Bowling SHIELD CONTEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 77, 23 December 1937, Page 11

Bowling SHIELD CONTEST

"Eoamer.")

Good Entry for N(?w Ye»r Tourney NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

Congratulations to the Havelock North Club on their first success in the District Shield competition, The club finished up with » pcycentage of 68f, being closely followed by Kia Toa, 67 6-7, and, Waipukurau 66 2-3. Much interest was takpn in this competition this season, and the result was in doubt up till tne last game played. The Hastings Club, with 6 wins out of 7 in the final round, made a good recovery, their figures being 64 2-7. Port ... secured 58 14-17, Heretaunga 52 12-19, Napier 50, and Bluff Hill 50. The others were well down. Hastinf* won the shield last year. Obituary. It is with great Tegret that I have to record tho sudden death qf Mr J/ B. Sloaa. Johnny was a keen bowler of the National Service Club, and it was mainly through 'his energy and enterprise that a green was put down at the club. He was a keen worker, and the club will greatly miss his valued serviccs. The sympathy cf all bowlera in the district will have been extended to his widow and family in their sad loss. Valedictory. Tom Conrtney, of the Port Club, has been promoted to Auckland, so that hit servicps will be no longer available to the Port. Tom. has been a keen member of the club and ever ready to shoulder responsibilitiea, and his place as secretary will be hard to fill. All bowlers. will wish Tom the best of luck in his new position in the northern city. A Mare's-nest. Upon the arriyal of the British bowlers at Wellington, Mr M. J. Ca»ey, the genial president of the "Wellington Centre, boarded the Arawa, and extended a welcome. to the visitors to the Dqminion. Shortly afterwards, Harry Mayer put in an appearance, ' Meet Mr Mayer," said Mr Casey to the captain of the Britishera (Mr D. Gardiner)* After a short convprsation, Mr Mayer left. " Funny little ehap that Mayor of yours," remarked Mr Gardiner to Mr Casey subseqqently. *-Oh, I don't think so," replied Mr Casey, "he's not little, in f act he's about 6ft lin. " Mr Gardiner was referring. to the gentleman to whom he had just been introduced, "Oh," replied Mr Casey, enlightened, "that is not the Mayor, that's Mr Mayer."New Year Tourney. The New Year tourney o£ the Hawke's Bay Centre drew an entry of 38 teams, which is quite good under the circmnstanees. Mgny old names appear as skips, but I notice several new onee as well. This is all tp the good. The draw for tha tourneyj whmh will be played on greens in Hastings and at Havelock North, h&s glready been published. Third's ResponsibiUtiec, Eecently the writer (Running Shot") dealt with on© or two failings in. regard to the leads and seeonds in riak bowling, but they are not alone when bad tacticg gre b.eing considered, he wriies. Thirds, too, have acquired several whieh are not in the best IntereBts pf the game. One of the worst habits some thirds have acquired is the all-import-ant self-eatisfied manner shown at the head. Often the player opposite is relegated to the background while thip player stands up at the head, and never gives his opponent a real chance to view thq changes made by his skip; Another vt-ry glaring fault is the habit qf 50 per cent. of the thirds advising th© skip what shot to play beforp he hgs reached the mat. Never suggest an^ shot tp the skip nntil he has plgyed his first boAvl or unless the position at the head has beqn altered. Also when the skips a.sk for certain informafion do npt ramble off on some other idea of your own but give th'e iniormatipn the Skip asks of you preciaely and clegrly. Th^n again do not wander qway and start talking in adjoining ripks. Concentrate on' your own game and know the position at the head when it ig your turn to play. When measuring shots show courtesy to your opponent. If your side is holding shot and there are two 0? three doubtful seoring bowls let your opponent mgasure first; If thes© and several more bad habits were eoi> rected the game of bowls would be coutested in a much better spirit and its enjoyment enhanced eonsiderably. The Position in England. The English Bowling Asspeiatiqn may have its own national headquarters gnd greens if present discussions ia London office of the Sydney Eeferee). bowling cireles bear fruit (says the There is a feeling among the o|d game going professional. As bowling timers that there is a danger of the is overwhelmingly a poor man's- game, many feel that if it did go professional, it would rob the sport of its interest. On the other hand, if is argued that many of the bowling cluhs are merely institutions run by the brewers, and that the chief interest in them is not tho greens, but tlie bars. This is true. .in the North of England, where the brewers set up clubs provide greens and a bar. It is cnly fair to say that such places are not allowed membership ia the English Bowling Association, who haye resolutely refqsed to give any fixtures to any greens under suspect of being tho property of a private individual or The only way to prevent the game a brewing concern. being professionalised is for the English Bowling Association to have' its own greens and prennses, and probably before another season is passefi this will be done.