CROQUET TOURNAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 21 January 1939, Page 13

CROQUET TOURNAMENT.

SECOND DAY’S PROGRESS

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The New Zealand croquet championship tournament was continued at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon, play proceeding in the championships. Good progress was made in the ladies’ section, and there were several outstanding matches, but the wind was troublesome until it dropped early in the evening. Additional details of pl.ay are as follow :

LADIES’ CHAAIPIONSHIP (First Life.) First Round.

Mrs Brown (Northern) beat Mrs MeKerrow (Te Aroha), 26—11; Mrs Henderson (Wellington) beat Mrs AV’ood (Northern), 26—25; Mrs Morgan (Hamilton) beat Airs Burrell (Auckland), 26—22; Mrs Watkins (Hastings) beat Mrs Kibblewhite (Hamilton), i 26—13; Mrs Wilson (Southland) lieat I Mrs Connor (Northern), 26 —15; Miss II Washer (Hawera) beat Mrs Simpson I (Northern), 26 —16. (Second Life.) First Round. Mrs Baker beat Mrs MeLennon, 26—4; Mrs Wilson l>eat Mrs AfcKerrow, by default; Mrs Gambrill beat Mrs Telfer, 26—2; Airs Palmer beat Mrs Mouat, 26 —15; Airs Henderson beat Mrs McMurray, 26—24; Airs Tiffin beat Mrs Leadbeater, 26—15. MEN’S CHAAIPIONSHIP. (First Life.; First Round. H. A. Penn (Dunedin) beat Rev. AV. Tye (AVellington), 26—9; E. A 7 eitch (Wanganui) beat J. Tannock (Dunedin;, 26—25; F. C. Bryan (Lower Hutt) beat H. P. Stratton (Hastings), 26—22. (Second Life.) First Round. D. McClymout beat J. Tannock, 26 —lB. LEVEL SINGLES. First Round. Airs Duckworth (Manawatu) boat Miss Perrin (Otago;, 26—15; Airs Coles (Auckland) l>eat Airs Lee (Palmerston North), 26—16; Airs Rees Davies (Hastings) beat Airs Atanning (Feilding), 26—21; Airs Thrush beat Mrs McDonald, 26—20. Second Round. < Mrs Garner (Northern) beat Airs Kane (Foxton;, 26—18. Third Round. Airs Atills beat Airs Garner, 26—25. HANDICAP SINGLES. (Section I—3 bisques and under.) First Round. Miss AVasber 2 (Hawera) beat Airs McClymont. (AVanganui),222. Second Round. Mrs Simpson scr. (Northern) beat H. P. Stratton —2J (Hastings), 26 — Third Round. D. AlcClymont, scr. (Wanganui) beat C. E. Kusabs, 2 (Rotorua) 26 (Section ll—3j bisques and over.) i Semi-final. Mrs King beat Mrs McCrcath, 26 — 23. - I i DESCRIPTION OF PLAY. j LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. Mrs Watkins v. Mrs Kibblewhite.— It was some time before these players c could score more than a few points at f a time until Mrs AA’atkins, playing the j’ balls very accurately, accomplished a break of seven, placing her clip on c rover. In and out play was a feature of [ the game from then on, until Airs j AVatkins, finishing up in good style peeled her partner ball through rover, pegging one out. Airs Kibblewhite did not secure the long shot, when Airs AA r atkins finished the match, 26—13.

Mrs Anstis v. Mrs Maiissen.—Airs Anstis played steadily, gaining a lead early in the game, which was maintained until the finish, the score ending 26—16. Mrs Alorgan (Hamilton) v. Mrs Burrett (Auckland). —Both players made a break of sis in this game, but in and out play constituted most of the match, the ncore ending 26 —22 in favour of Mrs Aforgan. Mrs Henderson (AVellington) v. Airs AtcAlurray (Palmerston North). —Airs Henderson soon established a lead on her opponent, and although Airs AlcAlurray played well she could not reduce the lead until Mrs Henderson was about to peg out. At this stage Airs McMurray, who was on the rover with one hall and the fifth with the other, hit in and. playing very steadily, carried her clip to the peg. setting a rush for the other hall. On Airs Henderson missing the shot. Airs McAlurrav made rover and. played for a finish, but her opponent hit in but did not peg out in that turn. Mrs McMurray again secured the shot, hut was unable to finish. when her opponent got the play and finished a close game, 26—24. Mrs Gambrill (Palmerston North) v. Airs Telfer (Gore). —Mrs Gambrill made, an early start, going to 3 back with the first ball, and on Airs Telfer'

missing the shot continued ihc play, with the other ball going to 4 hack. At this stage Airs Telfer shot in and made two points before the local player again got control and finished a well-played game.

MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. E. Ye itch v. J. Tannock.—Good croquet was witnessed in this match, Tannock playing steadily to reach the peg when his opponent still had la points to make, in endeavouring to peg out, however, Tannock missed with the forward ball and elected to peg the other ball out. At this stage Veitcli hit in the long shot and, playing carefully, wiring wherever possible and taking no risks, negotiated the remaining number of hoops before his I opponent could hit in, winning by one point. H. P. Stratton v. F. C. Bryan.—Both these players have a minus handicap, and the game was watched with interest. Neither could get a satisfactory start, however, both baulking at the first hoop. On Bryan’s failure Stratton went to 4 back, wiring at the first hoop, but inadvertently also wired his own balls. Bryan missed the short

roquet, giving liis opponent control. A tliis stage tie secured the long shot or Stratton’s balls and made a good break Tn and out play followed, the clips be ing even until the finish. Eventually each player with a clip on the peg Bryan endeavoured to peg out his op ponent but failed. Stratton then attempted to do the same on his opponent. hut also failed. Later Bryan sueneeded, and. Stratton failing to hi! in, the Wellington player finished the game 26—23. E. Veitch v. F. C. Bryan. —Tt was some time l>eforo either player conic get going, and in and out play was a feature throughout. The long shooting was good, but Veitch found difficulty with his approaches, while Bryan was having trouble at the hoops. Both players got good breaks, but did not go very far. At the eon-

elusion of tlie match Veitch peeled through rover and pegged out. LEVEL SINGLES. Mrs Bees-Davis v. Mrs Manning.— A very close game was witnessed in this match, and although no substantial breaks were made both players played steadily. Mrs Bees-Davis eventually winning by three points. Airs Mills v. Mrs Garner.—Both players were evenly matched in this game. At one stage, however, Mrs Garner established a load which was reduced by a break of nine by Mrs Mills. In the final stages Mrs Garner, in pegging out, missed with the forward hall and pegged out the other. Mrs Mills, who had eight points to make, hit, in and, playing carefully, finished the game before her opponent could hit the peg with the lone ball. This victory brings Mrs At ills into the semi-finals of the level singles. HANDICAP SINGLES. D. AtcClymonfc (scr.) v. Airs Connor '3). —This game was McClymont got in early and made a tood break of eleven, after which Aire Jonnor, taking a bisque setting out a ;ood break, looked as if she was set or a round, but failed at the fourth loop, and the scratch player, hitting n, finished, the game, leaving his opxinent no opportunity of using her renaming two bisques. M iss Washer v. Airs AreClvmont.if iss AVasher had to concede half a, lisque to her opponent, and at the ommencement of the game carried her lip to 3 back in two turns. Good hooting by Airs McClymont soon leveled lip tlio play and later on, with her pponent’s hall on the peg. Airs AlcCly:iont took the opportunity of pegging his out. Alias Washer, however, got u and, playing carefullv, finished 6—22.