CROQUET TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22197, 26 February 1934, Page 5

CROQUET TOURNAMENT

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS THREE EVENTS COMPLETED The Otago Championship Croquet tournament was continued on Saturday' in glorious weather and in the afternoon the lawns were lined with interested spectators. On dawns 3,4, and 5 the finals of the A' Grade Championship Doubles, A Grade Handicap Doubles, and B Grade Championship Doubles were played. Opportunity was taken of keeping all other lawns going with singles events, which had been delayed owing to many of the, players being held up in the doubles. There are still some 44 games to be played to complete the four remaining events, and given fine weather the finals should all be played on Tuesday. NOTES ON THE PLAY. Handicap Singles. Mrs. Forrester (Leith) put up a meritorious performance in beating Mrs Horn (Punga). Mrs Horn was not playing; at her best and found two and a-half bisques too much to concede to Mrs Forrester, who was playing a nice open game and picking up unexpectedly long shots and making use of any mishit by her opponent.

Mr Hart (Timaru) and Mrs Quinn (Invercargill) also treated the spectators to some excellent croquet, neither being afraid to take a shot into the enemy’s camp, and both players “wired” scientifically when a point could not be made. Mrs Quinn used one and a-half of her two and a-half bisques, but Mr Hart got in to make the last five points and peg out before his opponent could use the final bisque. In the Combined Handicap Doubles between Mesdames J. T. Wilson and T. Robertson (Invercargill) and Miss Kerens and J. Tannock (Opoho), after the balls were ail in play, Mr Tannock, who plays a very good game, hit in and went round to rover hoop with black, using a bisque midway to make 11 hoops. This, however, proved the Opoho pair’s undoing, as the Southland ladies kept leaving the play for black, and the game was rather prolonged. Mrs Wilson, after making six hoops judiciously, helped her partner round to the rover hoop. Miss Hercus got to second return, and Mrs Wilson then completed her round and pegged out to win, the scores being 26 19.

THE FINALS. The A Grade Champion Doubles was somewhat one sided, but was productive, of the best rounds so far. Play was Slow to start, each player trying to force the opponent into a position for her own use. Mr Corbet n.ade a stall and got to the fourth hoop, and taking it too gently baulked. Mrs Horn made the first hoop, the ball rolled for the second, and lay for rush for red. Mr Corbet made another two hoops and lay for rush, Iris partner at “ a ” baulk. Mrs Horn took the next shot, and taking off a fine one to come down, struck the hoop and had to, return to her partner. The play again lay for Mr Corbet, who went from sixth to rover hoop in easy style. Mrs Cowper then hit in. and made two hoops, missed position for the next, and shot into the corner. Mrs Corbet hit in and made:a nice break of five, but baulked at the sixth. Mrs Horn picked up in mid-field, but again over-rolled for her hoop, and lay up near her partner. Mrs Corbet taking a sporting shot from one end of the lawn to the other-, picked up, lay out. a good break, and completed her round by'well-judged shots and beautiful cuts, then peeled her partner through the rover hoop and rolled up to peg out, but she was a trifle far away. She lay for a rush, with the yellow open in mid-field. Sirs Horn took a shot at the opposition, but missed by a fraction, and Mr Corbet completed the game by pegging out: 26—3. • The final of the Senior Handicap Doubles game was slow and characterised by very cautious play, neither side taking any chances. Mrs Coll and Mr Nichol (Opoho) had to concede two bisques and a-half to Mesdames J. T. Wilson arid Caverhill (Invercargill). The latter are a very strong pair, and it was anybody’s game until the end. The Opoho pair played with more freedom, and their

opponents had used up all their bisques. The Opoho’ players won by 26. points to 21. - • : The game between Mrs-Cowper (Christchurch) and Mrs J. Wilson (Watea) was very short. Mrs Cowper might be termed a “ two-ball ” artist. Most players find it hard enough to make six or seven hoops on end with four balls in play, but Mrs. Cowper makes one hoop—and on to perfect position for the next—with only two balls. Moreover, she takes care to set off with her own. pair, : and when she does break down, she has her partner’s ball handy, and' the opponent’s well separated. In Saturday’s game, by means of five and six hoops at a - time, Mrs Cowper reached the'peg, Mrs'.Wilson making a well-deserved ' five : by means of picking up well nigh impossible shots. The final of the Junior Championship Doubles was almost grimly,‘Contested between Mr Tait i and. Mrs Barclay (Oamaru) and Mesdafnes'Lawn' and Halsted (Punga)'. The game lasted jnst on five hours, but as it was a final and not bin-' dering the progress of, the tourney there was no time limit put on; it. ; (There wan little to choose between .the .players. The Oamaru pair and Mrs Lawn, had each made seven hoops before Mrs* Halsted could master No. 1, but, ,as frequently happens, the latter player, was first to the rover. A very closely-contested game ended in favour of the , Oamaru players by 26 points to 22. - , The following are the results:—

A GRADE. ' CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. ■■■ , i . Final. ■ , ■. - Mr and Mrs Corbet '(Opoho) 26 beat Mrs Horn (Punga) and Mrs Cowper (Christchurch) 3. HANDICAP DOUBLES. Semi-final. Mrs Cole and Mr Nichol 20 beat Mesdames O’Donnell and Gibson 24. Final. Mrs Cole amh Mr Nichol (Opoho) 26 beat Mesdames J. T. Wilson and Caverhill (Invercargill) 21. CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. First life, third round. —Mrs Corbett (Opoho) 26 beat Mrs Millar (Opoho) 16. Second life, third round—Mrs Buchler (Punga) 26 beat Mrs Benzoni (Punga) 20. HANDICAP SINGLES. Second Round. —Mrs Caverhill (Invercargill) 26 beat Mrs Rigby (Punga) 10. Third Round. —Mr Hart (Timaru) 26 beat Mrs Quin (Invercargill) 23; Mr Tannock (Opoho) 26 beat Mrs A. Corbett (Opoho) 22, Mrs W. Corbet (Opoho) 26 beat Mrs Caverhill (Invercargill) 23; Mrs J. Robertson (Watea) 26 beat Miss Mee (St. Clair) 11. Combined Doubles. —Mrs J. T. Wilson and T. Robertson 26 beat Miss Hercus and Mr J. Tannock 19. B GRADE. " Open Singles.—Third round: Mrs Ritchie 26 beat Mrs Lattimer 8, Mrs Cornish 26 beat Mrs Gerkin 10, Mrs Sutton 26 beat Mrs M'Gregor 23. Fourth Round.—Mrs West 26 beat Mrs Kirkness 16. - , • HANDICAP SINGLES. *

Second Round. —Mrs Cahill 26 beat Miss Adam 14, Mrs Were 26 beat Miss Hercua 15.' v'""" -■ ■" " ■ ' Third Round. —Mrs Collins 26 beat Miss Millar 25, Mr Tait 26 beat Mr Williamson 21. Fourth Round. —Mrs Metcalf 26 beat Mr s Knox 17. : OPEN DOUBLES. . Semi-final. —Mesdames Halsted and Lawn (Punga) 26 beat Mesdames Glover ami Ferguson (Punga)- 17, Final.—Mrs Barclay and Mr Tait fOamaru) 26 beat Mesdames Halsted and Lawn 22. The following is the draw for this morning, games to commence at 9 o’clock: — Logan Park. Mrs Brickland v. Mrs J. T. Wilson (No. 5), Mrs Cowper v. Mrs Young (No.. 3), Mrs Forrester v. Mr Hart (No. 4), Mrs Cahill v. Mrs Were (No. 2), Mrs Beck v. Mrs Ritchie (No. 6), Mrs Cornish v. Mrs Metcalf (No. 1), Mesdames Gillanders and M'Clatchy v. Mesdames Halsted and Lawn (No. 7). On completion of these games, the following will go on:—Mrs Christopher v. Mrs Horn, Mrs J. T. Wilson v. Mr Nichol, Mrs Sutton v. Mrs Collins. Opoho Green. Mrs Cole v. Mr J. Tannoek, Mrs Corbet v. Mrs Pettigrew.