Third Day of Croquet Tournament

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 288, 5 December 1936, Page 15

Third Day of Croquet Tournament

SOME EXCITING FINISHES. With another fine day and improvement in tho greens, conditions were very favourable to the players in the annual tournament of the Alanawatu Croquet Association, the third day of which was concluded yesterday. Excellent progress was made and some thrilling matches wero witnessed, games being played at Northern greens, where Airs. S. J. Parkes, tournament manager, was in charge, and also at Alanawatu, where Airs. W. J. Robertson supervised. To-day all games will be played at Northern. Notes on the Play. One of the best matches of tho day was tho championship double between Mesdames Bryan and McAlurray and Mcsdames Langford and Alorgan in which the former pair carried the honours in an exciting finish. Mrs. McMurray was first in making a break of five. Mrs. Langford then hit in to make a break of 10. In and out play followed until Mrs. Alorgan, who was on the sixth hoop, with the other three on penultimate, got in with the lift shot. Sho baulked in the lift hoop and on resuming went to the stick leaving a rush for her partner. Airs. AlcAlurray picked up a long shot, making her penultimate hoop and lay up for her partner. The game at this stage developed into a long-shooting competition Mrs. Bryan eventually made her two hoops and put Mrs. Morgan on the peg leaving Mrs. Langford still on penultimate. In her next turn Airs. AlcMurray, who has been shooting remarkably well throughout the tournament, finished the game.

Airs. Bryan made a good recovery in a championship single against Airs. Burnett yesterday morning. Overnight Airs. Burnett had established a good lead with nice breaks and good shooting. , Striking form this morning, Mrs. Bryan, hit in and from first return went to the peg and after Airs. Burnett had failed to hit in finished the game in her next turn.

There were exciting features in a championship single between Mrs. Petrie and Airs. AlcAlurray in which the former prevailed. Playing beautiful croquet Airs. Petrie early established a big lead making a nice break from the second hoop to penultimate and followed up with another break, Mrs. McAlurray only having registered three points. However, the latter made a marvellous recovery and two or three times was almost in a winning position, but although picking up the long shots, sho failed with the short ones. Mrs. AlcAlurray played perfect croquet in a championship single against Mrs. Manning, finishing out in rocord time with two breaks, her opponent being given no opportunities and only scoring two.

Another thrilling match was the championship single between Mrs. T. Simpson and Mrs. Morgan both of whom were playing well. Mrs. Morgan was in first and by stages reached the peg with one ball with the second on penultimate. With black on third return and blue on rover, Mrs. Simpson picked a lovely long shot, made a hoop with blue and put red on the stick leaving Mrs. Morgan two hoops to make. In a thrilling finish Mrs. Morgan picked up the long shot and concluded the game.

In the open championship (first life) against Mrs. Wood which Mrs. Morgan won 26 —13, the match was bettter than the score would indicate. Both players played good shots but Mrs. Morgan secured better breaks.

Eight qn the top of her game at the end of the day Mrs. Petrie defeated Mrs. Burnett in short time with two perfect breaks, Mrs. Burnett having no chance in the A grade handicap singles. Mrs. Colquhoun snatched a game out of the fire, playing Mrs. Torstonson in the open championship (first life). Mrs. Torstonson was well in the lead but Mrs. Colquhoun played perseveringly to catch up until it was anybody's game and eventually won nicely, Mrs. Torstonson losing several opportunities. Yesterday’s results were as follow: Open Championship. First Life.

First round: Mrs. Morgan beat Mrs. Wood, 26—13. Second round: Mrs. McMurray beat Mrs. Manning,222; Mrs. Petrie beat Mrs. Simpson, 26—22; Mrs. Colquhoun beat Mrs. Torstonson, 26 —24. Second Life. First round: Mrs. Bryan beat. Mrs. Burnett, 26—20. Second round: Mrs. Bryan beat Mrs. Manning, 26—9; Mrs. Wood beat Mrs. Davidson, 26 —15; Mrs. Petrie beat Mrs. McMurray, 26—16; Mrs. Morgan beat Mrs. Simpson, 26—20. B Championship.

First round: Mrs. Gould beat Miss Read, 26—23.

Second round: Mrs. Gould beat Miss Newman, 26 —12; Mrs. Moxon beat Mrs. Bigham, 26—14.

Semi-final: Mrs. Oliver beat Mrs. Garner, 26—17. C Championship.

First round: Mrs. Houghton beat Mrs. Connor, 26—11; Mrs. King beat Miss McFarlane, 26—18. Second round: Mrs. McCarty beat Mrs. Christmas, 26—19; Mrs. Houghton beat Mrs. Watchorn, 26—24; Mrs. Mills beat Mrs. Dovonport, 26 —22. Semi-final: Mrs. McCarty boat Mrs. Houghton, 26—20. Champion Doubles.

First round: _ Mesdames Petrie and Robertson beat Mesdames Wilson and Hicks, 26—13. Second round:. Mesdames Bryan and

McMurray beat' Mesdames • Langford and Morgan, 26—23. Handicap Singles. " -J A Grade. First round: Mrs. Torstonson (41) beat Mri. Sinclair (5), 26—15; Mrs. Wood (1) beat Mrs. Davidson (4), 26 17; Mrs. Burnett (3) beat Mrs. Manning (31), 26 —16. Second round: Mrs. Bryant (3) beat Mrs. Torstonson (41), 26 —23; Mrs. Petrie beat Mrs. Burnett, 26—2. B Grade.' First round: Mrs.’Moxon (71) beat Mrs. Garner (61), 26—15. Second round: Mrs. Moxon beat Miss Newman, 26—23; Mrs. Snelling (51) beat Mrs. Lee (6), 26—17. Semi-final: Miss Read (6) beat Mrs. Anderson (6), 26—2 D. C Graae. First round: Mrs. Mills (91) beat Mrs. Dobson (104), 26—12. Second round: Mrs. Mills beat Mrs. Devonport, 26—20; Mrs. McCarty (8) beat'Mrs. Watchorn (10), 26—18. Semi-final: Mrs. Mills beat Mrs. McCarty, 26—16. ■ ; * Handicap Doubles. Second round: Mrs. Colquhoun (44) and Miss McFarlane (81) beat Mesdames Neilson (6) and Bachelor (4), 26—16.

Draw for To-day. At Northern greens at 9 a.m. sharp Mrs. McMurray v. Mrs. Simpson. Mrs. Morgan v. Mrs. Hicks. Mrs. Permain v. Miss McFarlane, Mrs. Wood v.*Mrs. Colquhoun.