CROQUET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 4

CROQUET

ON THE LAWNS WANGANUI OPENINGS NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

“Penultimate.”)

The opening of the Wanganui East Club last Thursday, and the initial function of the Aramoho Club a few days previously, provide a striking commentary on tne progress of this fascinating game in Wanganui. Only a very few years ago these clubs were non-existent, but now. thanks to the energy and initiative of a few enthusiasts, and the kindly co-operation of the City Council, both these clubs are started on the road towards making a name for themselves. How long will it be before either can produce a scratch player? Durie Hill Croquet Club, only a junior in years, but one of the foremost in enthusiasm, has already sent one of its members, Mr. A. Ogier, to the forefront, and as a scratch player he ranks with some of the best in the Dominion; several other players are in the low-bisque class, and their progress will be watched with keen interest. To the new clubs one would say: Set yourselves a standard of play, and do not be satisfied with anything lower than the very best. It is easy to drift into a slip-shod method of playing, not troubling to lay out a break, but being content with making a few hoops at a time, and then retiring to partner in the pious hope that the opponent may miss, and a few more hoops be thus made possible.

In last week’s notes was stressed the supreme importance of learning to swing the mallet well back when wishing to sent the balls any distance, and if this principle has been more or less mastered, it should be possible to go on now to the elementary points in laying out a break. A number of persons seem to imagine that a pivot ball must necessarily be in the centre of the lawn, and of course if this can be arranged without putting the running of any hoop in jeopardy it is much better so. But imagine a position where, number one hoop having been made, a ball is lying well beyond number two hoop, and the other near number four corner. In such a case the writer would make the ball near number lour corner the pivot ball, that is until number two hoop had been made, as it is much easier to split the object ball to hoop three, get to the ball in number four corner, then take-off to the ball beyond number two hoop, than to attempt the long drive of the object ball to three, and a doubtful position near two. This may seem like going out of ones way to achieve a given object, and it is admitted by an extreme case, but the position has been set out to emphasise the fact that quite frequently it pays handsomely to use an out-lying bad as a pivot, until such time as it is possible to get all the balls into the centre of the field. One is sometimes lucky enough to get a break already laid out by one’s opponent, when the latter breaks down, say, at a hoop, but in the main breaks have to be manufactured by oneself, and the tyro should get the idea of the pivot ball well fixed in mind. Always try to send a ball to the hoop beyond the next one to be made, and a splendid form of practice is to have two balls at number one hoop, one at number two, and the other near the peg, and to proceed then very very carefully to make an all-round break, going back over the ground again, if unfortunate enough to break down, to ascertain the cause of such failure. Another item the new player should bear in mind is that break-making is largely a matter of compromise in its early stages; that is, if you set cut to play a certain stroke, or attain a certain position, and do not quite get what is sought, be prepared to change your tactics, and try to take advantage of the new situation.

Tactics.—ln last week’s notes it was suggested that a glance at the tactics of Mrs. Jarvie and Mr. Gibbs would be interesting and the first thing that strikes us is the fundamental difference between the two. Mr. Gibbs seems to proceed on the assumption that “lie who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day,” whereas Mrs. Jarvie, quite frequently puzzles her opponent by placing one of her balls quite close to their scene of operations, in readiness to take advantage of any breakdown on their part. Particularly with an opponent who is a good shot, Mr. Gibbs, New Zealand champion, plays an exceedingly cautious game, doing some very clever wiring of his own balls, and leaving his opponent in such a position that a long shot is necessary, which if missed leaves the champion in a better position to continue his break. It is frequently said that this kind of play is not croquet. That, however, is wrong. Any kind of play, within the rules, and which wins the game, is croquet, and it may take more selfdiscipline to avoid running a risky hoop, than to dash at it and bang on the wire. Mrs. Jarvie takes greater hoop risks than Mr. Gibbs, but she is seen at her best in anticipating her opponent's next move, and in laying a trap for them, into which be it said, they quite frequently walk —or should we say, roll. Kirs. Blennerhassett raised an important point a few days ago, and at the time there was no one on the lawns abl£ to determine it. The question was: Is a player entitled to draw the opponent’s attention to the fact that he or she may have the optional lift, after the opponent has .made four back? The answer is: No. Law 49 sets out quite clearly that a player must not interrupt an opponent’s turn, except when the latter is about to commit a breach of law, such as taking croquet off a wrong ball, which will necessitate replay, or except to claim a foul or breach of law which has been committed. If a player interupts other than set out above, he may not score a point on his next turn. This, by the way, is a completely new law appearing in the Croquet Annual (a copy of which is absolutely necessary for anyone wishing to become a player) this year for the first time, and its implications should be mastered by all.

Wired Balls. Mrs. Bassett-Smith, the Wanganui Association handicapper, has asked us to clear up a misunderstanding which seems to exist in the minds of some players. In March,

1936, Mr. A. Ross, New Zealand referee, was asked if a player could demand that an umpire give a decision as to whether or not a ball was wired, before the turn ceased, and he answered “Yes.” There is a certain justification for this decision, as it appears to be a question of “fact, ’ whether or not a ball is wired, but the English Laws Committee ruled otherwise, and the position now is that an umpire can give a decision regarding a wired ball only at the com- ' mencement of a turn. Mrs. Gambrill, one of the leading croquet players in New Zealand has returned from a tour of England, and it is very interesting to note her statement that “there arc only 1400 croquet players in England, as against nearly 6000 in New Zealand.” And yet the pick of the English players can come to Australia and New Zealand, and win almost every time they play. Why? When we can answer that question, croquet in New Zealand will be on the up-grade.