The Wairarapa Croquet Association hosted the CNZ Women’s AC Invitation at the Masterton Croquet Club over the weekend. The event was also livestreamed on the CNZ YouTube Channel with still cameras but no commentary.
Overnight rain and light drizzle on Saturday made for very heavy lawns, however this did not dampen the mood nor the competitiveness of the six players. The tournament was played as a single round robin with the potential for a final should two players finish on equal wins.
Round 1 saw Baubre Murray (Wellington) win against Paulette Moore (Wellington), local player Carissa Price (Wairarapa) narrowly beating Pixie Jones-Merredew (Auckland) and favourite Bonnie Johnstone (South Taranaki) getting the better of Pip Rive (Auckland).
During Saturday the lawns started to dry out a bit and play became a bit easier and several controlled breaks being played. Bonnie Johnstone finished the day with three convincing wins, while Carissa Price and Pip Rive both managed to get two wins.
Sunday started in sunny but cold conditions with Bonnie Johnstone securing her fourth win, while Pip Rive beat Carissa Price in their direct match-up 26:10. A fifth consecutive win in the final round would have secured Johnstone the tournament win.
Johnstone had to play Pip Rive’s aunt Pixie Jones-Merredew who did everything to give her niece a chance to play a final against Johnstone. Pip Rive had already won her final game against and was anxiously watching on the sideline. After trailing for most part of the game Pixie managed to go ahead in the final half hour of the game and narrowly held on to win 22:21 setting up the ‘Final’.
The final was played on lawn 1 and was livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Nerves were clearly playing a part with both players making some uncharacteristic errors. Bonnie Johnstone managed to get the first break but broke down on 2 back. Unlike in the first game they played, Pip Rive did not let her opposition get away with both balls and managed a solid break to take the lead. The momentum kept swinging back and forth, and with time up Pip Rive managed to run Rover with her second ball only to miss the return roquet and the opportunity to finish the game. Bonnie Johnstone took advantage of the opportunity to hit in and having the opportunity to take her second ball from 3 back to the peg and with a Rover Peel potentially win the game. After some difficult shots Bonnie managed to make 3 back and 4 back before bouncing out of Penult to lose the final.
Congratulations to Pip Rive on winning her first CNZ title, to Paulette Moore for being selected in her first Invitation event and all other players for being selected.
CNZ would like to thank all the volunteers from the Masterton Croquet Club and the Wairarapa Croquet Association for putting on a great tournament.
