CROQUET NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 120, 14 February 1935, Page 4

CROQUET NOTES

Wellington Tournament SOME FINE GAMES International Matches (By “Penultimate.”) Forthcoming Fixtures. February 12.— Manawatu championships. Palmerston North. February 12. —West Coast championships, Greymouth. February 13.-—Otago championships, Dunedin. February 21.—-Taranaki tournament. New Plymouth. February 23.—Wanganui championships, ■Wanganui. February 25. —Southern Hawke’s Bay tournament, Dannevirke. February 26.—Hawke’s Bay championships, Napier. March 7.—New Zealand championships, Auckland. Wellington Tournament. The 'Wellington tournament is now nearing the finals and. some, excellent games have been witnessed with very close finishes. In the open championships Mrs. Henderson had a considerable lead on her opponent, Mrs. Anstis, and in attempting to peg out missed the first ball and pegged the second. Mrs. Anstis got in the shot and evehually won the game by one point. Another exciting game, in the handicap doubles, was that between Mesdames Mclntosh and Barker and Mr. Veitch and Mrs. Sivyers. Mrs. . Barker and partner got going early in the game and at one stage were 14 points in the lead with both clips on rover. Mrs. Sivyers’s clip was on third return, Mrs. McIntosh made rover and lay for her partner, when Mrs. Sivyers got in a long shot, and by careful play went round and made rover and pegged out blue ball. Black tried for position and just tailed. Mr. Veitch made a few points, black going into position, and Mr. Veitch, in attempting to remove black, failed. Black made the hoop and tried the peg and failed. Mr. Veitch made a few more points, black having two long shots at the peg and missed. Mr. Veitch then pegged out. having won by one point. Another exhibition of good croquet was the game between Mrs. Gilbert, of Westport. and Mrs. Ross. Wellington, in the handicap singles. Mrs. Ross’s long snooting was a feature of the game, and her play generally was of a very high standard.

International Croquet. Commenting on the game between Mr. 11. Reginald Poulter (England) v. Mrs. W E. Caldow (New Zealand), the Melbourne “Argus” said: Poulter opened the game by playing a very difficult break, from taking off balls instead of bringing them into'the field, when he eventually failed at the fifth hoop. The play then became very erratic, as both players seemed frightened to bring all four balls into play. Mrs. Caldow got a long shot, and made a break ot seven points, but Poulter got in and played tp three back, leaving a safe lay up which Mrs. Caldow played into. Poulter then got going with the second ball, and made a good break to the peg. Mrs. Caldow missed with the lift shot, and Poulter made three back. Mrs. Caldow got the shot, and getting the green for the first time, made a good all-round break, and attempted to i>eel Poulter out. but missed a short roquet, the wind seeming to affect her. Poulter went on to win the game 26-20. In the second game Poulter-got going, and made the first break, which he .played to three back. From then ou for some time piay became very mediocre, possibly owing to the wind. Mrs. Caldow then got in, and playing remarkably well, double peeled Poulier’s red ball, and went to the stick herself, but in attempting to prepare for tiie peg out she made a boundary. At the beginning of the deciding game both found the wind very trying, particularly Poulter, whose swing is exceptionally long. At several of his hoops it was noticed that Poulter altered his usual method of play anti used a vastly different swing, which cost him two breaks. Eventually he got going and made the first break in three turns. Mrs. Caldow was in, but failed at the second hoop. Poulter then began with the second ball, and it was noticeable that he quickened his game greatly, as the wind had dropped and he played his best croquet of the match. Mrs. Caldow missed, and Poulter finished in the next turn, 26-2, thus giving the rubber to England. In opening the first doubles matches of the test, Du Pre and Wemyss against Mrs. Caldow and Stratton, Mrs. Caldow got going first and played a break to one back, where she failed. Wemyss shot and missed, and Stratton played his break from the fourth hoop to four back. Du Pre then got the shot and made a very nice break to three back, but failed there.

Ngaroma fjlub. The Ngaroma club has completed the championship games. Mrs. Sargisson has won the A championship, with Mrs. Martin runner-up. . Mrs. Edney is the intermediate champion. In the B grade Mrs. Sivyers is the champion, with Mrs. J. Millar runner-up. Personals. Mrs. Moeller (Hataitai) returned to Wellington by the Wanganella after an extended visit to Australia.