CROQUET

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 101, 24 January 1927, Page 13

CROQUET

.. DOMINION TOURNEY - CONTINUED IN FINE WEATHER Dominion Special. Palmerston North, January 22. ’ The New Zealand Croquet Championship tournament was continued to-day, when players were again favoured with fine weather. The only sections so far opened up are the two divisions of the Dominion handicap singles and the handicap doubles, .play in these events onlv being continued to-day. It is expected that the championship events ;will be entered upon on Monday. . Results are as follow DOMINION HANDICAP SINGLES. A. Section. First round: Mrs. E. A. Johnson '(Christchurch), 1, defeated Mrs. Hodgkinson (Hamilton), 34, 26—4; Mrs.. Lowerv (Wellington), 2|, defeated Mrs. Brightiing (Wellington), 3, 26—21; E. Homer (Patea). 31, defeated Mrs. Stone (Wellington), 2, 26—2; Miss Blake (Napier), 4|, defeated A. E. Pollock (Wellington). 3, 26—19; Mrs. Glass (Dannevirke), 2J, defeated Mrs. Harris (Dannevirke) 5,26 —23; Mrs. ,W. J. Robertson (Palmerston) 44, defeated Mrs. A. Fuller (Wellington), 24, 26—14; Airs. Acheson (Nelson), 5, defeated Airs Healv (Woodville), 4|, 26—14; Mrs. Alad'dren (Christchurch), 1, defeated Airs. AlcDonald (Palmerston) . 5 26 12; Airs. A. E. Smith (Christchurch). 1, defeated Airs. . Harvey .(Napier). 3, 26—16. . Ssecond round: E. J- Ross (Christchurch), 14 defeated Airs. AlcDowell '(Wellington), 14. 26—24; Aliss Lempfert (Wellington, 2J, defeated Airs. Waters (Nelson). 34, 26—23; Airs. L. Watkin. (Wellington), 2), defeated Airs. .Caldovv (Wellington), 24, 26—16; Airs. Aladdren (Christchurch), 1, defeated Airs. Jarvie (Wanganui), 3, 26—6; Airs. Johnson (Christchurch), 1, defeated W. j. Robertson (Palmerston), 24, 26—3; Mrs. Horner (Patea), 3J, defeated Airs. Kibblewhite (Hamilton), 21|, 26 —16; Airs. Tiffen (Napier), 4, defeated Airs. Aloeller (Wellington), 3, 26—16; J. Alurray (Palmerston), scr., defeated Airs. J. Young (Palmerston), 4, 26—15; 'A, G. F. Ross (Christchurch,, niinus li, defeated Hume (Nelson), 4J, 26—22. < B Section. First round: Aliss AlcFarlane (Palmerston), 6, defeated Airs. Langford (Palmerston), 9, 26—9; Airs. Spinley (Palmerston), 51, defeated Airs. H. L. Williams (Featherston), 6, 26—16; Airs. E. O . Horner (Patea), 6J, defeated Airs. A. Mason (Shannon), 10, 26—13. Second round: Airs. Pink (Levin), 7J, defeated Mrs. Hazlett (Gore), 94, 26—24 ;■ Airs. Collinson (Palmerston), 7, defeated Airs. Nicholson (Levin), 6|, 26—9;«AIrs. Polloch (Wellington), 6, defeated Airs. Sinclair (Palmerston), 7, 26—23; Airs. Horner won from Airs. Savage by default; Airs. Rowles (Hawera), 6, defeated Airs. J. Cook (Wellington), 8, 26—17; Airs. Powell (Httuterville), 8, defeated Airs. Glennie (PaTea), GJ, 26—21; Airs. McMurray (Foxton), 54, defeated Airs. Boyne (Palmerston), 6, 26—21. HANDICAP DOUBLES. Second round : Alesdames Bartlett and Kibblewhite (Hamilton), 4-}, defeated Mesdames McKenzie and Wilkinson (Wellington). 104, 26—18; Alesdames Hodgkinson and’Moeller (Hamilton and Wellington), 64, defeated Alesdames • Bonne and Hazlett (Gore). 15-}, 26—19. Third round: Creed Meredith and Mrs. A. E. Smith (Wanganui and Christchurch), 4, defeated Hume and Airs. Gambrill (Nelson and Palmerston), 71, 015—14; Alesdames Watkins and Pitcaithlev (Hastings), IJ, defeated Chambers and Airs. Aladdren. scr., 26—19; Mesdames AlcFarlane and Healy (Palmerston arid Woodville). 10J, defeated Murray and .Airs. Collinson (Palmerston), 7, 26—19. Fourth round: Alesdames Harvev and Waters (Napier and Nelson), 64. defeated Ross and Airs. Fuller (Christchurch and Wellington), 4, 26—17. •■? NOTES ON THE PLAY In the handicap doubles Alistress Aladdren and Chambers (Christchurch) met in the second round Alesdames Watkins and Pitcaithley (Hastings). The former couple were off their long shooting game. That fact combined with the fiery nature of the lawn was with the fiery nature of the lawn players adapted themselves early _ in the game to the existing conditions ' and rarely went to the boundary, eventually proving victorious by seven points. So far Chambers has not in ■ his game showed bis true form and what he is capable of doing. , A game notable for its length was that in which Archdeacon Creed Aleredith and Airs. Smith were opposed to , Mrs. Gambrill and Colonel Hume in the handicap doubles, the players occupying tlfe lawn for five hours, atld the services of the referee being constantly requisitioned. The ladies of the uartet played better croquet than their male partners, Airs. Smith’s long shots being again I’ll evidence. This game was immediately followed by Colonel Hume meeting Arthur Ross (Dominion champion) in the handicap singles on whom he had six .bisques, some of which he used to good advantage. At the outset Ross was off his shots and Hume drew ahead, playing carefully, but could not secure the desired position at the hoops with certainty. Nevertheless, with five bisques in hand, he was. at one stage of the game eleven points ahead Ultimately he took a bisque to make the last hoop and pegged out. Ross (black and blue) made several attempts to hit in but failed. Hume advanced steadily, meanwhile, and it was only as the result of experience that he did not win bv laying too close to Ross's ball. In the endeavour to secure a rush to the penultimate hoop, Ross got the ball, and, with delicacy of touch and excellent judgment of distance, made ten (hoops, filially finishing five points ahead. Two other games worthy of comment in the handicap singles were Aliss Lempfert (Wellington) v. Mrs. Waters (Nelson), and Airs. AlcDowell (Wellington) v. E. J. Ross (Christchurch). In Aliss Lemfert's game both plavers gave a great exhibition of long shooting. First one plaver would be in the lead, then the other would ■ draw ahead. In the final stages Aliss Lempfert pegged one of Airs. Waters s balls out from a long distance but this did not deter the Nelson player from again endeavouring to make the maximum points, and it was only the fact of her baulking at the penultimate hoops finally finishing five points ■ won bv three points. The game between Airs. McDowell and E. J. Ross was watched with great interest by the spectators, these players meeting level. Ross opened with a break of eleven points, followed by Airs. McDowell’s making six with the black ball. Some fine strategy ensued for several turns, when Airs. AlcDowell, vvitn a difficult shot at the black on the wire, made a perfect break of eight hoops and the score stood at 22 all. The result might have been reversed had the Wellington plaver in making the rover hoop with the black not had the misfortune to hit the wire instead of the ball. Subsequently Ross t,ia black out. The game ended 26 to 24. A feature of the contest was the accuracy

with which the players secured position for scoring, assisted by the true level of the lawn, which is iu ideal condition for high-grade play. ■ Airs'. Jarvie (Wanganui) met Mrs. Mddo’reti (Christchurch) in the handicap singles, the latter winning by 20 points. This is 110 indication of the Wanganui ladv’s play, but, being unaccustomed to 'such a keen lawn, she went to the. boundary at . almost every turn, letting the southern plaver in each time, and the latter quickly got to the pe.C5 . , . Mrs. Fuller (Wellington) drew against Airs. Campbell (Palmerston North) in the handicap singles, and the local player defeated the visitor, having a two bisouc handicap, which she made full use of. ... . ■ In several games it has been obvious that the Wellington plavers are under bisquel. ..... Airs L. Watkin (Wellington) defeated Mrs. Caldovv (Hataitai) in her match, plaviiig level. Some good shots by both plavers made the game an interesting one. The Kelhurn member eventually won bv 10 points. General dissatisfaction has been expressed bv Hie competitors at the fact that the draw for the tournament was not available until they arrived at the lawns of the Alanavyatu Chib on the morning of the opening of the tournament. Tn other sports the draw is generally available some days before the opening date. A start will be made to-dav with the championship events. If the games are as prolonged as some of the handicap ones the tournament cannot possibly be concluded this week.