BOWLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 15

BOWLING

(By “ Sir Francis.”) After a very long spell the pennant competition will be resumed this afternoon. Tho big gap in the programme and tho number of intervening tournaments has rather taken tho interest out of tho pennants this season, but no doubt the resumption of play will bring ■ about a revival of this. Wellington is to meet Kelburue, and if tho latter play up to form they should give the senior club’s representatives a good go for it. ’Jhe Hutt players will tackle Karori, and this may prove to bo a very even match. Thermion meets Newtown, and it looks as though tho latter will win easily, for Thorndon seems all to pieces this year. Petone is down to meet Hataitai, and the result may ho a narrow win for tho players from tho “ end of the beach.” If further proof is wanting that bowling tends to longevity on© should noto tho number of players _ taking part in this week’s competition for players over sixty-five years of ago. Tho veterans rallied in force, and some very clover play lias been tho outcome of this happy thought on the part of Secretary - Roberts. Four rinks from tho Kelburno Club will make a trip out to tho Hutt this afternoon for tho purpose of playing a friendly inter-club match. A similar match will take place between 'Wellington and Newtown. The Wellington Club’s “at home” last Saturday was a great success, with beautiful weather, a largo attendance, and some interesting games. Tho Wellington Club won again, a highly creditable performance, even though th© representatives of iho combined clubs wore for tho most part merely the officials of their respective institutions and not necessarily tho best players. On© would think it a big strain for the senior club to put sixteen rinks in the field. Not only was it easily accomplished, but there were a number of good players belonging to tho club enjoying the role of spectators, while some rinks visited other greens. Tho South Auckland tournament had a very exciting finish. Clark (Thames) and Power (Te Kuiti) were left in the (Inal, and they tied on ih© twenty-first head, Thames gaining tho shield by getting a point at the extra head. NARROW BuWLS. Tho question of tho narrow bowl is over with us. In a recent issue the bowling writer of tho Licensed Victuallers’ “Gazette” (London) contended that if Australians insisted on ah extremely wide bias he did not see why they should expect all other bowlers in tho world to follow them; that it was useless sending all bowls to Alcock’s to be tested and stamped, since the bowls could be immediately altered without disturbing the stamp. He fhrther declared “it is impossible to test a bowl to an exact measure,” and concludes, “There will doubtless be a settling down to the bias botherings in Eungarooland on the payment of the reckoning.” Replying to this, “Jack High, of the Sydney “Referee,” says: “Having never been on an English gredn, but taking some returned tovirists’ reports on tho subject, the bias question is not so necessary on some of the British greens as the possession of muscle. On some greens tho grass had not been out for three days. Well, the biggest biased bowl in tho world Would not bo much good on'such a groon. Doubtless there are other greens whoro the surface is bettet attended to, but tho climate in the British Isles is against the preparation of what in Australia is regarded as a fast green. Our L.V. friend is right, and wrong. It is quite possible for a man to alter his bowls immediately after they had bebn tested and stamped; but ho does not do - it. The Australian bowler is a sport, for one thing, and he is wise, too, for another. For any bowl, though stamped, may be challenged and impounded. If on re-testing it is,found that the timbers have been tampered with after being passed as good 3’s, it is a case of “got,” and any man who is disqualified by an association for such a thing finds himself black-listed throughout the Commonwealth’s bowling clubs. Very pro bably.if the “L.V.G." editor was in Australia ho would realise why wo go so strong for the big drawing bowl. Here th© “pot-hunters” are only men who are likely to agree with the London opinion. But apart altogether from th© winning of trophies, there are few men animated solely by a desire to capture everything that is offered for competition. Most men play the, game for its exercise, tho pleasure of the pastime, and the good fellows they meet. With them the big drawing bowl is tho guinea stamp. It is easier, of course, to play with Straight stuff, out there isn’t anything like the pleasure of succeeding in getting shots which your “straight” joker declares to be impossible. No; the “L.V. Gazette” man is wrong. The "bias botherings” may take some time to settle, but there will always be a preponderance of voters for tho big drawing bowl as against the style of English play, with its two-feet draw—a species of skittles." A WONDERFUL GAME. A game played on January 25th is of course rather ancient history, but the final of the singles at tho N.Z.R.A. tournament is surely worth placing on record. It was between J. Bentley (Dunedin) and M. Walker (Ponsonby), and drew a large gathering of Spectators. Bentley settled down smartly (says tho “Times”), scoring two at the first elld, at which his opponent was wide, but Walker equalised the totals at the next end. For some time, however, Walker seemed unable to master the green, particularly at one end, and Bentley piled on a good secro, leading by 10 to 3 at the seventh bead. Then, in a long end, when Bentley was lying a tolicber, Walker sprang the jack and lay three, which Bentley got back on the next head by resting out Walker’s winner, Bentley loading at this stage by 13 to 6. Walker then took charge, scoring on five heads and making the score 13-all on tho fourteenth head. Both players wore now showing high-class form, drawing, trailing, and resting in perfect style, while Walker lent further variety by putting in some great drives, with one of which he got out of a bad corner by burning tho head. At the eighteenth head, with tho score 15-all, there was somo fine pluv. Bentley lay two beauties near the jack, hut Walker turned them oft with a firm shot. Bentloy was strong with his third, and Walker drew a shot to the jack. With his last bowl, however, Bentley mad© a perfect trail for three, which gave him a useful lend. The nineteenth head was responsible for some exceptional play. Bentley drew a good shot, a foot short in perfect lino, and with his next just cleared it and lay a toucher, hiding the jack. Walker drove with T ; Miird bowl and just grazed tho object. Bent-

ley played wide, and Walker then sent down tho finest shot witnessed in thcgame up to that stage. Getting a perfect green and strength, he finished round Bentley’s toucher, pushing the jack on an inch and lying. It was a brilliant effort, and some time elapsed before the applause subsided. At the next head Bentley lay well, but Walker brought off a perfect trail for two equalising the scores. The last head was sensational. Bentley’s first lay right on tho jack, but Walker drove with unerring accuracy, howl and jack going to tho ditch and resting less than three feet apart. Walker’s third just fell into the ditch, but with bis fourth he drew a beauty within a foot of the ditch and lay game. Bentley’s third howl had dropped short, almost in the way for a firm shot,, but he rose to the occasion in great style and rested Walker’s winner into the ditch. The finish was the most exciting ever witnessed in tho final of a championship, and both players came in for a share of the applause of tho spectators, somo of whom carried the winner, Bentley, off the green shoulder high- As on exhibition ol high-class single play, covering ©very variety of shots, it was a great game. Bentloy is quite a veteran at tournaments, and has several times gained first honours, but Walker was making ibis first appearance in a South Island competition, and his performance stamped him. as one of tho most brilliant players ever seen here. Concerning tho player who resorts to tho drive on every possible occasion, it must bo pointed out that he is penalising himself. It is, of course, useful as a last resource to force a deadend or ent out a bowl. As a matter of policy, however, the firm draw will succeed very much moi’e often than the [Straight drive, and is almost invariably fa safer and saner shot. With frequent driving the feel of _ tho green is lost, and accurate drawing can bo accomplished by .but very few. Bowls has been described as “billiards gono to grass.” Using tho simile, let mo demonstrate the difference between New South Wales and Victoria or New Zealand bowling (writes “Jack High” in tho “Arrow”). Von have often perhap# seen a man playing billiards; ho can make wonderful shots, cush cannons, pots, and screws—my knowledge of billiards is limited. But when you see him playing a game despite his brilliant shots, he finds himself snookered or forced to play safety because he has not obtained position; whereas tlio man ho is playing while just scoring off ordinary shots brings tho red ball back to position and keeps on scoring. New South Wales bowlers, as they play tho game now, are like the brilliant billiardists, who can’t got position. They can got the shots, but in tho big games they can’t win. Will skippers and thirds please note this fact, and act to it ? Always bo up, and if blocked by timber do as you used 'to do at the Sunday school tea meetings or as you do now at a dog fight or any other free show—push your way through. If you drive wildly you just overrun yourself and may bo get hurt—the dogs,, may take to you. Use your brains; bo up. ■ .. The recent tournament at Christchurch had special claims to become a memorable gathering. For some years past the division of authority, caused by the existence of two associations in New Zealand, has impressed itself on prominent officials of both bodies, and from next season the game will be governed, all over th© Dominion, by one Ibody (says a southern paper). There iare many points of difference in the 'methods of the two existing associations, especially in their tournament arrangements, .but one has no doubt the council of the amalgamated association Will ho able, by a bending of the systems, to work oht something which wil bo an improvement on anything previously attempted in the Dominion. This, however, is a matter which can be passed over for the present. In tho meantime, it is sufficient to remember that th© recent tournament marked an important epoch in the history of the game in New Zealand, it being the final fixture under th© old order. That it was such a great success is a matter for all-round congratulation. Th© rapidly increasing popularity of bowling makes on© Wonder what will happen in tho next few years, but there can be no doubt that future tournaments will attract even greater attention from players in all parts of Now Zealand.