DOMINION BOWLING ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 3

DOMINION BOWLING ASSOCIATION

[BY "Rinker."]

THE "PATRIOTIC" CHAMPIONSHIPS

A RETROSPECT

NO. I. Whilst it is perfectly correct to say that the tournament, which was brought to a conclusion on Tuesday, January 18, brought together many of the loading players from various parts of the Dominion, it would be entirely misleading to publish anything that might ijive tho idea that the late tournament was a meeting of the champions from the northern end of the Dominion to the southernmost end. _In past years there has been a very big attendance of players of more than average merit from Diuiedin and Invercargill whenever (and however) the tournament has been held at Christchurch/ This year's, for unknown reasons, six rinks from Dunedin clubs and one from Oamaru comprised the extreme southern interest taken in tho leading yearly gathering of bowlers— acknowledged to be the greatest bowling event of the Southern Hemisphere. Not a single club south of Green tsland was represented at the tournament, and yet in past years it was no uncommon thing to see ten or twenty clubs from the Taieri southwards vieing with each other for the honours and the trophies pertaining to the championships. . Tt was essentially a patriotic championship, for all profits are to be handed over to the proper body to assist our disabled soldiers. There were 110 Bilver-plated or leather purses hung up 1 as prizes on this occasion, but the certificates held out to winners surely count for more than metal/ ' ,* ■ Prom Auckland the sprinkling of players was sparse, to say the least, but they sent down players whose presence on tho sward always commands attention, and whose knowledge of the game, speaking from a. legislating point of view, is a very necessary adjunct to universal gatherings—for we have a lot of ground to get over <yet ere we may reckon that a championship tournament can be ran through to the contentment of every losing contestant. The latter remark is not'written with any malice aforethought, for it is perfectly understood that, no matter what state of perfection our rules may reach, and however strictly and impartially applied by umpires,-feferees, or other ofbcials in charge of greens during the progress of a tournament, there will surely be found one individual at least who "knows how tq interpret tho rule" when a decision hits him. It may be, too—and possibly it happened during play in the late tournament —that officials treated haphazardly "incidents" that required some little consideration. It will be said that disputes are bound, to crop up. Just so; but in a championship game the printed rules should be couched in as simple a manner as possible, and should not under any circumstances be relegated to the interpretation of tho officer in charge of a green, because he knows everybody .and is a. member of that particular green and a good fellow. This aspect of tho tournament arises owing to the fact that on several occasions tho decisions of referees were, to say the least, doubtful.

Fot instance, in running the cotton across the area of play'great care should be exercised; in deciding whether a jack which has been driven "over" the ditch and, striking the scoring board, falls into the ditcn, is dead or alive; whether nil umpire may take upon himself to say that in a green tie final 16 instead of 21 heads shall dccide the issue; and whether, ju6t as a pl'iyer is about to lower himself to deliver liis first bowl (in a tight corner), it is justifiable 011 the part of the umpire to ring the bell and hurry up the player. Apart from other and more important'matters which may well receive the attention of members of. the legislating body (hiring tho off-season and at future periods, one or two aspects may be mentioned here. It would servo no good purpose to single out the name of any individual player whose ideas of tho rules under which tho tournament was run did not altogether fit in with decisions given, but at the same time it is as well to say that, if the association is going to progress—and there is 110 reason at all why it: should not—then tho rules under wliich championship games are to be contested must be thoroughly revised and new ideas introduced. Never mind wliat we have done in the past. What may we do to make the results of the yearly gathering a success—that is, how may the council provide against such a contingency as a rink that has been beaten three times getting into a semifinal, coming along and wiping out in one act at this stage a team that had won ten harcMouglit games without one loss? It is manifestly unfair; there is no excuse for our rulers, and this state of affairs must be remedied. That, is what occurred in the rinks' contest— Laughton against Fountain. Now in the doubles, take the case of E. Hill and Duff on' St. Albans. The former had won his section outright after three hard games, and then was called upon*to play Duff (two losses). Why shouldn't a man who has proved himself equal to beating all his opponents in his' section come away from that particular .green as the winner, or else be given time next day to play a fourth game, instead of, as did happen, compelling him to take on a comparatively fresh player who had lost one game P

"It is a huge proposition,"*someone will say, "to alter that or to bring the one loss-man anywhere to give him another life unless pitted against the nonloser.'' Would it not be much better to bring all the absolute winners together and let the "one-loss" players have another round all to themselves; then some of the green winners would como back also. It would mean lengthening the. duration of the tournament, but that is a point—and a most important point—which the writer intends to touch on, believing as I do that far too heavy a programme is bundled into eight days' play, and consequently the rush to get through naturally brings about unforeseen disabilities on the part of officials and waning interest on the part of players.

To play three championships in eight days is making work of pleasure, and, under present arrangements, "the championship is not a championship." How can a man be considered a champion unless be defeats every opponent coming forward? Wliy should a team of bowlers that has not beaten every other team in its section compete in a semi-final against a team that has beaten everything up to this stage? Why not make the sections big enough to necessitate each rink playing nine or more games, but, in tho event of a tie as green winners, let the rinks play off, and only ono winner como sway from each green, not three and four as happened at Christchurch. The argument will be tliat "time will not permit." And that is the crux of the whole matter.

To get down to bedrock. As stated abovo, tho programmo at present is too big—throe championships in eight days, and two of them "got off somehow." Koviskm of fclio tournament must soon be taken in hand; the sooner the bettor. It must have been patent to tho authorities that when the time arrived for the opening of the singles'' play (Monday morning, 8 o'clock) many defaulters wero absent. Al! interest abated* thaxjud Mt fat

urday evening. A week of it was sufficient. This brings me nearer my objective.

It has been, suggested by more than one prominent player that if the council next year held only a rink championship at Wellington, and took the whole week to play it out, something in the nature of a championship would be the outcome. Occupy as many greens with ae many teams as may bo necessary, according to ontries; all games 21 heads; every team to play every other te'am in tho section (only one seat-ion on each green); one winner only to come away from each green (three days gone); green winners to play off the mark again (this will occupy two days); then on the sixth day finality. That would mean that the winning team would play every other team in its section, and a double win (probablj') against some team in the final.

A\hat about tho doubles and singles? There is no denying the fact that the majority of contestants at the recent tourney were satisfied that there was "too much play" and "something might have been left out." If, as suggested above, the usual time of year be devoted to rink play, and' it is desirable that pairs' and singles' championships should oooupy a. place in the yearly programme of the association, what is to. prevent a contest for these championships being held at Easter, alternately in the North and South ? The rinks' championship will be held in Wellington next January: Say that one week's rink play will be the result of the deliberations of the oouncil, and. that it be decided to hold the pairs and singles alternately, North and South, at Easter, JDunedin and the other centres each would then liave a tournament once in. two jears— rink 6 every four years and doubles every four years—and the shorter interval would undoubtedly have a tendency to bind closer tho affection whic'h Southerners have always felt for their Northern brethren. There is going to be legislation, just as there is going to be the appointment in Wellington of a permanent secretary—a very necessary appendage, for nothing will ever evolve from the ashes until an able permanent man i» appointed, for it is useless to expect the council (who are in and out again as the whim of centres strike them) t<! get a thorough grip of bowling necessities, or to get gentlemen willing to travel, when they know that they are only holding office for one or two years, as the case may be. At present 110 one knows "where 'e are," as far 1 as the council are concerned; therefore, a permanent secretary, at a salary which will make it worth while holding the position, is _ absolutely necessary. Perhaps, too, it would be better if councillors woro not ousted bo often.