CROQUET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 128, 28 February 1928, Page 5

CROQUET

(By

"Rover.")

= COJII.NO EVENTS fl South Wairarapa tournament (Hawcra), ' March 6. Manawatu Association iPalmcrston North;. March. Southern Hawkes Bay (Danncvirke.i, March 10. Auckland Association. March 12. Local affiliated clubs arc all busily engaged playing oil' their championships in the A. intermediate, and B grades, to enable the winners of these competitions to engage in the champion ol champions contest, which will commence the second week in March. In this competition the winners from each club will meet winners from other clubs in their respective grades, and the players in the finals will each receive one of the Wellington Aseo- , ciation’s badges, made of black and yel low enamel, mounted on gold. These , will be the property of the winner. This is the first season ibis competition has beeu held, and it is exciting great in terest amongst club members. Association Ferns. The Association Ferns are still held by the Haeremai Club, anti Greytown is the next club to play a challenge for them. MoKenzie Wristlets. Waimarie Club has so far resisted all challenges for the McKenzie Wristlets, Mcsdames Camerou and Hughes representing their club in these matches. Intermediate Shield. fit. Augustine's Croquet Club il’etone), has now won the Intermediate Shield. They have played consistently throughout the competition, and have scored 236 points, which is only 24 points below the possible, llaerentai conies next on the list with 226. closely followed by Wellington with 224. The B grade competition is not yet completed. Pollock Stars. Haeremai Club are still the holders of the Pollock Stars. They played both Haeremai and Lower Hutt recently. The former game they won by 13 points, and the latter by 24. Playing with the Wrong Ball. Local players should make themselves conversant with the new rule relating to playing with the wrong ball, as many still thiuk that the ‘saving stroke” can be played. The rule relating to playing with the wrong ball has been completely recast. The penalty under the old rule has been abolished, and consequently the saving stroke has disappeared. The object of the change is to bring into operation .the new principle in croquet that certain classes of irregular acts, inadvertently performed, shall not oe penalised. The mixing up of the balls in taking croquet, when the roqueted ball lias goue off the boundary, is to be re-

garded as such an act, and in a very large majority of .cases playing with the wrong ball occurs in this way. To guard agaiust this principle being so extended as to make it actually advantageous to play with the wiong ball, the Jaw has become somewhat lengthy. Those members of the English Council, who demanded reform stood firm for no penalty. Their petition has not been granted in its entirety, but wrong-ball play will no longer entail cessation of the turn, and that is probably what the supporters of tho new law mostly wanted. The alteration will do away, it is hoped for all tune, with the much-discussed question as to whether it is unsportsmanlike to sec your opponent about to make a. mistake and refrain from drawing his attention to it. The officials of the English Croquet Association eld that a player should on no account warn his adversary of a wrong-ball error, about to be made. Seeing that the penalty nu» been abolished, and that the out player gains no advantage under the rule, this injunction should disappear from the etiquette of the game. It is to be hoped that in tho matter of playing with the wrong ball finality has been reached. The rule has been altered so many times that when a breach occurs nine out of ten players are at a loss to 'rectify the error without consulting the rule book. A somewhat singular and unusual breach of the rules of croquet occurred at a tournament recently. During one of the games in the Indies' doubles, through a misunderstanding, both players on the same side actually took a shot simultaneously with their respective balls. The question immediately arose as to the manner in which such a mistake should be rectified according to law. Fortunately for the referee his services were not called upon, and the players concerned decided that both halls should he replaced, and th? game proceeded without penalty. It is highly interesting to find that a similar incident occurred at Lewes, England, daring the progress of a club tournament, and the point raised was adjudicated on by the laws committee of the English Association. The case quoted is as follows:—A (red) mid B (yellow) were playing against i. (blue) and D (black), in handicap doubles. Tied and yellow were on different boundaries. atul blue and black were together in the centre of the court. B (yellow, captain), said to A (red): 'I shall play and aim at blue.” A (red) misunderstood this, and thought he was to play. Tied and yellow both shot at blue at tho same moment, and red would have hit h!nr> f yellow had not hit it a fraction earlier. Black was also moved, so all four balls were careering about tho court. The incident caused considerable amusement, mid after much debate all balls were replaced. and yellow had another shot at blue and missed. The ruling on the matter was:—"Law 1 provides that any ord-

(nary turn may he played with either ball of the side Play by both balls constitutes a foul. The bulls should be replaced. or not. at the option of the adversaries, and the turn must cease.” South Island Test. For the South Island test, which will take place on the grounds of the United Club on March 2 and 3, three lawns will be used, including the bowling green, and they are receiving special attention, and should be in first-class condition for match play. On Friday morning Miss Steel will meet A. Hess, and Miss Retailack will play S. McCullough. Sir Francis Wcmyss will play H. J. AVilliams at 1 o’clock, and Colonel Du Pre will try conclusions with T. F. Chambers after the finish of the Mies Steel-Hoss match. Hoss is the only member of the South Island team who has already played against tho visitors. In the test at Palmerston he was successful in hie match with Miss Steel, and it remains to be seen if lie can repeat the performance in Christchurch. Chambers, Willlapis and S. MeC'ullnigh are expected to give a good account of themselves. The doubles will be played on the Saturday, when Ross and Chambers will meet Miss Steel and Colonel Du Pre, while 11. Williams and McCullough will play Sir Francis AVemyss and Miss Retallack. As all the matches are best of three games, the whole of both days will be fully taken up. On tho following Monday the final of the Dominion open championship, between Miss Steel and Colonel Du Pre will be played. This game was postponed front the Dominion tournament, played at. Palmerston North.