BOWLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8338, 25 January 1913, Page 15

BOWLING

There will bo plenty of visiting bowlers in Wellington this week-end. Northern players, who have been competing at Christchurch, will be on their way home, while some of the South Islanders, who have been touring the north, will bo southward-bound. Needless to say all will be heartily welcomed on the Wellington greens. The N.Z.B.A. tournament had not been concluded when these lines were written, so that no reference can bo made to it. 'The few rinks from the North Island by no means disgraced themselves, clearly proving that the standard, of bowling is as high now in tho North Island as it is in the south. Some years ago this was perhaps hardly the case, owing probably to tho preponderance of fine Scottish players from Otago, but now wo have altered all that, and the annual battle between the north and south’s champion rinks will be something to look forward to. The principle of handicapping is not viewed with favour by the bowls writei of tho London “Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette.” He thinks that nothing but scratch games should be played. Listen to him: “A handicap grievance has been noted in connection with a northern competition upon tho linos of 51 up. But why handicaps in tho game of bowls at all ? To a great extent handicaps are tho spawn of grousing in sport. There is no handicapping iu rifle shooting. If ono man makes a centre and another a ‘bull’—well, the other fellow (the latter) is top, anyway, for the time being. Neither does handicapping oome into cricket. When a man takes to bowls let him do so, as far as prizes are concerned, in a similar way that he would have to trust to Fate, and his own skill in cricket. If a player pulls off a prize in a handicap through being ‘a street’ in front by way of allowance, well, where does tho real credit and pleasure of winning come in ? A game of bowls is purely a duel, a trial of strength .between the rival players. And in duelling there is no handicapping, of course. The man who bowls best is the best man—and let the best man wmi” In connection with the concluding matches of tho Wellington Centre tournament, which were postponed from January 2nd, Mr T. Churchward, hon. secretary, desires bowlers to know that on Monday afternoon, on the Wellington green, the following games will ho played: Section I.—Prince v. Manson, at 2.30 p.m. The winner to meet Moult at 4.30 p.m. Section 3.—Webb v. Southgate, at 4.30 p.m. Section s.—Dali v. Wylie, at 4.80 p.m. The finals will be played on Tuesday. On February Ist the Wellington Club will play its annual match against teams from the city and suburban clubs. Tho next round of the pennant competition will take place on February Ist. WORDS OF WISDOM. It has often been said that the only way to build a rink is to pick men who play often together; but this, m practice, has been found to bo a delusion. We have only to instance international matches, where players, - drawn from all parts of Scotland, playing on greens, some Jong and soma short, and of varying qualities of turf, have won many a game that, on paper, looked lost. The duties of each player aro many anl various, but the lead ivho understands the play that “never up, never in’ has done more to defeat his opponents than lie may imagine. Ho should always endeavour to have one at tho jack and the other behind. Critics «f tho game say that a skip with a good lead and third has all tho forces at his command he could desire. While these are most essential in a well-built rink, given a “saft second” who is always. up, and able to chap or lie as desired the best of skips need have no fear of a “big kill” against him. Indeed,-it is now being more fully realised that the “saft second” plays a greater part in the formation of a head arid tho general excellence of He game than his cognomen suggests. It is most essential, however, iu riuk play, that these two players should be up, for the jack, as a rule, is altered by tho first eight- boa Is. To attai i this perfection tho skip must encourage his players, and if ho docs so he will find them play enthusiastically, ably, unselfishly, and harmoniously to win the game. Where there is no harmony there can bo no success looked for. The third player must be able to draw, trad, or strike as his skip may desire; Out with a heavy counting bead against him it is play to draw ami save, unless he can, by striking, open up the head for his skip. A third who is unable to do that handicaps his skixi in a close-built head. 1 remember a few years ago seeing two eights in succession lost by the failure of a third to strike, when a draw would have paid his side better. The skip, of course, is the autocrat, but he should not be too unbending or self-important to obey his third on occasion. There are games where no risks can be taken, but there are others where only risks bring “big bills” and success to his side. 1 once heard that doyen of players, Tom Frame, of Carluke, say that skips lost more games than they thought by changing the hand of play of their leads or seconds ao often, as often Iho bowl is lost when a hand is changed. Always play tho hand with most and never lose sight of a bowl after it has come to rest. If there is a difficulty in getting the first shot ho should be content with tho second. It is often easier to net the second, while to get tho first is quite impossible. Lastly, in a word, as the preacher says, never give in or give up; play your best all the while—“it is dogged as does it.” Never mind Die “bankers,” nor take advice from them, but ahvays keep cool, and never allow anyone to bluff you.”—-From a allow anyone to bluff you.”—From tho Scottish B.A. souvenir for 1912.