ON THE GREEN Bowls and Bowlers

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 8

ON THE GREEN Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH

DOIVTINION ROAD TOURNEY Last Saturday, heavy rain again marred the programmes arranged by the numerous clubs which conduct winter bowling. However, the Dominion Road Club made an early start with the completion of the sectional Play in its two-day tournament, and the winners were found in Sharkey, Carstens, G-oodall, Benson (Dominion Road) and Campbell, Mackay, Cater, Scantlebury (Auckland). These two teams will meet next Saturday in the final, which will be the full game of 21 heads. The game should be a really good bowling contest. The teams are both strong combinations. The skips are young players who have been working up to positions of bowling prominence. Benson is among the most promising of the Dominion Road members, and Scantlebury has done splendid work for some time past, not only in his own club, but also in the stronger field of the centre and Dominion tournaments. “THE WIZARD OF BOWLS” Comment has been made before in this column that it is to be sincerely regretted that a full, detailed record of the outstanding characteristics of past champions is not kept. Apart from ”the barebones” of the actual wins marked down on the permanent honours board in the various clubs, there is little to faithfully indicate the greatness of the champion exponents of the past. Hence, it is found that when a great bowler passes away, apart from what can be gathered from the dimmed memories of intimate friends now clouded by the passing of years, much is lost to the sport forever. This loss can be rightly regarded as a serious one. Therefore, it might be urged that the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association and the component parts of that body—the 19 respective centre organisations—should make provision in the future for compiling the early history of the sport in some form or other.

However, at the insistence of many bowlers, who realise that the recent death of Mr. William McLaren removed one of the greatest bowlers that New Zealand had ever seen, and through the kind assistance of Mr. J F. Bailey, of the Auckland Club, it is now possible to publish a brief, though inadequate, icription of the remarkable skill exL ited by that player who earned for himself the distinctive title of “The Wizard of Bowls.” The following is the bare bowling record of the late Mr. McLaren: Champion of the Dunedin Club in 1901 and 1914; champion of champions for Dunedin, 1914; New Zealand tournament, 1903, second prize in rinks; Dunedin Centre tournament, 1908, skipped rink third prize; New Zealand bowling tournament, 1908-09, won singles championship; South Otago tournament, 1910-11, skipped rink, first prize; won Australasian singles championship in Melbourne in 1906. Burke says: “The nerve that never relaxes, the eye that never blenches, the thought that never wanders—these are the masters of victory.” These words most aptly describe the qualities of Mr. McLaren. In temperament, ho was the extremely nervous type, which has the rare ability of being so thoroughly worked up to, and concentrated on, the game in hand, that he was utterly oblivious to anything else happening at that time on the green. His memory, therefore, of all possible positions on heads was very acute and truly conceived. His style of delivery was that adopted so frequently by the Southern bowlers. It was the low forward type, with a clean “follow through” and short stride, using the mat to such an extent that he seldom stepped off it. Only on occasions of a “run through” did he leave the mat at all. The delicacy and precision of the whole delivery called for wide admiration wherever he played. A perfect bowler of the old school will indicate his classification in the character of the game he played. The game as played by the English and Australian bowlers will give a further illustration. His fastest shot was the “run through.” In present day bowling terms, he was ’ what is now termed a drawing player. But it was “the yard gone” shot which earned for him the name—“ The Wizard of Bowls.” This shot he played with remarkable skill and accuracy.

By clever manipulation, the bowl would be run against the bias, coming back to the draw just before it reached its objective. This meant, of course, * he ," as able to eo nearly straight at the kitty or bowl as the occasion required. To illustrate the success that attended this shot, Mr. G. B Osmond, who umpired that famous match when Mr. McLaren won the Australasian championship, describes the final head” as a wonderful piece of bowling work. The Australian was lving the win when the New Zealander‘had only one bowl to go. With liis uncanny “yard gone” the kitty was spi ling back and a handsome four was scored to tile intense surprise of all tho Australians on the green. To the New Zealanders, who were present on that occasion, it was, however, a familiar spectacle. They had seen this famous shot played on many previous occasions and knew its scoring ability. But it was the Australians’ first experience of witnessing such dexteritv which turned two down to four up, thereby giving New Zealand the first honour of claiming the champion bowler of Australasia. CHANGED DAYS However, during the last 10 years, whether for the good of the game or not, this style of play, which found so excellent and worthy an exponent in the late William McLaren, has been abandoned. Although there are a large percentage of New Zealand players who give fine expositions of brilliant drawing, the aggressive “driver” is found to have a very prominent place among the champions of recent years. Probably the best exponent of this latter day school is H. Harraway, the skip of the Dominion rink team for 1925-26. His brilliant driving during the Dominion tournament held here last January was a fine spectacle to behold and a prominent feature of that tournament. All our Auckland bowlers, who have skipped champion rinks, with the exception of one—A. Parsons—are all brilliant exponents of driving. These include G. B. Osmond, W. Bremner and R. N. Pilkington. This aggression is not confined to skips, but it seems that if a number three is to be a success in modern New Zealand bowling he is required to be a master of driving. THE AUSTRALIAN TOURNAMENT It seems appropriate that while these meagre lines are being penned to so inadequately perpetuate the memory of such a famous New Zealand bowler, a determined effort on the part of a few enthusiasts is being made to organise a strong Dominion representation at the Australian bowling carnival to take place at Melbourne about next Christmas. Such a laudable effort should receive every encouragement. It is now some years since the last New Zealand bowlers tried themselves out in the Commonwealth States. On that occasion they proved beyond doubt their superiority against Queensland, then the champion State. Thirteen games were played; 12 were won and the thirteenth tied; a great record which should justify sufficient enthusiasm for even the most stolid to repeat. The Dominion Council has shown a ready willingness to assist by bringing whatever talent that is forthcoming under its banner. But that the Dominion should be represented by a true representation of bowling strength is desired. There is still time for this matter to be taken up wholeheartedly and placed in proper order. Melbourne bowling papers give every indication of a hearty welcome beingextended to all visitors. Mr. V. Casey, who has been many months in New Zealand, is returning to Australia this month, and has expressed himself as fully alive to the possibilities of New Zealand’s success if the effort assumes definite proportions. It is sincerely hoped that the endeavour now being made will meet with enthusiastic response throughout the whole of New Zealand. It should appeal to every true lover of the sport. THE DENISON PINS The Denison Pins competition has found stalwart defenders in the West End team —Cox, Wise, C. Hardley and I. Clarke. This team met in bowling combat a very strong Carlton team in Guy, Bates, Ball and Kilgour. The result was a tie and the game was fought every inch of the way. This week the challengers are Delamore, Elliott, Smith and Fraser, of Mount Eden.