ON THE CROQUET LAWN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 10

ON THE CROQUET LAWN

PLAY IN NORTH TARANAKI END OF SEASON APPROACHING. INTER-ASSOCIATION MATCHES.

(By

“Hoop.”)

Last week New Plymouth had a visit from a team of croquet players from two associations. On Friday Wanganui sent a team of six to play Taranaki and an enjoyable day was spent. The visitors praised the hospitality extended to them. Wanganui won six games to Taranaki s three games. Following are the results (Wanganui names mentioned first):— Mrs. Brass 23 v. F. L. Hartnell 26. F. Harrison 15 v. Mrs. Brown 26. F. J. Jarvie 26 v. Mrs. Hartnell 12. Mrs. L. Bassett 26 v. Mrs. Martin 20. Mrs. Kirk 26 v. Mrs. Johnson 15. Rev. Tye 26 v. Mrs. Codd 21. Mrs. Brass and F. Harrison 26 v. F. L. Hartnell and Mrs. Brown 16. Mrs. Kirk and F. J. Jarvie 26 v. Mrs. Hartnell and Mrs. Martin 5. Mrs. Bassett and the Rev. Tye 19 v. Mesdames Johnson and Codd 26. South Taranaki Visit. On Saturday a team of six players from South Taranaki visited New Plymouth and wort five games to New Plymouth s four games. Following is the result (South Taranaki mentioned first):— A. J. Gibbs 26 v. F. L. Hartnell 20. Mrs. Masters 26 v. Mrs. Tingey 21. J. M. Clague 26 v. Mrs. Harvey 10. Mrs. McKay 26 v. Mrs. Hartnell 2. Miss Power 24 v. Mrs, Martin 26. Mrs. Harding 26 v. Mrs. Johnson 23. A. J. Gibbs and Mrs. Masters 12 v. F. L. Hartnell and Mrs. Tingey 26. J. M. Clague and Mrs. McKay 4 v. Mesdames Hartnell and Harvey 26. Miss Power and Mrs. Harding 13 v. Mesdames Johnson and Martin 26. Inter-association matches are becoming very popular and it is likely that next year another association will join in the competition. Silver Button Competition. Owing to some of the clubs not finishing their championship matches, the New Zealand Silver Button competitions dates were altered to Wednesday and Thursday instead of Tuesday and Wednesday. For the A grade the following players will represent their clubs: New Plymouth, Mrs. Bishop-Martin; Kawaroa, Miss Irvine; Central, Mrs. Rowlands; West End, Mrs. Jtill; Pukekura, Mrs. Broad. B grade players will be: New. Plymouth, Mrs. Hollows; Pukekura, Mrs. Peddie; West End, Mrs.' Roberts; Central, Mrs. C. West; Kawaroa, Mrs. Cox; C grade players will be: New Plymouth, Mrs. Brier; Pukekura, Mrs. Read; Central, Mrs. Angus; Kawaroa, Mrs. Morgan; West End, Mrs. Malcolm. Fitzroy Club. Six players from Waitara were the guests of the Fitzroy club on Friday, when friendly games were played. Following are the results of a handicap match, Waitara names being mentioned first: — Mesdames Chatterton and Muschamp 26 v. Mesdames Bellringer and Chivers 10. Mesdames Telfar and Fraser 36 v. Mesdames Searl and Loesch 16. Mesdames Austin and Perrott 17 v. Mesdames Fuller and Blair 26. A trail competition was also held and was won by Mrs. Chatterton. Saturday next will be Fitzroy’s closing day. Kawaroa. Kawaroa Park club held a golf croquet afternoon last Tuesday. In spite of the disappointing weather there was a good attendance. Competition were held, the following being the winners: Golf croquet, A, Mrs. Cox; B, Mrs. Adamson; ladder, Mrs. Walton; trail, Mrs. Cox; bell, Mrs. Beal; bull’s eye, Mrs. McKay. Pukekura Park Club. Pukekura Park members met recently to entertain Mrs. Edgecombe in recognition of her assistance during the recent tournament. Opportunity was taken immediately after afternoon tea by, the president (Mrs. Hookham) to present’ to Mrs. Edgecombe a small gift for the way in which she always helped the club whenever called upon. Congratulations were also extended to Miss Goss and Mrs. L. Bellringer on their success at the recent tournament. A successful gala day was held last Thursday, when representatives were present from all clubs. The weather was ideal. Following is a list of the successful competitors: Golf croquet: A, Mrs. Ward; B, Mrs. West; target, Mrs. Adamson; ladder, Mrs. Sutton; trail, Mrs. Hookham; cake, Mrs. Allan; guessing competition, Mrs. Short. Most clubs are now nearing their closing day, and under ideal conditions Waimarie club (Lower Hutt) held its prizegiving celebrations last Saturday. The list of’prize-winners is: A grade championship, Mrs. Mouat, runner-up, Mrs. Johnson; intermediate championship, Mrs. Lawrence, runner-up, Mrs. Norris; B grade championship, Mrs. Campbell, runner-up, Mrs. Hadwin C grade championship, Mrs. Wright, runner-up, Mrs. Corlett. New Zealand Silver Buttons Competition. The finals in the Auckland Croquet Association New Zealand silver buttons competition were played on Thursday. Following are the results:—A button, Mrs. Thomson; B button, Mrs. Carter; C button, Mrs. Robertson. South Auckland. There were five players in the Hamilton champion of champions croquet tournament for the Howden Cup, which was played during the week on the tfiaudelands lawns. Those competing were Mesdames E. Bartlett (Frankton), Kibblewhite (Whitiora), Brocklesby (Hamilton), Lorimer (Hamilton East) and Miss Jones (Claudelands). The tournament was won by Mrs. Bartlett, who defeated Mrs. Brocklesby in the final 26— 18, 26-12. f Association Event, The Wellington association will hold its closing event this afternoon, when the inter-club shields and other association trophies will be presented. Answers to Queries. “Doubtful” inquires: “How is it possible to avoid fouls in taking croquet?” To avoid fouls in taking croquet be sure the balls are resting against each other; grip the mallet firmly; stand correctly, and do not allow the stroke to be hurried. To avoid fouls when near the hoops or peg (crush strokes) be absolutely sure of your direction before taking the stroke, play the stroke carefully, and do not hit too hard. “Push” inquires: “Is a push or pull shot a foul?” The law clearly implies that it .is allowable to “push” or “pull” one’s ball in taking croquet provided one strikes the balls audibly first and all that is heard is the one hit, but a further difficulty arises in deciding what is a legitimate “push” or “pull,” and what is an illegal one, or double tap. A. G. F. Ross says: “It has been proved by experiment that the ball is struck a number of times even when the stroke sounds clean (it is quite impossible to make any but a most decided stop-shot without doing so), so to rule that every stroke in which a ball is struck more than once is a foul, is clearly wrong. All that can be said with regard to croquet strokes is that so long as the stroke feels clean to the player, that is to say that the stroke feels as though only one hit has been made, and sounds

like only one hit, the stroke must be ruled as a genuine one, but if there is any suggestion of a grinding sound, or what has been described as an echo, the stroke is a foul one and the player should immediately stop his turn without waiting for any other'person to question it”