ON THE GREEN Bowls and Bowlers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 582, 7 February 1929, Page 9

ON THE GREEN Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH.

•pht champion banner of Auckland, contested for by the respective entrants the clubs of the Auckland Boiling Centre, has gone to the St. Heliers Club by the superior play of lhe team comprising Crawshaw, Koeford. White and H. Wright. The team through the gruelling rounds of sectional and post-sectional rounds *-lth only two losses—one to De Launey’s Epsom team and the other to the Auckland team comprising Neil, Macky, Harvey and M. Walker, who were the runners-up for the concluding honours of the immense tournament. It was a wonderful victory for the team. Each individual member proved himself fully capable of sustaining his position in play. Crawshaw as lead gave a magnificently consistent exhibition in this position in the iea m. Koeford proved that as number two he has few equals in Auckland. White as number three gave a tine demonstration of driving, pressing and drawing shots while H. Wright at the skipper’s end, showed that he lias the cool temperament needed to vsin a large tournament and a compute command of shots required by the b tar bowler. Indeed, he demonstrated inclusively that he has all the qualities in play of the front-rank bowler. Moreover, it is certain on his perormance in this tournament that Auckland has found a bowler who will ’,e heard much of in future classic nowling events. The St. Heliers Club ;s therefore to be congratulated on the -plendid team that represented their lub in the Christmas tournament, and • lie handsome champion banner now Morning the walls of the pavilion for :;io first occasion is conclusive evi.imice that the club has taken its place .mor.g the stronger clubs of Auckland.

The concluding game in the tournaru nt, unlike many final games, was a sterling example of the game on the ,-reen and presented some striking features. The Auckland team had had a bye in the previous round and were Mow at getting the feel of the green which was running particularly fast. On the first two heads, St. Heliers therefore shot away with ten points in their favour.. Auckland then picked the strength, and on the eighth head the scores were: St. Heliers 13 and Auckland 10. But on 13, which is superstitiously termed the devil’s number in bowling ranks, St. Heliers remained striving vainly for six heads to change their bad luck. The Auckland team passed them, and on the 13th head the scores were 13 —18. On the following head they scored a two and vigorously contested the concluding rounds, ending the victors by 26 J 5. Of the two sides, Niel and Crawshaw were well matched. Koeford was noticeable for his wonderful drawing on the fast green, while P. White was in excellent farm. Walker’s saving of points was certainly one of the main features of the game. Time after time when the skips changed over, his flne drawing, pressing shots and driving saved many points on the board for his side. Indeed it was in evidence that the front rank of the St. Heliers team was vastly superior in the game. Koeford was particularly accurate, and his strengtli was largely instrumental in the ultimate victory. After the game Mr. S. Coldicutt, president of the Auckland Centre, suitably congratulated the winners on their fine record of play in the tournament, and three cheers were given to the victors and the runner-up.

Calling the umpire in, to separate two close shots in the count for ultimate points, is not an unusual" occurrence in the many important tournaments that are conducted from time to time. Often a mere fraction of an inch exists between the shots, and it is natural that the measures will favour their own bowis. Hence the third party is inevitable to arrive at a final decision. During the recent champion rinks competition the umpire there was called upon to give a most unusual decision. A number three, who shall remain for the nonce unnamed, was certain from his optical observation that his team could count a bowl of his side into a winning counter. To justify this contention, he studiously and accurately measured the wood, making certain of his measure with much deliberation. However, he altered his position on the head, and in error, instead of measuring the opposing bowl, as he intended to, set his measure back on his own bowl, finding no difference, of course. “I shall certainly have to call the umpire in to these bowls,” he exclaimed. "This is a very close measure.” And the familiar call of “Umpire” went r-nging down the green. When it was pointed out to him that instead of measuring the opposing bowl he was back again on his own wood, he was imazed and joined heartily in the laugh tgainst himself through his error.

The New South Wales and Quccnsand bowlers who came to New Zea* *and to contest m the reecnt New Zealand tournament have come to Auckland and have departed to their homes a-cross the Tasman. During their short s *ay in the Queen City of the North they were given an exceptionally full found of entertainments and bowling °n many greens. They did not aspire to be players of outstanding merit, although there were a few who could roll a good bowl. But their visit was important from the aspect of intimacy the players of the other side. Every effort is being made to establish close relations. In this respect the effort made by the Centre Executive ind the numerous clubs visited was lully justified. The visiting bowlers AaVe gone back to their clubs fully determined to act as ambassadors of New «®aland bowling and imbued with the jdea to organise the visit of a very Jfge party of Australian players to fha next Dominion tournament, when !t is held in Auckland on the next occasion.

The champion rinks competition inaugurated last season and known then as the Bendigo Bowls Competition. w°n this season by the Auckland ' lub with the team—W. Ure. H. Allan, Bailey and C. Muston. Thus the P aren t club has had the honour of ben S the winner of one and the run-ner-up i n the other of the two big journaments held this season. The ictory was certainly meritorious. The •*f am to gain the win had to play no than 13 games before they came u t the ultimate winners. These conincluded a series of games in their , n dub to qualifv for entrance into competition. Out of the thirteen rl ? tu ally played they won eleven of 4nd lost to Steele’s team, includes Williams. Bourke and Rudd to e® champion rink of the Dominion. End, comprising C. Hardley, I. Clark, W. Bremner. In n* Muston excelled himself and H4?e. th© best form that he has hft j yefi yet. He clearly shows that ®is capable of front rank form. In .‘‘Uainent play he has not done anyMn , ** ln ' ce he figured in the Dominion ngles championship last season. His n this tournament is certainly n ' of commendation. J. Bailey, as to*2 ber three in the team, was cerstrong as tbe club could pu-

number”two? ttotVTn I ', form anrt P i,-J er lle has sllow n good one of the recently promoted to club °V- h * recognised skips in the gave the'T ln tho Position of lead S „„ 8 hi„„ ni n a reliable exponent in , , position. He was first plon Hnks Ule ,a i ter won”£2 r ch£m- } mks some five vcai-s aeri r p.... tea’ms’that h made one of the best UmeT e 6Cn “ een the Breen

Otahnhn r tinners~up in the event, the Kykes h 'e^M.'’ n ' comprising Everitt, ing of ° and Gardiner is.deservffreat win*’? 1 congratulation. It was a it roolH , f° r tl ? u ' t suburban club that wh?eh' d Pa , CO m the contest a team gmne h Yrt‘ d , SO , throu Sh to the final Indeed the nature of the bowln fee tV, ea . rller rounds looks fair to ln the u ‘fi m ate winning

~ A Takapuna team, comprising Collins, Knaggs, Bennett and Hayden registered a win in the West End Club’s Anniversary Day tournament. In the section play they notched the full five wins and played off for the final honours with a Carlton team headed bv J. TLoskings, which had four wins and one loss to its credit. The final game ended 1< —12 in favour of the Takapuna team. SATURDAY’S TEAMS The following teams have been chosen for Saturday’s bowling matches:— INTER-CLUB Dominion Hoad v. Devonport-—At Donunion Road: Bathgate, A. R. Davis, Robertson, Roberts; Gunning, Sawyer, Norgrove, Sayers; W. S. Fisher. Dr. Gunn, lioppy. Kelly; Sessions, Anderson, S. E. Chappell, Clews; Hook, Gaeth, Yeoman, Haltord. At Devonport: Guthrie, Tattersall, Semadeni, Bryden; Gentles, A. Clark, Truman, Cartwright; Foreman, Ranum, W. Richardson, Codd; Bellamv, Bayley, D. Richardson, Bush; Beck. Buckley, Winks, Brown. Rawhiti v. Avondale.—At Avondale: Culpin, Thronsen, Watson, Murray; N. Thomson, Keller, Austin, P. Thomson; Katterfeldt, Woods, Martin, Harris; Henson, Schofield, Vaughan, Moncur. At Rawhiti: Jackson, Worthington, Taylor, Wooller; Hamlin, Samways, E. T. Walker, Paterson; Cameron, J. F. Roberts, Savin, Mclnness; Wayte, Bennett, Oldham, Millard. Te Papapa v. Papakura—At Papakura: E. Marks, Patterson, Allcock, Dawson; R. G. Speight, Garnham, Angus, Roy Speight. At Te Papapa: Simpson, Fallon, Whitehead, Thursby; Johnson, F. Harriman, Thorpe, T. Harriman. Ponsonby v. Remuera—At Remuera; Good, Coppins, Crowe, Torrance; Smith, Oswald, Rolfe, Veale; Dromgool, Goldwater, Rowbottom, McLeod; Goodacre, Schischka, Somers, Paterson; W. Elleray, W. Brown, Calder, Kelly; T. Elleray, Drummond, Wright, J. McGregor; Bisho D. McGregor, Pardington, Bryant; Parkinson, Jones, Lincoln, Young. First-year team: Dickie, F. Letham, Lincoln, Young.

Remuera v. Ponsonby—At Ponsonby: Douglas, Kenderdine, Priestley, Brookes; Griffiths, Rathbone, T. A. Ashton. Newton; Hertslet, Baker, Dixon, E. A. East ; Martin, Cutfield, Norton, Johnson; Brownlee, M. Bell, G. H. Kissling, Watson; Tancred, Edmiston, Wight. McCallum; Segar, Styak, Burcher, Saxton; Loosemore, Tudlrope, Clark, Short. At Remuera: Cox, Gannaway, Mellars, Coe. Jackson, H. East, E. D. Ashton, Daniels; Ormiston, Headdey, Somerfield, Mcßobie; Burnett, Ellerbeek, Mahon, Ryan; Lusher Whitaker, Hegman, Russell; Coath, Alexander, Dransfield, Wooller; Walker, Wade, I. C. Kissling, Sanderson; Fisher. Hawkins, Wallace, Young. First-year players: At Remuera—l. A. Thomson, Mahoney, Tomlinson, Aeheson. Devonport v. Dominion Road—At Dominion Road: Kennings, Sinclair, Martinson, Rice; Barber, Elmsley, Hamlin, Blackburn; Koefoed, Richards, Wrigley, Bach; Fraer, Latta, Stapleton, Jackson; Flynn, Markham, Vaile, Harty. At Devonport: Davis, Jackman, Palmer, Ellisdon; J. Buchanan, George, McGregor, Elvy; Thornton, Foster, Weight, J. Morgan ; Andrew, Eyre, Sullivan, Mason: Gill, Stewart, Wright, Snoad. Against Stanley, at Stanley: Pitts, jun, Fulljames, Minchin, McDonald. At Devonport: Penrose, James, Miller, McLeod. Takapuna v. Waitemata—At Waitemata: Walters, Booth, Johnson, Bade. At Takapuna: White, Bindon, Dr. Wake, Perfect. First-year players v. Mount Albert: Blackwell, Dudding, Tidman, Henderson. _ „ Papakura v. Te Papapa—At Te Papapa: Cornford, Rutter, MoEntee, Hope; Mogford, A. G. Smith, McCall, Leiteh. At Papakura; Dickey, Rice, G. Boagey, Hammond; Paton, W. Boagey, T. G. Smith, Rowe. MARINE PENNANT

Stanley v. Devonport—At Stanley: Sainty, Nichol, MacGregor, D. M. Jones; Niblocfc, Purser, Lambie, McMaster; Clarke, Bray, S. Reid, Brookes. At Devonport: Chesney, Lock, Johnson; Ross, G. M. Reid, Ogilvie, Smith; Whitley, Hooker, Wrigley, Cox. Devonport v. Stanley—At Stanley: Murphv, A. Morgan, Knight, Bayley; E. Buchanan. Blair. McLaren, Warren; Frater. Newman, Newbegin, Layzell. At Devonport: Gabites, Goudie, Goldsworthy, Anderson; Coleman. Bruce, Bartley, Cox; Scotland. Naylor. Broughton, Melvihe. Takapuna v. 'Waitemata—At Waitemata' Corfe, Waterman, Bennet, Collins; Arrow-smith, Weston, Butler, Hooper; Bisk, Ooulthard. Hunt, Mills: McMurtrie. Blinkhorn, Veale, Vt llkmson. At Takapuna: Wernham, F. A, Smith, Cutler Brake: Oborn. Riddell, Taylor, Matthew's' Bioletti, Reid, Dunlop, Hanna; Kay. Elliot. Buckley, Hayden.