CROQUET

Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 7

CROQUET

. CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS LEITH PLAYER'S SUCCESS The final of the champion of cham- • pions was played yesterday 'in fine weather on a-fast lawn. Mrs J. Rhodes, Leith, and Mrs R. D. Halstead, Punga, were the finalists, and there was a large gallery of spectators when play commenced at 10 s.m. The players were evenly matched, their handicaps being the same. It may. have been that the cup was at stake, for the play was more cautious that brilliant, and both players played better games iu the earlier stages of the contest. | Mrs Halstead was first to get away to make three hoops, then going to the boundary in a take olf. Mrs Rhodes made one, but short-rolled to the second hoop. Progress was by an odd hoop or two at a time until Mrs Halstead made 4 in good style and looked like going to the peg, but baulked at four-back with what looked an easy shot. Play was in and out, Mrs Rhodes gamely going several times to long-line balls, which she eventually got in good position to make a break of five, bringing her forward ball to rover. Her back one was on fifth and M» Halstead’s second one was l on first return. This made level pegging. By a series of singles and twos Mrs Rhodes got her-red to the stick, Mrs HalsteacT bringing her two clips to four back. Her shooting was good and after Mrs.. Rhodes had .got both -clips to the peg it took her just on threequarters of an hour to peg out. Mrs Halstead hit in time and again, but after separating was unable to get position for her hoop, and after several parks Mrs Rhodes made a neat cutrush to the peg and won the match winner will hold the Bridgman Memorial Cup for one year, and' a miniature to retain. The trophies will be presented, together with other iiiterelub trophies, at the end-of-season party in April.