Croquet Finalists at Lower Hutt

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 14, 18 January 1937, Page 11

Croquet Finalists at Lower Hutt

MRS R. D. GAMBRILL ANNEXES WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. MRS ANSTIS RUNNER-UP. Play was continued, at Lower Hutt on Friday in the North Island Croquet Championships .until late afternoon when heavy rain called a halt. In the women’s championship final between Mesdames Gambrill aud Anstis each had won a game before rain fell, the deciding game being played on Saturday, victory going to Mrs Ganibrill, 4—26, 26—4, 26 —24. To Mrs Burrett (Auckland) fell the honour of giving Miss Washer her first defeat, in the semi-final of the women’s championship. In the finals, Mrs Anstis met Miss Washer in the second life, and Mrs Gambrill met Mrs Burrett in the first life.

Mrs Anstis played faultless croquet, and was well in tho lead, when Miss Washer hit in, made a good break, and took the score from 6 to 18, after which Mrs Anstis scored the maximum points. In tho Gambrill-Burrett game the shooting and tactics were equal. One player would be a couplo of points ahead, then the adversary would over-

take her and gain a point or two. xnc long shots of both players were excellent. Mrs Gambrill eventually won by six points. Great interest was shown in the game between Miss Washer and E. Managh in the semi-finals of the handicap singles, as Managh had to concede his opponent two bisques. Mauagh opened with a score of eight points. Miss Washer took a bisque to open her scoring and played a break of nine before failing. Managh, playing steadily, drew ahead, and kept the lead. With her second bisque Miss Washer scored only one point, and Managh secured the game, 26—12. In the final of the ladies’ championship, Mrs Gambrill’s long shooting was very fine, whilst Mrs Anstis’s hooprunning was up to standard and very accurate. The two first games of this

event were runaways for each player, Airs Anstis winning by 22 points in tho first game and losing by the same number of points in the second. The final game was of an even description. Airs Gambrill pegged out one of Airs Anstis’s balls when the latter had two points to make and the game ended in Airs Gambrill’s favour by that number of points. E. Managh defeated Airs Gambrill in the final of the handicap singles, 26 —0. Airs Gambrill had to concede two bisques. Managh played most attractive croquet despite the adverse weather, and using only one bisque, ran out a winner by 26 points, his opponent never approaching the first hoop.