BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 11

BOWLING

[By Mkasuuo.] Just now is the slack time of bowling. There is nothing doing locally, and the only tournament gathering is the one being held at present in Timaru, of which results so far to hand are very indefinite. .-\ season or two ago local howlers were much more active at Christmas time than they are now. A tournament was run tor a season or two with some success, but not sufficient to encourage its continuance, ami it lias been (wisely, 1 think) dropped. Also, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day quite a number ol members would assemble on greens and play progressive pairs from early morning till late niternoon; but this has also gone out of fashion, and Christmas time is mow regarded by the local bowler as a real lime of rest, with nothing in the shape of competition to bo considered. And tb many this idea is very welcome. Though no official interchib games were fixed for last Saturday, one postponed match was decided- Ibis was between a Caversham Chib section and an Outram Club section, which should have been played the previous week, but was put off on account of Ontram’s green being unplayable. The result was a big win for Caversham, this despite the fact that Outram was ahead in two ol the three rinks. A luting game, bowls! M‘Lean (Outram) led Todd 23 to 14, and Thomson (Outram) beat his namesake 24 to 23; but Mitolicll (Caversbam) scored 41 to Bannerman’s i. and Caversham von the match by 78 to 54. Bannerman scored 5 to 0 in the first throe heads: then Mitchell did all the scoring lor the next fifteen heads, by which time he had scored 40 points. .... . What did arouse considerable interest this week was the stop-over visit ot three rinks of Victorian bowlers who came bv the Manuka via the Bind on their wav to take part in the dominion tournament at Wellington next week. On their arrival on Monday night they were met by Messrs R. H. iocld, D. C. Cameron, and H. Rowley, representingthe Dunedin Centre, and cordially welcomed. On Tuesday morning, which was fine, they were taken in motors around the city, and thoroughly emoved themselves. One of the visitors'told the writer that ho had travelled extensively—in South Alnea. America, and the Old Country—and had seen nothing to excel the beauty of Tuesday’s trip. He certainly intended to come again and tour the district proporlv- A game had boon atianged for the visitors on Tuesday alternoon at Bahnacowcn green, when a Centre Executive team was to. have, been their opponents. But the rain winch set in prevented this. On Wednesday, however, the fates were more kind, and games were played on Dunedin Club's green. ’1 he match

with the Centre Executive was decided in the morning, and the visitors, though ahead in two of tho three rinks, lost by two points—s 4to 56. In the afternoon the Victorians played against Dunedin Club opponents. By this time the green was fairly keen, and two rinks of the visitors, who will play together at Wellington, had a try-out against two strong Dunedin Club rinks who will also take part in tho tournament. Some excellent play was shown by both sides, and the general opinion was that, as a visiting team, the Victorians were tho strongest invajders we had yet seen. One visiting rink.'skippcd by Wood, defeated Bentley’s team by 37 to 16, while tho other, led by Clark, failed against S. Hutchison by •20 to "23. A third rink of visitors played an enjoyable game against a rink led by Mr J. B. Frame (Dunedin Club’s president), and wont down by 18 to 25. Incidental to the visit ol the Victorians, it mav bo mentioned that the s.s. Manuka did not berth at Dunedin wharf fill ,11-30 p.m. on Monday, but the committee appointed to meet them was there. Then it was found that, instead of two rinks and three ladies v tlic number expected), three rinks and eight ladies had arrived- The motor accommodation (supplied by bowling friends) proved insufficient; hut tins difficulty was overcome by ringing up a staunch supporter (Mr F. J. Lough), and, though it was midnight and be had retired, he was soon on the scene with his car. Practical support of the game this! The numerous friends of Mr Alex. M'Donald (of Caledonian Club), who lias been prevented from tailing part in the game this season by illness, are pleased to see him about again well on the road to complete recovery. While Dunedin will be represented, so far as T can ascertain, at the big tournament at Wellington next week by only half a dozen rinks, each nl them reads like a serviceable combination, and one or two of them should show up in the inter stages. Dunedin Chili is sending three rinks, coin posed as follows:—H. Gardiner, J. Higginson, J. D. Smith, S. Hutchison; J. Wilkinson, T. Neill. J- Pieterson, J. Bentley; H. Williams, A. N. Smith, J. Rigby, J. Hutchison. From Caledonian Club two rinks are going, comprising W. Lindsay, G. Claridgc, V. Langley. J. Scott, J, Hamel, W. Elliott, W. Lloyd, and W. D. Wyatt. _ Balmaeewen Club is sending one rink made up of T. Hindle. J. Buchan, D, Bennie, and T. Ferguson; AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND. The following team lias been selected to represent New Zealand in a six-rink match against Australia, to be played at Wellington on January 3,4, and 5 next;—• E. J- Mill (Wellington), R. Cometh (Hataitai), C. Fraser (Palmerston North), M. Walker (Auckland). N. Bell. jun. (Hamilton). J. 11. Traces (Mount Eden), W. Raphael (Canterbury), N; Bell, son- (Hamilton). , 11. Carlton (Timaru), H. F. Tiiiey (Wanganui), W. Fielding (Hataitai), R. N. Pilkington (Hamilton). P. Munn (Edgcware). T. Ferguson (Balmaeewcn), A. Holmes (Rakaia), T, Edwards (Teniuka). J. M. Brackenridgc (Victoria), G. Clark (Mount Albert). A. _ Parsons (Ponsnnby), A. K. Smart (New Plymouth). V. Langley (Caledonian), J. Moves (Timaru), j. Kerr (Masterton), J. Scott (Caledonian). “ TEST ” MATCHES. Some writers in Australia appear to hold views similar to “Measurer” in reference to the futility of “test” matches among howlers under present conditions. The Svdney correspondent of Christchurch ‘Press’ writes; — There has been some severe comment regarding the tour which will begin next month of an Australian howling team which lias planned an extensive visit to New Zealand. This team is far from representative of Australia, yet it will take with it the banner of a fully-accredited test team, ami will play a series of test matches with New Zealand. The tour has been described in some quarters as farcical, but -the point at issue seems to he the arrangement of test matches. Nobody objects to a number of bowlers clubbing together and going to New Zeland for a holiday, with a few games of bowls thrown in just to pass away the hours; but there is a very distinct objection to the fact that this particular team will regard itself as an Australian test team. Only six members, maybe fewer than that, are good enough to create a slight breeze in'and around Sydney. Mr J. Mathers, one of Australia’s bowling authorites, is very indignant. Reviewing the situation he wrote: — “Some months ago the respective State bowling associations called Jor nominations for a trip to New Zealand. Seventeen players from Victoria and twenty-five from New South Wales expressed their willingness to make the trip. They -were duly \ selected,’ not by any Australian selection committee, but virtually by themselves! The only requisites were sufficient money, sufficient leisure, and sufficient energy to make the trip. The quality of their bowling did not matter. The question one may now raise is: Why is Australia not sending to New Zealand a firstclass bowling team? The answer is: Because there exists a fetish among bowlers that it would show a lack of dignity if they were paid their expenses, and since it would cost about £6O to make the trip, those who cannot afford, or do not care to afford, to spend that sum will remain at home. The whole thing is a bowling burlesque, and it should cause the authorities to do some hard thinking. “Developments of recent years has converted bowls from a game for the classes to a game for the masses, and consequently the point of view of the controlling authorities should be altered, too- But whisper the word professional, and many bowlers would shriek that such an offending term should be uttered in their presence It is all very well for the retired business man to talk, but what about the thousands of middle men who play the game every Saturday afternoon. They must be considered.”. Of course, the control of bowls in Australia is not much different to what it is in New Zealand, but that is not to say that it is keeping pace with the requirements of the game and of the players,