CROQUET TOURNEY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 7

CROQUET TOURNEY

OPEN AND DOUBLES WELL ADVANCED

LADY CHAMPION BEATEN

Play in the South Island croquet championship was continued yesterday in nne weather. The green Is now very fast. The open tournament and the championship doubles are now well advanced and should be concluded to-day. It is unlikely, however, that the ladies' championship wiil be decided until Monday. The most interesting game in the open championship yesterday was that between A G. F. Ross and Mrs J. Palmer. In the early stages both players had difficulty in keeping control owing to the speed of tha lawn, Mrs Palmer made 19 points before Ross established a break which carried him to four back with black. Mrs Palmer refused to shoot and retired to No. 2 corner but Ross proceeded to attempt a triple peel. He succeeded in making the last three hoops for his partner ball, but failed to peg out. The peel through the rover hoop was made by cannoning another ball against the ball to be peeled, and this was followed by jumping through the hoop with his own ball. Ross pegged out one ball; Mrs Palmer hit in and laid up for the next turn, but Ross hit the peg from very near the boundary. The score in this game was 26-19. In their second geme play was more evenly distributed, but Ross won again 26-17. Another interesting game was fought out between Mrs W. Corbet, of Gore, who is the present South Island lady champion, and Mrs Hadfield, of United. Both players were in form and the croquet was of first-class standard. Early in the game Mrs Corbet made two breaks and established a commanding lead, and it looked as though the result was beyond doubt, but Mrs Hadfield struck form and, playing brilliantly, made up the leeway with good breaks. The game ended 26-24 in favour of Mrs Hadfield. The result was a set-back for the champion, but she has another life yet. Mrs Watkins, of Auckland, is doing well. She beat Mrs Finch, of Hastings, 26-13. To-day's Play Play will commence at 9 o'clock this morning. In the open championship Mrs Corbet plays Mrs E. A. Smith, A. G. F. Ross plays R. McCreath, and Mrs Halliday plays Mrs Hadfield. In the ladies' championship Mrs Watkins plays Mrs Lowery, and Mrs Finch plays Mrs Palmer. Detailed scores were as follows: Championship Doubles Mrs W. Corbet and R. McCreath 26 beat Mcsdames Wilson and McCreath 10. Mrs Watkins and H. Stratton 26 beat Mrs Smith and A. Murray 12. Semi-final: Mrs Corbet rnd R. McCreath 26 beat Mrs Palmer and H. A. Penn 12; Mrs Watkins and Stratton 26 beat Mrs Lowery and F. Blunt 17. Open Championship G. Hart beat Mrs W. Lowery 19-26, 26-10, 26-17; A. G. Ross beat Mrs J. Palmer 2619, 26-17. Ladies' Championship First Life Mrs W. McLennan 26 beat Miss F. Collinson 2; Mis W. Lowery 26 beat Mrs S. Irwin 12; Mrs Corbet 26 beat Mrs Wilson 8; Mrs McLennan 26 beat Mrs Kellaway 9; Mrs Hadfield 26 beat Mrs Corbet 24; Mrs H Halliday 26 beat Miss E. Morgan 7; Mrs J. Palmer 26 beat Mis A. Murray 4. Second Life Miss A. Bell 26 beat Mrs W. Lowery 14; Mrs Halliday 26 beat Miss E. Morgan 20; Mrs E. A. Smith 26 beat Mrs G. Meikle 6; Mrs Palmer 26 heat Mrs R. McCreath 12; Mrs R. Hamilton 26 beat Miss R. Gerard 22; Mrs C Watkins 26 beat Mrs W. McLennan 12: Mrs T. Finch 26 beat Mrs J. Wilson 15; Mrs Watkins 26 beat Mrs Hamilton 2; Mrs Corbet 26 beat Mrs S. Irwin 13. Semi-finals: Miss U. Perrin 26 beat Miss Bell 15; Mrs Watkins 26 beat Mrs Finch 13.

NORTH ISLAND TOURNEY

PLAY HELD UP BY RAIN

(rnr.ss association telegram.) WELLINGTON, January 15. The North Island croquet tournament was continued in fine weather to-day until rain caused a postponement in the late afternoon. Results:— WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP First Life—Mrs Burrctt (Auckland) beat Miss Washer (Patea), 26-2; Mrs Gambrill (Palmcrston North) beat Mrs Burrett. 26-20. Second Life—Mrs Anstis (Palmcrston North) beat Miss Washer, 26-18. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Mrs Gambrill v. Mrs Anstis, 26-4* 6-26 (unfinished).

LEESTON BEATS HORNBY

In a junior B flag match between Leeston and Hornby, played at Leeston, the home team won by 6 games to 3.