BOWLING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 4

BOWLING NOTES

ROUND THE GREENS CHAMPION OF CHAMPION SINGLES NEXT MONTH (By “The Skip.") AU clubs in the Wanganui Centre are reminded that the Champion of Champion singles will be played on Thursday, March 16, and the Gordon Pairs on Saturday, March 18. This leaves three weeks for clubs to find their representatives. One would like to see outside clubs such as Marton, Raetihi, Waverley, Ohakune, Taihape, Hunterville and Waitotara taking part this year. Why not give it a go? The city clubs’ representatives are no better than you are! o o o The Raetihi Club has a challenge in for the Keesing Cup, and it is likely that they will play Wanganui for the trophy this week.

The Rapanui Club will pay its annual visit to the Hawera Park Club during the coming week-end. Eight rinks will make the trip. o o o “Rooster” Pairs.

A novel competition has been introduced at the Wanganui East Club. A member offered a pair of roosters as a trophy - for a pairs competition, and called for entries on the board. A keen response followed, with the result that 22 pairs ard taking part, one round being played each week.

Standardised Kitties. During the Taranaki open tournament much unfavourable comment was passed on the state of the kitties used, many leads finding it imposible to deliver them truly on account of their bad shape. This state of affairs is not confined to Taranaki, for throughout their tour of New Zealand the English tourists, Messrs. K. and C. P. Cross, found that the kitties were of all sizes and of bad shape. Mr. C. R. Cross went so far as to suggest that the New Zealand Council should take the matter in hand. He was of opinion that the controlling body should standardise the kitties and import and issue to clubs throughout New Zealand a kitty that would pass a test and conform to the laws of the game. "If,” he said, “it is essential that a bowl must pass a certain standard it is more important that a ball that largely controls one of the most important leatures of the game—length—should also pass . a regulation standard."

A Test of Endurance. One-day tournaments as bowlers know them in Wanganui are run on | different lines in South Otago, and the tourney held there recently was a real marathon event and a test of physical fitness and endurance. A large entry necessitated the use of four greens and play commenced at 8 o’clock in the morning. Seven games were played and the final bowl of the tournament was played a quarter ot an hour before midnight of the same day—l 7 hours of continual bowling or the equivalent of a three-day tournament. The winning rink won all seven games.

Generalship. A skip who is up to his work must, from his first head, study not only who is doing well on his own side, but also his opponent's, writes "Ritebias.” He may find the opposing lead is only a one-handed player. In such a case it is often a good plan to put your lead on the same hand, a short bowl blocks the opponent, or one a bit over may frighten him and make him play short. If you tumble across a driving team, give them plenty of scope, particularly in the early part of the game, encourage their driving, give them plenty to hit and leave the way open. Later on, when they are compelled to draw to save a big score they fail and usually continue to fail. The moral to be drawn from this is, particularly on a keen green, try and get the drawing weight of the green as early in the game as possible.

o o o Strategy Wanted. Should you meet a skip who is playing you at your own game, find out which hand he is doing best on and force him on to the other. If he is drawing well endeavour to make him play fast ones. There Is a deal more strategy in the game than is apparent to tha. unobservant player. It is hardly necessary to again repeat that when you are playing well at a certain length of head keep it. It may take the best part of the game to find out your opposition's weak length, but when you do you have gone a long way towards a win—that is supposing your lead can give you the length required.

The Wanganui East. Club will pay a visit to the Marton Club during the week-end. This year the suburban club is making a feature of interclub visits, and there is no doubt that they are the best games of all.

Cosmopolitan Bowling Club. The Cosmopolitan Bowling Club has decided to turn their miniature green into a full-size one, with the object of affiliating with the Wanganui Centre and taking part in its competitions. A start has been made by purchasing a section adjoining the old green. This has been cleared and excavated. The club would be well advised not to leave the sowing down of a new green too late, for an early strike of grass would make for them a tip-top green next season. ST. JOHN’S CLUB NOTES. Winter Bowling. At a special general meeting of the St. John's Club it was decided to play winter bowls on the B green. The membership fee was fixed at £1 loi full membership and this privilege is open to members of all clubs affiliated with the Centre. Casual players will pay Is per game. Preference to full members will be

given where necessary in any tournaments that are played. Winter bowling is very popular it some other centres and it will be interesting to see how it will fare in Wanganui. 000 Full Rinks Competition. The full link g..mes which were played on Saturday will probably be the last round. The match committee wilt decide this point during the week. A summary of the wins and losses of all participants is posted on the office wall and will, no doubt, be of interest. The position in other competitions may be seen from the last round draw posted inside the pavilion. Visits will be made to Marton and

Waitotara on Saturday. Probably two of our greens will lie used by the returned soldiers foi their annual tournament and the club executive wish to give the "diggers free use of the greens on Saturday. Any members wishing to play practice games will, of course, be catered for as usual. A challenge from Hunterville Cluo provided an interesting game on St. John's last week. The visitors ran away at the start, leading 9-2, but the holders then struck form and retained the trophy. JOTTINGS FROM GONVILLE. Senior Singles.—The final for the singles will be between J. Healey (2 lives) and A. North (1 life). This pair were the last two in last year, North having 2 lives. Healey eventually won. Senior Pairs.—The semi-final will be between Thurston and J. Healey v. Cowan and Neas. The winners will meet Russell and Naumann in the final. Junior Pairs (semi-final).—Hoar and Smith v. Chisholm and Davy. The winner is to meet Stark and Puddle (2 lives) in the final. Junior Singles.—Those left in are: Puddle (2 lives), Piper (2 Jives), Berryman (1 life) and Guthrie (1 life). Gordon Pairs. —Those still in the competition are: Hampton and J. Healey (2 lives), Thurston and Naumann (1 life), and the winner of the game between Tinney and North v. Fisher and Mailman, and Edwards and Russell v. Piper and Svenson. Those left in the Handicap Singles are: Corby, J. Healey, North, Hampton, Beard, Grant, Piper, Burrell, and the winners of Mailman v. Bell, James v. Carline, Svenson v. Kirk.

HURN CUP CHALLENGE

ST. JOHN’S RETAIN TROPHY GONVILLE TEAM PLAY MELL Yesterday evening a challenge match for the Hurn Cup was played on the St. John's green. Gonville were the challengers, and although beaten by 20 to 10 by the holders (St. John's) the score does not indicate the run of the play. On numerous occasions Gonville were laying three or four when Ciinkard (the holder’s skip) asked his number 3 to clean up the end. Benefield seldom missed and the drives ended in favour of the holders. St. John’s scored steadily from the start and on the Sth end were leading 11—3. The next end saw Gonville notch a single, but they did not score again until the 13th, and the board read 15 —5 against them. They then put on a 1, 3, 1, St. John's replying with a single, and the »oore on the 17th was 16—10 in St. John’s favour. The holders scored on lhe remaining ends. Details:— W. Pepper, Hounse’l, Benefield, Ciinkard (St. John’s) 20, v. Tinney, Hampton, North, J. Healey (Gon ville) 10.