ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 15

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(By

JACK HIGH.)

That fine classic bowling event, the Auckland Centre’s annual champion of champions tournament, conducted last week under most favourable conditions on the Caylton green, brought to the front three new players in Neil Thomson, K. Bennett and R. Prangley, whose bowling calls for special praise, besides registering still another fine victory to the already notable record of the ultimate winner, H. C. Clarke. Prangley, of the young Mangere Club, put up a sterling series of games and deserves every credit for his showing. He met with elimination from the competition in a wonderfully foughtout: game against ‘Clarke, which was fall of bowling interest. Clarke piled up a healthy score of 19-12 against the Mangere champion, but Prangley came to light on the five following heads and the score resulted in ID all —a draw on the 21st head. Clarke managed to score a further two points cn the extra head played, and thus ran out the winner.

E. Bennett’s performance also reflects credit on the Takapuna champion. He beat Mingins 19—11, Jury 22 5, Clarke 2 5 —15 and Bremner 23 11, and lost his two lives to Thomson by 17—27 and Bremner 14—19. In tne last game against the time-hon-oured bowler, he got away with a fine lead of 11—2 on the seventh head, but then Bremner settled down to a strong defensive game, Bennett only scoring a further three points on the 17tli head. Bennett, a young player in his fifth season, is to be complimented on his performance. The surprise of the tournament was certainly the magnificent bowling of young Neil Thomson, of the Rawhiu Club. Interest centred on his youthful age and his freedom in the delivery of his woods. llis father, Mr. Peter Thomson, coach of the Rawhiti Club, has conclusively proved, by his son’s fine exhibition of tho game at Carlton, that he has the fullest qualifications for teaching the game on the green to advantage. Neil Thomson’s delivery is one of the cleanest that has been seen for some time, having remarkable freedom with an exceptionally long easy swing. The lad was obviously at a disadvantage on the keen Carlton green in the two games in which he was eliminated after the heavy going on liis home green, Rawhiti. H. C. Clarke put up his best performance against him by giving one of the most brilliant expositions of the singles game that he has ever played, equalling the final game against Norrie Bell, junr., when he won the Dominion championship singles some three years ago. * * * In Thomson’s game against Bremner the young player again met with defeat by inexperience at the hands of a seasoned player. Bremner, the exchampion skip of the Dominion, was easily out-played at the drawing game, being kept frequently on the defensive. He therefore gave a fine exhibition of the skip’s game in splendid trailing, pressing and driving shots, thus running out an e£sy winner.

Probably one of Thomson’s best games was that against Bennett. In

this tussle he was seen consistently drawing to bare inches. He ran out an easy winner by 27—17. Moreover, what was noticeable also was his full knowledge of the conduct of the game. For so young a player, being only in his third season, the conduct of his play was a fine example to many older players, and his association with bowlers many years his senior left nothing to be desired. Mr. Peter Thomson has much cause to be proud of his son’s performance. It is certain that Auckland will see much more of this promising young player in prominent bowling events.

This is not the first occasion in the history of New Zealand howling that a young player of tender years has found his way into the game on the green through the instrumentality ofliis parent. Many such instances can bo quoted. Among the most prominent is that of the .Crowley family. Edward Crowley, now of Tauranga and one Qf the most foremost players of the Dominion, introduced his family to the game when they were much younger. Indeed, these youths were ,in shorts when they received their first instructions'and one member, Lionel Crowley, v j who skipped a team at the recent Rotorua tournament, which tied in the section with the ultimate winners. Hill’s Wellington team, was then only 12 years of age. The circumstances cf the happening was that the family was resident in Taradale, .lust outside of Napier, and lived next to the Green Meadows Bowling Club. When short of players to make up a team, the father would requisition the boys into a rink game. The introduction was certainly to their advantage, for they all turned out good plaverg. Norrie Bell, of Hamilton, also introduced his son, Norrie junior, to the game, to great advantage, when the latter was quite young. Moreover, the Brackenridge family, famous in New Zealand bowling, found their way into the game when quite young. When in Scotland, the Brackenridge boys were in the habit of saving up their pence, thus enabling payment for games on the public greens there, with the result that they were able to introduce the game in turn to their sons, when in their early years, with outstanding results. Furthermore, many instances can be quoted whereby family influence has given the game a good impetus. The most notable of Auckland’s examples are the Jenkin and Brookes family teams which have figured prominently in bowling here in the past.

H. Grocott, late of the Hamilton Club, has joined the Auckland Club. During this season, with Gordon Wrigley, he won the handicap pairs at the Hamilton Club. Grocott is a player who specialises on the dead draw shot, and at the Auckland Club on Saturday he was seen to decided advantage in this exact phase of the bowling game.

The Rocky Nook Club is holding another of its popular novelty pairs tournaments next Tuesday. Five games each of thirty minutes will be staged and in the event of a tie aggregate points then will decide the winner.

The honours of the Epsom Club’s Anniversary Day tournament went to the team skipped by T. R. George after a fine game against the Carlton team skipped by Turner.

Perhaps it is because of the varied | shots required from twos, threes and i skips that prominence is given to them j and little said of the one and only shot played by a lead, the dead draw shot. | And yet if opinions were gathered from any number of skips it would i be safe to say that it would be.pro- ! claimed by most of them that a lead. consistently planting his bowl on the ; jack in any average game, would be the biggest factor in the ultimate win ! than any member of the team. The reason for this importance is plain and j simple. Given a strong player in this

position the skip is able to build bowls on to the head around the shot bowl for eventualities in case that it ! becomes removed and it thus becomes the first basis in the ultimate winning of the game. Furthermore, from the commencement the opposition is placed on the defensive and the position of that team’s bowls becomes ragged and provides for a possible tall score against them. Moreover, the length of the heads is always governed by the throw of the jack, which is the lead's duty to judge. How frequently do teams fail to judge their play to rect throwing of the jack will often in itself decide wether a team will r omp home to victory or meet with defeat. The recent pennant competition frequently brought to light teams that were either strong or weak in the positions of leads. A good lead is called upon just as well as this skip to watch every howl that is played in a match and then judge tlio length most adaptable to his side. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY INTER-CLUB FIXTURES The following teams will represent their respective clubs in inter-club bowling matches to be played on Saturday: Remuera.—Against St. Heliers.—At St. Jleliers: Annandale, Uren, Dran.sfield, Graham; Tomlinson, -Bull, E. D. Reid, S. Kissling; Llertzlett., Brook, H. East, Mingins; Whitaker, Davis. Baker, .1. Hill; Griffiths, Cutlield, Lawrence, Russell. | Teams to play at Remuera (15) will be I selected on the green. St. Heliers.—Against Remuera, at ; Remuera: Negus, Miller, J. Diamond, MoI Mahon; Duthie, S. Diamond, Twiname, I Brookfield; Reid, Lovegrove, Philip, P. 1 White; McLaren, S. Le Grice, Crawshaw. ■ Price; Cottrell, Cameron, Lowe, Norris. I At. St. Heliers: Campbell, P. S. White, Smith, Wright; Inglis, Stevens, S. White, Knight; Dawson, Blomfield, Cahill, Keys; Clark, Hunt, Thompson, Jackson; Bradley, Gray, Holds worth, May.

Stanley.—Against Hallyburton Johnstone, at Staitley: First-year players— Hutt, Baker, Langridge, Susworth. Halyburton Johnstone.—Against Glen Eden, at Glen Eden: Clark, Solomon, Barton, Bromley; Allen, Holdsworth. Phillips, Gibson. At Point Chevalier: Neilson, Parks, Boag, Dyson; Storey, Breckon, Spellman, Fletcher. First-year team, against Stanley, at Stanley: Taylor, Francis, Solomon, Renton. Takapuna.—At Stanley: Stallard. Henderson, Coulthard, Henderson; Disk, Walters, F. A. Smith, Matthews; Arrowsmith, Weston, Hunt, Hayden. At Takapuna: Johnstone, Corfe, Collins, Dunlop; Eade, Robinson, Mills; Price, Hooker, Waterman, Hooper. New Lynn.—Against Hillsborough, at Hillsborough: M. Meese, Bailey, Edgerley, Rankin: Oake, Williams, Thompson, Young; Collard, Oborn, LI. Whyte, Witham; Johnston, Jeffrey, Matheson, Boag; J. White, Whitaker, A. Galloway, Wells; Overington, Laing, Platt, B. Meese. Other members also at Hillsborough. Glen Eden.—Against Hallyburton Johnstone, at Hallyburton Johnstone: M. Sunde, Claridge, Perkins, Fox. Firstyear team: S. Marinovich, Allen, M. Marinovich, Vranges. At Glen Eden: Rosier, Routley, Bond, Croueher; J. Sunde, Clark, Audley, Firth. Hillsborough.—Against New Lynn, at Hillsborough: Buckle, McMillan, Preston, Pollard; White, Scarboro, Wilkinson, Cliffe; Monk, Wombwell, Stapleton, Williamson; Bagaley, Sawyer, Munns, Thompson; Far hind. Gregory, Hollows, Pearce; Ward, Thomas, Clark,. Sainty. MARINE PENNANT Takapuna.—Against Stanley, at Stanley: Stallard, Henderson, Couthard, Hanna; Disk, Walters, F. Smith, Matthews; Arrowsmith, Weston, Hunt, Hayden. At Takapuna: Johnson, Coife, Collins, Dunlop; Eade, Robinson, Somertield, Mills; Price, Hooker. Waterman, Hooper. Stanley.—Against Takapuna, at Stanley: Watson, Tipping, Chesney, MoMaster; Kennedy, Hipkins, Look. Hall; FJe tcher, Weller, Wrigley, White. At Takapuna: Anderson, Hindman, G. M. Reid, Smith; Sainty, Whitley, Bray, Wilson; R. C. Reid, Clarke, Hooker, Johnson.

ROTORUA CLUB From Our Own Correspondent ROTORUA, Tuesday. A splendid financial position was disclosed at the annual meeting of the Rotorua Golf Club last night. Mr. F. W. Wilkie presided over an attendance of more than 70 members. The report showed that the excess of income over expenditure for the year was £565 2s 7d. The accumulated fund stood at £3,045 1s Bd. The president and other speakers expressed gratification at the fine position of the club. A special vote of thanks was moved thanking Mr. Alf. Walden . for his splendid services throughout the year but especially in connection with the tournament. Tributes were also paid to the secretary, Mr, A. W. Shaw, and greenkeeper, Mr. Parata. The opening day was fixed for April i2.

The following officers were elected: ! President, Mr. F. W. Wilkie; viceI presidents, Messrs. W. W. P. Hall and E. La Trobe Hill: captain, Dr. Hay: vice-captain, Mr. A. Walden; committee, Messrs. R. Copeland Smith, S. E. Carr, C. H. Worthington, C. H. Redhead, M. D. Carr, and D. George. _

Women’s executive: Captain, Miss Snodgrass; vice-captain, Mrs. Copekt'hd Smith; secretary, Mrs. La Trob.e Hill; committee, Mesdames Hall, Bunyard, Spedding, Redhead and Parata. KING COUNTRY CUP From Our Own Correspondent TE KUITI, Tuesday. Six rinks from Otorolianga visited Te Kuiti on Saturday, when three rinks played for the King Country Cup, and the others played inter-club games. Otorolianga Cup rinks had an easy victory over Te Kuiti, winning by 26 points. Scores were as follow (Otorolianga mentioned first): Porter, T urnbull, Cooper, Walker, tv. Fraser, Henderson, MsEwan, Holah, 29—14; Quinlan, Bell, Porter, Fry, v. Tapp, Gilbert, Browne, Harris/ 23—13; Crosby, Rowe,' McNamara, Cullen, v. Frerichs, innes, Griffiths. Smith, 22 —21. At the conclusion of play the cup was handed over by Mr. C. Harris, who congratulated Otorolianga oji its win. Mr. H. England, president of the Otorolianga Club, suitably responded. Inter-club games resulted: —Crosby. Richmond. Tager, England, v. Jones, Bryden. Totnian, Bole's. 19 —IT; Murdock, Landman. Lankilde. Walker, v. Evans, "Wilson, Passau, McLeod, 16—27.

PASCOE CUP CONTEST Two well-fought contests were i played for the Pascoe Cup at the 1 Helensville bowling green, Helensville. 1 holders, being successfully challenged by Avondale. The results are as fol- | low, Helensville names being given ! first in each case:—Constable, Coutts 14, v. Hanham, Taylor 22; Johnston. McAllister 11, v. Burgess, Porritt 23. NORTHERN WAIKATO FINAL From Our Own Correspondent PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. i Defeating the Patumahoe champion, ; \Y. E. Johns, by three points, Dr. R. P. ; Whiteside, of.Waiuku, won the North- ! ern Waikato singles championship at j Pukekolie yesterday. The match was ’ j well contested.