CROQUET

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 8

CROQUET

(By

“Rover.")

Coming Events. Canterbury Association Tournament, December 26. Test matches. Palmerston North, December 27. Dominion Tournament, Palmerstoa. North. - January 8. North Island Tournament, Lower Hutt, January 23. » „ Wellington Tournament, Lower Hutt, February 18. Local competitions, October oL New Bules. Play in inter-clnb matches will commence to-day, and it is essential that players should make themselves acquainted with the changes in the rules. One of the new rules which could easily affect the result of a game reads: “If croquet taken off a wrong ball, the striker is adjudged to have played with a wrong ball, so inexperienced players would do well to read Rule 35, clauses A, B, C, and D, and note particularly that paragraph 1 and - deal with the situation before the first stroke of the succeeding ordinary turn has been made, and clause B deals with it after the first stroke of the succeeding turn has been made. Another law which has created a lot or discussion is Law 38, clause B: “Th® striker cannot peg out a ball other than his own unless his ball be a rover at the commencement of the stroke.” ■ Where so many players err in reading this rule is in confusing the word “stroke” with that of "turn.” The rule regarding stroke says: * A ‘stroke’ begins when alm commences,” etc. The rule regarding a “turn” reads: “A Turn’ consists of a concluded ‘stroke,’ or a succession of such stroke, and a turn begins when the striker has begun to take aim for the first, stroke of that turn,” etc. An addition to the. balls in contact-(Rule 39). rule reads: “If the striker is entitled; to take croquet, from one of a group of balls in contact, one of which is a yard line or comer ball, he may arrange all such balls in any position that maintains contact, provided that the ball, of which croquet is taken is placed on the yard line or corner spot, as the case may be, but he .must take croquet from, that ball which he has actually roquetted.” This rule reads very clearly, and no player with any. ordinary knowledge of croquet is likely to read it wrongly.

To the much-discussed ~ rule about optional left in level play (Rule 44), a new clause has been added, and the rule nowreads: “If in level play the striker’s ball in any turn make four back, at the conclusion of that turn the adversary shall have the option of commencing the succeeding turn by lifting either ball of his side, notwithstanding that it be in' contact with another ball, and playing it from either baulk-line.” It is as well to not® the last letters of the new clause, as instances have occurred where the player “lifted” and played from the line the whole Width.-of the green, and did not confin® himself or herself to the baulk.

Players should also note that in Claus® B, Rule 38. the old rule has been reinstated, and it now reads: “Should the striker roquet a rover ball on to the winning peg, that ball shall be deemed to be pegged out. and the turn shall at once cease.” This rule was in vogue for a number of years, and was then abolished/but the rule .substituted was not considered satisfactory, and the old rule has now,been restored. Like a good many other rules/It has its advocates and opponents. In the matter of making a foul the following clause has been inserted in-the new rules: “The striker makes a foul if ha moves his ball during a stroke by hitting a hoop, or a peg with the mallet without striking his bail, or move some other ball during stroke by striking a hoop or peg with the mallet.” Paragraph (o) sayai “The striker makes a foul if in making a stroke he rest the hand or arm or shaft of the mallet on the ground; or rest the hand or arm or shaft of'the mallet against any part of the leg or foot.” A foul stroke in which many players fail to realise their rights .is when their opnonent fails to move cr shake the croqueted bail or a ball In contact with it, other than his ball. »When this occurs the striker’s turn shall at once cease, and any point made during the stroke in which the foul occurred shall not be scored. Another penalty incurred by the striker is that the baßs shall either remain where they come to rest or be replaced, at the option of the adversary. Thus, if the player in making a croquet shot with blue ball, and yellow ball fails to. move the latter.. the player of vellow may have the blue ball replaced alongside vellow. and proceed with his turn. On the other hand, if the blue ball, failing to croquet yellow, runs towards rod, the opponent may prefer to have blue remain where it,comes to rest near red, and take advantage of whichever position is the most profitable. Newtown Ctnb.

The weather was anything but good for “members’ day” at Newtown Club. Notwithstanding, nearly ail the members were present and cheerfully entered into the competitions. They were won as follow: French. Mrs. Woodham; golf, Mrs. Robbins: ladder, Mrs. Meek; hurry scurry, Mesdames Remington and Priddie; angles, Mrs. Stephenson. Interclub Matches.

The foHowing is the draw for the second round of inter-club games: — A Grade.—Home and away :Haeremai v. Hataitai: Kelburn (1) v. St. Augustine; Karori v. Wellington; Waimarie v. Kelburu (2). Intermediate Grade.—Home and away . Hataital (A) v. Eastbourne; Hataitai (B) v| Kelburn (B); Hutt v. Kelburn (A); Ns/aroma v. Woburn: Waimarie takes the game by default from Lyall Bay! Wellington, a bye. „ . .. . B Grade.—Home and away: Hataitai y. Eastbourne; Island Bay v. Upper Hutt; Johnsonville v. Kelburn; Karori y. Waimarie; Lyall Bay v. Wellington; Ngarom* v. St. Augustine; Seatoun v. Mt. Victoria.

There is every probability that a new club will be formed in South Wellington, and the lawns will be situated in Manchester Street, Melrose, where the council propose to lay down croquet lawns and grass lawn tennis courts. Answers to Correspondents. . ; ■

R K.J.—The new rules for the coming season can be obtained from C: Ferguson, Box 164, Palmerston North. They are the ones arranged by the English Council, and played throughout the Dominion by all croquet clubs. N.A.F.—Regarding rules for a new club. It is usual for the club to arrange its own rules. I think if yon approached any of the existing clubs they would furnish you with a copv of their rules, and you could cull from them any that would suit your particular requirements, as where there is onlr one lawn the same conditions cannot obtain as where there are more. Any shape mallet is. permissible, and when purchasing one care should be exercised that the shaft is neither too long nor too short; also that the weight is right for the player using it. ~