ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 7

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By JACK HIGH

During the now lengthy term of its existence the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Bowling Association, in the administration of bowling, can be credited with being a fairly efficient body of men. It has much to its credit. However, in this respect, it has recently fallen from grace; for it has shown inefficiency in the arrangements of the Australia v. New Zealand test. To the average bowler, who had not the privilege of being in attendance at the last annual meeting at Christchurch, it appears that apart from appointing six selectors and generally affirming the principle of an inter-Do-minion contest, very little, if anything, has been accomplished to make the event a success. In the first place, it was a primary duty to see that an invitation was extended to every player in the Dominion. Such an invitation by the various necessary and diverse means should have reached every player weeks ago. It would be essential from the intending player’s point of view that he would consider the cost, time away, and in many cases obtain permission before such a trip could be undertaken. As a matter of fact, it may be rightly advanced that if it had not been for the generous publicity afforded by the Press, no intimation of the coming contest would have reached the rank and file of. the players. Indeed it is doubtful whether even a poster has been printed for circulation among the club —which is a method of publicity adopted for the smallest of the tournaments.

The Auckland Centre has now moved in the matter. A meeting was held last week to which all intending contestants in the Melbourne tournament were invited, and in a business-like manner every club in the Auckland Centre is being asked to nominate prospective participants, so that a good selection would at least eventuate by the closing date, which is about October 26. When the whole question is looked into closely, it is cledr that very little or no effort was made to obtain even a representation, apart from any attempt to get the strongest players to come forward. It is true that the Auckland Centre did receive a letter asking its members to participate; but there was evidently nothing set out to indicate the general character that the contest would assume, or any details surrounding it. A mere bald, halfhearted, ink-sparing invitation to drop tools and business and participate at your own expense would hardly inspire bowlers of the necessary cajibre to rush their names into the six appointed selectors by the appointed time. This is the great point in the contest, and no effort should have been spared to thus bring bowling into prominence. The council has the necessary funds at its disposal to have launched out on a wide, generous publicity campaign to make the w’hole affair an unqualified success.

The appointment of the six selectors, without due regard to a definite knowledge of who was offering, again, was weak. Harmony in team work is of paramount importance that the appointment of six selectors who are to be given tjie full right to cast the teams as they will is entirely in opposition to the first principles of good team work. So much so is this in evidence that it was noticeable that no skips of outstanding prominence were offering at the meeting convened last week.

There is still time to take the matter up fully. If the Auckland Centre were given the right .to obtain the full number necessary to fulfil the appointment with all Australia, it would be almost safe to predict that the requisite number of patriotic players might be available even at this late date, provided, of course, that they could play with the first principles of play in their proper place as the fundamental basis of true selection. THE BRITISH TOUR After three months from the first intimation, an invitation by cable has been received by Mr. J. W. Hardley, inviting 40 bowlers to go to Great Britain during next summer. The cable message does not state whether the number includes ladies, and Mr. Hardley has therefore asked for fuller particulars, as the formal invitation will not arrive until too late for final arrangements. If New Zealand is to send 40 players, it is safe to assume that the party will extend to between 60 and 70 people. Sir William Brunton arrived in Auckland on Monday last. He was formally welcomed by Messrs. J. W. Hardley and James Pascoe. Unfortunately Lady Brunton has developed a serious illness. Sir James’s stay wilil be prolonged in Auckland until his good wife recovers. It will be the hearty wish of all New Zealand bowlers that the recovery is speedy and permanent. THE EDWIN STARS COMPETITION Quite a well-contested match was played in the Edwin Stars Competition last Saturday against the holders, Epsom—C. J. Blakey, G. O. Blakey, T. R. George, A. W. Blanchard. The challengers, an Edendale team comprising W. Brownett, H. Horspool, C. Addison, J. Vincent, put up a good fight, but the game found them out of form, not having played for some months. However, for a few heads they led, but the defenders gained on them and won an easy victory, the final score being 28—1&. This is the last contest of the season for the competition. The Auckland Centre Executive is continuing its good work in visiting the outlying smaller clubs on their opening days. No less than four clubs opened on Saturday— Pukekche, Papatoetoe, Paeroa and St. Heliers. On account of the very wet season last year in the early stages, it was found that the use of scrim on the greens protected the surfaces to such an extent that quite a large number of greens arrived at their closing stages with better ends than they had been accustomed to. It would be a wise provision this year if similar use were adopted. It is safe to assume that the demand on the greens, in view of the advent of summer-time will be doubled. THE DENISON PINS An Epsom team—Jenkin, Inglis, Blakey, Blanchard—successfully annexed the Denison Pins on Monday afternoon by the handsome score of 28 —l7. Blanchard was particularly good on the day’s play. The defenders, Mount Eden, were kept on the defensive right throughout the game, Fraser driving continuously. The Epsom Club has the honour to finish up the winter season with the two prominent bowling trophies in its possession, almost reminiscent of its finish at the close of the summer season, when the team won the Easter Fours Competition and annexed the inter-club pennant.