CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 17

CROQUET NOTES

COMING TOURNAMENTS. North Island championships (Hastings), in progress. New Zealand championships (Palmerston North), January 22. ; South Auckland championships (Rotorua), February 3. Southland Association tournament (Invercargill), February 4. Wellington tournament (Wellington), February 4. Otago championships. February 18. Wanganui championships. February 20 Manawatu tournament (Palmerston North),. February 22. West Coast championships (Greymouth). February 24. Southern Hawke's Bay championships (Dannevirke). February 25. South Canterbury tournament (Timaru), February 27. New Zealand Gold and Silver Mallets (Christchurch). March 4. Taranaki championships (New Plymouth'). March 10. , Engl^h Goldand Silver Medals (New Plymouth), March 19. Inter-club Matches. . On account of the heavy rain on Tuesday all matches had to be postponed, but are being played off today. The following is the draw for next week: — A Grade—Kelburn (1) v. Seatoun. Ngaroma (2) v. Hutt, Waimarie (1) v. Woburn (1), Hataitai (2) v. Wobura (2), Karori v. Waimarie (2), Wellington (2) v. Island Bay Kelburn (2) v. Kelburn (3), Ngaroma (1) v. Central, Wellington (1) v. Hataitai (1). Intermediate Grade.—Seatoun y. Kelburn (1), Central v. Ngaroma, Waimarie (1) v. Eastbourne, Kelburn (2) v. Hutt, Wellington v. Lyall Bay (1), Waimarie (2) v. Woburn, Karori v. Lyall Bay (2), Ngaio v. Hataitai, Mount Victoria a bye. ' Pollock Stars. The first round for the stars. after the holidays was. played on the Waimarie lawns last Thursday when the challengers, Seatoun Club, represented by Mesdames Robertson and Allan, were successful in defeating the holders, Mesdames Mouat and Savage. Both the Seatoun players were playing nicely and although there were no breaks recorded, the Jong shooting by Mrs. Robertson kept the Waimarie players from retaining control. / This is the first occasion on which the stars have gone to the Seatoun Club, and the Combination of two such strong players as Mesdames Allan and Robertson should prove a formidable one. Mrs. Ramsay refereed the match, the next on the list of referees being Mrs. E. Mackenzie. Association Ferns. The eighth round of the ferns was played on Monday, when the holders, Lyall Bay Club, represented'by Mesdames Liddell and Rudkin, defeated the challengers, the Eastbourne Club, represented by Mrs. Wise and Miss Young, by 22 points. Mrs. Winchcombe was the referee. The next game will taks place on Monday at 1.30, the challengers being the Ngaio Club, and th 3 referee Mrsi Savage. McKenzie Cups. The cups have now changed hands —on this occasion to the Kelburn representatives,, Mesdames Johnson and Osborne, The Wellington Club, represented by Mesdames Crosby and Baker,, have held the trophy for the last five rounds and have been playing well. Both the Kelburn players were playing up to form and held the lead practically throughout. .These players' also held the cups last year—having then resisted no fewer than six challenges. Mrs. RofTe refereed the match, the next on the list being Mrs. Allan. North Island Championships. The North Island croquet tournament at Hastings is now in its final stages. Three events are complete, the two handicap singles and the open doubles, and given fine weather the tournament should finish either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The weather conditions on several days have been far from pleasant, but there has been steady progress despite the rain. Ladies' Championship. Mrs. Lowery (Karori) v. Mrs. Tiflen (Napier).—Mrs. Lowery, taking first play, got a good start with a break of five, when with all the balls in the field Mrs. Tiffen shot in, making a perfect break of eleven. At this stage there was a heavy shower of rain which made the lawns almost impossible for good break play, and although the shooting by both was excellent no further breaks were recorded. .In and out play followed, when after a strenuous game Mrs. Tiffen went out the winner by three points. Mrs. Hogan v. Mrs. Gnndley.—Both these .players were playing well. Mrs. Grindley commenced with a break of five,, to be followed by one of eight by her opponent. Mrs. Grindley again had opportunities of scoring before Mrs. Hogan gathered together a break carrying her clip to penultimate. In and out play followed, Mrs. Hogan eventually winning with a score of 26-15. '■■•■.'■ Mrs. Caldow (Wellington) v. . Mrs. Brass (Wanganui)—ln the first life of the women's championship, after an exceedingly exciting game, Mrs. Brass defeated Mrs. Caldow by the small margin of two points. Mrs. Brass made two perfect all-round breaks before Mrs. Caldow had an opportunity to score. Mrs. Caldow hit in and in two turns went to four back; and in the next turn went round, pegging out her opponent's ball. She then made the last three hoops, but *went through a fair distance and missed the return shot. Mrs. Brass hit in and finished. Miss Carrington (Hastings) v. Mrs. Brass (Wanganui).—ln the third round of the first life Of the women's championship Miss Carrington defeated Mrs. Brass 26-15. The Hastings player was well on her game and gave Mrs.. Brass few opportunities to score. Although no substantial breaks were recorded the long shooting by Miss Carrington was exceptionally good and on more than [ one occasion upset the well-laid plans of her opponent. Final Championship Doubles. H. P. Stratton and Mrs. Watkins v. A. G. F. Ross and. Mrs. Tiffen.—Tactics characterised this game throughout, all four players playing carefully and leaving the opponents as little as possible. Mrs. TifTen was the first to Ret a start, and gradually worked her clip to four back. Stratton then followed and also took several turns to go to four back. Ross was in play on several occasions, but owing to the rigid tactics by his opponents had difficulty in establishing a break. He, however, got going on one occasion, but broke at No. 4. Stratton eventually worked the balls nicely, leaving the opponents' balls wired at his partner's hoop. In the next turn his partner took the play and made a perfect break to the peg, there wiring. After a lot of manoeuvring Stration pegged out to win, with Mrs. Walkins, the North Island cham-1 pionship doubles, 2G-l',i. Handicap Singles. A. G. F. Ross ( —3) v. Mrs. Caldow (_l'j),_Mr. Ross was the first to get charge of the balls, but in endeavouring to set,out a break went boundary. His opponent made two hoops and set lup for the third hoop. Mr. Ross again got in and did not take advantage of

his opportunity when. Mrs. Caldow went to four back, and on her opponent missing made a perfect break to the peg with the backward ball, wiring at the peg. Mr. Ross shot in and carefully gathering together a break went as far as No. 4 where, in endeavouring to get a difficult shot after running the hoop, missed and left his opponent's ball in close proximity. He did not get another chance to score, Mrs. Caldow ending the game 26-3. The final of the handicap singles was played between H. P. Stratton ( —IJ, Hastings) and Mrs. W. E. Caldow (—IJ, Wellington). Mr. Stralton took the lead, and on his opponent missing the shot made two points, and parked for the fourth hoop. Stratton hit in and went to four back, wiring at No. 1. Mrs. Caldow shot and missed, and the Hastings player, playing carefully, made an all-round break, peeled his partner's ball through rover, and pegged out in the one turn, the score being 26-3. Handicap Doubles. A. G. Ross (Christchurch) and F. C. Bennett (Hastings) v- Mesdames Bartlett (Auckland) and Poppelwell (Napier) .—The former had to concede one bisque to their opponents. Winning the toss Ross and his partner took second play, and getting the shot Bennett made No. 1 hoop and in several further turns, playing steadily and accurately, carried his clip to three back. Ross then took the play, but failed at the first hoop, letting in Mrs. Bartlett, who made No. 1 and parked for her partner. Ross hit in and made No. 2 hoop, but failed at the third. Mrs. Bartlett then regained control, but did not score. The opponents hitting in, Bennett made three more points. In and out play followed before Ross hit in, and making 13 points finished the game, giving the opponents no opportunity of using the handicap, the score being 26-1. Open Championships. Mrs. (Jambrili (Palmerston North)* v. Mrs. Tiffen (Napier) .—The first game of the rubber went to Mrs. Tiffen, Mrs. Gambrill getting very little chance of scoring and finishing 26-13. In the second game the positions were reversed, Mrs. Gambrill making an allround break with the first ball. : Mrs. Tiffen shot in with the lift shot and went to three back. Her opponent i then hit the long shot arid finished the game, 26-9. The third game was won by Mrs. Tiffen. In the early stages of the game Mrs. Gambrill went boundary in taking off> leaving Mrs. Tiffen all the balls, on which she made an all-round break, followed quickly in the next turn with the other ball to rover. Her opponent hit in, and playihg carefully carried her clip.to the peg, but in attempting to peg out Mrs. Tiffen's ball was stymied by a third ball, thus giving Mrs. Tiffen the opportunity of finishing 26-13. The Rev.- Mr. Tye (Wanganui) v. Mrs. Watkins.—The first game of the rubber went to Mrs. Watkins with a score of 26-13. The second game was won by the Rev. Mr. Tye, his opponent scoring 17 polr.ls. In the last game Mrs. Watkins played perfect croquet, going round to penultimate with the | first ball and to the peg with the next, i Tye failed to hit in when Mrs. Watkins made two more points, pegging out one ball. Her opponent picked up the line-ball,. but .only succeeded in making three more points before Mrs. Watkins "Wt in and :finished 26-5. South Island Championships. Rain prevented the South Island championships being completed yesterday, but it is hoped play will finish today. Three events' have been completed, as follows:-^Championship' doubles: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kirk defeated George Hart and Mrs. W. Taylor, 26-4. Handicap - doubles:. Mesdames Corbet and Halstead defeated Miss Morgan and Mrs. McLellan, 26-24. Handicap singles (No. 2 section): Mrs. McLellan defeated Mrs. Foote, 26-20. Semi-final of open event: Mr. H. A. Perm (Christchurch) defeated Mrs. Corbet (Dunedin), 26-16,. 18-26, 26-15. Ladies' championship: Mrs. Palmer defeated Mrs. McLellan, 26-4; Mrs. Corbet defeated Mrs. Maddren (Christchurch), 26-6; Mrs. Palmer defeated Mrs. Corbet, 26-10. Personal. Mrs. Adams (Lyall Bay) has returned from a visit to Greytown. Mrs. R. W. McCreath (Gore), vicepresident of .the NeW.-Zealand Croquet Council, who is at present in Timaru, expects to arrive in Wellington on Sunday, en route.to Palnierston North, to take part in the New Zealand championships. Miss Bates (Wellington), who has been in'Hastings-for the North. Island tournament'; has .returned to town. The .following: Wellington, players will be visiting Palmerston North for the New Zealand championships, which commence next Wednesday:—-Mrs.,Aus-tin (Kelburn), Mesdames Earl McKenzie, Bock' (Hutt), Boocrjck, Manton, Henderson, Caldow, Hogan (Wellington), Brice, Cadwallader (Hataitai), Lowjery (Karori), Lees, Mouat (Waimarie), Messrs. E. W. Veitch, F. Laurie, and Mrs. Galvin (Ngaroma). Mrs. Chetwin (Kelburn).has returned to Wellington, after taking part in the South Island tournament at Timaru.