CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 17

CROQUET NOTES

(By "Concentrate.")

During the past week Wellington players and visitors from all parts of the. Dominion have been treated to excellent croquet on the Hutt and Petone lawns, and each day a large number of spectators has lined the banks. The open championships have been the chief attraction, as those talcing part in this event are the cream of New Zealand players. The games throughout the various sections have been of a very high order and especially was this so in the Bagnal-Wild play-off in which there were twelve finalists. Those taking part in this final draw were Messrs. McCreath', Mdntyre, Ogier, Jarvie, Blunt, and A. J. Gibbs, and Mesdames Bartlett, Watkins, Henderson, Keys, McMurray and Bryan. In the play off McCreath Mclntyre. and Blunt were eliminated in the first round, Mrs. Watkins accounted for Blunt and Jarvie while Ogier reached the finals in the second half ctf the draw. In the game, between Mrs; Watkins and F. Blunt an allrro.und break was made by Mrs. Watkins followed by a second round in two turns.; The game did not last long, Mrs. Watfkins in the last round double paling, winning the game by 10 points. In the next round Mrs. Watkins played wonderfully well' to defeat Jarvie, who. had a good lead and a splendid chance to win through, but medium roquets being missed caused him the loss of the game. Mrs. Watkins settled down to good play when Jarvie missed a roquet and soon completed both rounds.

The Wellington champion, Mrs. Hen- ■ derson, played exceedinly well! throughout the championship event and proved a winner in the section, but after defeating R. W. McCreath went out to Mrs. Keys, of Auckland, who played a strong game to win, by 17 points. The handicap singles took somewhat longer tihan usual,,.and were not the centre of a great "deal of interest. In the match between Mrs. Henderson and A. E. Ogier both players played cautiously and would take any chances. Mrs. Henderson had the advantage practically throughout, although not playing up to usual form. At the conclusion of the match in the peg' out Mrs. Henderson missed with the first half and it was sometime before she could hit the stick to peg out, in the meantime Ogier making 8 more points. " . In the game against Mrs. Keys m the next round Mrs. Henderson was some time before she could get going and Mrs. Keys was well round with both balls in a short time. Playing steadily Mrs. Henderson drew ahead but in attempting to peg out on a split shot missed and after separating elected to peg out one ball. Mrs. Keys here shot in and it was some little time before Mrs. Henderson could hit in and Mrs.-Keys was able to score two more points. This win brings Mrs. Henderson into fie finals of the handicap singles. The ladies' event has caused considerable interest, all finalists and semi-finalists playing well. Mrs. Clark, of New Plymouth, won out in one life, while the play off for the other life, was between Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Morgan. In this match Mrs. Morgan was well round with one ball on rover and the other for the: peg when Mrs. Clark playing for a kill used the forward ball and pegged out her opponent. From then on wiring tactics played a large part in the game and Mrs. Morgan had difficult shots to secure. However, on two occasions the long shot was hit; on the first occasion Mrs. Morgan rolled up with the opponent's ball and failed to get position—this necessiated a further attempt at control which, was secured when Mrs. Clark was for penultimate. On this occasion Mrs. Morgan stop-shotted her opponent's ball and gained position when Mrs. Clark joined up. Electing to shoot for the opponent's balls in No. 3 corner rather than the peg Mrs. Morgan, failed to hit, when Mrs. Clark attempted to make penultimate butbaulked. Mrs. Morgan again missed and Mrs. Clark finished, to win both lives of the New Zealand women's championship. The men's championship was won by F. C. Bryan, of Waimarie, who has been playing strongly throughout and only just missed winning out in the open championship. Mr. Bryan met R. j W. McCreath, of Gore, in the finals and the match went to three games. In the first game McCreath played well and after making an all-round break with one ball was in the \ midst of the execution of i|he second round when in attempting a difficult jump shot he failed, letting in Bryan who made 16 points before McCreath could get control to finish the game. In the second game Bryan played - well and had a comfortable win, while in the last game of the rubber he gave his. opponent no chance to score and finished the game with a double peel. In the handicap singles Mrs. McLennan played practically two round breaks to defeat Mrs. Lowery who had a bisque on her opponent. Mrs. Lowery made seven points after which her opponent hit in and finished.' Tn the handicap doubles Mesdames Bryan and Butcher have done well and have, reached the semi-finals. In the second round Mrs. Bryan with careful engineering played for her partner, gradually getting this player well round. With this object achieved Mrs. Bryan took the play and soon finished the game. The same tactics resulted in a win in the third round. In the fourth round this strong pair meet Mesdames Walker and Collins (Woburn). The defeat of F. C. Bryan and Miss McKenzie in the second round was a surprise as this won the event last year and proved a strong combination. INTER-CLUB MATCHES. The usual round of inter-club matches will take place next Tuesday, after having been suspended on account of the New Zealand championships which have just concluded. The following is the draw:— A Grade.—Woburn v. Ngaroma (2); Waimarie (1) v. Mt. Victoria; Wellington (2) v. Waimarie (2); Hataitai (2) v. Kelburn (2); Lyall Bay v. Karori; Seatoun v. Kelburn (1); Ngaroma (1) v. Kelburn (3); Eastbourne v. Hataitai (1); Central v. Wellington (1). ■ Intermediate.—Karori v. Kelburn (1); Waimarie v. Hataitai; Kelburn (2) v. Lyall Bay; Ngaroma v. Ngaio; Seatoun v. Khandallah; Mt. Victoria v. Wellington; Central v. Island Bay; Woburn, a bye.