CROQUET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23717, 26 January 1939, Page 6

CROQUET

By Clips (Club captains and secretaries are invited to forward for insertion in this column items of interest to players. Questions referring to the laws of the game are also invited and will be answered as far as possible. All communications musl reach this office not later than Tuesday ot each week and must bear the writer's name and address as well as nom de plume.) TOURNAMENT DATES January 30. —Southern Hawke’s Bay Championships, at Dannevirke. February I.—Canterbury Championships, at Christchurch. February 7.—Southland Championships, at Invercargill. February 8— Canterbury Junior Tournament, at Christchurch. February 14.—-Otago Championships, at Dunedin. February 16.—South Canterbury Annual Tournament, at Timaru. February 28— Gold and Silver Mallets, at Hastings. March 10— Gold and Silver Medals, at Auckland. Raster.—Alexandra Club’s Tournament, at Alexandra. SHIELD MATCHES A start was made on Tuesday with the second half of the season’s programme of interclub matches. The weather was calm and mild, but provoking showers in the afternoon retarded play somewhat, although all were completed. It was unfortunate that Tamut was unable to field teams against St. Clair and Logan Park. Tuesday is, in

players’ minds, set aside for matches, and getting six games by default does not compensate for the disappointment of no play. Teams enter the competition to get play against other clubs, and any player is better than none to play against. Results of Tuesday’s play: A Grade Logan Park won from Tainui by default. Opoho v. Punga (Opoho names first). —Doubles: Mesdames Rankin and Millin 26, Mesdames Horn and Buckland 17; Mesdames Watson and Neill 9, Mesdames Rigby and Allen 26. Singles; Mrs Millin 26, Mrs Horn 21; Mrs Rankin 26, Mrs Buckland 0; Mrs Watson 26, Mrs Rigby 7; Mrs Neill 26, Mrs Allen 8. Totals: Opoho 5 games, Punga 1 game. B Grade Logan Park v. Watea I (Logan Park names first).—Doubles: Mesdames Campbell and Gray 16, Miss Mee and Mrs Wilson 26; Mesdames McKinlay and Paul 11, Mesdames Knox and Palmer 26. Singles: Mrs Campbell 26, Miss Mee 15: Mrs Gray 26. Mrs Wilson 18; Mrs McKinlay 9, Mrs Knox 26; Mrs Paul 18, Mrs Palmer 26. Totals: Watea, 4 games; Logan Park, 2 games. Opoho v. Caversham (Caversham names first).—Doubles: Mesdames Will and Archer 26, Mrs Neill and Miss Hercus 25; Mesdames Pickering and Carrington 26, J. J. Purdie and Mrs Hay 16. Singles: Mrs Will 26. Mrs Neill 18; Mrs Archer 16, Miss Hercus 26; Mrs Pickering 19. J. J. Purdie 26; Mrs Carrington 26, Mrs Hay 3. Totals: Caversham 4 games. Opoho 2 games. Punga v. Watea II (Punga names first). —Doubles; Mesdames Porteous and Haig 26. Miss Glanville and Mrs Clark 14; Mesdames A. W. McDonald and McKay 26, Mesdames Rowse and Robertson 18. Singles: Mrs Porteous

26, Miss Glanville 26; Mrs Haig 26, Mrs Clark 22; Mrs McDonald 26, Mrs Rowse 20; Mrs McKay 26, Mrs Robertson 15. Totals; Punga 6 games, Watea II nil. Draw for Next Week A Grade.—Tuesday: Opoho v. Logan Park, at association lawns. Wednesday: Watea v. Tainui. at association lawns. C Grade.—Tuesday: Watea v. Logan Park, at Watea: Tainui II v. Caversham 11, at Caversham; Punga v. Cavcrsham I, at Punga; Monlecillo v. Tainui I, at Montecillo. FERN MATCHES The following is the result of last Saturday’s fern match, Montecillo v. Punga (Montecillo names first):— Messrs Cameron and Torrance 26, 12, Mesdames Buckland and Porteous 23, 3; Mesdames Moss and Torrance 26, 26, 16, Mesdames Haig and McKay 12, 12] 3. Totals: Montecillo 106 points, Punga 53 points. Draw for Saturday.—Logan Park v. Opoho, at association lawns. DOMINION COUNCIL MEETING The annual meeting of the New Zealand Croquet Council was held in Palmerston North, Mr R. W. McCrealh (Gore) presiding over a large attendance of delegates from all parts of the Dominion. Mr McCreath extended a warm welcome to those present, expressing the hope that the. tournament would prove enjoyable. Congratulations were extended to Mrs W. E. Caldow, editor of the Croquet Gazette, on her efforts. A challenge issued by the New Zealand Council to the English Association for a match to be played in New Zealand in January or February, 1940 (centennial year) was accepted by letter from the English Association. International matches between New Zea-

land. England, and Australian States are being arranged.

Notices of Motion

On behalf of the Manawalu Association, Mrs T. Simpson moved “That, owing to the discontinuance of discount allowed to associations for collecting accounts for Croquet Annuals, the council collect their own account from clubs." Opinion 'as somewhat divided on the matter. South Canterbury, Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington, and Otago delegates opposed the motion, while Canterbury, Hawk. Bay, and Southland delegates supported Manawatu.—The secretary (Mrs W. S, Austin) said that the proposal would be difficult to put into effect. The associations, after all. were the link between the clubs and the council.—The motion was defeated, but a recommendation was made to the executive that a discount to associations be reinstated.

“That the New Zealand Croquet Council arrange for the bisquing to define each grade taking part in silver buttons competition ” was a remit sent forward by the Kensington Representative Club, North Auckland—Mr A. G. Rcss said the idea was to bring

about greater uniformity in grading, but the scheme was not entirely workable. Local associations had their own well-defined grades.—The remil was revised to provide that assistance be given to representative clubs in the matter of grading, and in this form it was carried.

A South Auckland remit sought an increase in the number of votes from larger associations —five votes in the case of an association with 600 members and six votes in the case of associations with over 600 members.— The danger in the remit, Mr Ross said, was the possibility of the big associations becoming too strong a hold the disadvantage of the smaller associations.—The remil was heavily defeated. On account of overseas visits next year, it was decided to appoint three New Zealam selectors, the following being elected:—Mrs C. Watkins, Mr A G. F. Ross, and Mr A. J. Gibbs (Patea). It was decided to hold the gold mallets competition at Nelson next year, and the gold medals competition at Greymouth. It was also decided to place on record the services of the Northern Bowling Club for allowing its green to be used for the championships. DOMINION TOURNAMENT The following descriptions of matches in the Dominion tournament from the Manawatu Evening Standard will be of interest to local players:— For the first three days the high wind blowing was most disconcerting to the players, not only diverting the course of moving balls, but actually altering the position in some .cases of those that were stationary. Although the play generally was good, had these adverse conditions not prevailed croquet of the very best would have been witnessed.

Saturday broke perfectly, and conditions have since then been very peasant. The lawns are in excellent order and true and fast. J. Tannock (Opoho) v. A. G. F. Boss (Christchurch) The best game played in the afternoon in the No. 1 section was that between A. G. F. Ross and J. Tannock. Both players are among New Zealand’s best, with the consequence that there was a large number of spectators watching the match, and they certainly were not disappointed, for Tannock came to light with first class croquet in good style, defeating his opponent 26—0. In the first round Tannock, collecting the balls well, made a break to penultimate and, on Ross missing the shot, he used the backward ball and. with the use of his handicap, double-peeled and pegged out. giving Ross no further chance to get the balls. Mrs McLeod (Gore) v. Mrs Watkins (Hastings) This match was watched by a large number of interested spectators, but it was not until the final stages that excitement was rife. Mrs McLeod was playing well, and soon secured a good lead, and it looked as if she would have an easy win, but Mrs Watkins, whose capabilities for building a break are well known, took advantage of a good opportunity and peeled and pegged out her opponent’s ball. At this stage Mrs McLeod had her other clip on penultimate and. shooting into Mr= Watkins’s play, the latter player made a good three-ball break of six and gradually worked her clip to 4 back, where she baulked. Mrs McLeod hit in rjid made penultimate, but elected to shoot for a

ball nedr the boundary, but missed. This gaVe Mrs Watkins, control. She then made two more points, but failed to get position for rover, and with the final sh«t hit both balls to the boundary. Mrs McLeod later hit in and made rbyer, but had no ball and played for the peg, but missed Mrs Watkins'failed to set a rush, and Mrs McLeod .shot in and finished a close and hard-fought game. 26—23 Whitcoinbes for Croquet*