ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 6

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

“Jack High.”

The final rounds of the South Auckland inter-club rinks competition were played on the Hamilton green on Saturday last. The green was in the best of condition, running fast and true. Indeed, the surface can easily be considered among the very best in the Dominion and reflects great credit on Mr. Dark, the green superintendent of the club. The two teams left in to decide the ultimate champion rink were R. Ross, A. C. Cruickshank, W. J. North, R. Metcalfe (Te Awamutu), and J. Pratt, E. Whitehead, A. Delamore, F. Adamson (Thames). The former team had one life and the latter two lives to face the concluding games. The first of the tests proved an easy win for Te Awamutu, which got the strength of the green immediately and scored six points before its opponents commenced. This was increased to 1-—2, and the final score was 19—15. * * * The victory of the Te Awamutu team left the Thames men still with one life, and the final game was played in the afternoon. This contest displayed all the best elements of bowling. The Te Awamutu men were the first to score, but they were not to have it all their own way. The Thames men played altogether a better game than in the morning, particularly Whitehead, the number two, and Delamore, the three. Both these players played excellent resting shots and close drawing. Thus gradually the score was topped, and a healthy lead established against their opponents. On the 15th head the scores were 22—11. This lead was reduced to 23 —20 on the 19tli head, and on the 20th head Te Awamutu looked like raking the game out of the fire, for they lay a snug, welldrawn three on a long head. Delamore, however, drove and got the kitty back to two of his own bowls. This position was not allowed by the skips, and the final head was faced with Thames 25 —20. This head was burned by Metcalfe in the hope that on the replay he would get a big score, when it again broke bad for him, and he endeavoured again to burn it. This time he got the kitty back and the final score read 26—20.

Ross, the T© Awamutu lead, can be credited with giving one of the best exhibitions of leading that has ever been seen in bowling. Pie was repeatedly on the jack scoring against his opponent on 18. heads out of the 21. Cruickshank also bowled well, but met a good opponent in Whitehead. Delamore was certainly the strong player of the Thames team, while Adamson was good with fast work. Metcalfe, a young player, shows every evidence of being one of the best skips in the province, both at drawing, pressing and fast work.

After the game, Mr. D. Meredith, vice-president of the South Auckland Centre, congratulated the winners and runners-up on behalf of the centre. He emphasised that there were four champion rinks of the four groups under which system the contest was divided and played. They included Thames, To Awamutu, Whitiora and Matamata. He therefore congratulated the four teams on their excellent showing. Mr. Howden, the donor of a very handsome shield that is the trophy for the- event, . presented the trophy, and three cheers' were given to the winners and runners-up by those present to watch the concluding games in a very interesting ’ competition, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.

Among the players in the province who have continuously maintained a fore-front position in bowling over a long period is Norrie Bell, sen., of tlie Hamilton Club. Indeed, as an exponent of the game on the green he can certainly be ranked as a complete master. His style displays a studied

attitude to the game and is the very poetry of bowling motion, while his wonderful mastery of the most difficult shot in the game——the “yard gone shot”—gives him an amazing advantage in the singles, pairs and full rink games. This shot, he contends, is the most effective that can be played, and tho advantages of its use are many and varied. It requires much patience in its cultivation and Mr. Bell is astounded at its limited use even among the best players in the land. Its success, he contends, is in firstly refraining from driving, and secondly th£ cultivation of a perfect delivery combined with the continuous development of weight sense. Norrie Bell’s record in bowling is certainly a great tribute to the success of his patience in the cultivation and perfection of “the yard gone shot,” and the following is a list of his most outstanding wins:—

Northern Bowling Association interclub (Auckland), 1900. Citizens’ Rink Championships (Auckland), 1900. Northern Bowling Association Interclub (Wellington), 1902. New Zealand Champion Rinks (Christchurch). 1903. New Zealand Champion Singles

(Christchurch), 1903. Electric Tournament, Northern Bowling Association (Wellington), 1906. Oamaru Easter Pairs Championships, 1908. Northern Bowling Association, Champion Rink (Auckland), 1913. South Auckland Centre wins include Thames, Te Aroha, Hamilton. He has won the Rotorua tournament on five occasions. Runner-up in th© Dominion Champion Pairs (Auckland), 1927. * * * Probably there is no subject in bowling upon which so much controversy has been waged as that of the table test v. the green test of bowls. The former was adopted some years ago by the Dominion Association in preference to the latter, and a very fine plant was installed in Wellington by a firm only to be recently discarded as inadequate and inaccurate on account of the continuous tracking of bowls which could not be obviated. Auckland has the table test, but, unfortunately, the best that can be said of the appliance is that it is entirely

primitive and does not lend itself to fine testing, while Dunedin has strenuously adhered to the green test as being tlie only true method of testing bowls. Obviously, the first essential requisites for the green test are a perfect green in every respect, cut and rolled to perfection and a calm day. In the latter respect Auckland has few greens of this calibre, in Wellington calm weather is a rarity, while in Dunedin there are a number of greens which are as perfect as practicable. However, the Hamilton green can be justly considered as one of the very best in the province, and it is not surprising that when a good man appeared in Mr. J. Smith that lie should be warmly encouraged to take up the green testing of bowls. In this work be has shown wonderful technical ability and a deep studious approach to the subject: An efficient outfit has been installed at the club and it is not surprising that he has gained for himself already a Dominion-wide reputation for his work. In the remodelling of bowls he has also shown ability, and many bowlers are now grateful to Mr. Smith for his efforts in making their bowls to their requirements in weight, shape and bias —four bowls alike. Mr. Smith’s efforts should be encouraged. He is doing a line work for the sport. Rocky Nook Tourney The final of the St. Patrick’s Daytournament of the Rocky Nook Bowling Club played yesterday resulted as follows: Lamb, Bruce, Mcßeth, do Launay (Epsom), 19, v. Brittain, Bird, Ball, Clarke (Carlton), 18.