CROQUET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 52, 29 January 1938, Page 12

CROQUET.

MRS WALKINS WINS OPEN TITLE MRS ANSTIS SUCCESSFUL. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Jan. 28. The New Zealand championship croquet tournament concluded to-day at the Wanganui Club’s lawns, St. John’s Hill, in sunny weather, save for a heavy downpour in the middle of the afternoon.

The third game of the rubber in the women’s championship final was played in the morning, the first two having been played the previous evening. Mrs Anstis and Mrs Simpson had been playing excellent croquet during the tournament and both deserved to be participating in the final. Eventually Mrs Anstis won. 26 —13.

The final of the open championship was contested by two minus players, Mrs Watkins (Hastings) and F. C. Bryan (Wellington), Mrs Watkins winning 26 —17, 18 —26, 26 —16. C. La Roche (Durie Hill, Wanganui) won the final in each life of the men’s championship, thus making his title secure, and J. Tannock (Dunedin) beat A. J. Gibbs (Patea) in the playoff for the honour of being runner-up. In the final of the handicap singles, A section, F. L. Hartnell beat C. La Roche.

In the final game of the rubber in the women’s championship, Mrs Simpson was the first to make a start, and in several turns placed her clip on the second return, where she failed, letting in Mrs Anstis, who made a few points. Mrs Simpson here hit in and also made a few points until Mrs Anstis, again getting her play, carried her clip to penultimate. In-and-out play followed for some time, the shooting by both players being outstandingly good. Commencing with the second break, Mrs Anstis failed to get position for No. 4 when Mrs Simpson again got the long shot and made a few points but failed at No. 6. Mrs Anstis, playing carefully and with excellent judgment, worked her other clip round and, without giving Mrs Simpson further opportunity to score, finished the game 26 —13 and the rubber, thus winning the New Zealand ladies’ championship.