CROQUET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16366, 3 March 1921, Page 7

CROQUET.

NOTES ON THE CAME. The senior flag match United A v. Sumner was played at Sumner on Wednesday. The weather was ideal, and a most ©nejoyable day was spent. The games were all well contested and the match resulted in a draw, both sides winning six games. In the singles T. F. Chambers beat R. Canghley. 'Hie game was short and sweet, neither player making any mistakes, but Chambers got in first, and playing very good croquet won by 26-10. The gam© between H. J. Williams and P. A. Laurie was almost a similar* performance, Williams double peeling and winning after Laurie had made 10 points. The singles resulted in five wins for Sumner and three for United. In the doubles United won throe out of four game';. The only doubles lost was H. J. Williams and Airs E. A. Johnson (Sumner) v. R. Caughley and Mrs Richardson (United). The Sumner ;>air had the advantage all through, and won rather comfortably. gam© was rather unique in the fact that all the four players have held New Zealand championship honours. The following are the details of the game, Sumner players being mentioned first:— Singles— T. Chambers 26 defeated R. Caughley 10- H. J. Williams 26 defeated P. A. Laurie 10: Mrs F. A. .lohnson 20 los't to T. Tomlinson 26: E. A. Johnson 26 defeated E. J. Ross -B- Crawford 15 lost to Maddren 26: Mrs C. H. Hamilton 26 defeated Mrs Richarson 15; Mrs W B udsoii-Erowr, 2G defeated Mrs Barnes fev 1 ‘JG rS L " ns ° n 6 lost to y,ri Mu] "- Doubles—ll. .1. Williams and Mrs E A. Johnson 26 defeated H Cantrhlev an j ) t r l s Hiehardson 14 : I.' Chambers and Mrs Hamilton IO lost to P \ Laurie and Mrs Maddren 26 - E A Johnson and Mrs Crawford 6' lost to t. lomlmsoli and Mrs Carnes 26: Mrs Hrtdson-Brotrn and Mrs YVilscn 6 lost to fc-J; (Toss and Airs Afidglev 26. totals: Sumner 6; United 6. A match has been arranged for uruay March 12, on the United grounds, between the Sumner and I Lni ted B teams. ! ,, T fe° remora l to Wellington of Air lv. Caughley will b© regretted by local croquet players. Mr Caughley has for the past three years taken a" very keen interest in local croquet matters, and has taken a prominent part in tho various competitions held in Christchurch. He is tlie present holder of th© I nited Club’s championship, the New Zealand open championship, and ivith Mrs Richardson the holder of the New Zealand doubles championship. Jt is not likely that he will take up croquet seriously in Wellington, but it is hoped that he will not altogether retire from a game which he has so enthusiastically taken up. A Junior Flag match', St Albans A i r _- Edgeware, will be played on the I Cnited grounds to-day, the United Club having generously placed their j greens at the disposal of these clubs, ko as to have the match plut’ed on a j neutral ground. Tlie match should j be most interesting, as on the result impends which club will meet Timuru ; for the final of the Junior Flag com- | petition of Canterbury. Mrs M’Rae, of Palmerston North, practically scooped the pool at the Hastings tournament, winning tho ladies’ championship, and with H. P. Stratton also won the doubles and handicap doubles. Airs M’Rae is one of the most popular of the North Island players, and has always been most hospitable in entertaining the Christchurch players who have visited Palmerston for the North Island championships. The croquet season is now drawing to a close, and it must be a matter for congratulation to players that the game lias made considerable headway during tlie season. The standard of play has much improved, more especially among the lady players. It is . noticeable in clubs who hove a fair pio- | portion of men players that in haiidi- ! cap events the ladies are well able to j hold tlieir own. and handicaps have found it necessary to reduce tlie bisques : considerably. i A few years ago there were no ladv I players receiving less than four bisques”, : but there are quite a number now who j can more than bold their own with two and a. half or three bisques. The winning of the Canterbury ladies’ championship by a Junior Flag player gives some indication of the improvement among tli© junior players, and it is certain that next season there will be a further improvement in the standard of play amongst the junior players.