BOWLING AFFAIRS

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1687, 17 November 1925, Page 5

BOWLING AFFAIRS

MEETING OF TE AWAMUTU CLUB.

THE QUESTION OF PENNANT PLAY.

A special general meeting of the Te Awamutu Bowling Club was held on Monday eveuing in the pavilion, the president (Mr C. Bowden) presiding ■oyer a!n attendance of about sixteen .members. The special business was to consider The following motion: “That the de'Cision at the annual meeting to take i 7xlo part in the pennant competitions ! This year be rescinded.” . The proposer was Mr ,S. Clark, and Mr R. Noonan seconded. Mr 1 9. H. Dunkley opposed the proposal, saying that there had been a certain amount of heart-burning over the selection of pennant teams last year, and there was no assurance that the competition this year would be any •better. Mr ;R. Metcalfe said he was keenly 3n favour of taking part. There, was a good deal of pleasure to be derived from inter-club competition games. IMr J. A. IHawkins opposed the motion, pointing out that the club was divided between Saturday and Wednesday players, and thus it was difficult to get strong, representative teams on a Saturday, when pennant play would be in progress. He noticed that the two strongest clubs, Cambridge and Hamilton, ivere not taking part. Te Awamutu could get plenty of inter-club play, without pennant contests, for Cambridge, Hamilton, and Otorohanga clubs were all handy, and those were the clubs that were the most frequent visitors to Te Awamutu. IMr F. B. Bowden said he was opposed to the pennant competition. He could not see that those competitions were a success. His experience as secretary last year showed him that the system was not favoured by enough players. ‘The president concurred, and said that the feeling at the annual meeting was practically unanimously against the pennant competition. He thought that the most support for the proposal came from the Wednesday players. Mr iR. L. Henderson‘said that interclub matches would be played, so why not play pennant games in eonjunc- ■ tion?

Mr R. Noonan said the revised rules removed restrictions on the number ■of teams taking part in pennant play. Each club would now provide three teams for pennant play—no more and no less. The pennant should be only part of an ordinary inter-club contest. Mr Bowden argued that a strong club numerically would have an undoubted advantage over a weaker one. .Mr Hawkins argued that there was trouble through the introduction of the pennant contests. It was no use dividing the club. The motion was then put and declared lost, only four voting in favour of the motion. Another notice of motion by Mr Metcalfe, to add to the rules a proviso that on ordinary club days every member must wear club colours was dealt with.. Mr G, Smith seconded. Speaking to the motion, the mover pointed out that Te Awamutu fell behind other blubs in this observance, which, after all, was an easy thing to observe, and set an example that was worthy of emulation. ' IMr Hawkins thought that it could be a recommendation to players, but it could hardly be enforced. He knew of some players who were too shy to appear in the street in club colours and white trousers. Mr 'Dunkley thought that club colours should, if possible be worn in tournaments, but there was no need to impose the condition for inter-club matches. He would not oppose a recommendation to members to wear club colours. The mover said that would suit his purpose.

The motion was then put and declared lost. IMr Noonan, one of the club’s delegates to the South Auckland Association, reported that at the last meeting a verbal challenge was lodged on behalf of Te Awamutu for the SmithClark shield. He asked" that their action be confirmed. —'Agreed to. 'Mr 'Clark pointed out that the competition was not confined to a particular team from one club; any combination of four could represent the club, provided they had the approval of the club’s match committee. 'During the discussion it was made clear that the selection of a team to challenge for the shield was a local matter. On the motion of Messrs Noonan and F. B. Bowden the selection of a challenging team was left to the match committee. Mr Noonan explained the proposal for a champion of champions contest from the clubs in the association. The contest would eventuate during April or May. Entries would close on 15th March. The trophy was a silver cup, and the contest was open to winners of each club’s championship for the current year. During the discussion it was suggested that in the event of a club champion being unable to take part the runner-up could represent the club. It was stated that Te Awamutu was nominating eight players for inclusion ijpthe South Auckland test team to meet the British touring team at Hamilton on 26th December. The match committee had now in hand the nomination of eight players available if required by the sole selector, Mr R. N. Pilkington. The 'matter of lighting the green for night play iwas next dealt with. The chairman said the estimated cost of installation, providing for ten lights round the green, two lights in the pavilion, and one heating point would be £7O. This was considered beyond the resources of t'he club, and it was decided to obtain a price for lighting the pavilion.