CROQUET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 March 1927, Page 12

CROQUET.

TOURNEY AT NEW PLYMOUTH

Much good play was seen at the annual tourney at New Plymouth this and last week. Hawera and Patea players did well, but the outstanding local performer was A. J. Gibbs. He came almost as a novice and his handicap of 8 was quicklv reduced to 4, and still he seemed to be able to win.

But it is generally agreed up there that one of the “making” features of the tourney and one that helped largely to .success was the presence of the ‘‘minus 1” players. GVTr and Mrs Stranger, of Australia. They are both fine players and good sports.

THE NEED FOR CONCENTRATION

Sir Francis Wemyss emphasised the need for concentration in practice, says an exchange, and there can be no harm in rubbing it in again. In every practice game a player should strive to play up to the highest standard of play. Many and many a time he or she will fail to get the break laid, properly, or will stick in the last hoop when peeling and 'ose the game. _ But what does that matter? Each time he or she tries it the player will have learned something and gained in confidence. How did Arthur Ross acquire his almost uncanny facility in peeling? By practising it in season and out of season, till almost instinctively he places the balls correctly, and does not have to waste the better part of five minutes in making up his mind. There is a soft glow of self-approval, an artistic pleasure in something well done, which pervades a player who has completed a neat double or single peel and finish or a peel and peg out of an opponent, followed by a period of skilful and successful wiring which, once, experienced, grows upon him or her, and is worth all the games won on the .safety first, run away to your partner system, which system, can only he described as very poor croquet. It is not necessary to have a fullsized lawn in order to learn to play first-class croquet. Tf in every, practice game you will, before making the “hoop in order,” push one ball close to the next hoop arid have .the other as a pivot near the peg. the practice will soon become a habit, and you will orndnnllv learn the many ways in which it can be done. These finer points, when mastered, add immensely to the pleasure to be derived from the game, both hv players and spectators.