ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 350, 10 May 1928, Page 10

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(By JACK HIGH.) HIS PRIZE The spirit that permeates the sport is typically exemplified in a remark that Mr. D. Nairn, the lead in the Mount , Eden team that recently won the Bendigo Bowls Competition, made tiio j other day. Producing his prize, a. ! miniature gold bowl, from out of his ' pocket book, lie remarked: “I am intensely proud of this as I was one of ; the team that brought tli3 honour of ' victory to my club. I shall always 1 value it for that reason. The Mount ; Eden Club want many such wins, and we will do our best to get them.” Mr. A. E. Hardy, the popular treasurer of the Auckland Club, is leaving on an extended visit to England. * * * Mr. W. Bates, of the Carlton Club s green committee, announces that, whereas in the past visitors to his club for winter play have been unfortunately restricted to two or three rinks, the restriction has now been lifted with the advent of the additional playing area of the new green. On Saturday afternoons there are now at least 12 rinks at the disposal of the increasing number of players, who indulge so freely in the popular winter bowling. Visitors from clubs that have not winter greens, can gow be assured of a game at the Carlton Club, and a hearty invitation is therefore extended to make the fullest use of the extended playing areas, which are running exceedingly well at the present time. A lead has been definitely established for those clubs requiring the popular and effective fertilised soil for top-dressing bowling greens, which is in such wide demand at this particular season of the year. The Auckland < Tub has requisitioned the services of an asphalt heater and mixer. In this machine the soil is capably thrown round and heated in 10 minutes to 400 degrees. As 300 degrees are required 10 destroy germination, without interfering with fertility, the speed with which the work is efficiently accomplished is in striking contrast to the very cumbersome and laborious method almost universally adopted at the present time. Mr. E. A. Craig, of the green committee of the club, is responsible for the ingenious adoption. .This new method of doing a very tedious job efficiently and speedily should be carefully noted by all clubs within a reasonable distance of an asphalt heater and mixer in the city. Winter bowling commenced in real earnest on Saturday last, most of the greens being crowded, despite the showery weather. The Edwin Stars, which were held from last season by Epsom, have been transferred to the Dominion Road Club as a result of a contest on Saturday. The holders met with a severe reversal. Arthur Blanchard, who has been indisposed as a result of a prolonged illness, did not play, the Epsom team being C. J. Blakey, G. O. Blakey, Jervis Wright, T. R. George, while the opposition men were Clarke, Kelly, Ramsay, Roberts. The holders did not strike form in any part of the game, and the Dominion Road team was in excellent fettle. The game resulted in a handsome win for the latter by 13-25. • * • A CHAMPION OF CHAMPION RINKS COMPETITION From the point of view of an experiment in a champion of• champions rinks competition between the respective clubs of the Auckland Bowling Centre, the recent “Bendigo Bowls Competition” was an amazing success. And, moreover, it is to the outstanding credit of the sport that four simple trophies of quite insignificant monetary value could be so placed between the clubs for contest, and immediately arouse the keenest spirit of competition for such simple honours. It is in striking contrast to tho coming South Seas Bowling Carnival at Suva, where the prizes, unfortunately, run t. to the huge sum of 50 guineas. Not only were the best elements of bowling evidenced in the fixture, but large, enthusiastic crowds lined the banks, following closely the games. It speaks volumes for the sport that such wide interest was displayed in a simple competition, and augurs well for a permanent champion of champions fours competition, between the clubs of the Auckland centre to be placed in future on the permanent list of fixtures for annual competition. THE SUDDEN DEATH TEST

When the sudden death test was adopted in the competition—tho first occasion for many years—many entre \ts, the illustrious heroes of hundred fights on the green, found themselves after the first round unceremoniously sent to the bank. Indeed, this repository for unsuccessful participants fairly bristled with players of outstanding merit —some of whom were among the cream of Auckland, and, indeed of New Zealand, bowling. In no uncertain voice, therefore, critics proclaimed loud and long against the innovation supplanting the two-lifo system, which they had so carefully cherished, in their own opinion, and even to the extent of advocating adoption recenty to the Australian Bowling Council, as the only correct and true test of the game of bowls. The unanimous opinion of these critics was that the sudden death test was a dismal failure, not worthy of the game, hence their advocacy was for the readoption in future of the twolife system as the only true test for the game on the green.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE TEST FOR CLASSIC CONTESTS? The natural questions that are freely exercising a large section of the sport are: Is it necessary that teams in a classic bowling contest should have two lives at their disposal? and is not the sudden death system a more accurate test in cassic events? To these questions it might be replied that in no other sport do entrants have what might be termed a preliminary game, and that only in the case of racehorses is a preliminary indulged in. While it may be argued that the variations in green conditions, from fast to slow., vary to such an extent that it takes quite a while for the average player to settle down into top form, on the other hand the player who enters a classic contest such as the Bendigo Bowls Competition should be expert enough to display immediately top form, after his first two bowls are played, and then settle down to exhi-

bition bowling. It should not be necessary to play a game before this is accomplished. EXPERIENCE IN OTHER CENTRES An inquiry in Wellington, where champion of champion competitions have been played for many years past, and are regarded as one of the most important events in the bowing season, discloses that the sudden death system is used with outstanding success, and, moreover, as the only classic test of the game. A player who is eligible for such a classic event should be able to produce tournament form in the first game of such a prominent fixture. Quite a lot of discussion has also taken place regarding the method of arriving at the teams, which represented the clubs in the Bendigo Bowls Competition. Many clubs conducted a special test, and sent the winning team forward as the representatives, while others nominated their teams straight out. Incidentally, it is to the credit of the winners of the test, Mount Eden—Nairn, Joll, Baker, Gill—that this team was selected by competition. For future guidance in Auckland, our informant in the Southern bowling centre says that “no conditions are imposed with respect to club representatives, who can be nominated or selected by competition. In almost every case the clubs select their own representatives by competition. “At one time the centre provided an elaborate method by which the clubs were compelled to find their champions. This imposition of conditions caused quite a lot of friction, and. moreover, was resented by the clubs as undue interference with their internal management. Now each club adopts its own method. In my opinion the best one was that used by the Thorndon Club last season. Four skips were selected. They met the selection committee, and picked their own teams. The four teams played each other, and the winner of the largest number of games represented the club. In other instances, the club allowed the nomination of any number of rinks, and they competed with one another. This method, however, is inclined to distribute the strength of the club, and the winning rink very often did not represent the best combination that was available. “Our champion matches are played in the middle of the week, on the sudden death principle. The singles- are generally played on the third Wednesday in February, the pairs on the fourth Wednesday, and the rinks on the first Wednesday in March. “These competitions, after the pennant, are regarded as the most important in the centre.” The matter of the dates fixed in Wellington for the test could also be noted. If the fixture is placed on the permanent list, it would be advisable to arrange it at an earlier date than April, as played this year.