INDOOR BOWLING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 713, 12 July 1929, Page 13

INDOOR BOWLING

THE RECENT TOURNEY NOTES AND COMMENTS By “VETERAN” With the idea of helping the competitors, and also of giving credit where it is due, these notes have been penned by an outdoor bowler, who hopes they will be accepted in the spirit in which they are offered. | Birkenhead B (F. Blackwell, skip), j the winning team, was on the day un- j doubtedly the best team, with the j whole four working like a machine, j and the skip seemingly waving his hands over the heated bearings and supplying the soothing oil where necessary. No one seemed to play a wrong shot for him. He a use for it, and his directions were almost unfailingly correct. ITis own play was seemingly much above what was expected of him —in fact, as one opponent said to the writer, “This is a new Blackwell, so different to the smash-them-up Fred of other days, and he plays like a winner.” His third, Sampson, played better than any other third. He has a nice delivery, and does not worry his skip. Smith, tho second player, gave an ideal exhibition of this very important position. His position shots-—in fact, his whole play—must have cheered up his skip at all times, while Connor, the lead, one of the of last year, and a tried veteran, was always on the job. “Jum” might put a loose one down, but his next would be a daisy. COLTS DO WELL Tho runners-up, Devonport (G. Day, skip), undoubtedly were the dark horses of the competition, and the popular secretary had many wellwishers cheering on his team of colts. The team play was, as would be expected of young placers— two of them in their first season—a little bit erratic, but to compensate, they brought with them that handy friend, the fifth man. Day’s building of heads and directions were at times puzzling to an outdoor player. He repeatedly removed his own woods when his opponent tried to, but could not, notably when he forced his own two shots out and gave Blackwell five in round three. Blackwell’s third had two tries for the same shot without success, and then it was done for him. However, Day nursed his team well, and had the Shore men not had to bustle in the final game, in order to catch a boat, they might have done even better. W. Sharp, the third, played remarkably well lor a young player. lie has a nice clean delivery, and, like, the lead, J. Parker, was never afraid to take tho green. The splendid way both of these lads went right to the edge of the green, without losing the bowl, on long heads, was freely commented upon. Both these lads have a bright future before them, as they do not get bustled, and both played some remarkable resting shots. Fehsenfelt, the second player, played quite a failaverage game. TOO MUCH ADVICE fe Mount Albert (R. Brodie, skip) was on paper the strongest team, having as lead and second player the runners-up in last year’s champion pairs, and in the third player, a section winner in the singles, while the skip is generally recognised as one of the best tacticians playing the indoor game. This time, the machine did not function as smoothly as usual. Too much advice seemed to be the trouble, and many times the skip was persuaded to play what was quite obviously the wrong' shot, against his better judgment; and, horror of horrors! his first shot, with the head still unaltered. It was evidently not Mount Albert’s day out, for it is capable of winning in the very best company, as has been proved by its successes in other tournaments. The skip, R. Brodie, played a sound game at all times, and his general directions were very correct, but he suffered from that great handicap—too much advice. The third player, 11. Baker, a most polished player, with quite a model delivery, was a little below form, and seemed over-anxious, and, as a result, was inclined to be too heavy. The second player, G. Clark, was handicapped by having to face a gallery of outdoor critics, and probably being anxious to show that outdoor men could adjust themselves to the keener game, was inclined to be too careful. He is capable of playing any kind of shot, and is a great example to those players who think it beneath their dignity to play other than third or skip. Clark is a good skip either outdoors or indoors, yet is sport enough to play any position. The lead, J. Bridge, was a champion lead last year, and has retained his form, and gained experience. He played soundly throughout. Avondale (J. R. Johnston, skip) failed to get going, somehow. Its past performances, including seven times winner of the Corban Cup, prove it to be capable of play of a high standard. Recent recruits from the Waitemata Association, these players were probably handicapped by the different conditions of play. Their play was a little more robust than that of any of their opponents. Tho skip, J. R. Johnston, played a nice consistent game, but had little support. The third player, A. R. Mayall, was below his usual form, but played quite a number of useful shots. Th© second player, F. W. Clement, and the lead, N. Sommerville, played good consistent games, but seven-head games do not give a team a chance to play itself into form. Birkenhead (C. E. A. Harkin, skip) the surprise of the evening, was picked to be a finalist at least. On its play in the first game, there was little between it and the ultimate winner, but the joyful uncertainty of sport is here illustrated, for a perfectly good team went out in the first two rounds. The skip, E. A. Harkin, whose record as a winning skip is unique, was well off colour, and probably enjoyed the novelty of going out so quickly. He was not getting the best from his team. Tho third player, C. Cameron, generally a most reliable and resourceful player, seemed to lose confidence in himself after two or three bad luck ’ shots in quick succession, and seemed afraid to approach the head. Th© second player, J. Lisk, and the lead, F. Grant, quite held their own with their opponents, but the tail-end of the team did not wag. and their good work was undone by later opponents. A remarkable feature of many of the teams competing in this indoor tourney was the habit they had of deposing the skip the moment he left to play his shot, the third, sometimes the second, and even the lead, insisting on the skip being guided by them as to what shot he should play, before the head had been altered. This resulted in many arguments, and corresponding loss of touch. One can imagine what an outdoor skip would say if his team started to tell him how to build his head, and play his first shot No. sir, these things are not done in bowls. There is an unwritten law. but a well understood one, that a skip plays his first shot unquestioned, unless the head has been altered since he left it. The players generally seem a fine sporting crowd, and there should be many valuable recruits to the outdoor game as a result of their experiences at the indoor game.