CROQUET CHAMPIONSHIPS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1947, Page 7

CROQUET CHAMPIONSHIPS

« : — WELLINGTON, Feb. .3. A large crowd assembled to watch the raatch between Miss Claughton and A. Heenan wlien 'tlie New Zealand proquet ehampionships were continued in. Hntt Valley today. Both had been playing up to form. Miss Claughton has just won the North Island open ehampionship and H,eenan was last year's open and men's champion. In the first game of the rubber both went to four back on the first opportunity. £n and out play followed, Miss Claughton gradually gaining a lead which she maintained to linish 26 — II. In the seeond game play was closer but Miss Claughton was able to draw ahead winning 26 — 23. Excelley.t croquet was witnessed in the semi-finals of the open dhampionship between C. le Koche and H. Ford. Both have been playing well throughoui the tournament. A large ci'owd ' of spectators watehed an interesting match. In the first game Ford was first to score but after making live points went to the boundary letting Ln his opponent. On this opportunity la Koche went to four back. In and out play followed. La Koche, making most of every opportunity, gradually drew ahead to win by 12 points. In the seeo'nu g-ame of the rubber, after niissing a

few shots, both players settled down. La Koche opened the score by going . to, four back. Ford hit in and made two points and in the next turn, settiug out a perfect break, baulked at the first hoop. La Koche, then playing care- ■ fully, made a round to rover, peeling at four back but had to separate his balls on account of the lift shot. Ford then got in and went to four back wiring at thc peg. . In and out play followed until la Koche, hitting in, went to the x»ey with a backward ball and was not long in finishing, the score ending 26 — 17. Results: — Level singles final: C. T. Wadsworth beat Mrs. Peart 26 — 1-1, 26 — 17. Open cliampionship: 11. Ford beat Mrs. McLennan 4 — 26, 26 — 25, 26 — 21; Miss Claughton beat A. Heenan 26 — 11, 26 — 23; C. la Koche beat H. Ford 26—14, 26—17. Women 's ehampionship: Mrs. Collins beat Miss Lydford- 19 — 26, • 26 — 21, 26 — 13; Mrs. Gilbert beat Mrs. Fenwick 26—3, 15—26, 26—9. Ilandicap singles: Lieut.-Colonei Saal feld beat Mrs. McClennan 2(i — 15.