BOWLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20005, 23 November 1927, Page 5

BOWLING

RAPANUI TOURISTS BOWLERS VISIT WAVERLEY A visit was paid to the Waverley Bowling Club on Saturday by the Rapanui Club, who were cordially welcomed by Mr Spratt, president. The results of the games played were as follows, Waverley players being mentioned first:— Aiken, Hodgetts, Wicks, James 35 v. Roberts, Darbyshiro, Low, Wilks 13. Catanach, Raynor, Muir, J. Palmer 28 v. W. Morrison, Russell, T. V. Brown, Summerell 11. Salter, Taylor, Nicholls, Spratt 31 v. J. Morrison, Billinghurst, Southcombe, G. Handley 18. Madely, Adlam, Parsons, R. P. Palmer 26 v. Park, Currie, A. Handley, F. Handley 22. Totals:—Waverley 120; Rapanui 64. At the conclusion of the match Mr Geo. Handley, president of the Rapanui Club, returned thanks to the Wayorley Club for the splendid outing and trusted that when Waverley visited Rapanui they would turn the tables. Thanks were due to the ladies of the Waverley Club for the afternoon tea, and three cheers for those concerned were heartily given. GREEN ETIQUETTE OBLIGATIONS OF A PLAYER. OFFENCES AGAINST GOOD FORM. It is a fact well known that bowling is a game that is indulged in as a rule by men fairly well advneed in life, and a great many of these taking part have been players in other games. These have in consequence been disciplined to a certain extent in what is considered good form and what are the obligations of a player to his side or his club. But in bowling, of course, there are some who have only played business and bowls, and are perhaps inclined to expect to receive full value for their subscriptions without considering their obligations as club members. In cricket one is taught to play for his side, and make sacrifices; and the same rule it is held should apply to bowls. Bowling selection committees may have a very difficult task, as almost everyone thinks he is qualified to be selected for the shield matches. The committee, therefore, should receive the whole-hearted support of every member of the club. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon thing for players to “grouse” because they are not selected; and, even worse, it sometimes happens that a selected player crosses out his name on the notice-board, because he does not care for the position in which he is chosen or for those with whom he is chosen to play. For a club member to put a chalk mark through his name for this reason is, surely, one of the worst offences against good form that he could be guilty of. Points for Smokers. Perhaps a few words on the etiquette of the bowling green may not come amiss, for a few little things have occurred recently which do not add to the comfort or enjoyment of others using the green. The first is not over-pleas-ant, but should be remedied forthwith. Spitting is an objectionable habit in any circumstances, but when it comes to spitting in the ditches round the greens, it is time a protest was made. The bowls are constantly in the diten, and in such circumstances the consequences are anything but pleasant. So “nuff sed. ” Smokers also might exercise a little care and refrain from throwing match tails and cigarette butts on the greens and in the ditches. The latter are particularly dangerous if not extinguished, for last season a Victoria (Wellington) member had one of his bowls burned through coming in contact with a lighted cigarette end. The Yoronga Bowling Club, Brisbane, Queensland, has the following notice posted in its pavilion, and which might be copied with advantage by other clubs:—

Do not spit, nor throw matches on the green. Do not spit in the ditches either. Show some consideration for your fellow bowler. Be clean. To emphasise the point about matches on the green it may be related that in a rink game recently one team were lying seven on one head with a jack a couple of inches from the ditch, when the opposing skip, with his last bowl, drew up near the kitty and was going into the ditch, but was stopped by a match, and the other rink lost the game. **Suspicious Practices.” Some bowlers, especially those who have played for years, develop bad habits. One of these is for a bowler to address some remark to his opponent when the latter is about to deliver his bowl. It might be a habit without ulterior motives, but it certainly appears to be done in order to distract the opponent. Another irregularity is for a bowler, after delivering his shot, standing to one side, but in tne view of the opponent, of retiring to the rear of the mat after delivery. In view of the fact that these irregularities were practised by a bowler of many years’ experience, it leads to the assumption that it is time for the D.B.A. to direct that penalties will be inflicted for what might be considered “suspicious practices.” Bowlers, however,' should remember —Don’t act other than a gentleman when on the green. Question of Instructions. Another grow] is that bowlers, when changing ends, should be careful not to run up on the adjoining rink for they

interfere with their neighbour’s game and run the risk of obstructing a bowl which has been delivered. Anyway, it is annoying to those using the next rink to find other players continually encroaching on their green, and bowlers should think of the other fellows a bit at times. Again, a lot of No. 3’s exceed their duties at times when the skip goes to the mat. He has just left the head, knows the position of the bowls and has his own ideas of the best shot to play. Yet No. 3 will often shout his instructions down the green to th G skip, and his ideas may be altogether different. The No. 3 should only advise his skip when the head has been altered. If his skip has the first play no advice is needed, and with the second shot only if the other skip has disturbed the head with his first. Players Who Interfere. Then there are the duties of the respective rink-mates. Far too frequently is seen the continuous interference of leads and seconds in the work of their third players. Some most estimable men, second players, sticklers for discipline, and courteousness itself when off the green, consistently, but inadvisedly, criticise the directions and decisions of their third men. Result: Confusion and misunderstanding, and failure by the skip. The duties of each man in a rink are well defined. They are separate and distinct as possible. There is no reason why they should not be as familiar to those who have to perform them as they are distinct. There is something wanting in the administration of clubs when their representatives are allowed to take, or continue to take, the field ignorant of their limits of speech and action thereon 24 parts of a rink. Leads and two’s, after playing their bowls, should retire to the bank, and when the skips go down they should not interfere with the head. There is far too much of this sort of thing going on, and one sometimes wonders what th© No. 3’s ar© for. Two players in one centre were “told off” for butting in in this fashion and giving unsolicited advice, ana more of this kind of medicine requires to be administered. Some No. 3’s may not know their jobs as well as those who have selected them think they do, but, in any case, it is unbecoming for leads and two’s to recommend skips to play certain shots. If the skip is temporarily absent (the rules allow of such a contingency) it is laid down that the third player shall control the rink. When it is the skips’ turn to play, No. 3 may tender him advice, but shall not control his play. With regard to directors, the rules do not specifically say who shall perform this office, and they certainly do allow of any player offering advice to his side. “No person except the player in charge of the head shall give directions, ’ ’ says rule 10 of the Laws of the Game, “but any player may offer advice to his own side.” At first glance it would appear that this rule is somewhat contradictory, but when No. 3’s are in charge of the head (which they invariably are, whether by custom or pre-emptive right) leads and twos should refrain from giving directions. To give advice depends upon the ma’ ner in which it is done, but in any r

advice is different from directions, J there ar© some players who have an over-fondness for giving directions. All bowlers believe they are more capable of being the skip of the rink than the person occupying that position. It is human to believe so, but in every sphere of sport few ar© chosen to lead and their capabilities are fully tested before they are allocated the posts. No. 3 has a particular job in addition to bowling up his timber, and he should see that his duties are not encroached upon by the other members of the rink. It is annoying to the skip to be the recipient of a host of directions and -action should be taken against offenders before the season is too far advanced.