Defensive Play In S.I. Croquet Championships

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30337, 13 January 1964, Page 8

Defensive Play In S.I. Croquet Championships

Play in the final of the first life of the South Island championship croquet double on Saturday was of the careful defensive kind. Gone entirely were the beautiful breaks played by Rowling and Mrs Jarden on the previous day. Mrs Jarden eventually reached the penultimate hoop, but Rowling lagged behind on the third hoop for a long time. Meanwhile, their opponents’. Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Saalfeld and Mrs W. L. Martin, had made little progress either, until Saalfield assembled a rather wide break, and made from the third to 4-back. Mrs Martin, after two or three attempts, made the sixth hoop where she had been for some time, and carried her clip to the peg. Rowling hit in a long shot, but failed to establish his usual break. Saalfeld got in, made his remaining two hoops, and pegged out to win the first life. In the quarter-final of the second life of the women’s chamBiip, Mrs Jarden made a of 11 with her blue ball. Some in and out play followed, during which Mrs Restall made three points. Mrs Jarden then got in, and playing in her usual fine style, made the remaining points for her black ball. She completed a good single peel at rover with blue, thus enabling her to peg out without giving Mrs Restall another shot. Mrs L. Buchanan and Mrs A. Barrow had a three-game tussle in the quarter-final of the open championship. Mrs Buchanan won the first game, and had the second “in the bag.” having both balls for the peg. Mrs Buchanan failed to put the forward ball on the peg, and elected to peg the other one out.

Mrs Barrow made a hoop at a time. Mi's Buchanan falling to hit in. In the third game, Mrs Buchanan again obtained the lead, until Mrs Barrow got the innings. and playing very steadily, kept Mrs Buchanan out by giving her a parcel of long shots. Mrs Buchanan finally hit in, and. making her rover hoop pegged Mrs Barrow’s rover ball out. Mrs Barrow hit in a splendid long shot, obtained a rush, and made penultimate, then played a fine take-off hoping to obtain a rush to rover, but fell short. Mrs Buchanan joined her partner’s ball, and Mrs Barrow missing the long roquet, made her rover hoop and pegged out to win a marathon rubber. J. McNab, playing his first season in A grade croquet, played very well to make 22 points against the champion player F. w. Gumsey. McNab still has two lives in the level singles an event for players of three bisques and over. Results:— Open Championship.—Quarterfinal best of three games: Mrs E. Todd beat L. J. Mitchell, 26-22, 26-10; Mrs L. Buchanan beat Mrs A. Barrow. 26-21, 25-26 26-24. Women’s Championship.—First life, quarter-final: Mrs B. A. Jarden 26. Mrs W. L. Martin 7. Second Life, quarter-final: Mrs B. A. Jarden (Lower Hutt) 26, Mrs L. Restall (Oamaru) 3. Championship Doubles.—First life, final: Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Saalfeld (N.S.W.) and Mrs W. L. Martin 26. Mrs B. A. Jarden (Lower Hutt) and G. Rowling (Nelson) 15. Men's Championship.—First life, quarter-final: F. W. Gurnsey 26, B. Rowling 11. Semifinal: H. R. Abbott 26, J. McNab 17. Second life, quarterfinal: F. W. Gurnsey 26, J. McNab 22. Handicap Singles. Second Round: Mrs C. Bishop (Ashburton) (2J) 26, E. Hoare (4) 24; Mrs W. Salton (Oamaru) (11) 26 Mrs L. Buchanan (scr.) 9: Mrs L. Peters (4) 26. Mrs A. McCree (3) 13; H. R. Abbott (!) 26, Mrs J. McCracken (scr.) 14. Third Round: Mrs W. Salton 26, Mrs D. F. Kilworth (Methven) (4J) 7; T. A. Searell (1) won by default from O. Anderson (minus 2); H. Rogers (3) won by default from J. McNab (31); H. R. Abbott (J) 26, Mrs C. Bishop (Ashburton) 17;