BOWLING.

Otaki Mail, 6 October 1922, Page 3

BOWLING.

The Foxton green was opened on Wednesday, and a pleasant time was spent. At Otaki the green was patronised by ii few enthusiasts, and good games resulted. A meeting will be held ou Saturday night at '.30 to rescind a motion relative to the Pearcey Cup. The Shannon (Tub open their green on Wednesday of next week. Reports indicate that the Shannon green is in good playing order this season, and the membership as strong as it was last season, so Shannon members anticipate a. very good year at "ye olde game."

j In many old-fashioned bowling clubs ' it; is still considered a reflection upon a 'player's ability to be placed in the position id' second man in a rink competition (writes G. T. Burrows in the Londou Daily Telegraph). In such clubs one can usually scent trouble in the air when the selection committee has compelled its labours and the rinkare announced. In such clubs, also, the inevitable result is trouble, with a trio or a quartet of disgruntled howlers, who resent the alleged innuendo that because they are being played in second place in a rink they are considered the weakest part of that rink. It is good to know that such views are held only in what has been charitably described as "old-fashioned clubs." In those organisations where bowlers have learned the first lesson of true sportsmanship, the will to play for the side and nol> so much for the individual, one finds no such crude opinions held as those prevailing in organisations where players place self first and their club a verv bad second.

Writing as one with considerable experience in the selection of sides for match play, one can make the declaration that a team which is strong in its second men will win more matches than one that has a weak second line. Surrey has won the English inter-coun-ty championship on three occasions, mainly because she has picked strongmen for the second places in each rink and because the bowlers put in those positions have gloried in the fact that they were in the side because the county could rely upon them in that position, rather than that their appearance in the position means that they could hardly be trusted elsewhere in the team. Not long ago second place in a side was; described as "silly second." As the game is played to-day a No. 2 man in a rink has often to accomplish more with his two bowls than either of ho companions.