BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 13

BOWLING

[By Measurer.]

The only play last Saturday of aay importance was that on Dunedin Crab green, where just upon a hundred veterans, many whose names recalled good old dq£S of long ago, were catered for in generous manner by Dunedin Club members. It is now some fourteen years since Elderly Bowlers’ Day was instituted at the suggestion of Mr H. F. M. Mercer, and Dunedin Club has always taken charge of the function and carried it through well. There was nothing wanting this year. The guests were made to feel quite at home by President J. C. Stephens and his committee, and there was no question their enjoyment. The aggregate ages of the ninety-six players was 7,270 years. Wellington had a Veterans’ Gala Day recently, which was very successful. The function was inaugurated ir 1924. Tins 'year seventy-two players took part. The average age of the players was about seventy-four years, and the total ages piled up to over 5,000 years. Mr A. Mills, born in 1843, and who was the first boy born in Nelson, was one of the players. Four rinks from Balmacewen Club took advantage of there being no interclub matches last Saturday to pay a visit to Milton. The weather turned out beautiful, resulting in a, very enjoyable journey by motor. The arrangements and the hospitality of the local howlers were everything that could bo desired, and the Balmacewen men wore all of the same opinion—the best day out they had had this season, and they are looldng forward to a return match, in the near future. After a very pleas* ant game victory rested with Balmao* ewen.

The condition of St. Clair green ig such that it is considered necessary to dose the green early-v-somewhere about the end of this month—in order to givo it a reasonable chance to be in good form for next season. Under these circumstances both St. Hilda and Caversham Clubs have willingly offered tho use of their greens to St. Clair players for the balance of the season. Another of the games that really matter was played on Tuesday night between two rinks a side composed or players from the 1 Evening Star ’ office and “ Invicta ” (Coulls, Somerville, and Wilkie). As a result of the game “ Invicta ” lived almost up to its reputation, for not till the last head did it acknowledge defeat by just a single point. The chances are that if you asked the invincibles how it came about that they were a point down you would hear something about had luck, and their opponents might be hard put to it to deny that Fortune was with them. But that is bowls! When Holgate was one‘up with a howl to go on tho last head against Lambeth (which meant a tie) ho sportingly tried to shift kitty for three or four; hut he knocked Lambeth in for shot, and finished two down,- “ Invicta ” was one up on the other rink,where tho scores were close all the Cole (‘Star’) and Coull (“Invicta”).* the respective skips, calling on their men every now and again for surprising shots, and playing some themselves at times. It was a jolly game, affording enjoyment to both players and onlookers, and giving a very fair exhibition er skill. All the players concerned give' thanks to Cavorsham Club for the use of its green, which Mr Geo. Shand hag in excellent order. ORIGIN OF BOWLS. ’ Bowlers now know why an “end” iS bowls is called a “ head.” This wad explained by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) at the Duthi© Our contest luncheon (says the ‘Dominion ’). Mr Troup said that there wap a legend to the effect that tho ancient Kings of Scotland—the Malcolms and the like—instituted the game by; playing with the heads of slain and he assumed that the first notion ofi bias in a bowl was caused through the nasal protuberance. _ That was a ghastly business, and as their culture improved they played with stone bowls, probably, for some hundreds of years. Then! from stone they turned to wood, and with the change of material so the game became refined in spirit and exact in laws. Mr Troup said that he was very much surprised to find, on visiting America,that tho game was not played therq, because so many Scotsmen had taken up their residence in that country. _ He read an account of an American visitor to Rotorua, who, after dilating on the wondesr of the hot springs and boiling mud, said; “Then, on tho lawns in front of the bathhouse, we saw a number of men in white woollen flannels throw a little white bnlMip the green, and then follow it up with large black balls. Then they went up to the other end, and repeated it all oyer again. This went on for hours. Still, as thie poor fellows seemed perfectly harmless, wo didn’t interfere!” THE VICTORIANS. Our visitors have come and gone, anil a right royal time they had according to their own account. This was not surprising. Tho weather was perfect, and the local executive, with its many supporters, had made complete arrangements for the visitors’ entertainment. A more jovial lot could not have come together than these score of Victorians —true sports, all of them, pleasant to play with and to talk to. Their success on the green was not great, though there are real good players among them. But naturally there is no combination, as yet; this will come later, and they may put up a surprise for our northern friends. Jb could bo seen, however, that their manager, Mr W. Lyon, spoke truly at Wednesday evening’s social when he said that his party cared Jittlb for results; what they wanted was to make friends with Now Zealand bowlers. This they undoubtedly did in Dunedin.

Tho ladies accompanying them were taken charge of by the local lady bowlers, and 1 heard them on Thursday night, at tho close of their visit, say that their enjoyment had exceeded all expectations Both ladies and gentlemen could not praise Dunedin’s scenery tno much. Mr W. A. Wright, speaking at the social, was apparently sincere when he said ho thought that Dunedin must be tho most beautiful city in tho world.

: Though, as before remarked, the visii tors' success on the green was not great —they lost both matches easily—in all other departments they are to the fore. They have singers and story-tellers in their ranks, and are well able to hold their own socially. At Wednesday night’s gathering Mr, E. H. Leggo introduced a bowling song well worth while, and Messrs J. Florant and W. Lyon amused the audience with witty stories. One of our own men was humorous, too, possibly unconsciously. Mr R. H* Todd, responding to the toast of “The Dunedin Centre,” put up a great defence for Dunedin’s weather. This, he said, had been much maligned. It had ibeen accused of being uncertain, fickle, jand altogether unreliable. Such was I not the case; all such statements were i wrong. The visitors had had a fair j sample of Dunedin’s weather that day, i and had seen some beautiful sights. The I next day they would see other fine I places—that was, if it kept fine! I The gift by Mr H. F. Leggo of four miniature golden bowls for the winners of the champion rinks competition will add interest to that fixture. Mr Leggo made many other gifts while he was here, I am informed. The executive’s efforts were greatly assisted by the Dunedin and Caledonian Club authorities. • and by the many bonders who own cars which they placed at the executive’s disposal. The Victorians’ visit of 1928 will long remembered.

NOTES. Mr Charles Amtman, whose experience enables him to recognise a good thing when he sees it, showed a small group of bowlers the other day something new in the shape'of mats. It is full size (48in x 18in), made of pure rubber with a canvas backing, and particularly taking in appearance. In the centre of the dark rubber the word “Bowls” is plainly worked in red, and red corner ornaments serve us a mark for the feet. A large portion of the mat is perforated, which saves slipping and gives the grass below a better chance than the general closely-woven article. A green fully furnished with" these mats w'ould certainly look well. Other advantages are that the mats are light in weight, very flexible, and cannot curl or blow up from the turf. Clubs thinking of renewing their mats should certainly make inquiries. Local lady bowlers hold their tournament next week. Singles, doubles, and rinks are to bo played, and there are record entries.

Mr W. Dali, of Dunedin Club, has returned from his annual holiday in Australia. Those left in the Caversham Club singles are Ball and Thomson (two lives) and Romeril, Todd, and Thorn (one life). Last night Roraeril outed Blackwood on the last head, • after a dingdong go. The champion rink was found early in the week, when 11. Todd, M'Caskill, Scott, and Todd (s) easily beat Woodbury, Paine, Love, and Mitchell (s) in the final. The doubles and the handicap singles are well on the .way to finality. G. Harraway’s Thistle rink failed to Survive a challenge last evening, and lost by 6 points. At one stage the score was 16-2, but the holders pulled •up well in the later stages. The new holders are Ecllin, Melville, Love, Brown, and challenges by Todd and Ball axe next in order.

St. Clair Club is particularly iulcr.ested in its champion pairs, newly instituted. Five are still in it—Cole with two lives, Marshall, Thompson, Seddon, snd Coull with one life each.

The New South Wales Bowling Association has been advised that the Suva 'Bowling Club wrote that the Pacific Carnival will take place in July ncx't, and that a prize valued at 50gs will be given for the singles contest. Tho president announced at the monthly meeting that Australian bowlers could not take part if the prize was given in cash. Any departure from tropnies or open orders to purchase a trophy would be professionalism. It was decided to put these views before tho Suva Club.

A Victorian writer, commenting on the recent visit of a New Zealand team to Australia, says; “It is regrettable that New Zealand could not have been better represented, but her own arrangements are such that a larger number of bowlers and a team worthy of the dominion’s best traditions were not obtainable at this juncture. One thing stood out prominently during the New Zealanders’ play. Too much fuss has , been made here about their practice of i stepping off’the mat when delivering, ilt probably is not too much to say that [if they were to take their stand behind Ithe centre line instead of right at the (front of our 4ift mats they would deliver very much the same as Australians fdo, and in forty-nine out of fifty of f their deliveries no material difference [.would be noticeable. All that they ligain is about 15in or ISin in the length [of each head, and I have yet to learn [jthat the same number of feet less in (the run of the bowls makes it easier for linen to bowl accurately. The number jof bowlers in Australia who favor and [practise short-end play is negligible. If *the New Zealanders’ minimisation of jlength led to greater success wo would ■see more short than long ends. The opposite is the case. Even our visitors did not shorten ends materially when they cast the jack. Another salient feature about them was their adherence to wooden bowls and bowls of the olden tvpe. Their timber and the manner of tlieir play recalled to me those of the English team that visited us. Probably the heavier greens are responsible for the manner of play. Heavy greens feall and give opportunity for more aggressive methods than do the fast-run-ning surfaces with which we in Victoria are familiar. The team which leaves here in February nest for a tour in New Zealand _is _ likely to realise this fact. Also, it is very probable that their other experiences in Maoriland will remind them of those home by the New Zealanders hero last week.”