FAST GREENS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1931, Page 6

FAST GREENS

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS ASTRAY. SYDNEY, August 20. The New Zealand bowlers who ar- ! rived in Sydney on Saturday on their [ way to tlhe Australian carnival at ! Brisbane have had a warm' welcome in more ways than one. The hospitality jof Sydney bowlers is renowned, and -the weather, since the arrival of the j New Zealanders, has been delightful. ISo far they have not missed a single day on the greens, and even if they have failed, to achieve fame they have had some delightful practice in preparation for the more strenuous days ahead at the Queensland capital. The j visitors have been overwhelmed with ! invitations from the various suburban j clubs, and it is unfortunate that they j have not been able to register a single . victory. The margin on Monday when, j they played a Western- Australian | team was only three, but it must be remembered that both teams were unaccustomed to the fast Sydney green's even at this time of the year. Local j bowlers have caused the New Zealand - ' ers to suffer a much heavier defeat, i Visiting bowlers to Sydney nearly ' -always fare badly at first, for it takes | them a long time to become accustomed I to the greens. It is safe to say that i not even in midsummer m New Zealand I are the greens as fast as they are in i Sydney to-day. There hah. teen no i rain to speak of for some weeks, and as the greens receive expert attention : they are extremely puzzling to visit- ! ors, especially visitors from New Zeai land. It takes a long time to get into : touch, hut once that touch is est-ab- | lislied bowlers are loth to go away, j Sydney is indeed the bowlers paradise, ' for it is possible for them to play their | beloved game almost the whole year round. Is it anv wonder that so many New Zealand bowlers winter regularly in Sydney? j When the New Zealand visitors arrived last Saturday they were met by a large number of enthusiasts, and this must have given them all idea of the good time that was in stove. It was one of the most cordial of the many receptions that have been given to howling teams passing through Sydney this week on their way to Brisbane. The official welcome, took place at the -delightfully situated beadquarters, the City Green, alongside the greatly improved Hyde Park. The club house was gaily bedecked with flags, and -almost every howling club was repreesnted. A great orowd heard the hearty good wishes of the president of the New South Wales Bowling Association. A specially selected association team played the first match with the New Zealanders, and scored a somewhat easy victory.