AROUND THE GREENS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

AROUND THE GREENS

BOWLING IN HAMILTON HARDLEY SHIELD SUCCESS HAMILTON EAST’S TOURNEY (By “ Skip.”) Club secretaries are reminded that names of players for the Jacob Wright singles competition must be forwarded to the secretary by the end of this month. The co-operation of the different clubs is asked in order that arrangements may be expedited. Hamilton East Tourney. The week-end tournament for the new’ McKinnon trophy, staged by the Hamilton East Club, proved a very successful fixture. Altogether 50 players took part and the tournament was keenly contested throughout. The winners were Whitehead, Boardman, Davies and Fox, and they will be the first holders of the trophy. Included in the East Club’s programme is a one-day open tournament scheduled for March 18. Rinks Shield Won Again. The Claudelands Club staved off a challenge from Railway last Satur-

day for the Waikato Challenge Rinks Shield, which they had taken from the Cambridge Club the week previous. The Frankton Club were the winners of the shield last season, but Claudelands were the holders at the end of the ordinary draw. At the beginning of the season Claudelands were successful in several challenge matches for the shield, but, since they lost it, the shield has done the round of several clubs. South Auckland’s Success. If any indication were needed of the high standard of bowling in the South Auckland area, it was provided by the South Auckland Bowling Centre’s success against the Auckland Centre in the annual match for the Hardley Shield. It was not as if the South Auckland Centre had scraped home by a few points, for their win was a very convincing one, the home representatives winning the match by 14 games, 424 points, to 6 games, 352 points. Home Team Now Ahead. The Auckland Centre's team was by no means a weak one, for some of the leading players of Auckland were included in it. South Auckland have r.ovv won the shield six times against Auckland’s five successes, a very creditable performance indeed. The South Auckland Centre had an equally decisive win when they defeated the Auckland Centre last year, the match last season being played at Auckland. For Good Fellowship. The game of bowls is so popular because of the manner in which it promotes good fellowship. When Mr W. M. Maingay, of To Aroha, president of the South Auckland Centre, was welcoming the Auckland visitors at the Hamilton Club's greens on Saturday, he reminded his listeners that

the Hardley Shield had been presented solely for the promotion of good fellowship between Auckland and South Auckland bowlers. It was not to ba an emblem of keen rivalry. For thia reason, said Mr Maingay, it was gratifying to see how the coveted shield had changed hands so frequently. 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 comp. lied 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 th< green as early in the game as postibie. 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 the unobservant player. It is hardly necessary to again repeat that when you are playing w’ell 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 lead can give you ihe length required.