NORTH ISLAND CROQUET

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1933, Page 4

NORTH ISLAND CROQUET

CHAMPIONSHIPS NEAR END DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY. SEVERAL DAYS’ COMPETITION. ■ ‘ The North Island croquet championships are now nearing the close at Palmerston North after over a week’s play. Conditions were perfect and the greens in good order on Monday. Some surprises were registered, H. F. Stratton suffering defeat at the hands Of Mrs, Caldow in tire open championship, and Captain • Hartnell (New Plymouth), a scratch player, went down to F. Harrison, a three bisquer, after a match which lasted all day. • The match between Mrs. Caldow. (Wellington) and Mr- Stratton. (Hast-, ings) in the open championship did not produce croquet of a high standard. In the Hartnell-Harrison match, Captain Hartnpll got in first with red and yellow and made: a break to 4 back, wiring his opponent’s ball at the first hoop and retiring to the third hoop. Mr. Harrison, firing with black to a double of red and yellow, failed to hit in and gave Captain Hartnell the opportunity of attempting the triple peel. This was not altogether successful and in breaking down at the third hoop he gave Harrison a break of seven., In and out play resulted in a win for Captain Hartnell 26—19 in the first game.

The second game was more exciting and the Wanganui player hit a double at the first hoop, making a beautiful break of nine. He continued with good breaks, nothing going right for the captain, the game ending in favour of Harrison 26—22.

In the third game Captain Hartnell was first in and made a break of nine. Harrison failing, Captain Hartnell again hit in but after making one hoop with yellow stuck in the fifth. Harrison then got in and playing excellent croquet made a fine break of ten and lay ready for the last two hoops. Captain Hartnell tried a long shot, but failed, leaving his opponent to make his last two hoops and peg out 26—15. t t , Following were, the results:— , Open Championship. Second, round: F. Harrison beat Captain Hartnell,. 16—26, 26 —22, 26—15. Semi-final: ■ Mrs.' .Caldow beat H. P.' Stratton, 11—26, 26—0, 26—22, Championship Doubles. Second round: Mesdames . Petrie (Eeilding) and Robertson (Manawatu) beat Mesdames Caldow and . Hogan (Welling"ton),' 26—20. V ' ■ uu I. ’ * Ladies’ Championship. % (Firsf Life.) Second round: Mrs. Anstis beat Mrs. Bryan, 26—6. , (Second Third round: Mrs. Anstis beat Mrs. McMurray, 23—10. TUESDAY’S RESULTS. Playing-in the semi-finals of the second life for the ladies’ championship Mrs. . Bryan was beaten by .Mrs. Anstis by 26 points to 8. The winner' played very consistently and carried her clips through the • round of -hoops in quick succession. Mrs. Bryan wOs quite, consistent for a three-bisque .player, but could not keep up-with , her scratch opponent. The third round game in the first life was an attractive one, although Mrs. Caldow failed to equal Mrs. Anstis in the round and was beaten by a comfortable margin. / In the afternoon Mrs. Anstis for the second time during the day met Mrs. Caldow and repeated, the success of the early morning. These were two scratch players very evenly matched and both playing with the-greatest care gave little away. Consequently the play was not at all sensational, breaks, of four and five hoops only denoting that hoops-were made under difficulties. The game was evenly contested, the final result being 26—18 in Mrs. Anstis’ favour. This brought the winner into the semi-finals of the other life of this match, to play her clubmate Mrs. Simpson (Takaro) to determine the opponent of Mrs. Langford (Northern), who was in the final of the other life of this event.

Playing in the semi-final of the open championship Hari'isdn won trom Mrs. Piteaithly 26—14 in a lengthy game. The winner was in first with a very clean break of IQ . hoops... The hitting on both .sides .was consistent and after a good break by Mrs. Piteaithly in and out play took place for both to play several weak: shots. Harrison took the lead with a fair break with the second ball and maintained this to the end. The second game, however, went to Mrs., Piteaithly by 26 points to .13. Harrison fell back from an early start and subsequently had difficulty ■ in negotiating the hoops after a good success in this direction earlier in the day. Game number three saw no outstanding ability on the part of either player. Perhaps the strenuous games the players had passed through were, beginning to make themselves felt' on the physique mf the contestants. Both players had many opportunities but failed to make ;the best use of them.- Harrison was first to reach four back, but progress on both sides was %low. Mrs. Piteaithly advanced her clips to three back and four back, her opponent finally working his way to the peg and laid up for a peg out. With a beautiful shot Mrs. Pitcaithly hit in but was only able to advance her score by one point. Mr. Harrison picked up a long shot and produced the one thrill of the match by a beautiful peg but across a distance of 13 yards! The three matches occupied eight and a half hours. The following are the results of Tuesday’s play:— Ladies’ Championship. Third round (first life): Mrs. Anstis beat Mrs. Caldow 26—14. (Second Life). Semi-final: Mrs. Anstis beat Mrs. Bryan 2G—B. Final: Mrs. Anstis beat Mrs. Caldow ,26-18. Open Championship. (Best of Three Games). Semi-final: F. L. Harrison beat Mrs. Piteaithly 26—14; lost to Mrs. Piteaithly 13-26; beat Mrs. • Piteaithly 26-17. Handicap Singles—A Grade. -Semi-final: Mrs.' ■ Simpson beat Mrs. Hogan 26—8. Championship ■ Doubles Semi-final: Mrs. Anstis and Mrs. Simpson. beat Mrs... Petrie and Mrs. Robertson 26—11. Even the eighth day did not see the games running to .schedule. . Almost all the events have been decided, but the remaining matches to complete the series were to have been staged on Thursday, progress on Wednesday being very slow. The weather conditions remained ideal and the lawns were still in excellent condition. In order to allow a number of players to leave, the prizes already won were presented during Wednesday after-

noon by Captain Hartnell, vice-president of the Dominion Croquet Council. Thursday’s play resulted:— Open Championship. (Best of -Three Games). Final:-Mrs. Caldow (Wellington) beat F. L. Harrison (Wanganui), 26—7, 22—26, 26—3. ' i Championship Doubles. ;■/! Final: Mesdames Anstis ■ and Simpson (Takaro) ; beat. Mesdames Langford Bryan (Northern), 26-46. -. Ladies’ Championship. x (First Life). Mrs. E. Simpson beat Mrs. Anstis, both Takaro players, 26—13. Mrs. Simpson was to meet Mrs. Langford in the final and the winner had to play Mrs. Anstis two out of three. In the open championship, best of three games, Mrs.' Caldow won the final against F. L. Harrison.. It was a very well contested game, both players shooting remarkably well. Harrison kept control in the second game, but in the third, with honours even, and playing at the first hoop he let Mrs. Caldow. in dnd she made an all round break to four back. Then Harrison could not pick up a ball, his opponent making an all round break to Rover. He shot in, made two more points, but breaking in at the third hoop left an easy pick up for Mrs. Caldow which she took advantage of and put her clip on the peg. Harrison failed to shoot in, Mrs. Caldow making her last hoop and pegging out 26—3 to win the North Island open championship. In the final of the championship doubles, ■ play between Mesdames Anstis and Simpson and Mesdames Langford and Bryan occupied five and a half hours. The play was particularly patchy, there being nothing of interest to comment on with both sides playing for safety.