Internationals

The idea of Internationals between the Home Counties really began in July 1901, when Dr. W.G. Grace, the great English Cricketer, welcomed a couple of rinks of Scottish bowlers to the Crystal Palace greens of the London Bowling Club. The Scots comprised players from Lutton Place, Edinburgh: Whitevale, Glasgow: and the Ayr and Kilmarnock Clubs. The English players made a return visit to Scotland in 1902, when games were played at Lutton Place, Whitevale and Ayr. In 1901, when Dr Grace formed the London Bowling Club, he was given permission to affiliate to the S.B.A.

Following these games, Dr Grace suggested International games being instituted between the four home nations, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. All four countries were in complete agreement and by 1st April 1903, arrangements had been completed for the first Internationals to be held on 13th, 14th, and 15th July 1903, on the Crystal Palace and Wandsworth Greens, London, and most important, the matches to be played under the Rules of the Scottish Bowling Association.

The first International Committee consisted of Dr. W.G. Grace, England; Andrew H. Hamilton, Scotland; John C. Hunter, Ireland; and W.A. Morgan, Wales.

In the first Internationals the results were as follows:

Although England tied with Scotland on points, they had a larger majority of shots, and thus ran out the first winner of the first Internationals. The tied game was between Scotland and the 'Auld Enemy', 'peels' at 16. Dr Grace skipped against Scotland's Andrew Hamilton.

The Scottish team players at the first Internationals in 1903, were in order of play:-

Founders of International Bowling Matches

W. A. Morgan, Wales; Dr W.G. Grace, England; J.C. Hunter, Ireland; A.H. Hamilton, Scotland.