CROQUET CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 46, 23 January 1939, Page 11

CROQUET CHAMPIONSHIPS.

NEW ZEALAND TOURNEY. SURPRISE DEFEAT OF ROSS. Improved weather conditions ruled on Saturday afternoon for the continuance of the Dominion croquet clionipionsliin tournament, which w.as in its third day, and the singles events are now weli forward A surprise feature was the defeat of A. G. F. Ross, New Zealand’s lowest bisque player, by both F. L. Harrison and R. McCreath, tho latter pair being in top form. Additional details of Saturday’s play are as follow: LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. (First Life.) Second Round.

Airs McLeod (Southland) beat Airs Brown (Northern), 26 —5. (Second Life.) First Round.

Airs Henderson (Wellington) beat Airs AlcAfurray (Northern), 26—21; ATfs Clarke (New Plymouth) beat Airs .Morgan (Hamilton), 26 —14; Airs AfcKerrow (Te Avoha) l>eat Airs AValker (Wellington), 26 —13; Airs Brown (Palmerston North) boat Airs Owen (Opawa), 26—12. Second Round. Airs AVatkins (Hastings) bent Airs Henderson (Wellington), 26 —19: Airs Baker (Auckland) beat Airs Wilson (Southland). 26 —13: Airs Bryan Wellington) l«at- Airs Burrett (Auckland), 26—11 : Arrs AleLeod beat Airs AlcKerrow, 26—15; Airs Brown beat Airs Palmer. 26 —14; ATrs Clark beat Airs G.ambrill, 26—18; Aliss AVnsher (Hawera) beat Airs Wilson (Hastings), 26—18. AIEN’S CHAAIPJONSHIF. (First Life.) First Round. H. A. Penn (Dunedin) beat R. AfeCi'eath (Gore), 26—16; H. P. Stratton (Hastings) beat A. J. Gibbs (Patea), 26 —19. Second Round.

Rev. I l ’. Tve (Wellington) beat D. ATeClymont (Wanganui), 26 —20; F. C. Brvan (Wellington) beat E. Veitcli (Wanganui), 26—9; F. Harrison (Wanganui) beat A. G. F. Ross (Christchurch), 26 — 24. Second Life. First Round. F. Harrison heat C. E. Kusabs (Rotorua), 26—13; I). AlcClyinont beat H. R. Stratton, 26—20; E. Veitcli beat F. C. Bryan, 26—15; D. AleCreath beat A. G. Ross, 26—23. LEVEL SINGLES. First Round. Airs Hill (Fcifiling) bent Airs Gibbs (linwera), 26—23. Second Round. Airs Hill beat Airs Rees Davies (Hastings), 26—12. HANDICAP SINGLES. Section 1.—3 bisques and under). Second Round. Airs Palmer -| (Northern), beat Airs Bassett 1£ (Wanganui), 26—24; Airs Clark -1 (New Plymouth) beat Airs Morgan, -J (Hamilton), 26—24. (Section 2.—31 bisques and oVer). Second Round. Airs Griffin, Si (Matamata) boat Airs Kane, 4 (Foxton), 26—18; Airs Alills, 5 (Northern) beat Airs Courtaync, 6} (Dannevirke), 26—20.

DESCRIPTION OF PLAY. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. The ladies’ championship, men’s championship and handicap singles events were run off in record time, while the level singles have reached the semi-finals. In the ladies’ event many close finishes have been witnessed and some excellent games played. Mrs C. Watkins (Hastings), Mrs McLeod and Mrs Telfer (Gore), Mrs Clark (Taranaki), Mrs Wood (Palmerston North), Mrs Gambrill (Palmerston Noth) and Mrs Henderson (Wellington) are all playing good croquet, and at this stage of the proceedings it is difficult to predict a winner. The following is a description of some of tlie matches:— LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. Second Life.—Mrs Watkins v. Mrs Henderson: Both played well in this match, neither taking the other lightly. The clips were fairly even throughout and good breaks were played, and it was only towards the end of the game, when Mrs Henderson failed to get position for 3 back, that Mrs Watkins drew ahead to win by a small margin. Both were shooting well and the game was interesting throughout. HANDICAP SINGLES. A splendid game was witnessed in the second round of the handicap between Mrs Palmer (Christchurch) and Mrs Bassett (Masterton). Mrs Bassett was the first to get going, but failed at the first hoop and, using her handicap, made the point, but in approaching the pivot ball was stymied and nxired to the boundary. In and play followed, both players making several points until Mrs Bassett, setting out the ball nicely, made a break of eight to rover. With the other ball, however, she failed at penultimate, letting in her opponent, who made seven points with a peel. Mrs Bassett again gained control, making tho last two points, and on Mrs Palmer failing to hit in Mrs Bassett set a rush for the peg. In the next turn, however, she cut the rush and in separating missed the shot. At this stage Mrs Palmer had nine points to make, which with steady play, giving her opponent only long shots, she successfully accomplished, winning an uphill ganm bv 2 points.

A. G. F. Boss v. B. McCreath. —MeCroath was the first to get a start. Hitting in with his second ball, he planned a wel (thought out set out for a break, and, on Boss missing the shot, started off on his first break, but failed at the second hoop. In and out play followed for a short time until Boss made a break from the fourth hoop to rover. With one of his clips on the third return and the third hoop McCreath hit in and, playing carefully, made a finish for the backward ball, peeling his opponent’s ball at rover and pegging it out. Boss hit in and was successful in negotiating 3 and 4 back before McCreath, playing an excellent three-ball break, finished 20—23.

A. G. F. Boss v. F. L. Harrison.— Harrtson played an excellent game against Boss, making practically two all-round breaks. In and out play followed for a short time until Harrison failed at the penultimate, when Boss, with a break nicely set out, finished from the fifth hoop to rover. Later, Boss completed a break with his second bal, when Harrison got in, made rover and put his opponent's hall out of play. Boss then elected to go into position when Harrison, in going to remove the lull I, missed a short roquet. Boss ventured to attempt the hoop from a difficult position and failed. This gave Harrison the opportunity of joining his partner ball, and on Ross missing tho shot Harrison

played several difficult strokes to make the two last hoops and peg out in the one turn, the game ending 26—24. Mrs Brown (Palmerston North) v. Mrs Palmer (Christchurch). —The local lady played well to defeat Mrs Palmer, who has been playing well throughout. Mrs Brown made good breaks and played carefully all through the game, winning by the substantial margin of 12 points. H. P. Stratton v. D. AfcClyinont.— The latter player, from Wanganui, has been showing bis worth in every game that he has so far played, and the one against Stratton, a minus player, proved no exception. At tho commencement McClymont made a break of nine, with a perfect wire at No. 1, but did not make much headway with the second ball and, baulking at penultimate, Stratton made good use of the opportunity by completing a break of nine. Later, Stratton pegged out one of his opponent's balls when AlcClymont had rover to make. An opportunity occurred when Stratton failed at a hoop, after which McClymont got into position and, on Stratton missing tho shot, made rover and in the same turn pegged out.