AROUND THE GREENS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

AROUND THE GREENS

BOWLING IN HAMILTON NEW MATANGI OLUB OPENS CLAUDELANDS REGAIN SHIELDS (By “Skip' 1 ) As successful as ever, the annual Rotorua rink tournament proved a very enjoyable tournament in every way. Waikato teams did well in the tourney. Michell’s Whiliora rink having only two section losses and surviving to the semi-final stages-. Stewart’s Matamata rink was another Waikato team to give a very good account of itself, its best performance being its victory over the strong Carlton rink in the post-section play. New Club Opens

There was a large and representative attendance of bowlers at the official opening of the new Matangi Club last Saturday. Rinks from the Hamilton. Hamilton Hast. Cambridge. Claudelands, Frankton and Uhaupo clubs were present, an enjoyable afternoon's bowling being experienced. A welcome to the many visitors was extended by the patron, Mr H. Robinson. The situation of the club is ideal, the property being handed over to the bowling club by the three trustees of the Matangi recreation ground. The new body has an up-to-date pavilion and all the facilities to make it a very successful club. In Great Order The Cambridge Bowling Club’s greens are in great order at the present time. They are well clothed as a result of plenty of moisture, and the caretaker has them running very true. They should be in great “nick’’ for the Easter fixture. Shield Team Beaten After withstanding a challenge from Huntly, the Cambridge holders of the Waikato Rinks Shield were badly beaten on Saturday by a Claudelands rink (Henry, Thorpe. Webber and Shirley). The holders never got going as a team and never looked to have a chance. The challengers all played splendid bowls, Thorpe and Shirley displaying deadly accuracv.

Popular as Ever Evidence of the maintenance of the popularity of the Cambridge Bowling Club's Easter rinks tournament lies in the fact that the required 54 rinks have been in hand for over a week and already eight entries have been reluctantly declined. Quite a number of the teams have a standing entry from year to year. Claudelands Club’s Success The Claudelands Club is enjoying a unique record this season as far as the Waikato Challenge Shields are concerned. They commenced the season in possession of both shields, but after withstanding several challenges lost them after hard-fought challenge matches. The shields then change! hands several times and the Cambridge and Te Awamutu clubs were among the holders, but now Claudelands have gained possession of them again. Last Saturday their team had an easy victory over the Cambridge Club in a match for the Rinks Shield, while their pairs team, A. W. Webber and J. W. Shirley, beat McCabe and W. Hebditch, of the Railway Club, by 24 points to 19. Taranaki Tour Shortly The tour of Taranaki by representatives of the South Auckland Centre will commence at the end of this month, players leaving either on February 25 or February 26. A total of 73 bowlers will be‘going, and many of them will be accompanied by their wives, the full strength of the party being 101. The following players have signified their intention of participating in the tour:— Messrs L. Austin, Burchell, J. Cooney, C. Wallace, W. Smith, J. Buchan, A. H. Margison, Goodison, Noonan, Maxwell, S. Lewis, Brockett, Redpath, J. Seath, J. Birkett, W. Crabb, A. Adams, J. Kirk, W. Egan, Sutherland, McKay, W. T. Dale, A. Forrest, L. Bailey, W. M. Main gay, T. Rowe, G. Cowley, Matuschka.

Messrs R. Parr, Gilliand, H. 11. Leak, Pearch, Wells, E. A. Butt, W. Chegwidden, 11. Franklin, Qualtrough, Paterson, S. J. Webb, Copper, W. Wright, F. Wright, J. Simpson, D. Gunn, Symes, J. Anchor. F. Bliss, G. Hedge, E. C. Old, J. Orr, Nobes, Barnett, Ross. Harvey, R. Henderson, J. T. North Gifford, Empson, Jourdain, Olsen Ayres, Brill, Collison, Rosenfeldt, Everitt, V. Sharp, J. Maber, H. Herbert, T. Turney, H. Palmer, E. McDonald. C. T. Fearn, H. S. Murray.

Advice to Beginners One of the earliest pieces of advice to be tendered to the would-be bowler (states an English authority) is “Be Up.” Weak play to the jack is the besetting sin of every beginner, almost without exception. Happily this ! failing, although serious, lends itself to easy remedy. it arises almost inevitably fro-m ignorance of the precise amount of force required to send the bowl from the mat toward the other end of the green. Nevertheless, the defect must be cured without delay, for it is one of the worst faults a bowler can commit, since the blocking of the draw in the jack, either on the fore or back hand, not only spoils his own game, but that of his fellows: while in a match it is heart-breaking ! to the skip. Bowlers will be well advised to splay, strongly to the jack, for if the bowl should run beyond the mark. at. all-events it ran do no harm there, being otif of everybody's road, and may even become useful. 'Moreover, in actual experience it is found easier to moderate the force of strong play than to work up from feebleness to the proper length. A bowl is better in the ditch than too short, for a short bowl catches the eye of the later -bowlers, until the end is played out. besides being an obstacle to the player’s side. Full length and full \ bias are priceless in bowling.