New Zealand Croquet Championships

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 17, 21 January 1937, Page 10

New Zealand Croquet Championships

NORTH ISLAND BEATS SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 19. The New Zealand croquet championships began to-day in fine but overcast weather. Interest to-day centred chiefly on the inter-island match in which the North Island was successful by six games to three. A. G. F. Ross, Christchurch, o]sen champion on many occasions, was in brilliant form to-day, beating H. Stratton, the North Island’s first man,22o,6 —0, and gaining two other good wins in the men’s championship. Inter-Island Match. A. G. F. Ross (South Island) beat H. Stratton (North Island), 26—0; A. Gibbs (N. 1.) beat Mrs W. Corbett (5.1.), 26—23; F. L. Hartnell (N. 1.) beat R. McCreath (5.1.),229;6 —9; Mrs R. Gambrill (N. 1.) beat Mrs E. Smith (5.1.),223;6 —3; Mrs J. l’almer (5.1.) beat Mrs D. Henderson (N. 1.),225;6 —5; Mrs Watkius and Stratton (N. 1.) beat A. G. F. Ross arid Penn (5.1.), 26—13; Mrs Corbet and McCreath (5.1.) beat Gibbs and Mrs Gambrill (N. 1.), 26—6; Hartnell and Mrs Henderson (N. 1.) beat Mesdames Smith and Palmer (5.1.). Men’s Championship. First life. —Hartnell beat J. Tannock, 26—15; A. G. F. Ross beat R. McCreath, 26—0; G. Hart beat E. J. Ross, 26 —3. Second, life.—A. G. F. Ross beat A. J. Gibbs, 26— r 23; 11. A. Penn beat G. Hart, 26—15. Level Singles. First round.—Mrs Gibbs beat Mrs Meikle, 26 —12; Mrs Murray beat Mrs Robertson, 26 —15; Mrs Turner beat Mrs Holdsworth Smith, 26—17; Mrs Warnes beat Mrs McCreath, 26 —14; J. Waterhouse beat Mrs Moss, 26—14; Mrs Carell beat Mrs Owen, 26—12; Mrs Gillespie beirt Mrs Norton, 26 —24; Mrs Smithson beat Mrs Perrin, 26 —24; Mrs Kellaway beat Mrs J. Hannan, 26 —21; Mrs Turner beat Mrs Murray, 26—23. Women’s Championship. First life.—Mrs F. Whibley beat Mrs A. Hadfield,229;G —9; Mrs W. Colo beat Miss R. Gerard,222;6 —2; Miss E. Morgan beat Mrs J. Wilson, 26 —17; Mrs M. Pitcaithly beat Mrs J. P. Maddren by default; Mrs A. Frost beat Mrs L. Bassett, 26 —19; Miss A. Bell beat Mrs It. Gilbert, 26 —19; Mrs Watkins beat Mrs Palmer, 26—16; Mrs Cole beat Miss Morgan, 26 —17. Second life. —Miss Washer beat Mrs Frost,227;6 —7; Mrs Lowery beat Mrs Gilbert, 26—20; Mrs E. A. Smith beat Mrs McLennan, 26—7; Mrs Henderson beat Mrs Jones, 26 —11. In the final of the open championship of the South Island croquet tournament played in Christchurch last week A. G. F. Ross, of Christchurch, beat Mrs. W. Corbet, 26—8, 24 —26, 26 —20, while Mrs. Watkins and H. Stratton (Hastings) were the finalists against Mrs. Corbet and R. McCreath in the championship doubles. Pollock Stars Match. A Pollock stars match was played on the Northern greens on Tuesday, when Mesdames McMurray and Brown (holders) beat Mesdames Lyall and Burnett, 26—16. Brighton Mallets. In a Brighton mallets match, Mesdames Lee and Moxon (holders) were beaten by Mrs. Anderson and Miss Read( 23 —26. COMMENT ON GAMES. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 19. Mrs Gambrill and A. J. Gibbs (North) v. Mrs Corbet and R. McCreath (South). —Mrs Corbet was the first to get control, but balked at No. 1 hoop. Mrs Gambrill then shot in, but also failed, when McCreath, playing a good break, went to four back. Gibbs shot in with the lift shot, and made a point, but# missed a short shot. Mrs Corbet then made an all-round break and went to the peg. Mrs Gambrill shot in, making five points. McCreath, whoso shooting was excellent, gained control and finished the game at 26 —6 in favour of South.

F. L. Hartnell and Mrs Henderson (North) v. Mrs Smith and Mrs Palmer (South). —The North players were some time before they got the strength of the keen lawus, and the South had made eight points before either Hartnell or Mrs Henderson had scored. Mrs Henderson then got in by Mrs Smith’s balking, and went to No. 4, where she also failed. Mrs Palmer took the play and made a break before Hartnell went to No. 3. Mrs Henderson took the next turn, carrying her slip to four back and later to the rover hoop. In-and-out play followed for a short period until Hartnell, playing well, finished with a perfect break, peeling his partner through rover, the game ending 26—18 in favour of North.

H. P. Stratton and Mrs Watkins v. A. G. F. Ross and H. A. Penn.—ln-and-out play marked the commencement of the game, until Mrs Watkins made a break from No. 3 to rover. Ross then advanced his clip to penultimate, and Penn to No. 4. Stratton hit in and made an excellent break to four back The southern players regained control, but failed to score. Stratton then made the last three hoops, and in the next turn Mrs Watkins finished the game, 26 —13.

A. G. F. Ross v. H. P. Stratton. — Stratton won the toss, taking the balls,

and Ross took second play. Stratton went to No. 4 corner and Ross laid a lice. Stratton joined up when Ross missed a medium roquet, but later Ross hit in and playing excellent croquet went to four back, winning at No. 1. Stratton retired to No. 4 corner, and Ross, again collecting the balls, triplepeeled and finished22o,6 —0, the game taking exactly twenty minutes. Mrs Palmer v. Mrs Henderson. —The former player stayed well, defeating tho Wellington player by 21 points. Mrs Henderson had several opportunities but was finding the lawns keen after play at Lower Hutt. At one stage Mrs Palmer executed a corner cannon and in excellent style got all the balls into play, making a good break. F. L. Hartnell v. R. W. McCreath.— In-and-cut play continued for some time until McCreath played a break to three back but failed in the next turn to take full advantage of the position. Hartnell then carried his clip to rover and in the next turn he completed a break with the other ball, peeling through rover and pegging out 26—9. Mrs Corbet v. Mrs Watkins.—The southern player was well ahead until Mrs Watkins, collecting the balls, made a splendid break, which was later followed by steady play, enabling her to finish at 26—23. Mrs Gambrill v. Mrs Smith.—The former played splendid croquet. She made a break of nine and later an allround break, double-peeling and finishing 26 —3. A. J. Gibbs v. H. Penn. —Gibbs, playing cautiously, established a good lead and on Penn’s failing to hit in, finished at 26—1. In the men’s event, A. G. F. Ross v. R. McCreath, Ross played cautiously until he collected the balls going to four back, triple-peeling, and finishing in the next hit, 26 —0. In the ladies’ championship against Miss Washer,.Mrs Pitcaithley won » hard-fought game. In-and-out play was a feature of the match, and the score was 26—18. Officers Elected. At the annual general meeting held at Christchurch on Monday the following officers were elected:— President, R. W. McCreath (Gore); vice-presidents, Mrs Hamilton (Auckland), Mrs Gambrill (Palmerston North); secretary, Mrs W. S. Austin (Wellington); assistant secretary, Mrs W. E. Caldow (Wellington); handicapper, Mrs Bartlett; referee, Mr A. G. F. Ross; gazette editor, Mrs Rhodes Williams. The retiring president, Captain F. L. Hartnell and Mrs R. Williams, were made ex officio officers of the execu* tive. The notice of motion, by the Auckland Association, regarding the voting power, was, after a long and interesting discussion, amended to give all associations whose membership totalled 500 or over an additional vote.