BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2475, 14 April 1909, Page 2

BOWLING.

(By “Toucher.”)

Steady progress has been made with the match games of the Turanganui Club during the past week, the fine weather on Good Friday especially allowing of several matches being got off. It is to bo regretted, however, that .the weather of Easter Monday was so unpropitious as to entirely prevent play on the Turanganui green. The first round of the Handicap Singles has been completed, and the semi-final of the Colts’ Singles got off, but no progress has been made with the Bennett Cup matches. In the semi-final of the Colts’ Singles, D. Thelwall mot J. Somervell. In this competition Somervell had to concede his opponent 8 points. The general opinion was that Somervell would win, but such did not eventuate. The old hero of the rifle range and the cricketing field nailed his colors to the staff and refused to lower them to the attach from one of Rugby’s followers. Somervell attacked strongly throughout, and nearly overcame Thelwall, but the old veteran stood his ground, and victory finally rested with him. Great interest is now being taken in the meeting of Thelwall and Skillicorn in the final, for it will be unique to see two gentlemen battling for the honor of “colt champion” over whose youthful heads the summers of forty years have long passed. In the Handicap Singles of the Turanganui Club A. Sawyer had a runaway victory over J. Colley. The latter was never in the hunt, he being decidedly off. A good game was that between W. Bruce and J. Somervell, eight throughout the game -there was nothing between them, and on the last head the handicapping worked out successfully, for it brought about a tie. In the play-off Somervell scored, and got the game. Somervell played a good game, and a successful drive of his whereby he knocked out his opponent’s three practically gave him the game. Bruce played splendidly, but fortune did not smile on him.

I am pleased to hear that Mr. 0. Fogden, the caretaker of the Turanganui bowling green, has received the appointment of bailiff tor the Gisborne district. I offer him my congratulations. His old position on the Turanganui green is at present being filled bv Mr. W. Curtis. * Says “Wrong Bias” in the .tree Lance: The liberation of the age-limit veterans from Civil Service routine lias notably strengthened the afternoon brigade on the Wellington greens. In fact, the afternoon brigade are hawing most of the fun just now, for the clays are getting too short to give the “night shift” a chance. Some of them are going back to neglected gardens, and others are improving their knowledge of “brftlge'” work. The following hints from “Boomerang,” in Melbourne “Punch,” are worth attention. They will fit a good many people:—“ln spite of all that has been said and written about the duties of players in various positions, it would seem as though the old ideas still prevail, viz., that there are three third men and four skippers in every rink. When the players change ends we see the leader meet the skip halfway up the green and suggest something; then the third man, as soon as he gets to the jack end, deems it his duty to ‘sit’ over the end and tell the other man what he has to do, and very often what lie must do. The other two listen, and either agree entirely, or attempt to gag the third man. The leader will screw up his face, and by gestures at the back of the end—where the third man can’t see him—tell the skipper ‘not to do anything of the kind,’ or, if he is a man of advanced ideas himself, lie will shout: ‘We’ve everything behind!’ or something else. Nothing looks better, and nothing works better, than to see captain and third man consult when they cross, quietly, and without fuss. Nothing looks worse, however, than to see a third man, after playing his own two bowls, go to the other end and immediately take possession, and, as is aciy often the case, insist that such-and-such a shot be played. A rink should be worked as noiselessly and with as little demonstration . as possible, from the leader’s first bowl up to the last from the skip. It is a common mistake '.Tisde h v thirds to suppose that after the skip has made a stroke and not altered anything, that they are at liberty to cay something like tins: ‘Look here,; Jack, come round here; you can do' this!’ or ‘I wouldn’t play that way if I were you !’ etc., etc. the day is surely not far distant when a rink will be worked entirely by signs. The minds of Sydney bowlers are just now .very much exercised regarding certain apparatus and machinery that have been exhibited, and others yet to be shown, designed for the purpose of sifting the fraudulent from the genuine article among bowls. Already two pieces of mechanism and one apparatus have been paraded before the. ciitical eye of the New South Wales Association’s bowl-test committee, and an improved table method has engaged their attention; but as there are more to come —in a couple of instances from, as far off .as England and America—we must not look for any authoritative pronouncement inside three or four months at least. The testing arrangement that has so far found most favor with bowlers is an inclined plane of two parallel rails, 1 3-16 of an inch, apart, spirit-level true, and so shaped at one end that the wood takes the grass without jolting. There is nothing to alter the course of : the bowl, which, ‘ill a word, is delivered with, as near as has been found possible, natural action. The bowl is placed at the top of the. rails, the latter being kept in position by uprights, and there is adjusted behind a trigger. Satisfied that the bowl is fixed accurately, the operator pulls, the trigger and releases the wood, which rolls down the . plane, and sets it upon its course as if sent by the hand. The length of the plane is 18ft, it stands sft high, and is adjustable to the fraction of an inch. The inventor is Mr. Gb Warren, of the Mosman Club, Sydney. Dropping in promiscuously upon Mr. White house at his office on Wednesday last. (says “Toucher” in the current Sydney “Arrow”) I was shown a couple of letters, received from the Old Country by that gentleman, and the New South Wales Association’s president, Mr.-Maclood. Famous “W.G.’ (Dr. Grace), the grand old man of the world’s cricket, and present ardent bowler, wrote regarding England’s bowling' team for Australia and New Zealand, and mentioned many obstacles that had to be overcome, several of which arc .not . unknown here. Ihe man who has the time at his disposal if. not usually the man who can put Ins woods down best, etc., etc. However y -.iwv-o was-much in the communication the Mief that a repro-

and very soon be seen on Australasian greens. Dr. Grace drifted to cricket before affixing his signature, and said the presence of new blood in the Australian team for England had caused a feeling of pleasure throughout tho land. Another letter was from Mr. J; F. Fashom, a well-known writer on the London “Daily Telegraph,” who, after referring to matters of more or less importance, mentioned that tho AngloColonial Bowling Club in London was now an accomplished fact—a going concern —and spoke glowingly of what the institution was going to do for bowls the world over: Headquarters are at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, E.C., where Australasian howlers will always be welcome, especially those who have" already decided upon making a trip Bfitainwards, or may do so in the near future. A big world’s .tournament on the Crystal Palace rinks and .a side match—Motherland versus Australia—are conteni plated.