ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 210, 24 November 1927, Page 8

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH

Of recent years bowling in Auckland has made such rapid strides that even the severest commentator cannot, or should not, be able to find fault with the present construction of the game, which can now be so freely credited with such commendable and outstanding success. Indeed, the game has developed upon such natural lines in this Dominion that the standard of play is credited with being of the very highest quality, while on the administrative side, every care has been exercised in good government, giving the broadest and warmest encouragement to this steady development. The teeming thousands of players, who have felt the impelling urge of the sport, and have now invaded the ranks, is true evidence of this, while the wholesome provisions for extensions of the present * playing areas gives a practical demonstration of the full confidence displayed in the immediate future. Moreover, this confidence is not misplaced. It may be said with certainty that as the game becomes more widely understood the

sport will ever swell with aspiring recruits. Hence, it is not with the idea of bolstering up a sport that has an ever-increasing appeal to its adherents, but reversely, with the extreme pleasure of furthering the already existing success, that we introduce the Diamond Game of Bowls to the bowling fraternity in the Queen City of the North. THE DIAMOND GAME OF BOWLS Among the most prominent features to be primarily understood is that it entirely eliminates that modern shotdriving. Such a shot is not known in the game. The drawing, yard-gone, guarding and placing shots are played with great accuracy, and form the basis of the game. The late Captain Edwin, R.N., of Edwin Stars fame, designed the game, which was first played in Wellington for a set of sleeve buckles worn on the left sleeves of the winning team. These trophies are most coveted, as evidence of a very high standard of play, by the leading bowlers there, and are contested for weekly. In most clubs, the holders allow one challenge within the club from their own fellow members, while retaining the honours. The game is essentially a drawing game and requires infinitely more care and deliberation, than' the open game; while it is the ideal game of bowls for keen players and those who wish to improve generally in the bowling art. As there are penalties for promiscuous driving and forcing shots, shots are played which are not usually re-

sorted to in the open game, while great possibilities are presented in the manipulation of the heads. It is a wonderful education for threes and skips, for the various shots aimed for are usually nominated beforehand, thereby elimin-

ating to a large degree the element of luck for which the open game is so noted, or perha . notorious. The unusually close heads which are built in the Diamond game also require more thought altogether than the open game on account of the penalties extracted for bowls carelessly played into or through the heads. Hence the play can be described as much more studied than players are accustomed in ordinary play. Carlton is the first club to establish the game in Auckland, and it is to be hoped that the outcome of this introduction will be that other clubs will soon make a permanent competition, especially during the daylight saving period of the present season. RULES OF THE GAME I.—The Diamond 1. The rink for play shall, at each end, have marked on it a diamond-shaped figure, 6t long by 4ft broad, and shall be marked at half its length crosswise into two equal divisions. (The plan of marking the green is with white cotton and tacks.) 2. The division nearest the ditch shall be known as the back division, the other as the front division. 3. The distance between the nearest points of the diamonds must not be less than 86ft. If a green is 110 ft, each diamond can be placed (the back point being) 6ft from the ditch. If a green is over 110 ft in length and varying from 110 ft to 120 ft, the diamonds are still placed 6ft from the ditch and the long head played accordingly. In every case of the short head, the front of the mat must be placed for length at the mark 66ft from the point of the diamond played to. .11.—The Mat 1. The mat shall bo so placed that a long end and a short end shall be played alternately. 2. For playing the long end, the mat shall cover the point of the diamond farthest from the ditch, and for the short end, shall cover a mark 66ft from the nearest point of the diamond being played to, and 20ft from the nearest point of the other diamond. 3. On a green less than 110 ft, the long end mark for the mat shall be S6ft from the nearest point of the diamond played to, the short end mat being placed in the same position as the long end in subrule 2. Ill;—Point Bowl 1. A bowl.called “The point bowl’’ shall be placed pn each diamond on the end nearest the ditch, so that the point of the diamond can be seen. 2. The point bowl shall not be considered to have been moved unless it is wholly outside of the diamond. (This

(Will be easily ascertained by holding a score card upright on the green.) 3. If by the effects of play the point bowl is moved, it shall remain where it rests, but shall be placed in its original position when the jack, having been played' out of the diamond, is replaced in the front division. Should any bowl be in such a position as to prevent the point bowl being replaced, the point bowl must remain where it rests.. IV.—The Jack 1. At the commencement of every head, the jack shall be placed on a spot in the front division 18in from the crossline of the diamond, midway between the two side-lines. 2. If the jack is moved outside the diamond, It shall be placed in its original position, and the head continued. 3. If, when the jack is moved out of the diamond, it rebounds into either division, it shall rfemain where it stops. 4. The jack shall not be considered outside the,diamond unless it is wholly out. 5. The jack shall not be considered in 1 the back division unless it is wholly in the back division. 6. When the jack is moved outside the diamond, before replacing it, any bowls i in the front division shall be removed to the bank. 7. If the jack is moved outside the diamond by the effects of tne last bowl played, it shall not be replaced nor used for counting the score. V. —Bowls 1. Each player shall use four bowls. 2. Any bowl shall be considered in the diamond that is not wholly outside. 3. A bowl in the diamond shall not be tin the back division unless it is wholly ■out of the front division. VI. — Counting the Score 1. When the jack is within the diamond, the bowl or bowls belonging to one side nearer to the jack than an opponent’s bowl and within the diamond shall count. 2. If the jack is in the back division, the point bowl, if still in the diamond, shall count an extra point to the side lying the shot. 3. If the jack is outside the diamond, only marked touchers outside the diamond, and not more than 6ft from the centre of the diamond shall count. 4. When the jack is in the diamond, and all bowls outside diamond, there shall be no score from that head. 5. If the jack is moved outside the diamond by any bowl excepting the bowl last played, the side so causing it to be moved shall concede one point to the opponent’s score. . 6. If the jack is trailed, driven or moved into the ditch or beyond the limits of the rink, the side -whose player has been the cause shall concede two points to the opponent’s score. VII. —Heads 1. All matches shall consist of 21 heads, provided that in case of equal points an extra head or heads shall be played. 2. All heads shall count and bo recorded on the score cards. D.B.A. Rules When not inconsistent with the foregoing rules, the rules of the Dominion Bowling Association shall apply.

Saturday's Bowling

INTER-CLUB MATCHES PERSONNEL OF TEAMS The following teams have been selected to represent their respective clubs in the inter-club bowling competitions to be played on Saturday: Te Papapa v. Rawhiti. —At Te Papapa: Watters, Angus, Allcock, Bridge; Caddy, James, Whitehead, Donnell. At Rawhiti: Harr i man, Wicklund, Marks, Thorpe; Thursby, Fallon, Dawson, Simpson. West End v. New Lynn.—At Avondale: Hedlund, Anderson, Wynyard, Cooke; B. Wilson, Adams, McKeown, R. H. Scott; Irwin, Lovatt, Ure, Bell. At West End: E. Darby, Parkinson, Plummer, Brookes; Hardy, W. White, Horsley, Whitten; Mortimer, Colthurst, Draffin, Pierce. West End v. Stanley Bay.—At Stanley Bay: W. Wilson, J. J. Potter, Adeane, Needham; Sands, Brummel, Worsfold, Maher; Peat, Knaggs, P. Darby, Garry; Tudehope, Andrews, Thomas, Clarke. At West End: Fort, J. Darby, Kirk, Thom-

son; Cole, Knox, B. Scott, C. Hardley; Cato/ J. W. Hardley, Haig, Hosking; Service, Hill, Hop wood, Wise. Rocky Nook v. Henderson. —At Henderson: Tongue, Mason, Sidler, J. Jenkin; Berry* Cadwallader, Campbell, Cliffe. At Ruc&y Nook: J. Kayes, Hudson, H. b\ Kent, Cullens; L. C. Kent,*¥eo, jun., Har-‘ risoiL- BouSkill- v Avondale. —At Avondale: -Austin, R. Wilson, J. H- Jones,Pearce; Martin, Findlay, T. Jones, Goodall; Baxter, Huston, Cunningham, Gribble. At Rocky Nook: Hedges, Monteitn, Chambers, Buckle; Mayhill, Hail, Farley, Alder; Aughton, Taylor, Turner, Stone. Firstyear players: v. Henderson, at Henderson: Woolloxall, Lewis, Rutledge, Leather, v. Avondale, at Rocky Nook: Young, Pearson, Aughton, Beehre. Ponsonby v. Dominion Road.— Bishop, Buckle, Kemp, McLeod; E. Good, M. Jones, King, Valentine; Wilson, Struckett, Craig, Mclnnes; Hill, Rush, Aitchison, Donovan; T. Elieray, Dates, F. Carbines, Payne; Cowburne, W. Elieray, D. McGregor, Johnson. Stanley v. West End. —At Stanley: R. C. Chesney, Gentles, Gallon, Hall; W. Chesney, Ross, Wilson, Jlcllaster; Clarke, Purser, Wrigley, G. M. Reid: Weller, Sargent, Bray, White. At West End: Paterson, Melling, Hooker, rfiuiiisou. Sainty, Niblock, Sheehan, A. E. Smith; Whitley, Robinson, Bartlett, MacGregor, Hindman, Nichol, Locke, Cox. Dominion Road v. Ponsonby.—At Dominion Road: Wombwell, P. Ferguson, Cannon, Ashby; H. Ferguson, Burton. Blair, Ramsey; Sessions, Tattersall, A. Chappell, Goldsmith; Bathgate, Ironside, Gentles, Sayers; Speir, A. R. Davis, Robertson, Yeoman; Trewin, A. Clark, Hoppy, Layland; Virtue, Jones, Truman, Haw ken. At Ponsonby: D. Richardson, Roget, Stone, Denison; Bellamy, Beck, Newton, Cartwright; W. S. Fisher, Foreman, W. Richardson, Roberts; F. C. Taylor, Hook, W. Stephenson, West; Hinklev, Percy, Winks, Gifford; Betts, Rogers, Nagle, Benson; Guthrie, Gunning, W. H. Clarke, Clews.

Epsom v. Papatoetoe.—At Papatoetoe: Maddocks, W. Harrison, Wheelans, Millen; Yearbury, Peak, F. Richmond, Hetheringtoti; Johnson, Veale, G. Braithwaite, W. Wallace; Furnell, Gout, Reid, Tanner. Takapuna v. Devonport.—At Devonport: Booth, Brinsden, Oborn, Buckley. At Takapuna: Walters, Dr. Wake, Riddell, Taylor.

Devonport v. Takapuna.—At Takapuna: Crow, Jackman, Latta, Harty. At Devonport: Chapman, Coleman, Bailey, Cox; Clark, Connell, Miller,. Elvy; Elmsley, Foster, Gold water, Gooding; Dickens, Susman, Grundy, J. Lowe; Blair, Martinson, Wrigley, Anderson; A. Morgan, A. L. Jones, J. P. Wright, Layzell; Murphy, Minehim, Eyre, Rice; Richards, Stevenson, T. Palmer, Pitts, sen.; J. Buchanan, Sinclair, King, Snoad; McGregor, A. Moore, McDonald, Sullivan.

Mount Albert.—At Mount Albert: Crowe. Bodley, H. Dawson, Cutforth; Rogers, P. Daws<pn, Baildon, Blair; Grix, Barton, Garlick, Bennett; Stewart, Hughes, Holds worth, Allely; McKibbin, Lane, Dann, Bromley. At Edendale: Pool, Bouskill, Rowe, Hawke; Blyth, Dimerv, Blomeley, E. Thornes; Shephard. Pearson, Walker, Rev. Beck; Nybery, Pickens, Luke, Jenkins; Horsley, Mason, Clark, Muir.

Mount Eden v. Mount Albert.—At Mount Albert: B. Smith, Dignan, Vivian Trayes: Burley, Rintoul, Joll, Baker; Stone, Gr.bble, Shirriffs, McCarthy; Douglas, Hoyte, J. B. Robertson, Rankin; Boyce, Elliott, Daisley, Cornes. At Mount Eden: T. Nairn, Wagstaff, Hull, H. Haiton; Mueller, Mackenzie, Middleton, Findlay; Barry, D. Nairn, Marshall, Gill; t o B . rown > Fulton, Sarjeant, Surman; ’ow Faram, R. Robertson, Bige-

Rawhiti v. Te Papapa.—At Te Papapa: Barker, Vaughan, Thomson, Austin; Wilmot, Scelley, Stubbs, McMahon. At Rawhiti: E. Walker, Eaves, Wooller, Gallagher; Jackson, W’atson, Chiplin, Moncur. Rawhiti v. Glen Eden—At Glen Eden: Savin, \V orthington,' Has lam, Oldham: Keller, Martin, Woods, Taylor. At Rawhiti; Hamlin, Robertson, Murray, McKinley; McKenzie, F. Bennett. Macpherson, Millard. MARINE PENNANT MATCH Takapuna v. Devonport.—At TakapunaRobinson, Perfect, Cutler, Codd; Bates McKee, Edwards, Hunt; Coulthard, Blenkhorn, Dunlop. Boulton; White. Winter Chrtistey, Brake; Biolette, Schofield, Galbraith, Andley. At Devonport: Price Elliott, Bennett, R. P. Smith; McMur-, tree, Prentice, Somerfield, Spencer; LiskJ

Johnson, Collins, Hanna; Kade, SUllarC Eckersley, Mat the ys; O’Neill, F. A Smit* Burnett, Hooper. Devonport v. Taka puna.—At Takapua^ E. Buchanan, Goudie, Broughton, Bladk burn; Barber, F. Carter, Bruce, H. BaylJE Frater, FyJljames, „. Stapleton, HamM Atkin, Davis, Meftrilte, Mason; Fra*t •Naylor, McLaren, Tniyes. Ajt Waitemut*: Pitts, jun., GiW, GoUb*wortny, J. Morgan A. T. Griffiths. Me Leo A Lacy, Armstrong Andrew, Newman, Hlackie, Wailwork; George, Knight, Watston, Bartley. ELLERSLIE CLUB On Saturday the Ellerslie Club will conclude a tournament which was started as far back at June last, bid which had to be postponed on account of bad weather. The following team have been selected: Christmas, Cooksey, Hill, DieksMfe Ryan, Williams. Woodward, Plunkett Boulton, G. Hunter, White, Wait, A. McKenzie, Diggens, F. OsboraU Richmond, Patterson, McLeod, Henry: Joll, McNiece, Sykes, Watson; Westbrok*, Longrille, Word, Macklow; Campbeß. Arthur, Lynch. Taylor; Mao Kay, Clarkson, Toy. W. Osborne: H. K. McEen*i*. Pilkington, Coppins, Reed. A Demon Bowler A tale is going the rounds just now about showing- how a bowler performed the incredible feat of takinf four wickets with one ball. Ntonbfff eight and nine were batting wnc» out of them was hit so badly on the haai that he had to retire. The man at tb* other end fainted at the sight of tb» blood. No. 10 declined to bat again** what he considered a dangerous bowW" and, although the last man was quit* prepared to bat, there was no on* else to go in at the other end. 1 our wickets with one ball.