BOWLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 815, 19 October 1905, Page 13

BOWLING.

(By

“The Skip.”)

Notwithstanding the heavy weather during the week, the Mount Eden and Rocky Nook greens were <spen for play, the first-mentioned green being declared as “dry as a bone.’’

At the time appointed for play at Rocky Nook, it was declared too wet to open the rinks, but I am informed that those who arrived later on the scene had the pleasure of a “ roll up.”

On account of the notice as above, Messrs. Manson (2), Rathbone, and McDougall found their way out to Mount Eden, and were heartily welcomed to a game.

Mr. A. Robins, who has just returned from the “ Old World,” where he has been furthering the interests of the “ Galbraith” invention for producing steel from ironsand, made his appearance on the Mount Eden green on Wednesday last, and was warmly welcomed back by his old clubmates and friends. Robins is not only a keen business man, but is also a keen and enthusiastic bowler. If I mistake not Mr. Robins is one of the original promoters of the bowling green at the mountain suburb, and has always taken a lively interest in the welfare of the club.

At the annual meeting of the Northern Bowling Association, held in Wellington, the following officers were elected : —President, Mr. J. A. Harding (Gisborne); vice-president, Mr. F. Haybittie (Wellington); secretary, Mr. J. H. Mentiplay (Wellington). It was decided at a meet-

ing of the council to invite teams from England to visit Australia and New Zealand. The North Island tournament takes place in Wellington at the end of January, 1906.

It will be remembered by bowlers that Mr. Fortescue, of English bowling fame, together with Mr. W. Ledingham, the well-known Auckland skip, played in a series of friendly doubles both at Home and in Auckland. Mr. Fortescue was favourably impressed with bowling in New Zealand, and expressed himself in terms implying that in all probability an English team ■of bowlers might visit the Britain of the South. It is pleasing to note that the Northern Bowling Association has not lost sight of the fact, and has extended a ■cordial invitation to Home bowlers.

On Labour Day the following games were played on the Mount Eden green-: — Appelby, Heald, Hemus, Brightwell (skip), 26, v. Rendell, Pollard, Ferguson, Brimblecombe (skip), 13. My contributor says that “ Brim” was not in it, and that Brightwell played just like a piece of machinery set to do the right thing at the right time. ♦ » * •

Mackay, Tutt, James (skip), 2/, v. Kissel, Clark, A. W. Jones, Young (skip), 24.

A real good game to watch. Young’s tour scored 7 before their opponents “opened shop.” At the 7th head the score stood at 10 to 8 in favour of James. At the 14th head it was 18 to 13 in favour of Young. On the 19th head Young had a lead of two points, but James and his combination put on a 3 and a 2 on the final heads, thus winning a hardfought contest by 3 points.

Schmidt, Huddleston, Garland, Hudson (skip), 15, v. Gill, Robins, Choyce, Martin (skip), 22.

This was a fairly good game, but the deadly driving of Martin when his opponents took command of the rink fairly snook things up. Ask Choyce what he thinks of Martin’s “ firm shots.”

Miller, Davis, C. Baker, McGregor (skip), 22, v. Woolier, Robinson, Mcln tosh, Rankin (skip), 15. On paper one would have expected the latter team to win. On the 7th head the scores stood: Rankin 10, McGl’egor 4; 14th head, 13 to 8; at this stage of the game McGregor and his team added 2, 4,2, 3,3, as against Rankin’s 1,1, thus winning by 22 to 15. Well done, Mac.

Dunlop, Wickham, Walker, Mercer (skip), 15, v. McStay, McGowan, H O Brown, Surman (skip), 20. This was one of those games in which no one wins until the “ numbers go up.” at the 7th head the score stood 6 to 5 in favour of Surman, at the 14th head 13 to 9 in favour of Mercer. But a rot set

in on the last-mentioned skip's side, and Surman’s four added 1,1, 4,4, 1, as against his opponent’s 1,2, thus snatching victory from defeat, and “ that’s the thing that tries you.”

Noton, Hosking, J. Brown, Burns (skip), 12, v. Walton, Robertson, Rowe, Esam (skip), 26. A runaway game from the start. In no instance in the play did Burns’ team look at all dangerous. Give Esam a fair average team and he will get the best out of them. He has such a “ winning way,” vou know.

The miniature tournament held on the Carlton winter green on Labour Day ended in five teams scoring equal points. The skips were Messrs. Ledingham, Kilgour, Osmond, Thornes, Eagleton, Quinn, Laurie and Bennie. The first five qualified to play off.

Invitations are out for Onehunga and Devonport clubs’ openings. I have to thank the president of Devonport for his cordial invitation.

Grey Lynn open on Saturday, November 4, and the green is reported to be in excellent condition, the committee having worked assiduously throughout the winter in order to bring the rinks up to date.

Seven rinks in full swing at Mount Eden on Saturday last.

H. O. Brown has struck form very early, his drawing and wresting shots being perfect.

Handcock (Auckland) had a day out skipping against Burns, the score being 25 to 15. Handcock had the services of that old warrior” Garland as third. Esam filled a like position for Burns.

Young, one of Mount Eden’s Match Committee, had an opportunity of skipping against R. R. Ross on Saturday last. The scores ended 28 to 15 in favour of R. R., who has favourably impress Young. A close head against Ross means bowls wasted. * * * * G. Mackay, a comparatively young player, will have to be reckoned with this season. He not only draws a good shot, but can attack with vigour. Walker was drawing well, but would be a greater help to his skip as a third man if he would play for position more and try and keep his eye off “ kitty.” H. Surman came out of his shell as ■skip last week. He opened out on Labour Day by beating Mercer 20 to 15, and followed this up on Saturday by defeating “Billy’s” mate (G. Tutt) 24 to 19. Harry couldn’t go wrong, and was ably assisted by Dr. Coates throughout. * * * * A. W. Jones was not quite up to his standard on Saturday. Arthur is one of those players who can stand a lot of training, and usually gives things a shake as the season advances. A most exciting game was that skipped by Brightwell (Wellington) and Mercer, lhe teams were fairly matched, and it was a ding-dong go until the last head, when the scores stood 20 all. The leader for Mercer put both bowls well within scoring distance, each man for and against doing his level best to gain the position. But Mercer and his trio were on their best behaviour, and added four points, thus winning by 24 to 20. The teams were:—Walton, La Roche, Brimblecombe, Brightwell (skip), v. Heald, Burrows, Martin, Mercer (skip). * *. * *

McDougall, who played up so well in Rocky Nook’s championship last year, was in great nick on Saturday at Mount Eden rinks. His drawing was a perfect treat to watch.

Rathbone, his clubmate, was also drawing well.

A couple of colts—-Gill and Woolier—took the end of a rink at Mount Eden on Saturday last, and acquitted themselves very creditably indeed. There was little to choose in their judgment and handling of their teams, but Gill proved the better drawing man.

Harry Rankin was all out on Saturday, making every head a winning one from start to finish, winning against Coe to the tune of 34 to 20.

“ Old Hand” sends me the following re the proposed scheme for playing pen-

nant matches:—“ln your issue of the 12th you ask for opinions as to merits or demerits of the scheme recommended by the match Committee for playing A.B.A. pennant competitions. Now, while agreeing that the old system should certainly be dropped, I cannot for the life of me see why such a suggestion as having A and B grades was ever imported. To be brief, where is the man or men who are willing to grade their players into two distinct classes. Is it not reasonable to think that this will bring about a sort of class distinction, and also lead up to much disappointment to those who consider they should be in “A” when placed in “B?” It will also bring forth comment should a player in “ B” be successful over “A” in his club trophy contests, and also be the means of much friction. To my mind, I think there should be no distinction whatever shown, and every member of a club should have an equal chance of competing for the pennant, and that chance is his demeanour and playing capabilities when on the rinks. What I would suggest is this: That clubs of over 100 playing members place eight teams; of 80 and under 100, six teams; all others to send not less than four teams. In all instances it shall be the privilege of any club to change its players in any contest provided notice is given to the secretary of the association not less than 24 hours before the match ; no change to be made in the personnel of a team after a match has commenced. I am in favour of a second pennant or flag, to be given to the club that qualifies for second honours. With regard to firstyear players, the customary one-rink contest could continue as heretofore. Of course the fact must not be lost sight of that through some unforeseen circumstance it may be necessary for clubs to play a* substitute occasionally.”

Auckland, October 14 ,1905. To the Editor: Sir,—ln response to your invitation for opinions re proposed scheme for the pennant flag, I would like you to publish these few lines in support of the ■scheme. In the first place it is a wellknown fact among bowlers in general that there is some alteration wanted in connection with the pennant matches. I have heard a good deal of growlinoamong the members of different clubs” .why So-and-so was in the team and why did the Match Committee leave So-and-■so out ? Well,. sir, it is very hard for a committee to pick eight men out of, say, <-0 (which I think is about the average number of members in each club) and give satisfaction all round. The proposed scheme gets over that difficulty by finding a sure game for 32 players for clubs as large as Auckland, Mount Eden, etc while the smaller clubs are catered for in proportion to membership; also, instead of the same teams representing their club every year, it gives the younger members a chance to. meet first-class players, and thereby gam experience in the game

which they do not get at any other tim Of course, the scheme has its faults i well, and one of them is the classificatio of players, which I am not in favour o I think it would be better to only hai one grade, and let the different clul pick their teams as they thought fit, an let every club take the chance of wl they meet. lam a member of one < the weakest clubs, but still, I play for tl love of the game, and am prepared 1 take my chance against the stronges There is another clause I do not like i the scheme, and that is the £5 fine ft failing to continue playing throughoc the season. Now, there may be ada when it -would be impossible for my clu to put the required number of teams i the field, or some of the players migl fail to turn up at a visiting green; the through that player’s fault the club he to pay £5, which I don’t think is righ Hoping 1 have not taken up too much c your space.-—I remain, etc., Ditcher. At the convened meeting of the Devoi port Bowling Club, held on Saturday, t consider proposals in playing pennar matches, it was decided that the clu had no sympathy with the proposed “ A and “B” grade scheme, prefering th system of the previous year. *** * * Bowlers may have this paper forwarde to them for the season for the sum of ( 6d in advance. We are also pleased t receive notes or information for th benefit of bowlers generally. • • • « Carlton draws the curtain on thei winter green on Saturday next. Al though bowlers generally are pleased t get back to their summer haunts an social surroundings, many there are wh will be loth to have to say “ Au revoir’ till another season. This green ha proved a great draw for some season past, but in no instance has the suppor been so great as during the last winter Being cosmopolitan, bowlers are wel corned from all sister clubs, and had th rinks been twice as many I am sure the; would have filled. It must be gratifying to the Carlton management to see th< green appreciated, and it must also prov a good asset.

The sports on the Domain in connec tion with the Labour Demonstration las week were very successful, and it is esti mated that between eight and nine thou sand people were present during th( afternoon. The chief item was the La hour Day Handicap, run over 100yds 220yds, and 440yds. Both races fell to B. London, who also raj second to J. J. Taylor in the quarter mile. A protest was lodged against th< winner. C. Piper won both bicych events, C. Cowan just beat Carpentei and Twiname in the 100yds amateur han dicap after a great finish, and W. Wynyard won the amateur quarter-mile. The list of events was a very lengthy one.