CROQUET TOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 98, 19 January 1940, Page 11

CROQUET TOURNEY

Dominion Championships YESTERDAY’S PLAY Many games were played in all sections of the New Year croquet i-hampionship tournament at the Hutt, Petone. \\ obnru and Kcl'burn lawns yesterday. The most important game of tlie day was that between Mrs. Watkins, Hastings, and F. C. Bryan, Lower Hutt, to decide the second finalist in the play-off for the open championship. Winning tlie toss. Bryan elected to choose balls, when Mrs. Watkins look second play. Bryan played to the fourth corner and Mrs. Watkins to the sideline. Bryan followed the second ball and Mrs. Watkins missed with the fourth. On this Bryan made a point, and in the next turn built a perfect break to carry his clip to penultimate, but missed a short roquet wlien perfecting the wire at the peg. On this opportunity Mrs. Watkins made an all-round break., followed shortly afterward by an all-rounder with the second ball, but again Bryan got in and soon had his clip on the rover. In and out nlav followed, each feeling the tension in the final stages of an important match. It was only when Mrs. Watkins, taking careful aim, hit the double near the boundary, that the issue was decided, for, getting a perfect rush to the rover, she made a good finish to win by four points. In the women’s event, Mrs. Keys, who looked like a possible finalist in both lives, suffered defeat at the hands of Mrs. E. A. Smith, Christchurch, in an early round of tlie first life. Mrs. Smith at one stage made a break of eleven and had to be at the top of her form to defeat Mrs. Keys, who rarely missed a long shot. Mrs. Smith made a brilliant finish to win by five points. Most of the players in the women’s championship are playing well and brea'ks are common on practically all the lawns. In tlje glime between Mrs. Bryan and Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Bryan played to the top of her form and, making two allround breaks, double peeled, hilt in the attempt to peg out in the turn missed the peg through insufficient pull when going to the opponent's balls. On Mrs. Johnson failing to hit in Mrs. Bryan finished the game, her opponent not having the balls at any one stage. Mrs. Walker made practically two all-round breaks to win against Mrs. Simpson. Palmerston North. Mrs. Simpson was the first to get a start, but only scored a point, failing at thi> second wlien Mrs. Walker got the play and finished the game in record time. In the same event Mrs. McMurray, who has won out in her section in the open championship, played well against Mrs. Pitcaithly. With the first ball Mrs. McMurray carried her clip to penultimate, and in the next turn completed the round in two turns, Mrs. Pitcaithly not having control of. tin? balls at any stage. One of the most, consistent players in the tournament is R. W. MeCreath, Gore, who has eliminated J. Tannoek, Punec’iin, in both lives of tlie men's championship. In ■both games McCreatli had control practically throughout and with consistent break play gave his opponent few opDortunitfes. In the handicap event Penn and Mrs. Dw.ver met Mesdames Morgan and Fowler, the former pnir having to concede 14 bisques to their opponents. Though botli Penn and Mrs. Morgan made slibs.tiintinl breaks and Mrs. Dw.ver was shooting well, tlie last-named player could not get the strength of the green, while Mi’s. Morgan was ably supportctl by her partner. The long shooting of Mrs. Morgan was outstandingly good. In the women’s event Mrs. Morgan also played well to defeat Mrs. Gambrill. Both players made breaks, the play by Mrs. Morvan being particularly steady. In the section play of 3 1 to 5 bisques an outstanding game was played by Mrs. Lynch. "Whakatane, against Mrs. -Cox, New Plymouth. In and out play was a feature for a time, till Mrs. Lynch, getting control, made from Hie fifth to the rover, and on her opponent missing tlie shot, set out with a second break and made a splendid aJJ-roiuid break from the first to the peg. This was tlie onlv sirlistanjial break made so far in this section. 'l'lie following are the results of yesterday’s play:— FlniiUHts In Open Championship. Section 1: A. E. Ogier (1), A. J. Gibbs (2). Section 2: Mrs. Bartlett (1), Mrs. Watkins (2). Section 3: It. W. MeCreath (1), Mrs. Keys (2). Section 4: Mrs. C. Bryan, Mrs. McMurray, tie. Section 5: Undecided (play off between C. Blunt, W. .TarVle. and D. McClyinont). Section 0: Mrs. Henderson (1). Mr. McIntyre. Women’s Championship. First life: Mrs. Walker beat Mrs. Kibblewhite. 2(1-12: Mrs. Ciulwnllnder bent Mrs. Walker. 26-17; Mrs. Chirk beat. Mrs. Cadwalladcr, 26-17; Mrs. Henderson beat Miss Washer, 2(1-10. Second life: Mrs. Clark beat Mrs. Nicholson. 20-0; Mrs. Clark beat Miss Collinson bv default: Mrs. Henderson beat Miss I Wusher. 20-21; Mrs. Keys beat. Mrs. Bryan, 26-22: Mrs. McMurray beat Mi's. Pitealthlv. 20-0: Mrs. Smith beat Mrs. Gambrill, 26-19; (Mrs. I’llcnlthly beat Mrs. Bryant. 20-0; ‘Mrs. Clark beat Mrs. C'adwallnder, 20-11; Mrs. Smith beat Mrs. Keys, 26-11; Mrs. Brvan bent Mrs. Johnson, 26-0; Mrs. Watkins' beat 'Mrs. Henderson. 26-S; Mrs. Itawken boat Mrs. Tiffen. 26-S; Mrs. McLenunn beat Mrs. Mount, 26-2. I.evc’l Singles, 8J to 5 Biaqm.'s. Section 1: Mre. Betts beat Mrs. Lee. 26-21. Section 2: Mrs. Bngrie beat Mrs. Cox, 26-21; Mrs. Lvneli bent Mrs. Cox. 26-6. Section 3: .Mrs. Penn boat Mrs. HeaFy, 26-12: Mrs. Penn beat Millar. 26-11; Mrs. Penn bent Brann. 20-9: Mrs. Burbidge boat Mrs Neilson. 26-15; Mrs. Collins beat Mrs. Ogier 26-23: Mrs. Collins boat Neilson. 26-16; .Mrs. Healey heat Mrs. Burbidge, 20-23. Level Singles, 5J to 7. Mrs. Knowles boat Miss Ritchie. 26 18; Miss McKenzie beat Mrs. Thomas, 26-20; Mrs. Thomas bent Mrs. Coo, 26-22. Handicap Singles. Section •’■ Mrs. Moxam beat Mrs. Puff; .Mrs MeCreath lieilt Mrs. Cltitigliton; Mrs. MeKorrow beat Mrs. Heat tie, 26-16: Mrs. Jjiivies beat Mrs. Shcargold. 2G-15. Handicap Doubles. Mesdames Keys and Thomas beat Mes•dames itrvant and Bngrie. 20-14; Mesdames Walker and Collins bent IV. Jnrvle and Mrs. Neilson. 26-14; Mr. and Mrs. P'-ier beat Mesdames Sargisson ami J.’rame, 26-20; Mesdames Allan and Knowles beat Mrs. Itoekell mid Miss ißvers 26-23: Mesdames Morgan and ('■’l.wlcr beat M. A. Penn and Mrs. Fowler, 26-17; Mesdames Bryan and Butcher beat .Mosd,"linos Wood and Moxam. 20-15: Mesdames Mount and Wright bent Managh and Mrs. Clapp. 26-12: Mesdames Pitenithly mid Davies beat Mesdames Nicholson mid Brann. 26-11: I.owerv and Toms bent F. Harrison mid Mrs. Henley. 26-4; I.owerv ami Toms beat Griffen mid Denz. 26 2(1; H. McClyinont and Mrs. Owles bent .Mosdmiies Simpson mid Loe, 20-24: Miami Mrs. Blunt bent Mrs. MeClymont mid Bent 11''. 26-16; Mesilmm’s Clark ami Todd I,l'iU Mesdames Klbblewliite mid Bartlett. Following is Hie draw for II n.m. today, all other competitors to report, at lliudifoi'd Park nt 10.30 a.in.:— Wiilimtrh' 1: Mrs. Sargissou v. Mrs Mel 'real h. Wninuiri'.'2: Mrs. Palmer v. Mrs. Low-cry. Waimm-ie 3: Mr. mid Mrs. Blunt v. Mesdmiu's Chirk mid Todd. Wtiiimiric I: Mrs. Griffon v. Mrs. Betts. Hutt 1: Mrs. Morgan v. Mrs. Brynn'. Hutt 2: Mesdmiies Gmnlirlll mid Buttersbv v. It. MeCrenth mid Mrs. Martin. Ngiiroma 1: Mrs. Smith mid Miss Ritchie v. Mesdmiies Penn mid Coe. Ngaroma 2: Mesdames Bernard and Rudgo v. Mesiltltiies llawken and Burbldge. , Ngaroma 3: Mesdames (Haughton am Ashworth v. Mesdames McCawe and Grahmn. Centriil: Unfinished. Miss Clmighton v. Mrs McLi'ilnan; to follow. Miss Claugliton mid Miss Perrin. Miss Perrin mid Mrs. U 'wobiirn 1: Mrs. Bock v. Mrs. Bartlett. Woburn 2: Mrs. Neilson v. Mrs. Henley; to follow. Miss McKenzie v. Mrs. Frmue.