DOMINION BOWLING ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2684, 2 February 1916, Page 7

DOMINION BOWLING ASSOCIATION

PATRIOTIC TOURNAMENT

A RETROSPECT

[By-"Kixker."]

No. 11. In writing "the iirst article it was ii difficult, matter to .settle down to Hie main issue—i.e., criticism of Ute play— fur so many incidents suddenly crowd one's memory that it is almost impossible to review even a portion of the eight days occupied in play within tho narrow confines ol' a column ql' newspaper residing.' Therefore, in justice to many who took part in the tournament, and the utter impossibility of making mention of many matters that would bo of interest, particularly to those who camc from way-back clubs, if it is said that spues iilons precludes any 'attempt at detailed criticism, ! theii .sufficient apology wilL liavo been offered i'or seeming (uut unintentional) omissions.

It was noticeable when play opened on the first day that many of tho old face* were missing. A new 'generation of phvers has sprung up. The "old" generals could bo counted on tho lingers of one hand. J. Brackonridge, W. M'Laren, W. C. Allnutt, W. M'Donald, and W. Waddoll appeared to be only members nf tho old brigade who took part; but ,T. liain, W. Harnett, A. V. B. Bishop, W. Carsivell, T. Mackic, etc., etc.—tho great skippers of a year or two ago ivero absent, as well as tho members oi' their teams—and what great players they also were!

Perhaps, with the advent of tho youngci* generation, the play has become more vigorous, and the fame has, in many rcBpects, become fastei -faster because whore, in the old days, a player was content to draw steadily to the white object, to-day it is the game for the man who has a keeu eyo and power behind his - bowl, with, of course, the natural nptitmlo to draw to inches with a bowl immediately after "propelling a cannon ball"—tho champion of to-<!ay miidt necessarily be nil adept at drawing and driving. And yet of the play in the tournamentit caunot be said that, in the finals at nil events, anything above ordinary play mas noticeable. In fact, tho play in the finals was dreary, and monotonous. Strange as it may seem, those who had infused life into their games in the earlier stages had ,all been knocked' out before the finals. Many of tho best teams went under by Bheer hard luck. Take Fountain's team as' an instance. They bad played ten bard games previous to meeting Newtown, and in this game the Hoslyn team were dead off for tho time being, whilst Duff (Newtown) was at top. Given Duff in,' and granting that lie is ahead of Dey as a third player, I would select Fountain's team to win five games out of six against Laughton's team if the tournament was played over again. Tlioro is no comparison so far as skippers are concerned, but a strong third makes all the difference, and that is where Laughton's team scored against Fountain in the semi-final, and then against Torrance in the final for tho rinks championship. ■Laing iWaimate) has been playing consistently lor some years, and his team was unlucky. , They struggled gamely into the fourth day's play, and .here again tho third player was not quite up to championship form. Still ho can handle a bowl, and experience may yet bring him well into the limelight. The champion North Island team (J. Nash. Palmerston North) did not show up at all; in fact, from the first round they never seemed to relish tli'c going.

. M'Laren brought a dcceut team out, but either the captain has lost his dash or his team- did not play up to expectations. Time was when Jl'iaren's name was a poser for an opponent, but nowadays a smasher into the wood makes quite a difference.. The game is not to build lioads; It's nice to take the chances witli a fast one after your opponent has built up satisfactorily and is going down to protect!

Kerr (Eketahuna) said that lie enjoyed his games, and E. Hill hadn't much luck, albeit ho plays every bowl with an object in view.

Osmond (Auckland) and his men did not: nut lip the performances they were capable of, but it may be that, in having to play on a plot that was not running too sweetly, much of the edge of tiieir play was dulled. Of J. Brackeuridge and his team it nan only be said that this past master of the gamo plugged along against all comers, and whoever met liim found that he 'Wfls still a foe who had to Ire seriously reckoned with. "Jimmy" Bracken--ridge has been playing bowls for 52 rears, and yet he is always well up to the semi-finals. He'll piay (ho says) until lie can't play any longer, but he does not _ anticipate "throwing in his bowls" until he's about 87 years of Age. Macdougall's rink was considered to be ono of tho strongest when the entries wero summed up, Imt the skipper was not too well supported. As a matter of Tact, Dickson's third play was not strong. Bor-e kind's team held.their own in the earlier rounds," but went to pieces as time wc-.nt 011. Perhaps Eedpath'a (Canterbury) team was the strongest local combination seen out; they stood uo well into the fourth day before spiking" their guns.

Taking previous tournaments as a guide, Crowley's "and Smellie's teams should have been well forward, but in each instance these teams just lost by one point. That is the luck of it. t s,-iw Crowley nominate one dav: "If I take out his three bowls, how will we lav?" "Two!" answered his third. "Right. Look out!" Down went Crowley's bowl, unerringly, and out went the opposing three bowls. If. .was a wonderful shot.

Of Torrance's team it may he said that they gained their position"in the finals by good play. Scager. Caugliley. Atkinson all played steadily, and Torrance hinnelf appeared to bavo reached top grade as 0. player. Many benr.tifnllyilrawn shots were played by Torrance right through the piece. 111 his game against Laugh ton tho Christchurch skipper time and again extricatr/l his men when disaster seemed imminent. Of Laughton, in this particular game, it would be unfair to tho Newtown skipper if mention wero not made of his play— whilst at tho same time making every allowance for substantial 'aid from Duff. Laughton probably put u[> his best gamo la tho lluul, for in his game against Fountain ho did not ilisnlav such accuracy 111 drawing. Another feature about Laughton is his coolness when awkward predicaments present themselves. A pleasing feature in connection with the rink play was the prominonl. position occupied by AllnuU's team. Arriving at (Jhristchurcli on the eve of the U'urimmciit, the Kuikorai skip was asked to (ake.L. Campbell's place, and so ably did he, pilot his team that Messrs. Bascand and Co. decided to present the captain (a stranger to them) with a ease of mors as a "mark of esteem and

gratitude for the courteous manner in n'liioli ho (Allnutt) had handled hi* men, ami I'oi- tlio great elforts lie hud made to win his teanr right through." Jt was a tribute expressing true uowling spii'it. To atlcjnpt to write at length on the Pairs and Singles would be a huge tusk a'; the present time. Sufliee it io anthill in beating Alhiutt. and lllingham in Hie Pairs, Parata and Diuiock won from the strongest doublo out, but Ailnutt ninde a mistake at the 10th head, v.hci", instead of sending down a smart bowl through a long port and taking chances, he attempted to draw on the fore-hand—an extremely difficult shot on a tricky piece ol' country at a critical moment, when a man's nerves am, tfound lip to such a point that accuracy in drawing <:cmes problematical. It was anybody's head, and I'arata ran through, rattled, and scored. The Singles was a hollow win A for I'ountaUi, wiknowlcdged to be ono ut Duncdiii's premier players—i[ not actually the leading all-round player. Later on J. hope lo deal with the social, legislative. secretarial, and other aspoets of the pastime.