CENTENARY CROQUET

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 10

CENTENARY CROQUET

MRS. CALDOW BEATS WARD PETLEY

F. L. HARTNELL’S CONTESTS.

(By

“H.W.C.")

The second test in the Melbourne centenary croquet tournament saw England and Australia again defeat New Zealand, which was practically eliminated. For New Zealand to win the shield Enngland had to beat Australia and' New Zealand had to take both rubbers in the third test.

In the England-New Zealand, match Mrs. Caldow played in something like her best form to beat Ward Petley. Her accurate wiring was a feature. Hartnell did not strike true form, although he defeated Sir Francis Wemyss in a close three-game match. H. P. Poulter- did well on the wet green and was superior to Mrs. Corbet all through. Mrs. Corbet fought out a losing battle to the end. H. P. Stratton played well against Du Pre, the match, which went to three games, being won by Colonel Du Pre.

Both doubles went to the Englishmen, their exhibition of concerted play being splendid.' Each made the best of his chances, Du Pre being the outstanding player. Wemyss struck: his best form. H. P. Sratton v. C. J. Miller. In both games Stratton made an all-rounder of four back and packed at No. 1. Miller got the long shot and went to four back. Stratton hit and made to three back. Miller hit and tripled peeled and finished. In the second game Miller tripled peeled and gave Stratton little chance of scoring. Both games were played within one and a-half hours, which is the fastest time for the test series. Windsor had very little difficulty in winning both his games from Mrs. Caldow, although the heat seemed to worry him. Mrs. Corbet and Mrs. Terry both played their best and the match went to three games before Mrs. Terry won the rubber.

Hartnell played his best to beat Miss Morrison, Victoria’s outstanding woman player, and again the match went to three games before Hartnell gained the only victory in the singles. Australia won the doubles in two straight games, quickly' played. Although the games never started ’ until 11 a.m., they were finished .before 2.30 p.m.The Second Test. i „

Detailed scores, in the second test, England, v.. New- Zealand, were as follows (English names mentioned first):— Singles: Poulter beat Mrs. Corbet, 26— 19, 26—13; Ward Petley lost to Mrs. Caldow, 26—0, 3—26, 26—24; x Wemyss lost to Hartnell, 26—11, 17—26, 26-24; Du Pre beat Stratton, 26—15, 6—26, 26—3. Doubles: Du Pre and Ward Petley beat Mrs. Caldow and Stratton, 26—0, 26—13; Poulter and Wemyss beat Mrs. Corbet and Hartnell, 26*6, 26H6. Final score: England, four rubbers, 10 games, points; New Zealand, two rubbers, five games, 225 points. Australia v. New Zealand (Australian names first): Miller beat Stratton, 26—17, 26—3; Windsor beat Mrs. Caldow, 26—0, 26—4; Mrs. Terry heat Mrs. Corbet, 18— 26, 26—3, 26—7; Miss Morrison lost to Hartnell, 26—22, 16—26, 26—12. Miller and Miss Morrison beat Stratton and Mrs. Caldow, 26—13, 26—2; Windsor and Mrs. Terry beat Hartnell and Mrs. Corbet, 26—9, 26—0. Australia, five rubbers, 11 games, 326 points; New Zealand, one rubber, three games, 162 points. The Third Test In the third test match, New Zealand v. England, the scores in the singles were: Stratton > lost to Du Pre, 26—12, 26—12; Hartnell lost .to Ward Petley, 26—1, 26—16; Mrs. Caldow lost .to Poulter, 26—12, 16—26, 6—26; Mrs. Corbet beat Wemyss, 26—9, 26—16.

Trophies Presented. The presentation of the Macßoberison Shield to the winning nation and the presentation of trophies won in the .centenary of Victoria international championships took place on Saturday. On Saturday night a farewell dinner to the teams was held. The English and New Zealand teams left Melbourne on Tuesday for Auckland, where they will all take part in the Dominion championships, which open at Auckland on March 7.