BOWLING.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18874, 18 February 1933, Page 18 (Supplement)

BOWLING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Ft.Z. AND AUSTRALIAN METHODS. (*By Touoher.) “The Standard howl of the N.Z. Association Is defined as a bowl approved by. the Council for the purpose of testing other bowls. It shall have a major diameter of 5 i-81n., and weigh not less than 31b 4oz. Its draw shall be 4ft. illn. in a run of 84ft. on a Standard green.” Note the extraordinary difference of opinion and method of the New Zealand and Australian officials, or experts, so-called. Both cannot be right, as each plays under a similar oode, and on similar greens. Let us, then, look into the various points, and ask ourselves, without prejudice, who ,is correct and which method is right, elements “Boomerang” in the Sydney Referee. In the ‘first place, New Zealand lays down a minimum weight, and Australia does not. The latte" only demands a maximum. In the .second plaoe,' New Zealand knows no shape law, and tests on the green, whereas Australia demands a universal shape, and tests on the table. It can be seen, then, that the two are as wideapart as the Poles. In order to arrive at some decision, which country can be said to have satisfied its players, or adherents, the most? Australia undoubtedly. New Zealanders come, arc converted, and take back our howls to play with, but nobody hut an occasional crank brings a set from New Zealand. If they did, they would not be allowed to uso them. Contented Nov/. On the other hand, New Zealanders can take our bowls acro-ss the Tasman and use -them at will —they cannot he faulted. In Australia we have settled down to complete contentment, brought about after 40 years of turmoil, by the introduction of these grand laws relating to weight, shape, and size. Testing bowls on the green has been a failure for all time, from many angles. What is a “Standard” green as laid down in New Zealand laws? Assuming that bowls are challenged, and the green or greens in ‘the vicinity are not “Standard,” what then? No two greens are alike, so it must be very difficult to arrive at what the term stands for. Then,' if -it should he 'the least windy, especially gusty, the test is so much waste o-f time. It is also a cumbersome, ludic"ous looking thine that might be anything from a Lewis gun to a contrivance for sluicing for gold. It 'takes up untold time as well. Even the standard draw /lifters from the Australian. Admittedly, the A.B.C. is the widest in the world of bowls, but who would say that it is too wide? Viewing some of the “Number Threes” one sees about, I would add another half a bias to the lable. and get better and more scientific bowling.

Retarding Progress, New Zealand only asks for 4 ft. llin. in 84ft. Imagine how little ‘■jink’lf there would be on a bowl only taking 4ft. llin. in 84 feet. On cur running greens, especially such true ones as Elsterwick, Mounce Ponds, .Melbourne, Middle Park, 15 feet is not uncommon. Janies Wall said: "No Australian taking Australian bowls to New Zealand can expect to succeed, as the dil'i'emiiee in bias is most marked, and the handicap too great." ITEMS OF INTEREST. Umpires cannot see all that is happening on a green at the one time, and it Is possible therefore for breaches of the rules to pass unobserved. Two rules whic-h were broken in the recent Wellington tournament without notice being taken of them in all instances were those relating.to the following up of bowls and the placing of the foot on the mat. The rules say that bowls must not be followed for more than 20ft, and that the foot which is on the mat at the moment of delivery must be not less than 3in. from the front of the mat.

An incident that happened at Timaru during the holidays is wo-th recording. Park and West End rinks were the finalists in a local cup competition, and when the last head was reached the West End rink was six down and lav but one siiot after the skips had each played a bowl. The Park -skip, instead of leaving well alone and throwing away his last bowl, elected to take out the shot—a spirit of bravado which cost, him the game and 'the cup, for when the bowls came to ”est after the drive there were seven shots against him !

“No Bowl!" This is what we may expect shortly. There are some Australian drivers who throw the bowl out eight and ten feet in front of (hem. A greenkccpcr remarked recently: “ Every time I see Blank drive it. sends a shudder down my spine, and after the game there are depressions as big as meat pies in the surface."

The following is a reply to a correspondent by “ Measurer " of the Dunedin Star: " J.D.”—A lead (or other member of the rink) should not fall foul of his skip because he was ordered to play a hand that did not .appeal to him. The skip is in sole charge of the game and can direct the player as he sees fit.

Very often in club games and rollups when a short head is wanted by a skip a lead will throw up the jack with delightful disregard for the distance the rules say it must travel from the front of the mat—namely, 66ft. The mat may bo well up the green and the throw may bo short, but provided It Is up to the distance peg It Is seldom that anyone worries about It, says a northern writer. The dlstanoe pegs have to be 72ft from the kerblng of the ditch, so if tho front of tho mat is up to tho maximum of 20ft from the ditch It ts obvious that the Jack Just in line with the dlstanoe peg has not been thrown 66ft. In the eight round of the singles championship, when W. Parkhouso (W clljngton) was playing W. Franks (Featherston), Parkhouse objected to the length the Jack had been thrown, maintaining that It was not tho minimum distance of 66ft. His objection was upheld and ho was given tiio rethrow himself, making tho head a long one and scoring a toucher with ids first bowl, Franks having been short with his first. Parkhouse won the gnmo by 9 points. t