CHAMPION CROQUET.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17975, 21 March 1930, Page 8

CHAMPION CROQUET.

I-IOWDEN CUP GAMES. FINAL BATCHES DECIDED. MRS EVANS WINS TROPHY. The most important competition in Hamilton club croquet was concluded jesterday, when (he final ilowden Cup games were decided. There was a large gallery oi spectators to witness the play on the Hamilton Club's lawns and every move was followed with great interest, for these games were not only for the trophy, but l'or the title of ‘‘champion of champions." A notable victory was gained by Mrs Evans, the successful player, in winning the competition outright. Following were the results: — Fourth Round. Mrs Evans 26 v. Miss Jones 9. In this game Mrs Evans picked up ja long shot, and made a good break j with one hail, but failed to get I position for the seventh point. .Mbs Jones had a hard game during the earlier stages, but made good progress with one hall. Her opponent again excelled in her Jong shots, making a beautiful break to the second hoop from the home peg, her partner ball also being well round. A line bail was picked up by Miss Jones, but she failed to gain position for tier hoop. In the final stages Mrs Evans took control of the game, and was victorious with a margin of sixteen points. Mrs Bartlett 26 v. Mrs Coombes 10. This was a game in which the contestants were evenly matched. In the I opening stages honours were even, j each player making a good break with I one hail to the sixth and seventh j points. Play was in .Mrs Coombes’ I favour for a time, lmt Mrs Bartlett gained the lead from a long shot, making a break lo the peg. She maintained tiie lead through the remainder of the game. The Finals.

The deciding games for the Ilowden Cup were played in Uic afternoon, when Airs Evans met Alias Jones, and Airs Coornbes played Airs Bartlett. By ! del'eating Jier opponent, Airs Evans won the trophy and title outright. The Play. In the game between Airs Bartlett and Airs Coombes, the scores were 26—y in Airs Bartlett’s favour. Airs Bartlett picked up a long shot in the second game, and made a beautiful break to 1 lie four back with one ball, but failed to pick up the line ball, which gave the control to Airs Coombes, who was also successful in making a good break to the bill point. Unfortunately, she failed in getting position, and (he play went again to Airs Bartlett, who made a further break to Ihc peg, her partner ball being on four baric- Airs Coombes was successful iu picking up a long sliol, and set a drive for her next point. Airs Bartlett picked this up, and made to Ihc last hoop, but failed to run it. Airs Coombes was unable to pick up her shot, and All's Bartlett made her final point, the game .ending in a win for Airs •Bartlett, '26— o. The second game, between Airs Evans and Alias Jones, was one of the ! deciding features for the Cup, and | was intensely interesting. The first I part of the game .was decidedly in ; Aliss Jones' favour, as she made a i brilliant, break to the Sth point, but ! failed in getting position. Airs Evans | did not pick up her shot, and again the game was given into Aliss Jones’ hands, who made another break with her partner bait to the 6th hoop. Mrs Evans picked up a long shot, and I played in her usual fine style, but ; overran for position at the Ctli 1 1 oop. I Miss Jones played a good shot, but did not secure position off her opponent's ball, thus leaving the control in Airs Evans’ hands, who made a break to the four back, her partner ball by tiiis time being on tiic same hoop, but, gaining position, a drive was set, which was picked up by Miss Jones, who made another point, thus catching up with her partner ball. Airs Evans, coining in again, continued her play to the peg, and Anally pegged the points being in favour of Airs Evans, 26--—l4. Mrs Evans, the winner of the Howden Challenge Cup, is a member of the Whitiora Croquet Club. She is . comparatively a young player, as far j as tournament play is concerned, but holds this season an unbroken record. In her own club she .won the championship without a loss, winning against Airs Kibblewhitc, a former I ladv champion of Mew Zealand. in securing the tide “Champion of 1 Champions,” Mrs Evans had to meet two former holders of the title —-Airs j Coombes, of Hamilton Club, and Mrs .. Bartlett, of Franklon. Great credit is J due to Mrs Evans for her brilliant i play. At the conclusion of the play Mrs York, secretary of the Hamilton Cm- A quet'ciub, owing to the absence of ( Mr Bowden (president), and Mrs 1 Sheppard (vice-president), presented Mrs Evans with the Bowden Cup and its miniature. 1 Mrs Burrow, past president of the A Whitiora C. 0., congratulated Airs ] Evans on behalf of the club, and washed her success in the future. \ Air Evans suitably replied for Airs s Evans.