BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 142, 2 November 1912, Page 7

BOWLING.

The New Plymouth Club (social club, not bowling) has challenged the combined clubs to a match on Thursday, November 14, on .the New Plymouth Club's green, at 2.30. The following will represent the Social Club:—C. Allan, Hal. Goodacre, Healy, J. Abbot (s.); C. McCallum, A. Higgs, J. Bennett, ,S. llundle (s.); S. Paul, J. Johnston, J. C. Morey, A. K. Smart (s); J. C. Morey, senr., P. Plumtree, P. Lealand, E. Bary (s.); W. Humphries, W. N. Ewing, E, Dingle, N. Johnston (s.). The players that responded to Mr. Cock's invitation to a game on his private rinks on Thursday afternoon had a right, royal time, and are not likely to soon forget the interesting and pleasant afternoon. The green is splendidly situated, being away from the winds, and commanding one of the prettiest views to be obtained in the town. '"Our old friend, Dick," as President GoMwater fenially tew.ed the host, has every reason to be gratified with the green, which has only been down four months. Mr. Cock issued an invitation to his bowling friends to go along at any time, particularly on occasions when the town green was fully occupied, and they would: be heartily welcomed. That invitation is not likely to be unheeded by his many bowlin" friends.

The progress oi the Fitzroy Club was in evidence at its opening day on Thursday. The green was as level as a billiard table and keen as a razor's edge. The opening match, president's v. vicepresident's team, proved most enjoyable, and was closely contested, the president's nominees winning by 18 points—l4o to 122. Very flattering things were said about the superb condition of the turf and the club generally by visiting bowlers. This year the club has a number of new members, who have succumbed to the fascination of the game which proved so diverting to Drake, of famous mention, as far back as 1553. * The uninitiated often refer to bcwis In the sense of an old or rather middleaged man's game, looking upon the green as a blissful retreat for those for whom tennis and cricket have well-nigh become a physical impossibility. Color is lent to this suggestion by the fact that bowlers do not graduate into the ranks of other sports. The truth of the saying, "Once a bowler, always a bowler," is indisputable. Men desert football, tennis, cricket and the like for bowls, but who ever heard of a bowler deserting his standard for a contemporary branch of sport? The truth is that bowling has a subtle attraction and keen fascination that men remain bowlers almost until they cease to participate in sport and all the other various activities of everyday life. Bowls has a cosmopolitan kingdom. Young, middle-aged and old alike worship at her shrine. For each she has her attractions. That is one of the beauties of the game. Indeed, one only required to be in attendance at the Fitzroy green last Thursday to realise that. A non-participant could not help being struck with the very fair sprinkling of the younger set indulging in the gentle exercise. Officially the New Plymouth Club will open its season on Thursday afternoon next, but the green has already been largely patronised. From to-day it will be open for play every day from two o'clock in the afternoon.

The West End Club's greens are playing very well, and should be in excellent condition for the opening of the season on Thrirsday. This- year the club has made a new departure, having laid down a two-rink winter green. It has been levelled and grassed, and should be ready for piay next winter. Next season it. will also be available for summer play aloDg.-.witli the other green. ■'Mr.'John Spencc lias been re-elected unopposed as president of the New South Wales Bowling Association. The, New South Wales touring team had.a. good time in Ireland, where the game lias a fairly strong hold. The methods of the visitors made a favorable impression, as will he seen from the following extract from a local paper after their match against Ballymoney: ■—"The visitors are certainly out to enjoy themselves, and entered into the game in that much-to-be-admired sporting spirit which in these days of professionalism is almost a negligible quantity. They are a jolly lot of fellows, who, while always giving of their best, are now slow to recognise and acknowledge good play on the part of their opponents. They hold the opinion that it is the good-fellowship which exists among bowlers nil the world over that has attracted so many thousands of fresh followers to it during the last few years. One could not help but admire their graceful and easy delivery of the bowls, while their play throughout was marked by an entire absence of slovenliness. While it is more than possible that they will taste defeat on visiting the city, they are nevertheless competent bowlers, who proved beyond doubt that discipline is of great consequence, always treating the word of the skip as law. When he shouted, '(jive me a bowl here,' he usually got it about the spot indicated when the players had found the running of the green and the precise strength required, while his colleagues seldom failed to consider and adopt what might be termed contingent methods when unable to achieve their original object. They are of opinion that the players *n this side hold a big advantage in playing with narrower bowls than the regulation Australian bias, and one of them, speaking to our representative, pointed out that there was much more sport in playing with a big-drawing wood. He added that they had encountered 'some wonderfully straight stuff' in Scotland, which made the game simply a question of length, as he held that the Scotchmen might as well have been bowling cricket balls. When they first visited Great Britain the colonials were amazed at the manner in which our players twisted themselves when following up their bowls. Australian rules forbid the player to walk up the space after the howl, on the ground that his contortions are apt to spoil the sight of his rival, and possibly put him off his game."