CROQUET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 7

CROQUET

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS Favoured with bright sunshine all day good progress was made with the various events in the Otago Croquet Championship on Saturday. The lawns were much improved with Friday's rain, and many good games were witnessed by a large gathering of spectators. Play was continued until 7.30 in the evening, 40 games in all having been played for the day. The flag at Logan Park was flown at half-mast out of respect to the memory of Miss Isobel Brown, a member of the Leith Club, who was killed on Friday in a motor accident at St. Leonards.

As will be seen from the scores, thefts were njany close contests, and in several instances it was " anyone's game" uutii the peg was hit. This was the case in the Championship Singles when R. M'Creath (Gore) met J. Nichol (Opohoj. Both men .played a good open game. Nichol made one and broke down, and in his next turn made a good round of 10. M'Creath followed with a four and five. Each player made another two good breaks, and with alj clips on the peg, M'Creath hit in and won 26—24. Again, in the Champion Doubles, 6. Hart and Mrs Corbett met Mrs Anderson and Mrs Buckland. Hart started off well and got to penultimate in two turns. Mrs Anderson got a rover in three: Mrs Buckland to third return before Mrs Corbett could get a start, but after a few ineffectual strokes Mrs Corpett went to the peg. Hart, Mrs Anderson and Mrs Buckland were all on rover hoop. Mrs Buckland made her last hoop, and looked like pegging blue out but missed. Then followed a period of separating. Mrs Anderson picked up a beautiful lrng shot, came down to her hoop, but did not get a very good position. She took a sporting shot at it, but missed. Hart hit in and finished the game, winning 26-^-23. At the same time as this match, was in progress a good junior championship fame was p'ayed on the adjoining lawn. Irs Sutton (Invercargill) met Mrs Bull' (Christchurch). Each player in turn made three and four, and then Mrs Sutton forged ahead to get both clips on the peg. The third return stuck Mrs Bull up for a long time, but by good shooting she kept Mrs Sutton from pegging out until she got one to the peg and one to four back, when Mrs Sutton hit in from' across the lawn and pegged out 26—21.

Mesdames M'Creath and Quinn (Southland), Blacldiam (Timaru), and Rhodes (Leith) had a thrilling game. The former pair got round to the peg when the latter had made only 11 points. Mrs Quinn had. all set for the peg. in what looked like an easy peg out, but the forward ball, Mrs M'Creath, missed and rolled past by a foot. Mrs Quinn pegged her own ball out, and it looked as though two more shots would finish the game, but Mrs Rhodes picked up with a good shot, sent Mrs M'Creath'e ball to a baulk, and play went on until Mrs Rhodes and Blackham both got to Rover hoop. Meantime, Mrs M'Creath had several shots at the peg, which was proving most elusive, but eventually with a splendid shot from the corner she hit in to the opponents' balls, lying nicely for a rush, and finished quite nn exciting game 26—22. In the A Grade Handicap Singles H. S. Reid met R. W. M'Creath, the latter conceding five bisques. Reid played good croquet, and, using three bisques, went to the last hoop, and lay «P for a rush. M'Creath Was off his ehooting altogether, and made one hoop and broke down. _ Reid hit in again, and, always leaving his opponent a long shot used hi fl last two bisques to make penultimate. He peeled through the last hoop and. to the peg before his opponeut had got his eye in. M'Creath played a much bettor game later, when he met Nichol in the Championship. Mrs Gibson played a splendid game to beat Mrs Metcalf 26—20. Mrs Metcalt has been playing consistently all through, and had a good lead in thi a game, but once Mrs Gibson settled down she played the better game, and using clever tactics at the finish deserved her win. Mies Mee (St. Clair) was another player who showed good form. In the A Grade Handicap Singles Mrs Horn (Punga) beat Mrs Fraser (Invercargill) 26-2, and fi. S. Roid .beat M'Crcith 26 —l. Miss Mee then" met Mrs Horn, and Miss Mee won 26—11, having one bisque .still in her pocket. Miss Mee next met H. S. Reid, and had another good win from |him 28—8. Mrs Richards (Timaru) had a surprisingly easy win from Mrs Suxton (Wateft). The latter, usually a very steady player, could not get going, and Mrs Richards won 26—1. In the Handicap Singles Mrs Halatead played a very good game against Mrs J. T. Wilson, the latter's experience standing her in good stead towards the end of the game, which she won 26 21. ~ Another touch and go game in tne A Grade Championship was that between R. W. M'Creath and Mrs Anderson, lhc latter seemed to have the game in-eafe keeping when one of those "easy snots in croquet went astray and let M LreatD in to win 26—24. The following are the results:— A GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES First Life—First Round. Mrs J. S. Wilson beat Mrs Christopher Mrs Young beat Mrs Gerkin 26—19. Second Round. J. Nichol beat Mrs Metcalf 26—16. R W. M'Creath beat Mrs Anderson 26—24. Third Round. R. W.fM'Creath beat J. Nichol 26—24. Second Life—First Round. Mrs Lee beat E. Higgs 26—17. A GRADE HANDICAP DOUBLES First Round. Mrs Horn'beat Mrs Fraser 26—2. J. Nichol beat Mrs Young 26—10. Second Round. Mrs Cowper beat Mrs Robertson 26—24. E. Higgs beat Mrs Beck 26—8. Miss Mee beat Mrs Horn 26—11. H. S. Reid beat R. W. M'Creath 26—1. Mrs Gibson beat Mrs Metcalf 26—20. Mrs Blackham beat Mrs Allen 26—19. Mrs J. S. Wilson beat Mrs Halstead 26—21. Third Round. Miss Mee beat H. S. Reid 26—8. Mrs Forrester beat Mrs Gillanders 26—22. A GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Third Round. Mesdames M'Creath beat Mesdames Blackham and Rhodes 26—22. Mr 3 Millin and J. Tannock beat Mesdames Simpson and Forrester 26—8. Mesdames Pettigrew and Gerkin beat Mrs Cornish and G. Hart 26—24. Mrs Corbett and G. Hart beat Mesdames Anderson and Buckland 26—23. B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES First Round. Mrs Reay beat Mrs Moss 26—20. Mrs Sutton beat Mrs M'Clatchey 26 24. Miss Hercus beat Mrs Jelly 26—17. Second Round. Mrs Richards beat Mrs Saxton 26—1. Mrs Myles beat Mr s Smart 26—15. Third Round. Mrs Myles beat Miss M'lnman 26—18. B GRADE HANDICAP SINGLES First Round. Mrs Reay beat Mrs Cameron 26—13. Mr s M'Kinlav beat Mrs Croning 26—2. Mrs Gordon beat Mrs Campbell 26—21. Mrs Smart beat Mrs Marshall 26—18. Mrs Robertson won by default from Mrs Palmer. Second Round. Mrs Moss beat Mrs Gordon 26—22. B GRADE HANDICAP DOUBLES Second Round. Mesdames Bull and Reay won by default from Mesdames Gordon and Hardy. B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Second Round.

Mesdames Bull and Reay beat Mesdanieg Richards and Knox 26—11.