NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 64

NOTES BY JACK.

The reports of games played during the hoidaye take up so much space that I have to curtail my notes for this week.

The full programme for the N.Z. Bowling Association's tournament is now to hand. Glancing through it, there eeems to be every prospect of those taking part having

The Kaituna Green, reopened on Saturday after having been ploughed up and resown with grass-, looked fit for anything. No doubt the .grass is tender yet, but so far as it is concerned it is no tenderer than that on all greens. when reopened in spring. What is wanted J6 the consolidation of the surface without abusing the grass, and nothing will do this better than playing upon it, when the weather conditions are favourable.

With such a large entry it was anticipated that the first tournament held under the auspices of the South Otago Centre would prove a success. The executive have every reason to congratulate themselves on the result, although a strong sou- wester militated to some extent against a really scientific, exposition of the game. On the first day the spectators on the various greens were far from being disappointed with the play in general, and excitement at times ran high. Both Kaitangata and Stirling Greens played remarkably well under the circumstances. The former has improved beyond recognition, and a fine commodious pavilion, now in the final stages of construction, has considerably enhanced the appearance of the green.

Section A of the Rink Tournament, wtich was played in Stirling, resulted in somewhat of a boil-over. The winner was- expected to come from Carswell (Taieri), M'Laren (Dunedin). or Finn (Balclutha), but Dunn (North-East Valley), after a most exciting tussle in his first game against J. Sheddan (Balclutha), contrived to score four wins, thus taking first place in this section. J. M'Mullan (Green Island), who won B Section outright, fought out the finish with R&msay (Gore), each having three wins to hie .credit. This game provided no end of excitement, and although Green Island secured a big lead on the seventh head the Goro team were not to be denied, and, playing a splendid uphill game, managed to tie on the last head," Ramsay just missing a trail for three shots by a hair's breadth. An extra head 1 resulted in favour of Green Island by one point M'Mullan and Ramsay were the popular tips for this eection. The Taieri team, skipped by Carswell, did not get into their stride, the best- gam© they put up "being against M'Laren \Dunedin), who finished second to the Valley 'quartet. These teams did not happen to meet each other.

In Section B, on Kaitangata Green, W. R. Don (Otago) skipped a team of colts, who were out to gain experience. He made a good show against M'Mullan, the ultimate winner of the section, and scored one win.

In Section C, at Kaitangata, the veterans J. Hislop and D. Alexander, who were conspicuous in the Rink Championship at the last association tournament in Dunedin, were the heroes, each scoring three wins. In the play-off for the section the .former went off with a strong lead till the eighth head, when some excellent play on the part of the latter'e men made matters more even. From this onwards Hielop's men proved too strong for their opponents, the skip himself playing some excellent shots. The game, which was placed in the evening, when the wind had" moderated somewhat, was a better exhibition of bowling than had been witnessed during the day.

D. Buchanan (Green Island) scored two wins, one of these being against Alexander. T. Mackie (Outram) had a team of young players, who made 'a very good stand. Tom' will no doubt have them at the top in tournaments to come. N. Murray (Port Chalmers), although beaten in three games, scored a comparatively easy win against Hislop, the winner of the section. A. C. M'lntyre, with his Taieri colts, was, like the rest of the players, baffled by the strong sou- wester, but managed to score a win against Port, and to make a good stand against Alexander.

Balmaoewen Club oan, congratulate itself on the "win of its representatives on Saturday over four rinks of the Dunedin Club. To win against rinks containing but one young player in each from the Dunedin Club is certainly a feather in the cap of the hillmen. But for a streak of good fortune on the 'part of two of the Dunedin rinks — or was it nervousness on the part of Balmacewen skips? — the defeat would ha-ve been a rout. At the very last end Sinclair scored 7 against Martin, giving him a lead of 2 points; while Ball scored 6 and made a tie of it with Lockhart. Before the last end was played the totals were — Balmacewen, 82; Dunedin, 65. The parent club put on 16 points in that last head to Balmacewen's«"'3 pointe. Hunter had an advantage of 1 point over Macdonald, but Foster, though strongly backed, was 7 points down to Balk. The only explanation \cf the defeat I vb|xve heard offered was the keenness of the Balmacewen Green. But veteran skips, such as Dunedin sent up, must have ere this played on greens equally keen, and might have been expected to accommodate themselves to the conditions.

"Skip," in the Southland Times, does not approve of the selection of Dunedin Green for ladies' day at the tournament. He may be right; but it is always easy for a person without any responsibility as to the results to pronounce off-hand what shcruld or should not be done. He deprecates tbe attitude assumed by some of the Roslyn bowlers -as tending to crea.te an atmosphere which ihay tend to interfere with the pleasure of visiting bowlers at the tournament.

The Te Rangi Chit* (Invercargill) sent a team' to Riverton on Boxing Day, and won by 28 points, largely due to Howie's rink scoring 38, to Acheson's 5. J. Lock finished with tan advantage of 1 over Bailey. Petchell, the Biverton skip, acounted for Findlay by 2* — 20, and Failton defeated Kissall by 4- points. A return match on New Year's Day, played at Invercargill, was again won by Te Rangi. The e.eoretary of the Victoria Bowling Association haa arranged the following programme for the jfew Zealajiders, organised by Mr Ham, Inverpargill. to visit Australia in April: — April 6, club match; 7,

8, and 9, Victoria v. New Zealand, three matches ; .10, .South Melbourne v. New Zealand; 11, Ballarat; 13, Metropolitan Club; 14, Armadale (premier club of Victoria). Probably (saye " Skip ") some alterations will be made, ac it is hardly desirable to play the Victorian— New Zealand matches so early. It would appear from private letters received in Invercargill that the Victorians are still sore over some remarks^ made by some members of the "All White" team whengthey returned .home. St. Albans Glub will send two strong rinks, skipped by Jehneton and PaTsons, to the association tournament in Dunedin. Cnri6tchurch United and Canterbury Clubs are organising strong rinks, but the names of the skips are not yefc available, with, the exception of • that of Bishop, the " popular Christchu?ch skip.

BALMACEWEN" v. PALMERSTON".

Three rinks of Balmacewen players journ«yed to Palmerston on Saturdaw to try conclusions with the local bowlers, but after an uphill struggle on a keen green had to return beaten.' The following are the scores: —

P. B D. M'Donald, A. Clark, T. Watson, E. H. Clark (s) 21 — G. Duncan W. Nicholson, F. H. Jones, O. Balk (s) — 15 G B. Smith, Jas. Ross, W. B. Gal--loway, Dr Hislop (s) 20 — ] C Leijon, W. TJre, P. Pilkington, [ C. A. Wilson (s) — 20 W. Ross, D. Ross, E. Lefevre, D. | Ferguson (s) 24 — C. Crater, J. Lang, R. Anderson, ' A. W. Stables (s) .. .: .... — 8 Totals 65 43

CALEDONIAN v. MATAURA The match Caledonian v. Mataura took place at the Caledonian Green on the 2nd, the victory by a respectable majority resting with Caledonian, the game being a most enjoyable one. The green played splendidly, reflecting great credit upon the caretaker. Refreshments were provided, and Mr M'Leod, on behalf of the Caledonians, thanked the visitors for their presence and hoped soon to return the visit. Mr Park, on behalf of Mataura, thanked the local team for its invitation, and said that though defeated they would give the Caledonians a good game when they went to Mataura. The following are the players and

H. M'Lauchlan. John Clark, W. M-Lecd, H. Smeaton (<s) .... 20 — "W. B. Reid, J. Penny, F. J. Sherwood, T. Watson (s) .... — 23 T. Iranib, H. if. Henderson, B. Whit*, D Smith (s) 22 — A. Reid, E. Greeaihalgh, J. Hamilton, W. Murdoch (s) — 9 J. Ross, J. I/eighton, J. Evan, J. Lindsay (s) ... 24 — W. Macandrew, J. Lusk, H. Stewart, J. liipscoonib© (s) — 10 F. Foley, A. M'Donald, E. M'Robie, J. C. Atemethy (s) ..24 — A Balneaves, J. Reid, J. W. Bun, W. B. Ross (s) — 16 Totals 90 58