ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 944, 10 April 1930, Page 7

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(By JA.CB UiQU.j

Bowlers from this centre who participated in the Hardley Shield contest played on the Hamilton Club’s greens last week were loud in their praise of the splendid surfaces there, which were unanimously described by them as far the best in the province. What amazed these players most was the closeness to which the grass was cut, there being an entire absence of woolliness, the surfaces being neither hard nor soft, but of that beautiful texture which made for ideal bowling conditions. This fact has a special significance in view of the movement commenced in this centre for similar treatment of the greens with a special advisory committee set up by the ~nd Centre composed of Messrs, j. Kilgour, R. Isaacs and G. J. Mackay, but which emanated from the Hamilton Club members, Messrs. W. Horton and Norrie Bell. Incidentally, in reference to the surfaces there, it should not be overlooked that Mr. Montie Dark, late green superintendent of that club, who is now on a trip abroad, has done much excellent work in bringing about the splendid conditions and credit should bo accounted to him also. This energetic worker gave much studious thought to the matter of the cultivation of good bowling greens and has for some years been looked upon as a sound authority in the work in the South Auckland Centre. The Auckland bowlers who attended the contest were enthusiastically inspired with confidence in the new method of treatment which is now available through the new committee to all the clubs in this centre, and pictured the lime wiien they would play on similar beautiful surfaces in their own respective clubs. The advisory committee set up b} the Auckland Centre to disseminate the information now at its disposal on the new treatment for the cultivation «.f bowling surfaces had its first meeting on Monday, and thereby commenced its work in real earnest. Mr. J. „M. Thomson, representing the centre executive, was elected chairman, and Mr. R. Isaacs was appointed secretary. The committee wishes to make it quite clear that there is no intention whatever to interfere with the present systems now used by the clubs in any way, nor will there be any move to foist the information on to the clubs. The policy will be simply to place the members' services and the largo mass of information at the disposal of the green committees, green superintendents and greenkeepers and in everyway assist in solving their varied and individual problems in a studious manner. On the other hand it is asked that every- club both small and large will take the very fullest advantage of the presence of the committee by approaching this most important subject to the vital welfare of the sport with an open mind and thereby assist in bringing about a universal high standard of bowling surfaces throughout this centre.

Although the Hardley Shield contests Were inaugurated with the sole object of further cementing the friendship between the bowlers of the t\y > neighbouring centres, the tussle for the honours is looked forward to with much pleasure and the games lasl week provided all the elements of the best bowling. The Auckland Centre on this occasion was represented by- an exceptionally fine array of players and their win was not unexpected; nevertheless every effort was made to organise a side of South Auckland bowlers who would annex the honours. Apart from the results of the play, however, the contests are admirably fulfilling their splendid purpose. Time was when the players of the two centres were almost unknown to one another, but that now has all been altered through the advent of the contests.

The Auckland Centre has much cause for satisfaction in the entries received for the Easter tournament. Comparative figures show that at; the Dominion tournament held at Dunedin in January 360 bowlers participated, whereas at the local e -ent commencing next week 432 will take part, clearly indicating the enthusiasm for tho game in the Queen City. Tho figures for last season were 448. The first year players’ competition comprises an entry of 16 teams, the executive fours, 22 teams, and the Easter fours, 70 teams. Nevertheless, considering that there are 45 clubs in the centre the entries for the executive lours may be said to be rather small. However, those players who are participating in this event which is entirely social in character will have a splendid opportunity of exchanging ideas in the various matters of club government. The entry for the first- > ear players’ competition is not by any means as large as it might be. This event provides players with thenfirst taste of tournament play and is relished exceedingly by the entrants from year to year. The Easter season usually brings with it all the elements lor splendid bowling, the weather settled and the greens highly playable. However, the lateness of the autumn holidays this year has curtailed the light available for play and hence the centre executive will give the teams which come forward as winners of the sections the opportunity of deciding whether they will find the ultimate winning teams on the sudden death principle or adhere to the usual two life method.

The Easter fours competition is noticeable for a large number of new players and an absence of many of the older time-honoured skips, but generally the clubs are well represented. Section A has four teams under a. Holmes (Carlton), J. Turner (Carlton), T. Dick (Grey I*ynn) and J. Davidson (Auckland), which should make a good showing, although the latter player this season has noticeable for his lack of form. However. in respect to this, it has been said often that many prominent playfrs fail to produce good bowling in individual games, but manage to play themselves into form during the more Prolonged tests. This section is certainly light in bowling strength. . Section B shows slightly more bowlmg ability with some strong skips in T. R. George, of Epsom, >V. Ball (Carlton), T\ White (St. lleliers), R. H. Bourk© (Mount Eden) and a team unknown quantity under Taylor, of .Waihi. Section C has prominent skips in O. Mrightson (Carlton), J. Baxter (Auckland), who takes a team of young players out for the first time m a city tournament, and J. Morgan (Devonport). Section D includes G. Hosking (Carlson), a. Parsons (Ponsonby), C. IT. u® Launny (Epsom). L. Russell • Remuera), C. Elvey (Devonport) and S. (Hillsborough). Section E has good skips heading teams in F. M. Ritchie (Carlton), J. Dick (Ponsonby), IT. N. Gill (Mount Eden), c. Amt man (Remuera), who £omes with a splendid reputation from Dunedin and is heading a good team hero in a tournament for the first occasion. Section P has certainly’ the largest number of stronger players in H. C. Clarke (Carlton). A. J. Letham (Forisonby), D. C. Fraser (Mount Eden), V- H. Keatley (Rocky Nook), A. R. Traham (Remuera) and C. Addison * Edendale). Section G has a fine group of good Players in teams under S. Lamb (Carl*pn>, H. Wright (St. Heliers) and E. Buckley (Grey Lynn). Given good weather the tournament ■mould be on© of the best that has staged in Auckland. The winners for the past eight years ar ® as foliowP—,®aater Fours.—l 922, Jury, Summer, . en ' E. Jury (Ponsonby); 1923, prackebush, Letham. Garry, M. Walker tonaonby); 2 924. ScarKlebury, Mackay, Q, Osmond (Auckland); 1925,

Braitliwaite, Parsons. Richmond. T. P„ George (Epsom): 1026, Dixon, Fletcher, Parker, ,\l . Walker (Auckland); rs:T, Lamb, Grattan. Wilkinson, C. H. De Launay (Epsom); 1928, Hunt, Farlev, Makerley, W. H. Keatley (Rocky Nook); MtllerTfp Parsons > Richmond, I> r„ E . x t cutlve Fours.—l 922, Allen, Rose, Fletcher, H. Whittle (Grev Lvnn); 1020, J. \\ . Hardley, T. R. George, J Sneddon A. Parsons (Auckland Centre); 1924, Baildon, Liversidae, Whittle, E, Bucklev (Grey Lynn); 1925, ; 1926, Britlain", Kotye, Kilgour. .J. M. Thomson (Cai,ton), 19_(, Brittain. Rowe, Kilgour, tv. I erry (Canton,; 1928. Bates, Rolre, Kilgour. . Ball (Carlton); 1929, Johnson, Atclnness, Somervell, A. Tarsons (Ponsonby). First-year Fours.—l 922, Cook, O’Malley. Smith, A. Murdock (Otahuliu); 1923, < hambers. McCauley, Smith, A. E. Stone ! (Mount Eden): 1924, Farrely, Wood, Nixon, D. N. Campbell (Otahuhu): 1925, Pn I,e r'- Kent, w. H. Tongue (Rocky Nook); 1926, Austin, Hope. Mason, A. Farley (Rocky Nook); 1927, Llair, Richards, George, Frater (Devon - ° r J. * ' 19-8, Laslett, Stephenson, Studd, iv ti Wn (Mansers); 1929, Birrell, Saussej, Prangley (Mangere). . Mr - lr - Frost Is giving a screening of many moving-pictures of bonl(unctions and tournaments, which he has photographed, at the Carlton Club pavilion this evening. EXECUTIVES’ MATCH ThA „ I cJ- tor, p CU V- ves oC the Auckland and , Cdilton Bowling (Tubs met in a pleaSr?JL SOCial gathering at the Auckland ! S3S», bowi al f„ °4co~! a VT n V th e help given to the parent club when it had difficulty in maintaining the quality of its greens! A four-team match between the two executives resulted in a win for rfnnki™ 1 ! Followin S are the results case)- d names Swell first in each ,>- D ° Placket, Dicketts, Muston 7‘-' ' -.A"A. Ross, Clarkson, Ooutts 10. Hard ie-Neil, Coldicutt, Fletcher. Parker 25, v. A. Dickson, Rowe. Gladding, Ball 23; Mason, Graham, Mackay, Osmond 23. v. Bates, Mitchell, Ritchie Snedden 18; Inglis, Carlaw, Lyell, Duncan 19, v. Trendall, Arey Perry, Kilgour IS. • INTER-CLUB TEAMS The following teams • have been chosen for inter-club bowling matches on Saturday; Eden.—Against Ponsonby, at Traver, by i r u Baker, Cornes! JoH, Bigelow, c. Baker, P'indEvans, Little, Fraser; Marshall, T. Nairn, Shirriffs, Gill; Taylor Sijison, Serjeant, J. Smith. At Mount Hull, Vivian; Fernandez. ftintoul, Robertson, A Nairn - H herguson Campbell, Tutt, Daisley; Hough. L>. Ferguson, Reid, Elliott; Harland, Burley, Herron, Surman. Grey Lynn.—Against West End, at \\est End: Stewart, Bleakley, H. Reed Elyersidge: Street, Emirali, J. Lve, v, ,f le; Cox, E. Leydon, Puddle, *E. Buckley. Against Edendale, first-year Payers, Edendale: Maguire, Mair, Glen Eden.—Against Henderson. at Henderson: Vranges, Allen, Routlev, Croucher; Burbage. Clark, Claridge, Werner. At Glen Eden: M. Sunde, s’ Marinovich. Bond, Fox; J. Sunde, Gill. Perkins, Firth. Papakura—Against Manurewa, at Papakura: Paton, Quigley, H. McEntee, Bates; Pilkington, Dunkley, McCall, Goddard; Kirton, Hunt, W. McEntee, Leighton; Mogford, A. Smith, G. G. Smith, Leitclv, Cornford, Meikle, Palmer, Rice; Mullins, Lound, Dickey, Hope. New Lynn.—Against Epsom, at New Lynn: Cutler. Collard, Oake. Thompson; Overington. Bailey, M. Meese, Boag; Johnston, Whitaker. H. Whyte, Rankin. At Epsom: J. White. Laing, Edgerley, Witham; Oborn, Williams, Matheson, Young; Galloway, Jeffrey, Wells. B. Meese. PAPATOETOE CLUB Following are the results of matches played in the A grade championship of the Pepatoetoe Bowling Club: Seventh Round.—Crawford. 17, v. Booth, 12; Bayliss, 18, v. Ritchie, 17; Nettlingham, 18, v. Wilcox, 17; Mclvor, 17, v. Hill. 14; Rawnsley, 20. v. Knight, 19. Eighth Round.—Ritchie, 20, v. Nettlingham, 18; Crawford, 20, a*. Mclvor, 17; Bayliss, 22, v. Rawnsley, 15. Ninth Round.—Bayliss, 21, v. Crawford, 16: Rawnsley, 22. v. Ritchie. IS. Tenth Round.—Rawnsley, 20, v. Bayliss, 19. Final.—Bayliss, 22. v. Rawnsley. 16.