BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 15

BOWLS

! THE OPENING OF SEASON (By IT .7ack,") ■Spring \irs boon smiling its sweotesfc at the greens, and they, aro responding oy looking attractivo enough to induce any bowler to rush into tbo pavi r lion for his Gowls, and have a roll up without waiting for tho laggard Saturday (October 1) to come. Perhaps it is'owing to tho splendid winter and lovely spring, but more clubs than over, have decided to open their greens on ono day (Saturday week) this year fhfcu ever before. — This is unfortunate in a way, as players like to attShd the opening of their own club's green, a#d, tliat being so, are prevented from paying tho so pleasant courtesy visits to other openings when they aro all held on the same day. However, they all appear to be particularly eager to "get going" this season, which augurs well for tno big tournament, to he held here' in January. Tho clubs to open on October 7 include Wellington, Victoria, Newtown, ari3 Hataitai. Thorndou will probably bo a week later, and Kelburn (which has to nurfee its baby green) will not be opened until October 21. A couple of weeks ago it was found necessary to re-top dress and sow a few small patches which hwl been effaced by the high winds. Otherwise tho green is in capital fettle for a two-year-old. Two Fest on tho Mat. Tli© council of ffie Dominion Bo.wling Association are as shy in enforcing tho fcwo-feet-on-tbe-mat rule as the Government have been in applying the compulsory enlistment clauses of the Military Service Act. From the discussion which took place at the meeting the other day, one was able to gather that the rule was ,pretty_ generally acceptablo to bowlers,- particularly in tho south. > Auckland,, Mr. M. C. Barnett said, was the chief offender, and ho made so bold as to say that the rule was flagrantly disobeyed on purpose to flaunt their independence of tho council in regard to the rule. At this, Mr. M'Callum (Auckland) made .1 move, but did not deny the soft impeachment. Personally, I believe the rule is a sound ono, and a good greensaver. It is really wicked tho way some people go forward, and kick up the turf in doing bo, as though they were initiating miniature dug-outs. Why .such players are permitted to do so without even a warning from tho green committees is one of these sentimental concossions quite outside tho pale of reason. They just do it, that's all, and because the offender is a good chap, he is allowed to plough the green. , A fow minutes later' a player wonders why his bowl straightens up or takes an exaggerated bias. The entrance to tho. dug-out has done it. ' Mr. A. E. Fowler believed that the law was disobeyed because there was nobody to say that it should bo obeyed. There is a good deal in that, and I believe that if the council wero to boldly announce that the two-feet-on-the-mat rule was to bo enforced at the coming tournament it- would be obeyed without trouble, and the greens of the Wellington clubs would-be all the • better for it during the second half of tho season. Stephens, the capable Potone skip, bns joined the Kelburn Club. He will bo missed from pennant play this season. ' ' Crosn Reports. Newtown resumes bowls on October 7. After covering itself with glory last season, that club should be in great heart this season. During the recoss the club's property has been very much improved. The ; old fence on tho 6ide nearest the brickworks has" been taken away, the rough bricks plastered up, and the extra apace so provided allows room enough for seats. On tho other side new flower-beds have been made, and the banks have been raised 18 inches all round. The social hall lias been refurbished, and the club's fine set of trophies and certificates can now be much better displayed than ever before. The green has a fine mat of grass, promising durability and truth. No green looks better "than the lower one at tho Wellington Club: Its rich carpet of thick grass is a positive luxury to. the eye, and if it playg anything like it looks it will be the usual green de luxe this year. The top greon also looks well, and even the tennis court provides three decent rinks. Enthusiasts have been playing on Wellington's third-floor-back for tho past month. The Hutt green was showing a few thin patches a few days ago. Tin's is surprising for the Hutt-, after such a fine winter and springy The Hataitai green is going to bo one of the best in Wellington this yoa>--. The Lure of Sydney. Says the bowling scribe of the Sydney ".Referee": "My New Zealand renders might like to know this': 'I'm going, to live here altogether,' said _ Mr. l'rince, our Wellington (N.Z.) visitor, on the City.green last Wednesday afternoon.' 'What- a''paradise the place is in weather conditions compared with those of my own country! When did-I ever see subh a succession of glorious Spring days! And you play bowls here all the year round, and enjoy every" moment.' This is what every Now Zealauder tells us; and Victorian, South Australian, Tasnianian, and Westralian players oxpress themselves in more or less similar terms." ■ _ Tho Mr. Prince referred to is George Prince, of the Newtown Club, who has been in Sydney for tho past three or four months. Sydnoy catches all. bowlers as it has caught Mr. Prince. Mr. Alex. Veitch returned the other day. His opinion of Sydney is that it is a bowlers' paradise, but, politically, perdition. Advice to Skips. Spalding, the English authority on bowls, says in his "Bowling Guide": "No skip should ever show tomper, either at his men or with his own play, lie must preserve an equable manner,, bo keen, and put all nitercst in the game,, consult his third man, _ who should stand at the jack end until his turn comes to play (a rule 3iot followed, or allowed in Now. Zealand), and at times ask the advico of all three men. By such methods success comes, but individual brilliancy in a rink without combination and the art of building a head is so much wasted talent." The advice to a skip to-be-keen is invaluable. How often have we all seen a good side* go down simply becauso the skip was playing without interest in tho game. That lack of interest is infectious, and has its reflection in the .play of every member of the rink. Spalding on delivery is good. Ho says: "Do not stab your wood in tho ground,as it leaves your hand; do not pull your arm back too quiokly as the bowl leaves your hand; also do not jerk your delivery. Get underneath your wood slightly _as it passes from your palm, for by doing so you lift it 011 to tho greon in a smooth manner. Never throw, _ just bowl! To throw means to pitch it out of balance, and it never roally rights itsetf." . '

The demand for eggs for tlio wounded now extends to 1,000,000 a week, according to ilie National Collection, -which up to date has distributed 16,000,000 new-laid eggs among tlio hospitals at homo and abroad. Two thousand depots liavo been established, and approximately there aro 100,000 collectors engaged in this splendid work-, 'iiat No Eggs; Send - Them to tho Wounded," is the motto which the National Egg Collection is asking the oublic to bear in mind.