CROQUET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12596, 5 November 1926, Page 4

CROQUET

ASSOCIATION FERNS NOTES ON THE INITIAL GAME WAJRARAPA JOTTINGS <By “Roquet.”) THE ASSOCIATION GOLD FERNS. This competition was inaugurated by the local association to provide competitive games for players of 3f to of bisques, inclusive, and already the entries are numerous. The first game was played yesterday on the lawns of the Wellington Club, who had generously placed them at the disposal of the assdeiation, to enable the game to be played on neutral ground, and the members took the opportunity to invite the officers of the association to be present. These were Mesdames S. Bennett A. Rhodes-AVilliams (vice-president), i\ Wilkinson thon. treasured), and Earl McKenzie (hon. secretary). Several visitors were present by invitation, including Mesdames Fuller (president of the Kelburh Club) and G. Halliday (president of the Hataitai Club); whose respective clubs were the ones drawn to play the first game. The Kell, urn Club was represented by Mesdames Morrah and Pollock, and Mesdames ! Gundersen and Phillips played for Hataitai. . The lawns were ip excellent order, and were a credit to the club and caretaker, but the playing conditions were most unpleasant, a gale of wind "blowing throughout the game, and making the efforts for position a matter of luck.

No breaks were made beyond one of three hoops, and a trio of two hoops, the players preferring to play for safety instead, on several occasions the balls being carried over the boundary by the aid of the wind. Hataitai Club won the toss, and Mrs Phillips played blue to the centre field. Mrs Pollock followed with red to the right line, where Airs Gundersen also played black to. Mrs Morrah, with the yellow ball, elected to fire to the left side-line.

Black played off red to the centre, and got blue, and laid for the next turn. Yellow hit red, and wen£ to the - opponent’s balls, got a drive on blue to the first hoop, but failed to secure a good position and returned to her partner. Blue played, hit yellow, then black, towards the first hoop, but baulked. Red took the turn, .and played to the blue ball, and made the first hoop. (Kelburrf I.) Removed black from tbe line, and went back to her partner. Black hit blue, parted the adversaries, and went, back to the blue ball. Yellow missed” red. Black scared off blue (1 alty, but went boundaty near the opposition’s balls. Yellow • took the turn, and endeavoured to make the first with blue, but baulked. Red took advantage of the misIfinrtune, and made another point. (Kelburn 2, Hataitai 1); but could not get a shot at any ball, so drove to the boundary. Ever! scoring. Black hit blue, made a point (2 all), but missed the blue. Red missed yellow. Blue scored with her partner’s ball (Hataitai 3, Kelburn 2), and laid near by. Red hit in, and made a point (8 all), then cut yellow to the fourth hoop and scored (Kelburn: 4, Hataitai 3), then tried the next hoop, but baulked. Black hit blue, but the wind took charge, and the ball ran far past the opponents, so she returned to her partner’s ball. - Even scoring followed for some considerable time, the points being (5 all), then (6 all), until Kelburn gradually drew ahead, and the socre steed at (17—6). Meanwhile the wind was rising, until a perfect gale ft as blowing, and the players were unable to secure any atarijte at all. Mrs Gundersen made a beautiful shot with the black to the blue, and added another 2 points to Hataitai’s score, making it (Kelburn 17, Hataitai 8), and would have probably made more, only the ball was carried to the boundary by the windy gusts. In-and-out play followed on both sideß, and the score stood at 21—12, followed by Kelburn scoring two more points in succession, and parting the opponents’ balls, and laid for yellow to peg out, the game finally ending 26—12 .in Kelburn’s favour.

At the conclusion of the rfims the winners were- congratulated Tly .'Mrs Bennett (president of the association), who pinned the ferns on the victors, and sne also congratulated the Hataitai players on their splendid showing, a& the Score does not indicate the strenuousness of the game, .and only the players themselves know what a large element the weather conditions played in this, the first game, for the association ferns. Lower Huft will now meet Kelburn in this competition.

The Wellington Club provided a delicious afternoon tea for their guests, and altogether the function" was a most enjoyable one, the -president (Mrs Hendry) expressing the pleasure the club fe(t at being honoured by the game being played on their greens. CROQUET IN THE AVAIRARAPA The season for summer sports in Mosterton was officially opened last Hnturday by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr’and Mrs T. Jordan. The croquet lawns were officially declared open by the Mayoress, and the president (Mrs Thomas) gave a short account of the past activities of the club, in the scheme for raising funds for a new pavilion. During tho winter tho club members have worked hard for that object, and have raised a substantial amount, and have also contributed to the cost of renovating their present quartets. There Were <i large linmh.u' of visitors present from Greytown Carterton, and Featherston, in addition

to local supporters ol the game. The visitors were welcomed by the president (Mrs Thomas') ami the hon secletary (Mrs Danbney). an entertained with the Mayoress at afternoon tea. The Mastert-on band was in attendance, and enlivened the proceedings. Various competitions were held, and were won by members of the visiting clubs. I A competition for gentlemen was won by Mr Sparkman. At the close of the afternoon the presidents of the various clubs expressed their thanks and appreciation of th% afternoon amusement arranged for them, and gave cheers for the Masterton Club. The lawns are delightfully situated by the shores of tho lake, and surrounded by trees, which afford a pleasant shelter from the sun. Althougn only laid down two years they give promise of being very good in the future. CARTERTON CLUB This club has its lawns run in conjunction with the bowling club, and they are most pleasantly situatea, and in splendid condition, the playing surface being in first-class order. Surrounded as they are by a high macrocarpa hedge and the open spaces planted with laburnum and acacia trees, they are a pattern for our city fathers to copV, as there is no sign of any root effects on the playing surface. HAUNUI CLUB The Hauuui Club’s lawns are as always in the pick of perfection, hav ; ng in days gone by been a bowling green, probably accounts for their superior condition. The members are busily engaged playing off their different matches, and are to be congratulated upon their fine membership, having only been in existence about five months, and numbering a membership of over 40. ASSOCIATION COMPETITIONS The Featherston Club has entered for the Pollock Stars, also the Association Ferns and McKenzie Wristlets. Carterton has entered for the Association Ferns and the McKenzie Wristlets also. Owing to the standard of bisgneing being altered by the Dominion Croquet Council only one club has entered for the A grade inter-clubs, three have entered for the intermediate, and four clubs for the B grade.