CROQUET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 11

CROQUET

LOCAL ACTIVITIES. VISIT OF ENGLISH TEAM. There, has been a quiet time on tho local jiuvns during uu: Holidays, Lie omy inatcn being one at Lno I'arx, in which tiiuwawa neat tno Parle teamTneue nave been lew on tne rLaivera awns, ana members are looking xo.wuru keenly to resumption or pray alter tne uolinays, wnen tourists nave ljiturned.

Botn clubs are rejoicing in mew lawns, Hawera naving a-aued tne section at tne uacK ox tne oiulx'e bunding, anu Park naving tne new lawn lain clown by tno Council behind tne Park Bowling Cdub’y green. The new areas snouiu .ead to a decided fillip to the game. Hew Zealand ‘croquetists' ’ are .coking lorward with entnusiasm to tne visit shortly of the Jsngiish team, wno are at present having strenuous contests in Australia. They have playeu at Melbourne and Sydney, and are now back in Melbourne, and there-their second test match was held on Friday and Saturday Writing ol the conditions ruling during their visit, the, “Australasian critic says, inter alia: “In spile of the heat and the fact that the surface of tne fawns was like glass, the standard oi play on these two days was remarlvaolv hign. This was especially tne ea-e in flue finals, when -tne games weie practicalv made up of a series of exhibitions of’perfect croquet. The fascination 01 croquet has been proved by the fact that interested spectators came from Hew .South Wales and South Australia, as well as from various country districts, and as early as half-past ten o’clock each day these enthusiastic adherents, undaunted by the weather, arrived to watch the test, matches, and with the exception of snatching a hasty lunch, if they had not brought it with them, they spent the whole day, sometimes as late/as 7 o’clock, enthralled with the game. Men, with large black silk handkerchiefs tucked in the backs of their hats to protect their necks, women with sunshades and fans, the players with, cool white suits or thin frocks, according to their isex, and everywhere the ice-cream man and long cool drinks were the order of the day.” , , „ ■ The English players left for Sydney on Tuesday, December 20, and played matches against the: representatives of the New South W ales Association on December 22, 23, 29, 30. They returned to Melbourne about January 2, in time to practice for the second test match held on January 6 and 7. Victorians will be delighted to welcome them back for they have made themselves very popular with thjeir genial and courteous manners.” In some .remarks on "fclioir play, lit? said: “The English players have been throughout the tournament an object lesson in care an daocuracy, the crux of their croquet being that every shot is followed through with a fine finish. Another feature of their game is that they make their wrists do most of the work and thus achieve the secret of ‘touch” which is essential in championship croquet. It was unfortunate that they did not strike their best form throughout, but they put up some remarkable performances especially in their shooting, which is phenomenal and gets them out of much ‘ trouble when the game is eet against them. The results” show that the Australians’ play has been of a very high standard, too.