BOWLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 685, 23 April 1903, Page 15

BOWLING

THE FINAL OF THE AUCKLAND BOWLING ASSOCIATION’S TOURNAMENT. THE AUCKLAND CLUB’S WIN IS DISPUTED. A REMARKABLE DECISION BY THE COMMITTEE. When the final of the big Easter tournament was being fought out by rinks from the Auckland and. Devonport Clubs last Saturday, there was a good attendance of the public on the Remuera green, and the play was followed with the utmost interest. After some exciting games, Auckland won the match with both rinks, and were the recipients of hearty congratulations on being able to fly the Championship Pennant for the ensuing year. Apparrantly the matter ended there, but such is not the case. I

It is now claimed that as the tojjal wins scored by Devonport equal those made by Auckland in the entire series, another match should be played. The Committee has considered the case, and has agreed to the following resolution:— “ This Committee considers that the match between Auckland and Remuera

to decide the tie in A section does not count as a win, and that therefore the Auckland and Devonport Clubs are equal with five wins each, and accordingly decides that a match between these two clubs must be played to decide the possession of the Pennant.”

■ To put the matter briefly, owing to the number of clubs competing, these were arranged into two sections, and the ' winning clubs in each section were to play off for the final. That is to say, it : was exactly similar to a foot-race, when, , owing to the number of competitors the , race is run in two heats, a nd the win- ; ners meet each other in the final. In the present instance, as before mentioned, the Devonport Club won one heat or section, and the Auckland Club the other, and in the play off Auckland proved victorious. To the ordinary lay mind the decision of the Committee appears an absurd one, and is altogether unfair to the Auckland Club. In the section in which they met, Auckland and Remuera tied in one game, but in the play off the former club won. The Committee state that this does not count as a win. If this s correct, why had they to play off the tie, or, what is more to the point, why was any final match played ? At that time Devonport had a clear lead of one point, and should have been entitled to the Championship. Unfortunately for the contention of the Committee the rules, although very badly worded, state that a tie shall be played off,-and such being the case, the idea of not counting it is a sufficiently ridiculous on’e.

It would be interesting to know whether another rule has been complied with or not, and this reads as follows : —“All disputes or appeals shall be committed to writing, setting forth the grounds thereof, and shall be lodged with the Secretary of the Association or his deputy within three hours of the completion of the game from which the cause of dispute or appeal arrises. Was this done ? If not the Committee is going back on its own conditions, which is obviously a wrong thing to do. However, having met and come to the before-mentioned remarkable decision, the Committee has ordered that Devonport and Auckland should play again next Saturday, at Newmarket. This, I understood both the Auckland skippers declined to do, holding the not unreasonable opinion that having won the match once they should not be asked to compete for’ it a second time. The President of the North Shore Club I hear is also of opinion that as his club was fairly beaten* in the final, they should not be allowed to compete a second time. It is a thousand pities that this question should have been raised. All bowlers wish that there should be entire harmony between the various clubs, so that the good old game may still continue to make forward strides. These sort of contentions, no_ matter how well intended, must have the effect of doing a great amount of harm, and must tend to lessen players confidence in the executive. Even if the rules are carelessly worded I in some cases the broad principals of ; common sense can always be followed, ' in which case there is no shadow of | doubt that the Championship for the season should rest with Auckland.

An inter-club match was played an Saturday on the Auckland Club’s green between "the parent club and Onehunga. The game consisted of five rinkis a side, and resulted in a win for Auckland. The totals were : Auckland 114 points, Onehunga 77 points ; majority for Auckland 37 points. An inter-club match between Rocky Nook and Auckland took place on Saturday, the senior club winning. The scores were : Auckland 84 points, Rocky Nook 69 points ; majority for Auckland 15.

The Auckland Club members had a very busy and successful afternoon’s play on Saturday. The matches played were for the Pennant Championship, and interclub contests with Onehunga and Rocky Nook. The wearers of the tricolour were successful in all three.

Despite the fact that the season is fast drawing to a close, there were any number of players indulging in their favourite pastime on Saturday. Play was in full swing at Newmarket, Mount Eden, Ponsonby, and Remuera, as well as among the clubs previously mentioned. The season has been about the most tuccessful on record.

Messrs. Julian and F. Seccombe divided the first sweepstake at the Ellerslie Gun Club’s shoot on Tuesday afternoon, M. Rosengrave secured the second, while the third fell to F. Seccombe, with C. H. Gorrick in second place. A strong breeze greatly favoured the birds, which were very fast.