CROQUET TOURNEY ENDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 3

CROQUET TOURNEY ENDS

o SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED MISS STEEL DEFEATS MISS HESKETH VISITOR’S BRILLIANT PLAY Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 16. Excellent weather conditions were again experienced to-day for the conclusion of the Dominion croquet championship and handicap tournament, which was commenced last Alonday week. 'The ladies’ championship singles was won by Miss Steel, the English champion, who beat Miss HeskctJi (Auckland), 26-9 and 26 —5. The handicap doubles resulted in a win far Archdeacon Creed Aleredith (Wanganui) and Airs. A. E. Smith, (Christchurch). Singles Championship. Aliss Steel met; Miss Hesketh in (he final of the ladies’ championship. The visitor nlaved a fine break of nine hoops, with black, each ball going to a most accurate position for scoring. Yellow baulked with black, after making three points; this enabled the black ball to got to the rover hoop, where it was joined a few minutes later by blue. ‘Miss Hesketh missed, and black pegged out from a good distance, and tho first game ended, 26—8. Tiie second game was watched by a large number of spectators. Miss Bteel commenced bv making 2 points with blue; she then baulked at the third hoop, wit.h her opponent close. Play thereafter was in and out, Aliss Steel making two excellent, breaks of 7 and 8. while her opponent was quite off her game, tailing to score more than five points. Handicap Doubles. The contestants in the final of the handicap doubles were Archdeacon Creed Meredith (Wanganui) and Mrs. A. E. Smith (Christchurch), and Mesdames Jamieson and Honore (Palmerston). Ihe former, who eventually won 26—21. ’’P 11 ' ceded 61 bisques to the local ladies. Archdeacon Creed Meredith shot m and went round to the penultimate; th® play from then on was patchy, Airs. Smith being quite off her game and unable to make more than a hoop at a time. Airs. Jamieson proved the stronger of the local ladies, her partner emulating Airs. Smith and progressing only one hoop at a time until the penultimate was reached. Airs. Smith then baulked at the rover hoop; her opponents missed the long shot, and then Archdeacon Creed Meredith m®d® the penultimate off his opponents balls, and peeled his own and ins partner I through tho rover hoop. Unable to peg both out, he pegged his own. Airs. Smith being left with » J OII K sh °t ,a which she failed to get the peg, Airs. Honore making the penultimate, but failed to make the rover oft yellow. Airs. Smith then pegged out with a long shot, from the first hoop, winning the match and event, 26—21. Handicap Singles. Miss Hesketh, in the semi-final of the handicap singles, played against Mrs. Gambrill, and won the game by seven points. Airs. Gambrill was not. in her usual form, and did not play the strategical game she usually does. Aliss Hesketh (Auckland) (plus 1), fought, the final of the handicap singles out with AV. J. Robertson (plus 2). (I’almerston). In the early part of the game both players indulged in a lot ot manoeuvring until Miss Hesketh got in with yellow, and alter making a •leak of 9 hoops played her clip on the penultimate. In-and-out play eventuated for a while, Robertson taking a half bisque for the purpose of improving his position. No advantage resulted from this, however, Miss Hesketh lut--1 ting in with a long shot. The order or ' play was a hoop or two at a time with ' the Auckland lady generally enjoying the advantage. Later she hit in with. 1 the yellow, making the penultimate and ' wiring her opponent’s balls at the rover 1 hoop, lying up for the red. Black tried ; to find the shot by the wire, but fayed ’ and went on to the boundary. Aliss Hesketh carried on with the red, and 1 as Robertson was unable to pick up a. 1 shot until black and yellow were laid up for the stick he had to wait till ho ’ got back into play with a beautiful shot. 1 with black, making a break of three ’ hoops and failing in 3 back. Miss lles- ■ keth laid up to go out, and Robertson, missing the long shot, she pegged out with red. Robertson missed another long shot, and Aliss Hesketh pegge . out with yellow and won 26—17. DETAILED RESULTS LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Final. Miss Steel (England) beat Miss Hesketh (Auckland), 26—8, 214—5. : HANDICAP DOUBLES. Final. Archdeacon Creed Aleredith (Wanganui and Airs. A. E. Smith (Christchurch) beat Alesdames Jamieson aud Honore (Palmerston), 6—21. HANDICAP SINGLES. Semi-final. Miss Hesketh defeated Mrs. Gambrill by 7 points. Final. Miss Hesketh defeated W. J. Robertson, 26—17.