WANGANUI CROQUET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 244, 16 October 1940, Page 9

WANGANUI CROQUET

THE VALUE OF PRACTICE FORM IN DOMINION TOURNAMENT (By “Penultimate.”) With the opening o£ the Durie Hill and Aramoho Clubs last Saturday afternoon the Wanganui croquet season- has definitely started in earnest, and in estimating (he chances of local players in the forthcoming North Island tournament, the mind goes back to the form of that group which made some considerable showing in iast season's Dominion tournament. Nine or ten Wanganui p la y ers entered for various events at Lower Hutt last year, and with a little more care, at least three of tne Dominion events would have come to Wanganui. jFor instance, Mr. Ogier, of the Durie Hill Club, won every game in his section of the Dominion championship, but was defeated in the play-off for the final. In the men’s championship he looked like a sure finalist, but a small error of judgment in the semi-final with Mr. McCreath cost him the game, and very probably the championship. Mrs. Owles and Mr. McClymont got through to the semifinal of the handicap doubles, but in the game with Mr. and Mrs. Blunt, of Christchurch, in which Mrs. Owles made her best showing of the tournament, the minus player “flopped” at the critical moment, and after throwing away the only bisque, left his opponents an easy victory. Probably Mr. Jarvis came as close as anyone to winning the Dominion championship, but in a game which locked a certainty for him, he missed one of his famous “weary-willie” roquets, and absolutely gave the game to Mrs. Watkins. Mrs. McClymont and Mrs. Beattie put up an excellent game against Mr. and Mrs. Blunt, but the Christchurch players were too strong. A good showing was made by Mrs. Ogier, Mrs. Healey and Mr. Harrison, and the local banner was kept flying high. In view of the foregoing, considerable interest attaches to what will happen in the North Island championships, and much practice play will no doubt be undertaken in the intervening eleven weeks. Patriotic Tournament At the annual meeting of the Wanganui Association, a decision was made not to hold the local tournament this year, and this leaves the position open for the organisation of a combined event, for patriotic purposes. All clubs would without doubt join in such an effort, and if trophies were made merely nominal, quite a sum could be raised by this means. The association has discussed the: possibility of arranging such a tournament, and it is to be hoped that the matter will be finalised at an early date. If the idea comes Io fruition, care should be taken to see that the high bisquers will be well catered for. and games should be played on all lawns, and not only on the Wanganui Club greens. Wanganui and Aramoho Bisquing A number of changes have been made in the Wanganui Club, and several players are making notable progress towards the lower figures. Miss Joyce Langton heads the reduction list with a reduction of 2A, a reward for consistent practice. Mrs. Easton, at seven, loses two bisques; Mrs. Remmington and Mrs. McFarlane lose one each, and both have on occasions shown excellent form. By unfailing enthusiasm and constant play, Mrs. Burling, Mrs. Allan, and Miss Notman have each gained a reduction of a half, as have also Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Tilley. More will be heard of some of these players, and their progress should be rapid. The Wanganui Club lawns are in wonderful condition, and players should make the most of their unrivalled opportunities for practice. Aramoho Club, although relatively a newcomer, is doing well, and the work done by the members is reflected in the excelelnt condition of their lawns. In passing, a word of praise to the Aramoho Club for capturing the local M.P., Mr. J. B. Cotterill, and also the Mayor and Mayoress for their opening function. Mrs. Downey, for her excellent play in last year’s tournament, receives a reduction of one, as do also Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Stevens and Mr. Garfath. Reference is made to the opportunity for practice offered to the members of the Wanganui Club, but this applies to al] clubs, in more or less the same ratio. With approximately six members to each lawn, the Wanganui Club is in the best position, but with only seven per lawn, Durie Hill and Gonville come very close. Aramoho with 8b are not quite so well placed, and at Wanganui East there are 21 members for two lawns. It would appear that double-banking must occasionally be the order of the day. But in all these clubs, opportunity offers from time to time fof solo practice, and every player who is really keen to get that absolute confidence without which consistent break-making is impossible, should seize every chance that comes his or her way. Just as a tournament is a series of games, so is a game a series of shots, and each shot should be practised. Some high bisquers can hit long roquets with amarang skill, but their break goes to pieces after a few hoops, because they have never, in all their croquet career, put even half an hour at solo practice of the split shot. Yet a working knowledge of this or any other shot can be gained by any player who sets out to practise in earnest. At the Wanganui opening Mrs. Bradshaw, a six bisquer, won the angle hoops competition with a 100 per cent, score, beating all scratch and minus players, some of whom had several turns. This is an illustration of what can be done with practice, and if this particular player gains the same skill, in, say, rush shots, split shots and croquet shots, regular break making will naturally follow. The Optional Lift There was some confusion last season over the alteration to thr optional lift, and it should be remembered that the lift only in level games, and that a player cannot have a lift even when his opponent has made four back, if all clips have passed hoefp fo'ur. The only exception to the foregoing is that if three clips have passed hoop four, and your opponent makes a break from, say, from one to penultimate, you are still

entitled to the lift, because all balls must have made hoop four prior to that turn. The new form of the lift will change tactics considerably, one the medium low bisquer- say two to four —would do well to consider if it is advisable to push ahead with the first ball rather than make hoop four with both, thereby delaying the moment when the opportunity to lift will have passed. An obvious variation for the minus and scratch player is to stop at four back with the first ball, and peel at number three on the way round with the second ball; stop again at four back with the second ball and push ahead to peg with the first ball in the next turn, in the hope that meanwhile the opponent will have made hoop four with both balls.