CROQUET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 6

CROQUET

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY

INTERRUPTED BY RAIN

Showers held up the play in ; the croquet championships at Lower Hutt on Saturday. In the morning a,heavy shower necessitated a cessation of play for a short period, while later, in the afternoojn, the games were discontinued on account of the steady rain. Conditions were most unpleasant on the lawns,1 and the matches were slow as a consequence.* The following' are the results of matches: — Women's Associate.—Mrs. Tapp defeated Mrs. Mouat, 26-23; Mrs. Bryan defeated Mrs. Mouat, 26-6; Mrs. Ridley defeated Mrs. Gambrill, 26-20. First life: Mrs. McLennan defeated Mrs. Chetwin, 26-23; Mrs. Bryan defeated Mrs. Sargisson, 26-22; Mrs. Ridley defeated Mrs. Kirk, 26-24... Level Singles.—First life: Mrs. Neilson defeated Mrs. Ilsley, 26-17; Mrs. Morgan defeated Mrs. Collins, 26-16; Mrs. McKay defeated Mrs. R. J. Collins, 26-8; Mrs. Ryan defeated Mrs. Jackson, 26-23; Mrs. Murphy defeated Mrs. Alexander, 26-17; Mrs. Haughton defeated Mrs. Burbridge, 26-25; ' Mrs. Franklin defeated Mrs. McCawe, 26-7; Mrs. Millar defeated Mrs. Annear, 26-20. Second life: Mrs. Burbridge defeated Miss Lyford, 26-18; Mrs. Collins defeated Mrs. Maxwell, 26-8.

Handicap Singles.—First section: Mrs. Heenan defeated Mrs. Barker. 26-17; Mrs. Cadwallader defeated Mrs. Bock, 26-18; Mrs. Cleland defeated Mrs. Adams, 26-9. Second section: Mrs. Gilbert defeated Mrs. Adams, 26-15; Mrs. McKay defeated Mrs. Gibbons, 26-17; Mrs. Morgan defeated Miss Viles. 26-19.

Level Singles, No. 3 Event.—First life: Mrs.. Woodley defeated Mrs. Allan, 26-16; Mrs. Foley defeated Mrs. Burd, 26-15; Mrs. Owen defeated Mrs. Galvin, 26-6; Mrs. Kerr defeated Mrs. Lindsay, 26-17. Second life: Mrs. Pickard defeated Mrs. Bryce, 26-13.

Handicap Doubles.-—Mesdames Bryan and Stonehouse defeated Mesdames Galvin and Russell, 26-25; Mesdames Bryan and Stonehouse defeated Mesdames Manssen and Lee, 26-22; Mrs. Piper and Miss McKenzie defeated Mesdames Waller and Collins, 26-24; Mesdames Frost and Gould defeated Mesdames Cleland and May, 26-21; Mesdames Bryan and Stonehouse and the winners of the next match will play in the finals.

PROGRESS OF PLAY.

Handicap doubles (Mesdames Walker and Collins v. Mrs. Piper and Miss McKenzie) .—ln-and-out play was a feature of this match throughout, and, as is usual with handicap doubles, the play was somewhat slow. At the conclusion of the game Mrs. Collins failed with a fairly long peg out, after which Mrs. Piper hit in, separated, and set a rush for the peg. Mrs. Walker joined up, but the opponents did not peg out in the next turn, and on Mrs. Walker's missing the shot, Mrs. Piper and Miss McKenzie finished.

Open championship (Mrs. Allan v. Mrs. McDonald).—Mrs. Allan soon had both clips on the return, at which stage the opponent had only scored three points. In returning her partner's ball, however, when one clip was on-rover and the other on the peg, she accidentally pegged out one ball, Mrs. McDonald, playing carefully, reached the second return with both balls before her opponent made the rover from a long position and played near the peg. Mrs. McDonald, however, gave her opponent a chance to finish when in going to the ball at the peg she sent the conqueted ball to the boundary, thus giving Mrs. Allan a chance to finish.

Open championship (Mrs. Sargisson y. Mrs. Mouat). —Mrs. Sargisson, getting the first play, made a perfect break to four back. Hitting in a shot from corner to corner, Mrs. Mouat made a few points, after which in-and-out play continued for some time. Mrs. Sargisson hit in with the lift shot when her opponent was about to finish, and it was some time before Mrs. Mouat could gain control to conclude the game. Open championship (Mrs. Cleland v. Mrs. Ryan).—One of the best games of the day was that played in this match. Mrs. Ryan was the first to get the play and made one point. At this stage Mrs. Cleland shot in and made a break of nine. Her opponent again got the play and made one point for the other ball, failing at the second hoop. On this advantage Mrs. Cleland made another splendid break of eleven,' after which her opponent did not have another opportunity to score.

Women's associate (Mrs. McLennan v. Mrs. Chetwin). —Mrs. Chetwin was the first to start the play and, setting a rush for the next turn, later made the first hoop. Mrs. McLennan then hit in and made the first point and misjudged the position for the, second. Mrs. Chetwin here hit in and made a few points, after which her opponent secured the play and made a good round to rover. In-and-out play continued for a short time, Mrs. Chetwin advancing her clip to 2 back. Mrs. McLennan again getting in made a break to four back where she missed a short roquet. In-and-out play followed, both players eventually getting one clip on the peg. Mrs. McLennan getting in at this stage finalised the game, winning by three points.