championship competitions, and it should enhance. the reputation of the club from a playing point of view.

In connection with the Maddison Trophy competition, general regret was expressed that the donor, Mr J'. 0. Maddison, .was not on hand to make the customary presentation, tho duty devolving on Mr. John Clarke, vicepresident of the Centre. I fancy this is the first timo Mr Maddison has missed witnessing the competition which he inaugurated in such a handsome manner, and it is certain nothing short, of illness would have kept him away. Bowling in Christchurch owes a good deal to this enthusiast. . Though decidedly bare in places, the St Albans green was hi good playing order for the opening rounds of the champion of champions doubles last Saturday. This was the first year of tho competition, and, with fifteen .clubs taking part, it must be voted abig success. As in the case of the champion of champions rinks, this competition was designed primarily with tho object of improving the standard of play ou tho different greens, and if practice counts for anything, it should accomplish its object, as it is safe to say there was never so much serious double play in Christchurch as has been seen during this season. As far as lastSaturday's n>lay was concerned, "now-, ever, I confess I was not altogether satisfied. • Some of it was' , decidedly mediocre, and did not augur a high club standard. It is true there ■ was some good play, but few of the pairs, showed up to championship ' standard.Tho strongest impression, so far as I was concerned, was made by Dr Pairman and Dr Sundsteiu, of Christchurch. In tho first gamo Dr Pairmaii's leading was patchy, but Dr Sandstein was equal to all demands. In the second round Christchurch .met Sharp and Angus (Kaugiora), who had polished off the strong Sunnyside pair (Suttie and Milner). On tho form shown in the opening round the Bangiora pair looked a warm proposition, but they looked very ordinary up against the Christchurch pair. In this game Dr Pairmau led very solidly, the result being that his skip had a very easy lime, l'avitt and I'arnham. representing Kuiapoi. also took my eyo as a. very solid combination. They let off no fireworks, but their drawing was very consistent. In this particular department I'arnlinm can quite hold his own iu any company. The Christchurch Centre has issued a neat, programme for the Easter tournament, and it has come in for a <;ood deal of favourable comment from- bowlers. who seem to specially like the arrangement which will give them three full days" play at E-k-ter. Good Friday and Easter Monday will be devoted to rinks, and Saturday to doubles. As was the case last year. lunch and afternoon tea will be provided for players. To meet the wishes of some South Canterbury players, tlie tournament, is open, instead of beiulc restricted to members of clubs affiliated 1o the Christchurch Centre. Entries will close on Saturday. April 4.

Very Few iii>uu'.-. have been played in comnrcit lon matches during the week -.I th-.' bj'deuliaiii giion. in ill cY.b

doubles Mortimer .and Blackmore beat Freeman and Robertson. Butler and Scott beat Congreve anid Good, Lash and Allison beat Butler and Scott, Dickenson and Austin beat Lash and Allison. Johnston and Clark beat Merriman and Duffy, Freeman and Robertson beat Lash and Allison, Merriman and Duffy 'beat .Lash and Allison.

In the colts' singles at the Sydenham green Chambers beat Manhiro. In the Championship Rinks competition at the Canterbury green Maynard's rink beat Redpath's by 2 points. All the play at tho Canterbury Club's green is going on on the-west green, while the other is being freed of weeds. When seen the other evening the grass looked as though it might have been ploughed up, but the members expect to have a first-class green for next season.

Bowlers will be sorry to hear that Mr Mathieson, of the. Linwood Club, is going to leave Christchuroh to take up a position nt Tiniaru. At a meeting on Friday evening it was decided to hold a general meting of the club bowlers this afternoon to. cousider making a presentation to Mr Mathieson.

The President's Cup competition at tho Linwood green is nearly over. Today Dawson's rink will piay a game, and if 'successful it will 1 win - its]sec-, tiou. ' . '

1 Since our recent Australian - visitors returned home, they have born <1 ssing_ the bowling situation as tliey found it-in New Zealand, and a. few of the differences between New Zealand nud Australian methods. Some of tho comments which I have seen in Australian papers open up interesting topics of discussion. During the tour, said one Sydney writer, our players naturally had to conform to tho rules laid clown in tlie dominion, just as for the future New Zealand teams visiting lis must do likewise. It seems strange that there should bo any alteration. in rules necessary. They should be the same. Tho only difference lies in two matters—one. that in New Zealand the toucher and the jack have tho same_ significance—that is, when a jack is dead so is a toucher; while with us, although we define the playing area of a rink, a toucher is alive anywhere. In New Zealand the toucher outside the playing area is dead, and the New Zealand rule is logically sound. If tho space in which the game is played, is 120 x 20, why should a botfl be alive that is outside that area? And if a conference were held no doubt that point would be scored by New Zealand, although on the last occasion when New Zealand and. Australia. met to consider differences Australia would not concede the point. 1 At the conference referred to, at Easter, 1908. Mr Waddell, president of the New Zealand Association, moved that in all interstate, inter-asso-ciation and international game-s players should have two feet' on the mat. This is the question that is going to cause controversy at any future conference. Australian olavers are at a very creat ' disadvantage with .their New Zealand brefTfren w'len playinc under New Zealand conditions, which .require only one foot oil the mat. Imagine tho tremendous advantage gained by a. yard either hand in delivery I This-matter_ of position on the mat is one that- will always ■ prevent a, firstclass team from visiting New Zealand because the chance of winning is remote under the conditions. Two questions may then be asked. First: Why, in view of the resolution carried -by the New Zealand president in 1908, tho last team was not played under the rule arranged? And, secondly, why do not Australians, when visiting New Zealand, conform to New, Zealand methods? In reply to the first, it. was fully expected that after the return of Mr Waddell, Now Zealand would have altered their rules, so that they, would have agreed with Australia as the Association confirmed the actions of the conference. Of course Australians do. and must, play under New Zealand rules when in the dominion, but it would be simply impossible for them to do so here,' and especially in ; New South Wales, and Queensland. . Our mats are large, and are not only for the purpose of a delivery base, but to protect the greens, which, being played upon all through the year, sometimes become very 'bare under the conditions. Our players could under no circumstances obtain nractice under New Zealand rules. and. it will be simply impossible to obtain a team of Australians with a winning chance to visit New Zealand unless this rule is altered. If New Zealanders canot see 'the advantage of our methods, we must be satisfied ; but :i!r Waddell's motion if put into practice, would get over many difficulties, and allow a team of ' good strength to try conclusions with New Zealand next summer. The remaining point touched upon by speakers at the dinner was the possibility of New Zealand affiliating with the A.B.C. New Zealand' likes to paddle her own canoe, and work out her own destiny, and has proved in the past that her ideas are (juite correct. With the tremendous j consolidated body of players in her j country brimming with enthusiasm, j with well-governed On;res, and tournaments spleudidlv arranged, and with but «ix months' piny out of the twelve, it is not likely New Zealand will look with a glad eye on the chance of joining with a body of less than their own numbers split up and divided over six States. Fur better for all if wo can arrange uniformity of rules jtnd en- j LV.-.10 annuallv in i ivalry, . t