BOWLING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 4

BOWLING NOTES

NIXON CUP MATCHES PLAY AND PLAYERS Wanganui bowlers had ideal weather on Saturday for their games in the Nixon Cup competition, in addition to which chib games were enjoyed on all greens. Splendid weather conditions prevailed for the local club’s Nixon Cup matches last Saturday. The various greens are gradually attaining their summer keenness. Games for fhe Hurn Cup and the Bannerette have also been played. * * * * It may not be generally known that, while challenges for the Keesing Cup and the Bannerette have to be lodged with the centre secretary, challenges for the Hurn Cup are lodged direct with the club holding the trophy. Both the former trophies are purely Wanganui Centre trophies while the Hurn Cup is open to challenge by a wider area and is not under the direct control of any centre. The Bannerette is competed for by players in their first or second year, skipped by a classified club lead. Any bowler who has participated in these games will probably admit that the memory of these games lingers longer than games for other trophies. The young bowler has his first real test of match play in the Bannerette, and the budding skip likewise gets his first experience in the responsibility of that position. The interest that is taken by club members keeps the players on the “alert” and in consequence some really splendid games take place. Perhaps the greatest “thrill" of all is when a challenging team is successful and proudly march on to their own green with the coveted junior trophy. The writer had the experience of being a minor member of the first team from his club to win the Bannerette and his interest in this competition has never flagged. Getting dose to Christmas there is generally a rush to have bowls tested. For the information of new players the Centre's official tester is Mr. Stanton, of the St. John’s Club. New bowls must also bear distinguishing marks on both discs. Old bowls, bearing a number, probably on the small discs, need not have precisely the same mark, that is on the large disc, but must have some distinguishing mark, frequently the player's initials. All bowls used in competitions should bear the centre stamp 1928 or subsequent dale. St. John’s Chib. St. John's green looked particularly busy last Saturday, every one of the 14 rinks set out on B and C greens being occupied. The greens were keen, especially the new C green. Members may not have noticed that the Nixon Cup team from St. John's Club were ail selected on strict club classification. This is as it should be in this competition which really takes the place of old-lime home-and-away friendly games and is a truer indication of lhe playing strength of the clubs. The first Bannerette Match of the season was quite an interesting one, both Gonviile and St. John's teams playing some nice bowks. George Harris, who played No. 3 in last season's team, was promoted to skip this season. The Hurn Cup, now a< SI. John’s, will provide another game very soon. Victoria Club being the challengers. Members generally are observing the rule re commencing Saturday games early but a very small number still refrain from notifying the match committee when they are going to be late. One member had his place in a Nixon Cup match filled on Saturday as a result. This was most unfortunate but the match committee could not hold up the games. St. John’s members were pleased to welcome visitors on Saturday in Messrs. Farland (well known Auckland skip), Simms (secretary of the Raetihi Club), and S. Smith (of Wellington, late of Samoa). All hope they enjoyed their games and will come again. Some six rinks from St. John's will visit Waverley on Saturday to play a friendly match with that club. In bygone days the interchange of visits with Waverley provided one of Ihe season's most enjoyable fixtures and it is good Io find them being resumed. $ * ♦ » Queensland Bowlers. Bowlers will welcome the news brought back from Australia by Mr. J. C. Redmond, of Wellington, that a touring parly of Queenslanders will visit. New Zealand early in the now year. It is safe to say that a more popular party of bowlers has never visited New Zealand than the last Queensland tourists some years ago. If the proposed itinerary of the .1937 contingent is carried out, the team will arrive at Auckland on January 11, and from there will commence a tour of both islands. * * ♦ ♦ Advice to Leads. Too few leads appreciate the depth of lhe responsibility which is theirs when they throw the jack. The majority of them are never instructed in this detail. They never practise it. They see no value in that class of practice. Yet many matches are won and lost by the correct and careful or incorrect and careless throwing of the jack. Every lead should be as assisduous in mastering this department of the game as in becoming adept at drawing the shot. The lead who can throw the jack to his skip’s instructions is an asset to any team. Club coaches should make it part of their duty to see that leaders practice jackthrowing. * * * ♦ Do Not Expect——To get the shot if you are not up. —That when you deliver your bowl badly, it will take the same course as a bowl delivered decently. —Too much from a beginner, and if you have one in your rink, remember that kindly treatment will bring its reward, later on. —To be selected in the team for some big event if you are out of form. —Always to win. —Things always to go your tvay. If •you can’t laugh then don’t growl.

Wanganui East Club. In continuation of inter-club games in the Nixon Cup contest last Saturday lhe Wanganui East Club tried conclusions with St. John's. A peculiar result of the contest was that both clubs suffered defeat on their own green. On the home green Wanganui East were 18 points down and St. John's on their own green lost by 25 points, lhe difference on the two greens being 7 points in favour of Wanganui East. On many greens members at odd times bring visitors to have a friendly game. Not being provided with the necessary shoes, a hunt round any lockers that may be open is made till a suitable pair is found. At the conclusion of play it would only be natural to expect that the borrowed shoes would be replaced in the locker, but frequently they are left loose on the floor or any other place. This causes annoyance and inconvenience to the owner. If players at times have occasion to borrow equipment the least, they can do is to return it to its proper quarter. Instances are known of shoes disappearing altogether. White canvas shoes are generally looked upon as the correct thing for a bowler to wear. To many they cause great trouble when playing. A white shoe behind a white kitty makes it almost impossible for the player at the other end quickly to get the vision of the china. When purchasing their next shoes players would do well • to procure a tan coloured article. Many have already done so.

Rink play forms an important pari of bowling, and it is probable that more rinks fail for want of combination than for any other reason. When a bowler is playing singles he has to depend upon himself alone, when he L in doubles his partner is usually his own choice, but when he is playing in competition rinks the other thiV? •| members of the team are almost always thrust upon him by a selector. ’As a result of dissatisfaction with the (selector's choice, it is not an uncomI mon thing to see a self-selected team defeat one that has been chosen, in ■ spite of the capabilities of the chosen • players. This should not be the case, and would not be if the players accepted the decision of the selector and I played for tne team, and not fo’~ themselves. I If the lead, second, and third do I not have conlidence in their skip their ; chances of success are reduced to a > [minimum because no skip can win a game by himself. That lack of con- ■ fidence may lie at the doo? of the skip, for a skip can inspire confid- > ence in himself or he can drive it away by adopting the wrong attitude to his colleagues. . . ."=»