ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 518, 22 November 1928, Page 11

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH

1L may be correctly advanced that, the early administrative policy of bowling, which was laid down by the | pioneers of tho sport, embraced all the lino democratic elements that were necessary for the wonderful success of the game on the green in Auckland today. Thus tho fruits of the wise judgI ment exercised are reflected in the

great popularity of the game and the ever - increasing growth of the clubs throughout the province. Many able men were responsible for this timely forethought and not the least among them is Mr. E. A. Craig, president of the Auckland Club. Indeed, it is on permanent record that Mr. t president of the Auckland Bowling Association and the first president of the Auckland Centre ef the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association, amply testifying to his close intimacy with the unification of ull bowling interests of the Dominion. It must be a source of great pride to him when he now views the fruits of his labour in the presence of that fine administrative controlling body in Dominion bowling, and realises that he contributed in part to its actual formation. But his efforts, however, were not confined to this work only. He also took part in the foundation of the Epsom Club and was the first president there. ✓ As an exponent of the game Mr. Craig ranks high. Many are the victories that have been won by him. He was the Epsom Club’s first champion, xnd was selected to represent the Auckland Club at Wellington and Gisborne under the old Auckland Bowling Association rules. When president of the Auckland Centre he skipped a rink with the front rankers George Baildon. James Carlaw and Archie Bryden, and won the Executive Fours competition. As a member of the Auckland Club he has won several trophies, including the Anzac and Jubilee cups, and has been runner-up for the championship singles of the club. It may be added that as a number three in team work Mr. Craig is particularly strong. He has also been associated with the sport for nearly a quarter of a century, being associated with the administrative side during that period. A team’s desperate but successful attempt to rake a game out of the fire from an almost hopeless position is certainly worthy of special mention and praise. During the champion rink competition now being fought out at Aucky.ind, Mason, Lyell, Craig and Osmond met W. Campbell, Fraser, D. Harvey and J. Duncan. The former team piled up the handsome score of 21—5 against its opponents on the completion of the 13th head. But here the game took an unexpected turn. Duncan’s team rallied, scored a five on the next head, missed on the following, and then scored a one, two, two, three, two, two in succession, thus tieing on the 21st head. The tie was fought out on the following head. Duncan lay two down on the change over, but as a good skip should, he drew two perfect shots and brought his team home to victory. The team deserves warm commendation for its plucky stand and ultimate win under most trying conditions. * * * In the same competition, Williams, Rudd, Bourke and Steele met W. Ure, H. R. Allan, Bailey and Muston. Steele gave a magnificent exhibition of bowling. Time after time he drew the shot with uncanny accuracy, saving his team from defeat. On five heads the saving was no less than 14 points. Ho maintained this exceptional form and brought his team to victory by the comfortable margin of 22—16. The second round of the inter-club pennant competition will be played on Saturday next. Some thirty-two clubs will be engaged in the event. If the weather is fine the day should be of great interest. The greens at the present time are running exceptionally well, and excellent bowling should result. as the players are now well into At the present time club championships fire now in full swing. Some notable victories at the Auckland Club include P. Moir’s defeat of Colin Muston, who did so well at the last Dominion tournament. J. Mason, one of tho club’s junior players, disposed of P. J. Scantlebury, a past champion of the club, while J. P. Aldred, who is now in his fourth bowling year, beat M. Walker, the champion of the club, find the runner-up for the champion of champions last year, by 21 —10. Aldred’s play was full of merit and his wholesome defeat of his formidable opponent indicates that he is a player who is progressing most satisfactorily. • * * Three members of the Carlton Club— Messrs. W. Arey, A. Coutts and J. M. Thomson, of the New Zealand bowling tenm recently on tour—were welcomed back to their club on Saturday. Mr. A. B. Barter, president, took the opportunity of making suitable reference to their return at the afternoon tea adjournment. Special reference was made to Mr. Arey, who well deserved the holiday after the many years of service he had given as secretary in tho interests of the Carlton Club. • * * *

Amazement and consternation are widely expressed at the method adopted by the Dominion Council in inviting entries from clubs for representation in the test match against Australia. Last year the council sought plavers by exactly the same method. It it bad not been for the business-like attitude of the Auckland executive in calling a meeting from which 18 players out of tho 21 players agreed to go, the fixture would never have been played. It is certainly to the discredit of the council that the same method of soliciting players which proved a miserable failure last year is to be adopted. Indeed, it can be advanced with a large measure of truth that the Dominion Council has done little to promote the permanent annual test match between Australia and New Zealand, and this most recent example of ineptitude clearly shows that if bowling is to advance in the Dominion in line with its natural growth, it is not going to be assisted by that body, unless it drastically alters its present policy. There is still time to obtain entries in the proper manner, but that time is now growing verV short. The New Zealand bowlers recently on tour had a novel experience when visiting Chicago. On arrival there they were met by the president of the local club, who is quite a big man in Big Bill Thompson’s home town, being the president of no less than five banks. Our representatives were taken for a drive around the city in charabancs. Much to their amazement they were escorted by police armed with revolvers and mounted on motor-cycles. However they were soon to learn the part to be played by these guardians of law and order. As the bowlers progressed down the streets, the police blew' a siren, and much to the astonishment of the visitors the traffic stopped, moved to the side of the street and generally made itself inconspicuous, leaving the bowlers a free course. Certainly the

Americans can show something in the way of the entertainment of bowling visitors. Definite news is that a party including some 64 bowlers and 25 of their womenfolk will journey from Australia to Wellington to attend the coming Dominion bowling tournament in January. A few days following this announcement, Mr. J. C. Blair, the number three of the team to represent Victoria, arrived in Auckland. He is on a business trip, and will stay this country until after the test is played. Mr. Blair is distinctly the large athletic type of man. Indeed, he carries with him the stamp of his earlier activities before he joined the ranks of bowlers. Then ,instead of measuring bowls as he does now, he measured strides with Dunlop, Brookes and others for tennis supremacy and partnered well-known champions in matches that thrilled the spectators. But, as years advanced, his father warmed him up to the game on the green, and since then he has never cooled oft'. Indeed he has become such a hot exponent of the game that he readily finds a place in the team that is to represent the State of Victoria in the coming test against New Zealand. * * * Tho other members of the team include Gray as lead, Glennister as number two and Bleach as skip. Bleach is descried as Australia’s foremost skip. Mr. Blair is anxious to see the result of his team’s play against New Zealand’s best. If the latter w'ins, he says, then you in New Zealand have beaten \ ietoria’s best rink. “It is a contest that I am looking forward to,” added Mr. Blair. Twenty-four players comprise the Victorian section of the party and it is pleasing to learn that 12 of them comprise front-rank players, including Clarice, the runner-up for the championship of Australia. Although Victoria will be so well represented, it is disappointing to learn that the players from the other States do not include so large a proportion of “hot-stuff.” This is unfortunate, for it was expected that at last we would have a real test of bowling between the Commonwealth States of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand. There was mild excitement at Point Chevalier on Saturday last, when the baptism of the latest addition took place. There was, indeed, appropriate fuss when Messrs. S. Coldicutt, James Pascoe, J. W. Hardley and a number of visitors journeyed out to do official honours and welcome the radiant infant into the bowling world. There is every indication that the growth will be vigorous and healthy. The name certainly sounds fine and big. It was christened the Hallyburton Johnstone Bowling Club. Papatoetoe Tourney Final The final of the full-rink tournament held at Papatoetoe on November 8 was played yesterday. Following are the details:— Ingram, J. Adams, G. Armstrong, Keith (Pukekohe) 24, v. Sharkey, Savan, McKinley, McPherson (Rawhiti) 13.' TE PAPAPA CLUB The Te Papapa Bowling Club held an all-day tournament yesterday. Following are the results: —Roberts, Dawson, Price, Telford (St. Heliers), 4 wins, 1 loss; Wyllie, Bray, Mcßeath, Jenkins (Epsom), 2 wins, 3 losses; Butterworth, Whyte, Fowler, Fawcett (Manurewa), 3 wins, 2 losses; Culthan, Martin, Haslam, Stubbs (Rawhiti), 4 wins, 1 loss; Vincent, Hardcastle, Maitland, Oldham (Rawhiti), 1 win, 3 losses, 1 tie; Moss, Heslop, Dicketts, Aldred (Auckland), 2 wins, 3 losses; Inglis, Brewer, Tindall, Smith (St. Hellers), 2 wins, 3 losses; Whiteside, Ross, Foote, Gatland (Onehunga), L win, 3 losses, 1 tie. In the final between Telford (St. Heliers) and Stubbs (Rawhiti), the latter was successful. PUKEKOHE V. RAWHITI The final round of the November eight full-rink tournament between the Pukekohe and Rawhiti Bowling Clubs was played yesterday on the Papatoetoe green, Pukekohe winning the trophy. Following are the results:—lmpen, Adams, Armstrong, Keith, 24; Sharkey, Sladin, McKinley, McPherson, 13. PONSONBY CLUB The following skips have entered teams for the mid-week fuil-rink tournament to be held by the Ponsonby Bowli 1 * I ®. Chib next Wednesday:—Keys (St. Heliers), Eagleton (Rocky Nook), De Launay (Epsom), Gatland (Onehunga) f raser (Mount Eden), Sheath (Hillsborough), Warren and Isaacs (Carlton), J. McGregor and A. Parsons (Ponsonby). P urther entries are invited.