CROQUET TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22198, 27 February 1934, Page 11

CROQUET TOURNAMENT

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS The weather wag again perfect yesterday for the players in the Otago croquet championships. There was not a breath of wind, and not too bright sunshine. From the first game at 9 a.m. until 7.30 in the evening a large number of interested spectators lined the lawns. Some splendid games were witnessed, particularly in the A Grade Championship Singles, many of the games being a fight to a finish, with only an odd point in the winner's favour. All-round breaks' were the order of ; the day. NOTES ON THE PLAY. Mrs Forrester, with five bisques against Mr Hart, had an easy win, using only three of her handicap. Mrs Forrester was playing well, and Mr Hart could donothing right. The game ended in the lady's favour 26—4. Immediately following this Mr Hart played Mrs Cowper in a championship .event. In this game Mr Hart made two all-round breaks, playing with accuracy and judgment. He baulked at the rover hoop in the second round, and Mrs Cowper in to make 10 points. Another championship game in which Mr Hart made a beautiful round from first hoop to rover was that in which he played Mrs W. Corbet. Mrs Corbet also made a pretty round from second to last hoop. This game was a real tussle for supremacy at the end. Mr Hart with one on the peg and one on rover baulked at the last hoop, Mrs Corbet, who was in the same position, made the last hoop and pegged out amid well-earned applause the winner by three points. Mr Nichol, who has been playing consistently, met Mrs J. T. Wilson, who has also been playing very well, in the first life of the Championship. Mrs Wilson in three turns had one clip on rover hoop and one on the peg. Mr Nichol had one on rover hoop, and nine to make with the other ball. Missing position, Mr Nichol lay for a rush up at " B" baulk. Mrs Wilson picked up her own ball, and, taking the risk of not separating the opponent, attempted her last hoop from what looked like an easy angle, but baulked. Mr Nichol hit in, made a splendid round of eight, and in attempting to peel the forward ball stuck in the hoop. This looked hopeless, but with a beautiful jump shot he put both b.alls through, roqueted up to the peg, and won by three points, to be heartily congratulated, particularly by his opponent. The final of the B Grade Handicap Doubles was not productive of as good play as was expected. The pairs were Mesdames Ritchie and Gerkin. of Gore, and Mesdames. Lawn and Halstead, of Punga. Both have been playing well in all the events, and probably each was overawed by the' other's .reputation, handicaps being equal. Mrs Gerkiu started off well and got to first return, to be followed by Mrs Halstead. Mrs Ritchie was not playing as well as usual, baulking several times at the first hoop. Mrs Lawn got going nicely, and went round to return. Play was in and out. each making an odd hoop and letting the other in. Mrs Ritchie then got in and got 'to four back, and so on until Mrs Gerkin reached the peg, followed by Mrs Halstead. The latter then looked as if she would peg the opponent out, but ran up to lie for her partner. Mrs Ritchie's shot missed, and Mrs Lawn made rover hoop and went up to the peg, the Punaa ladies winning by four There are still 14 games to be played to complete all the events, and play will be commenced at 8.30 this morning, when the final of the Combined Doubles will be played between Mesdames J. -)•■ Wli ; sou and T. Robertson (Invercargill) and Mesdames Cole and Cahill (Opoho). In the B Grade Handicap Singles Mrs Collins (Invercargill) will play Mrs Gerkin (Gore), and the winner will play Mrs M !r, C le (T O a p i en i) Sin B le, Mrs Collins and Mrs Ritchie pegged out their game owing to the light failing. This will be finished this morning. The winner of this game will meet Mrs Were (Lhustchurch) in the final. There are still five players let in the "A" Handicap Singles—Mesdames Forrester. J. T. Wilson, J. Robertson, W. Corbet, and Mr J. Tannock. In the Champion Singles the following arc left in:—Mesdames Horn, J. 1. Wilson Buchler, Corbet, Cole, Pettigrew, Qui'nn, and Mr Hart. Mrs Corbet being the only two-lifer. This event is taken out in two separate draws. Should Mrs Corbet win both sections there is no play-off, but if she does not the final will be played us the best of three games. The manager hopes to get all finals off in the early afternoon. I Results of yesterday's games are as follows: — A GRADE. CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. First Life —Second round: Mrs Cowper beat Mrs J. Wilson. 20—4; Mrs Horn beat j Mrs Christopher, 26—18; Mrs Pettigrew I won by default. Third round: Mrs Hart

beat Mrs Cowper, 26—10; Mrs Corbet beat Mrs Pettigrew, 26—3. - Fourth round: Mr Hart beat Mrs A. Corbett, 26—18. '"'■••'. Second Life—Third round: Mrs Pettigrew beat Mrs Cowper, 26—16; Mr Nichol beat Mrs J. T. Wilson, 26—23. -Fourth round: Mrs Cole beat Mr J. Tannock, 26—21;' Mrs Pettigrew beat Mrs Buchler, 26—15; Mr ß Quinn beat Mr Nichol, -26 20; Mrs Corbet beat Mr Hart, 26—23. HANDICAP SINGLES. Second Round.—Mrs J. T. Wilson beat Mrs Buckland, 26—22. Third Round.—Mrs J. T. Wilson beat Mrs Rhodes, 26—16; Mrs Cowper beat Mrs Young, 26—14; Mrs Buchler beat Mrs Brown, 26—K. Fourth Round.—Mrs Forrester beat Mr Hart, 26—4; Mrs Corbet beat. Mrs Buchler, 26—11; Mr Tannock beat Mrs" Cowper, 26—17. COMBINED DOUBLES. Semi-final. —Mesdames Cole and Cahill won by default, Mrs J.' T. Wilson and Robertson beat Mesdames Munro and Mitchell 26—S.' B GRADE. OPEN SINGLES. Fourth Round.—Mrs Collins beat Mrs Sutton 26—22, Mrs Ritchie beat Mrs Beck 26—10, Mrs Were beat Mrs Kirkness 26—10, Mrs Metealf beat Mrs Cornish 26—21. Fifth Round—Mrs Were beat Mrs Metealf 26—14. HANDICAP SINGLES. ' Third Round.—Mrs Cahill beat Mrs Were 26—19. Fourth Round.—Mrs Gerkin beat Mrs Tait 26—13, Mrs Collins beat Mr Tait by default, Mrs Cahill beat Mrs M'Kinlay 26—10. Semi-final.—Mrs Metealf . beat Mrs Cahill 26—19. * HANDICAP DOUBLES. Semi-final. —Mesdames Halstead and Lawn (Punga) beat Mesdames Gillanders and M'Clatchy (Watea) 26—14. Final.—Mesdames Halstead and Lawn beat Mesdames Gerkin and Ritchie 26—22. The following is the draw for to-day, games to commence at 8.30 a.m.:— Logan Park Lawns —Mrs J. T. Wilson and Mrs T. Robertson v. Mrs Cole and Mrs Cahill, Mrs Quinn v. Mrs Corbet, Mrs Gerkin v. Mrs Collins.

All otliqr competitors still in any event must report not later than 10 o'clock.