TROTTING FIXTURES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20422, 12 February 1938, Page 20 (Supplement)

TROTTING FIXTURES

February 12—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. February 12, 16—Auckland Trotting Club February 19—New Brighton Trotting Club. Kebruaiy 23—Kaikoura Trotting Club. February 23—Wafrarapa Trotting Club. March s—lnvercargill Trotting Club. .March s—Wellington Trotting Club. March 12—Thames Trotting Club. March 12—Ttmaru Trotting Club. March 19—Wyndham Trotting Club. March 19—Cheviot Trotting Club. March 23—Roxburgh Trotting Club.

Rain Causes Postponement. This season Hamilton bowlers have been extremely fortunate in regard to weather conditions, but they received a setback last Saturday when the unpleasant conditions necessitated a postponement of the annual Public Service tournament. However, some of the greens dried up sufficiently in the afternoon to allow a few of the inter-club matches to be played. If the rain spoilt a day’s bowling, it was welcomed by those responsible for the maintenance of the greens. Taranaki Centre’s 111 Luck. After experiencing the best summer for many years the Taranaki Bowling Centre can consider itself exceedingly unfortunate in striking such shocking conditions for the 33rd annual tournament, states the Taranaki Daily News. After heavy rain over the week-end the weather cleared on Monday morning and in brilliant sunshine the games \yere commenced at 1 p.m. The hopes of both local and visiting players were, however, shortlived and the second game was played in a strong south wind. Tuesday morning was even worse and a southerly gale of extreme intensity, accompanied by rain, greeted the players for the third round. Bowling under these conditions was only a farce. Bowls once delivered were at the nurcy of the elements and careered in all directions with and against the bias. Lucky was the player who managed to get within a yard of the jack. Success or failure was only a matter of chance and several rinks which performed well the first day had their chances seriously affected by surprise defeats. Not for many years had the tournament opened in such atrocious weather. Mis-statement as to Head. Should a bowler set his opponent right if the latter makes a mis-state-ment to his own detriment during the course of a game as to the state of the head ? Several leading local play-

ers with whom the matter was discussed differ on the point, writes “The Skip” in the Wanganui Chronicle. One skip, who considered that such information should be given, mentioned that in a match some time ago the other skip, standing alongside him, called out to his No. 3 to draw the shot and added “We are two down.” “No,” said the first skip, “you are one up,” a very different state of things, which had a distinct bearing on the shot that the No. 3 then played. A No. 3 player in, say, Smith's rink, stated that in a recent midweek game the opposing No. 3, in Brown’s rink, the head being finished, claimed two shots only, although he was really entitled to another one, which he had not noticed. Smith’s third man drew his attention to this fact, and Brown’s No. 3 accordingly took the extra shot. This incident occurred at the closing stage of the game when every shot gained was of particular value, Bioavh only winning by 3 points. Smith’s No. 3 said, however, that he felt he would have been cheating had he allowed the other side to lose the third shot to which they were entitled.

When to Make Corrections. Another skip thought that his opponent should be set right if he wrongly stated who was or was not the shot, but adrled that he would not say anything if the other man, for instance, directed his No. 3 to try to carry the jack to three boAvls which he (the second skip) thought were all his, when as a matter of fact only one AA’as. His reason for withholding such information Avas that his opponent was referring to something which might or might not happen, as no one could predict what would i actually take place when a kitty was carried. Another player said that if the other No. 3 did not claim all the shots he was entitled to. he Avould put to him the question, “Are you satisfied?” which query in itself should be sufficient to warn the other No. 3 to have another look before closing his account for the head. Two experienced skips said that in match play they would not give any information away, it was the duty of the other side to keep a close watch on the course of play to know the position of every bowl.