ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 108, 28 July 1927, Page 8

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(By

JACK HIGH.)

THE AUSTRALIAN BOWLING CARNIVAL Entry forms for the Australian bowl- I ing carnival, to commence on Decern- i ber 26 at Melbourne, have now found their way to Auckland. They disclose a slight difference in the method of finding champions from those we adopt in Xew Zealand. One loss, apparently, sees the contesting teams out of the contest. But these entrants are assured of further games, as provision is “made for them to automatically go into a second tournamentThereby any bowlers who are contemplating entering for this big trial of bowling strength are assured uf further games, if they have the misfortune to lose in the bigger tournament. The “single-handed championship,” as it is called in Australia, is played on the 21-point game. This must be conceded to be far the best system, because it involves a game that has to be fought until the final points are scored. This system is played in some of our clubs in Xew Zealand. Those bowlers who have played it acclaim that it puts a far larger demand on the best playing elements, as there is no let-up throughout the game. The final game is played on the 31points game. Evidently this provision is made so that it will embrace still further spectacular bowling. The rink championship, instead of running to 21 heads, as we played in our Dominion championship last season, is played on the 18-ends system, with 25 ends in the final contest. The prizes are large. The rinks are £32 for the first prize and £lO for the second, and £25 is the first prize for the single-handed championship, and there are other prizes of £ls, £lO, and £5. It cannot be said that these sums will have any attraction to Xew Zealanders. The prize money here is small, and fortunately has no bearing at all on the game or the progress of the sport in Xew Zealand. It may safely be contended, therefore, that the teams that enter from Xew Zealand will not be attracted with the possibilities of winning these larger sums. THE DENISON PINS Irving Clarke and his team deserve the congratulations of all the bowlers of Auckland for accomplishing the splendid record of eight wins in the Denison Pins competition. As lead, R. G. Cox, the immediate past president of West End, has at last obtained his opportunity to establish himself permanently as a tournament player. F. Wise, as Xo. 2, has also maintained his position. C. Hardley has been coming into prominence for some time past. He has a nice variety of shots, and has a style of play that should carry him a long way- ; Irying Clarke has also been promis- ! ing something big for some time past. | The 1925-26 season saw him champion |of the West End Club’s singles com-

petition, a victory of sterling merit. Other competitions found him making a fair showing. He has a particularly graceful and pleasing style of delivery, which is entirely free from the necessity—as is unfortunately so often seen—of getting rid of bad habits. His recent series of bowling successes in this competition should give him confidence, which is onlv obtained in bowling over a period cf such fine victories, and thereby fit him to take a permanent place in our frort rank players. The West End Club :s to be heartily congratulated on the success of their members in the Den - son Pins competition. STYLE IN DELIVERY “Boomerang,” that aggressive scribe in the Sydney “Referee,” is taking our Auckland bowler, Fleming Laurenson, “on the mat” over his style in deliv* ery. His objection is that Mr. Laurenson insists on making the hand a chute, and he advocates that the thumb, instead of gripping near the disc or <>a the disc, should be placed on the crov # of the bowlMr. Laurenson can easily look after himself in such a controversy. His enthusiasm on the educational side of the game is warmly appreciated in tne Queen City of the North. As a mat- ! ter of fact, when we come to loot ; further into his bowling career, it i found that long before he came toAuckland he was looked upon as a sound authority on the basic principles of delivery in bowls. His lectures in many clubs in Auckland are widely appreciated, and bowlers, wno have generously benefited by his enthusiastic and studied instruction, are now freely scattered throughout ttt© clubs of this city. Two of his pupils, who have materi? | ally benefited in piav, are members I the team which is doing so well i* the Edwin Stars competition—Bates land Deare. Bates’s play easily ! monstrates that when he has the j sure against him he has the abi i«7 ,to readily meet it. In fact, on Sa day last, his aggression as a lead wa remarkable, and called for - rounds of applause from the ban** Deare is also a player who has improved considerably by the instruct!© he has received. It is a pleasure watch the smoothness and ease ol tm player’s delivery of the bowl. . reliability shows also the practical side of the successful instruction n has received. T „„. It is advocated by Mr. Fleming La renson that it is just as easy to »€- come a stylist in bowls as to ca^j y bad habits right through one’s bowling career. His practical work improving bowlers, and setting fhero permanently on the high road to bowiing success, is the complete answer to the soundness of his theories. * will therefore be most interesting ° intimately watch the progress of the controversy with the self-opinion*^ • Boomerang” of the Sydney “Kefe-. ree.” ____