CROQUET

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 19

CROQUET

N.Z. TITLES AT INVERCARGILL A. G. F. ROSS PLAYS WELL (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 23. The fourth day’s play in the New Zealand croquet championships was held in milder weather at Invercargill today. A. G. F. Ross, of Hastings, made the first triple peel of the tournament in his match against J. Hewitson (Christchurch) for the men's championship. In the championship doubles, perfect breaks were made by Mrs Purdy (Auckland) and Mrs Middlemiss (Pukekohe) to beat W. H. Kirk and Mrs Kirk (Christchurch) in the quarter-finals of the second life. With the doubles now approaching the final stages, the only pair still with two lives are Mrs Purdy and Mrs Middlemiss. They have played consistently and are now in the semi-finals of both lives. Results:— Open Championship Second Round.—S. V. Leitch. (Wellington) beat H. Darby (Timaru), 26-19, 16-26, 26-23. Championship Doubles First Life.—Third round: Mrs B. Harden and Miss M. Claughton (Wellington) beat J. Kitson and E. J. Barron (Invercargill), 26-14; Mrs H. O’Connell (Gisborne) and G. Rowling (Nelson) beat Miss I. Wainwright (Hamilton) and L. H. Buchanan (Hastings), 26-9. Second Life.—Second round: J. Kitson and E. J. Barron (Invercargill) beat Mrs H. O’Connell (Gisborne) and G. Rowling (Nelson), 26-22. Second Life. —Third round: Mesdames H. Purdy (Auckland) and L. Middlemiss (Pukekohe) beat W. H. Kirk and Mrs Kirk (Christchurch),. 26-8; Miss I. Wainwright (Hamilton) and L. H. Buchanan (Hastings) beat Mesdames G. Metcalfe (Dunedin) and T. Hill (Wellington), 26-17; F. C. Bryan and Mrs W. Worsfold (Wellington) beat Mesdames J. McCracken and J. Stockdale (Christchurch), 26-11. Women’s Championship First Round.—Mrs G. Metcalfe (Dunedin) beat Mrs T. Duckworth (Palmerston North), 26-10, 26-16; Mrs O. Paykel (Auckland) beat Mrs W. Croad (Invercargill), 26-19, 26-3; Mrs C. T. Wadsworth (Auckland) beat Mrs A. McKenzie (Invercargill), 26-18, 26-1. Second Round.—Mrs A. Bonar (Christchurch) beat Mrs E. Munro (Auckland). 26-15, 26-21; Mrs J. Feilding (Paeroa) beat Mrs D. O’Neill (Gore), 26-19, 19-26, 26-24. Men’s Championship First Round.—H. C. Ford (Wellington) beat E. Managh (Wellington). 26-1, 26-21. Second Round.—A. G. F. Ross (Hastings) beat J. Hewitson (Christchurch). 26-2. 26-11. Level Singles First Life.—First round: Mrs J. J. Smyth (Auckland) beat Mrs O. Paykel (Auckland), 26-11; Mrs J. Feilding (Paeroa) beat H. Morgan (Christchurch), 26-22. First Life.—Second round: Miss B. Ibbotson (Hamilton) beat Mrs D. Hamilton (Timaru), 26-23; Mrs B. Reynolds (Christchurch) beat Mrs W. Kelman (Invercargill). 26-4; Mrs M. W’ilson (Invercargill) beat Mrs D. O’Neill (Gore). 26-15; Mrs R. Morrison (Invercargill) beat Mrs F. Pearce (Bluff). 26-10; L. Middlemiss (Pukekohe) beat Mrs A. Begley (Invercargill). 26-10. Second Life.—First round: Mrs J. Ritchie (Gore) beat Mrs L. Newman (Invercargill), 26-20. Second Life.—Second round: J. Hewitson (Christchurch) beat Miss B. Ibbotson (Hamilton), 26-13. Handicap Singles First Round.—Mrs F. Blach (Invercargill), scr, beat A. G. F. Ross (Hastings), —4 26-25; C. F. Wadsworth (Auckland), —l, beat Mrs D. Hamilton (Timaru), 2, 26-6: Mrs J. Mehaffey (Invercargill), 2, beat R. Campbell (Christchurch), 2. 26-25; Miss M. Thomson (Winton). 2. beat Mrs H. Purdy (Auckland). —J, 26-10; Mrs B. Reynolds (Christchurch) —J, beat Mrs A. Gain (Dunedin). 2J. 26-5; Mrs F. Duckworth (Palmerston North) —l. beat Mrs D. McKenzie (Invercargill), 2, 26-8.