Marking is generally only needed when a singles game is being played, simply because both players are at the same end of the rink virtually throughout the game. In all other variations of bowling there is always somebody standing near the head who can perform the necessary duties. Without a non-playing marker to call upon, singles players would find their game taking far longer.
Setting the Jack
The first duty of the marker is to set the jack at the start of every end of play. This means ensuring that the jack is of a legal length (i.e. neither too short nor too long) and on a line between the rink markers at either end. The player who has sent the jack down will ask the marker to move the jack sideways until it is in exactly the right position.
Touchers and Ditchers
The marker must look carefully at every bowl as it is sent, particularly as regards whether a bowl touches the jack in the course of its travel. If so, it must be marked with chalk (either directly or with a “puffer”) so that, should the bowl end up in the ditch, it will still be regarded as a “live wood”.
Likewise, any bowls that go into the ditch, and are not live, must be removed and placed on the bank. Should a bowler send a firing shot, the marker must be on hand to prevent the bowl from disturbing any live woods, or the jack, that are already in the ditch.
It is possible for a bowl to bounce back on to the green and hit other bowls. Any bowl that does this is “dead”, so it cannot stay on the green and any disturbed bowls must be replaced in their original positions. If the firing bowl has caused a chain reaction as it hit others with force and caused them to hit other bowls, and if it may or may not have touched the jack – perhaps it was one of the hit bowls that did so – the marker may have a busy time sorting things out!
Informing the Players
The marker must be completely neutral, which means not giving information to one player but not the other. This information should only be given when it is asked for, and it will take the form of stating which bowl is holding shot, how far certain bowls are from the jack, and so on. The marker should not volunteer information such as “watch out for this bowl, it’s against you”, or “you haven’t got a back wood”. That is the sort of advice that a skip would offer, but it is inappropriate for a marker.
As with all bowls games, measuring is not allowed until all the bowls have been sent. The marker must therefore rely on his/her eyesight to state which bowls are nearest to the jack, etc. If there is a doubt, he/she must say so, using phrases such as “you’re holding two and a measure”, which means that the marker is certain about the first two but not about the third.
Measuring
Measuring is entrusted to the marker when one is employed. Generally, at the conclusion of an end, the marker will declare which player has won the end and by how many shots, but should wait until the players have walked up and seen the head for themselves before recording the score. Either player is free to request that a measure be made should he/she be uncertain or wish to dispute the marker’s decision. The marker will use his/her tape to do the measuring and his/her decision will apply.
Recording the Score
As mentioned above, this is another duty of the marker. The marker looks after scorecard and keeps the score throughout the match. He/she will also update the scoreboard so that both players and any spectators will know how things stand at all times. It is usual for the scoreboard to be updated after every other end, when the marker has set the jack and the first bowl is about to be sent. It will be agreed at the start of the match which player’s score is at the top of the scoreboard and which at the bottom, although a regular practice is for the player who scores first to be the “top” bowler.
Should either player query the score, they have the right to see the scorecard at any time.
So, the marker has a busy time during the course of a singles match. Their reward, apart from being bought a drink by the winner, is having the best view of anyone throughout the game!
John Welford - I was a full-time professional librarian for more than 25 years before redundancy made me take a fresh direction. I now work as a ...
