Croquet Honours To England In Test Match At Napier

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 5

Croquet Honours To England In Test Match At Napier

/Now ZvalanS Pr«M Associationf

NAPEER, Jan. 31

A return to form by E. P. C. Cotter and wdi-oootraUed tatting by W. Omecod won Enctimd two doubles matchin the Macßobertoon internetionei shield croquet nt Napier today. . Getter hit form for the first time in New Zealand. He and his partner, K. J. W. Solomons, beat Mrs B. Jarden and A. G. F. Ross, 2326, 26-6, 26-18.

New Zealand won the first game when Boes pegged Cotter out, but in the second game the New Zealand players barely got a chance to score. Both the English players made all-round breaks, but Cotter stood out with the best play seen from him so far.

The third game could have gone to New Zealand with both the New Zealand players hitting in well, but when Ross missed his shot England took the advantage to win, 26-18.

A masterly performance of controlled power by Ormerod and W. R. D. Wiggins won them their •natch in two rubbers in the other doubles match to be completed. They came through easy 26-14, 26-19 winners over H. C. Ford and A. Stephens. New Zealand was very shaky in the first game and crumbled before Ormerod’s attack. Even when Wiggins played poorly in the second game the New Zealand pair were

unable to play well enough to win.

a* —membra mV Ourer f—lTWs wciicn was undnished, J. Mice, aged 16, gave a display of immaculate croquet to leave the score at one rubtar each when play finished. He nuned hie partner, U Middlemass, along for much of the time and they tell onlj two points behind B. LloydPratt and D. Curtis to lose the first game. Prince made a ted slip in the second game when the English pair were i serious trouble and he put his own ball out. Uoyd - Pratt promptly made a beautiful rush to score four points, but Middlemiss saved the day with a deciding hit that travelled almost completely across the green to give New Zeeland the second match 26-22.