NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 258, 5 November 1906, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS.

HOW VICTOBIA BEAT THEM. The' " Age," commenting on the match between New Zealand and the Victorian team, remarks: "With a Victorian team playing on the Victoria dub's green, there was a certain aignificance in the combination of terms that led quite naturally to victory. The Victoria green, which is opposite the University, in Carlton, had, as a matter of fact, a considerable influence on the result. It has a length of 140 ft., while the longest green in New Zealand is only 110 ft. As a consequence, the visitors naturally preferred short ends, and got them as often as they could, while the Victorians, in throwing the jack, went as close to the other ditch as they dared without going into it. As a consequence, the game was a peculiar one, the point 3 coming to the rival rinks in batches. It was a struggle for lengths all through, and, playing on a green which is the; longest but one in Melbourne, gave the home side great advantages. The green itself, which Turner had in fine condition, pleased the visitors immensely, many of them ranking it with Ashfield (N.S.W.) as the best they had seen on the tour.

The New ZeaJanders won in three of the seven rinks. At the close of the first five ends they led by 8 points, but in the second phase they lost ground badly, and the Victorians doubled their points, with 42 to 21. In the third stage they were only 4 points to the bad on the five ends, and thence on held their opponents fairly well, but were 40 points to the bad on the match. One peculiarity in their play is that they follow up the shot instead of keeping to the mat, as in Victoria. If any clear distinction can be drawn between the tactics of the teams, it is that the New Zealanders, on finding themselves in a dangerous position, were more inclined to scatter the clutch with a drive, and trust to luck, than attempt to " draw " a difficult shot with the odds against success.

One of the surprises of the match was the victory of Payne over Waxman at the No. 1 rink. Tie New Zealand skipper was playing a very fine, even game, showing no liking for any particular shot, but suiting his play to the emergency, whatever its nature. At the finish of the first five ends Payne had scored 7 points to nothing. In the next five ends the conditions were exactly reversed. Once getting the long ends he wanted, Waxman stuck to them resolutely, and at ten ends was a point ahead, his opponents not getting a point in the last five ends. Payne bolted in the last ten ends, during which Waxman's rink only scored two points.

The best exhibition on the New Zealand side was by Dall's rink against Russell, of Essendon. The New Zealanders commenced with short lengths, kept to them, and scored 15 points before their rivals found an opening. The New Zealanders were an even four; their opponents quite the opposite, though the latter made a partial recovery towards, the finish of the match.

It was in the rinks captained by Smith, Neill, and Cooper that the Victorians got their majority. There was probably no better second player in the match than Pascoe, of Bendigo, and Bentley as third in the same rink was just as pre-eminent in his position. It made the rink an exceptionally strong one. which gave the Victorians 29 of their 40 majority. Cooper had an even 4, amongst whom Thaekwray, as leader, was prominent. He made the ends as long as the green permitted, yet never once got the jack in the ditch. His length was good, and his position almost equally so.

The match between Kelly and Wheeler was most interesting, for here the New Zealand skipper made a very fine recovery. In nine of the first ten ends the points were against him, but bowling in first-rate style, and admirably supported by his rink, Wheeler made up his ground, and when the jack was thrown for the last end the score was 24 all. When Wheeler took his last bowl in hand there were two lying against him, but with a beautiful shot he trailed the jack, and scored two points.

Writing from the Hotel Victoria, Souh Melbourne, our correspondent sends the following notes on the Victorian Interstate match:—

The loss of the interstate match was due to the excesive length of green, 145 ft., as against ours, 110 ft., also playing a few hours after our arrival. The Melbourne players played long heads. Bouskill was beat-en badly, not being able to get the hang of the green. He got very little assistance from his team with the exception of Ledingham, who gave some excellent shots. Gardiner and Rankin played well for their respective skips. The chief interest in the contest was centred in the match between Payne's team and Waxman, who is recognised as the best skip and player in the Commonwealth. He is a man of about 35, and plays a wonderful game. He was assisted by three Inter colonials of his State. Payne's team was assisted by Reed, Osmond and Smith. Reed played a fine leading game. Osmond played like a book right through the game, and v»a= complimented by Waxman, the opposing skip. Smith and Payne played tine games, the scores for 25 heads being Payne 28, Waxman 13. '

The play, up to the present, has certainly determined one point, that the No. 2 can win or lose a game. Rankin, whose fine drawing made the game time and again, played in this position. To-day (BViday) we played Moonee Ponds, who axe assisted by other clubs, and won with a margin of 36 points; the winning teams being skipped by Osmond, 15 up; Keast, 12 up; Wheeler, 4 up, and BouskUl, 5 up. The Auckland men all played" well. Court played a good No. 2 game for Osmond.

The hospitality given by the Victorian clubs lias, been moat lavish. Mr. Woods, the president of Victoria Bowling Association, and Mr. Hannah, the secretary, are deserving of the highest praise for their kindness. In the evening the New Zealand bowlers were the guests of Mr. Skinner, president of the Albert Park green. The greens were lit up with the electric light. There was a very large gathering of bowlers and ladies. The greens were truly magnificent, in fact, the finest I have ever seen, and as true as a billiard table. Adi our rinks won. If we had played our State match here, we should, I think, just about have won. We adjourned to the Club Hall, a.nd about 300 bowlers and ladies Bat down to a most sumptuous spread; champagne flowed like water. Mr. Skinner is a line sport. He promised to bring a team of bowlers to New Zealand.

The weather has been perfect up to the present; .wo have had no rain. If anyono asks why Now Zealand lost tko Victoria State match, tell them that it duo to excessive hospitality and travelling.