CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1932, Page 22

CROQUET NOTES

Sv "Concentrate"

Coming Tournaments. Canterbury Tournament.—26th December Xorth and South Island Championships.—3rd January. Dominion Championships (Lower Hutt).—l3th January. Wellington Tournament (Wellington).—24th January. I Wairarana Tourney (Featherston).—sth February. Canterbury Junior (Christchurch).—sth Feh , ■ ruary. Manawatu Tournament (Palmcrston North). 7th February. ■ ■ ■ South Canterbury.—l3th February. South Taranaki.—lsth February. South Hawkes Bay (Dannevirke).—lsth February. Hamilton.—27th February. English Gold and Silver Medals.—sth March. Interclub Matches. The following is the result of this week's matches, the score of the first mentioned club being first in each instance:—A grade: Hataitai 1 v. Wellington 2, hoifle 18-26, away 16-26; Ngaroma v. Waimarie 1, home 26-20, away 11-26; Hataitai 3 v. Kolburn 1, home 26-24, away 5-26; Woburn v. Kelburn 2, home 13-28, away- 16-26; Island Bay v. Central, home 17-26; Eastbourne v. Wellington 1, home 4-26, away 23-26; Bangamaire v. Hutt, home 26-23, away I 19-26; Mt. Victoria won by default from Waimarie 2. Intermediate.—Karori v. Eastbourne, home 13-26, away 20-26; Hataitai v. Hutt, home 26-10, away 24-26; Centrat v. Mount Victoria, home 9-26, away 26-17; Wellington v. Ngaroma, home 26-9, away 26-1S; Seatoun v. Woburn, home by default, away 26-18; Kelburn v. Waimarie, home 26-16, away 24-26. B Grade.—Ngaio v. Karori, home. 24----26, away 26-21; Mount Victoria v. Eastbourne, home 18-26, away 12-26; Wellington* v. Kelburn, home 23-26; away 20-26; Island Bay v..Lyall Bay, home 2(5-28, away 19-26. • ; The following is the draw for next week's matches:— A grade: Ngaroma v. Wellington 2; Hataitai 2 v. Waimarie 1; Woburn v. Kelburn 1; Island Bay v. Kelburn 2; Eastbourne v. Central; Hutt v. Wellington 1; : Kangsuiiaire y. Mount. Victoria; Waimarie 2 v. Hnraitsii 1. Intermediate grade: Karori v. Hataitai; Central v. Eastbourne; Wellington v. Hutt; Seatoun v. Mount Victoria; Kelburn v. Ngaroma; Waimarie v. Woburn. B Grade.—Hataitai v. Ngaio;' Mbunt Victoria, v.- Karori;.-Waimarie v. Johnsonville; Ngaroma v. Eastbourne; Wellington v. Central; Island Bay v. Woburn; Kelburn v. Lyall Bay.fe, .- Pollock Stars. ' . . Mesdames Thomas and Moeiler,. of the Hataitai Club, were again successful in retaining the Pollock Stars. The challengers were Mesdames Robinson and Allans of the Seatoun Club. A strong northerly, wind made it almost impossible to play good croquet, and when the wind caught a ball travelling in the same direction it was no uncommon sight to see it go over the boundary line. The score ended 26-13 in favour of Hataitai. The next on the, list of challengers is the No-aroma Club. / Association Penis., .. .. The Association Perns were again retained by the Eastbourne Club when Mesdames Palmer and Wise defeated Mesdames Mumford and Benge (Seatoun) iii.the third" round last" Monday. The Seatoun players were somewhat at a disadvantage, their home greens being much smaller than those at Eastbourne. Consequently it took some time to become accustomed to the strength of shot necessary. In the meantime the holders had.a good lead, and, although the challengers made a good recovery, the score ended 26-15 in Eastbourne's favour. The next on the list lof challengers is the Karori Club. Karori. A Sports and Members'. Day was held on the Karori greens last Saturday. A large number of members took part in the various competitions, with the following results: —Mrs. Kearney, ladder; Mrs. Mahoney and MeGowan, hurry skurry; Mrs. Dryden, French; Mrs. Kastall, golf; Mrs. Keenan, break; Mrs. Swiney, angles. A competition for B grade players was held, Mrs. Mclntyre being the winner. Occasion was taken during the afternoon to bid farewell to Mrs. Mclntyre, who is leaving shortly to reside,in the Auckland district. The Hamilton Vase is now being competed for in the club, and should be completed next week. Hataitai. _ The handicap events of the Hataitai Club are now in full swing, competition being in progress for the C.D.S. Memorjal Bowl. This competition is run on the two-life Bagnall-Wild. system, and is one of the club's chief events. "'.,-- Plimmerton. The Plimmerton Club was en fete recently when it entertained a large number of visitors from surrounding districts. The -president (Mrs. C. Neale), who was presented with a dainty bouquet, welcomed the guests, and wished them all a pleasant afternoon. The. following were the winners of competitions:—Mrs. Boocock, golf; Miss Hendricke (Manawatu Club), peg; Mrs. Hendry (Hutt) and Mrs. Evans (Manakau), hurry-skurry; Mrs. Eoss (Island Bay), scally wag. Dominion Tournament. The Dominion tournament, which is eagerly looked forward to by all keen croquet players, is set down for 13 th January, when, it is hoped to commence play in the handicap section. The championships will start a few days later. Play will be centred as much as possible on the Waimarie lawns at Lower Hutt. On a recent visit to the Hutt it was particularly evident that the greens were receiving much care and attention by the greenkeepers. One lawn is each -week -prohibited for use by players, and as the surfaces are being kept fairly heavy the greens should be in excellent playing condition by' January next. Tactics. A certain amount of tactics'is required in every game of croquet, and if not overdone is absolutely necessary. The average players, and especially those who do not enter for tournaments, do not adopt a defensive policy, preferring to have a shot at something, even though it may mean much to the opponent should they miss. This is not a good plan, and is one which, if persisted in, may mean the downfall of players when anxious to win an important match! If enthusiasts, when on the home greens, would play each game accurately, .both in theory and practice, their execution would become more perfect, and, when put to the test, correct tactics would be a matter of mechanical progression. Take as an example a few of the situations which occur almost daily on the lawns. In many instances when a player has the opportunity of lifting a ball to baulk, how often is that ball taken to the baulk line in the next turn without any thought, of an alternative policy. Should the offending ball be in an awkward position, such as in the centre of a hoop, the better method would be to shoot the remaining ball down to the side line adjoining either A or B baulk, preferably a few feet from the corner. Then in the next turn lift the baulk ball thereby gaining aoi easy roquet to the partner ball. Another point -worth

mentioning is in connection with a ball which has failed to make the hoop and rests in the centre. Should the opponent's ball be on the non-playing side and be unable to get a «=hot at j the ball in the hoop, the latter ball will, of course, be removed, leaving the player with nothing to shoot at when the hoop is run. In this case it is often advisable to use the other ball, shooting it to the line behind the hoop about to be run. Especially is this- wise when the opponent's balls are a.t a missing distance. Wirinw tactics are adopted by the majority of scratch and minus players and well worth trying by those anxious to become proficient in the finer points of the game. Hutt Inquiry. Should two balls be wrongly placed on the line, and the opponent'actually takes a shot roqueting one, before discovering the error, it is too late to replace the balls in the correct position, and the player must continue the turn as if the balls had been correctly placed. Pegging Out. | Should a player's ball be accidentally pegged out in a handicap event, the point is not scored and the ball remains where it comes to rest. If, howover, the opponent's ball has already been pegged out—in which case the other ball would be for the stick—the point is scored. It would then be a matter of the stick for one party and possibly • a hoop or two and the pe°for the other side. This position, however, rarely occurs. Helping the Unemployed. All sections of sport are enthusiastically assisting in the big effort to' be made on Friday, 2nd December in connection with the Mayor's Happiness Week. The croquet players are to be relied upon to help a worthy cause and' it is anticipated that the street stalls will be well filled with good things tomorrow week.