By John Thomson
On Monday 4 March Lilydale Croquet Club’s Division 1 Level Play team hosted the Sandringham team at Lilydale.
The weather was perfect, not too hot or cold and just a slight breeze to help cool things down a touch.
Lilydale was fielding its strongest team, in Murray Howlett, Glenn Crook and Craig McCracken, but they were up against two very experienced players from Sandringham.
The first game was the doubles, and Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken paired up. Murray and Craig got away to a good start and did not let their opponents settle into the game at all. Lilydale won 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
In the first singles Glenn Crook got the jump on his opponent, he also controlled his game winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops
In the next singles game Craig McCracken was taking on Sandringham’s strongest player. This game was a real battle with the players going hoop for hoop. After 12 hoops had been played it was six hoops a piece so the thirteenth and deciding hoop was next. Craig was first to hit up to the hoop and set up well and eventually won the hoop. The scores were Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.
At the lunch break Lilydale had won the day, 3 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 13 hoops. With two singles games to come the question was, could Sandringham come home strong?
In the next singles Glenn Crook played. Glenn has been in exceptional form recently and he certainly took his good form into this game. Glenn controlled this game winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops.
In the last singles Murray Howlett was playing. This was a close game with both players at stages playing some very good croquet and at others missing hoops they would normally win. In the end Sandringham won the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
The final score, Lilydale 4 games 33 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 22 hoops.
Lilydale’s Division 2 Level Play team travelled to Sandringham to play.
The Lilydale team consisted of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Drew Pawley.
The conditions at Sandringham were perfect for croquet, warm temperature and a slight on shore breeze.
In the doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Alan and Kerri have not played together a lot so it was going to be interesting to see the chemistry between both of them.
Alan and Kerri started well and did not give their opponents many opportunities to get into the game. Lilydale 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
In the first singles Drew Pawley played Sandringham’s captain. This game was close all the way, and after twelve hoops it was all tied up at 6 a each. This means that the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide a winner. Both players set up reasonably well but it was Drew who made the most of his opportunity and ran the hoop to win the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.
In the next singles Alan Jones played, and just like the first singles the game went hoop for hoop and again after twelve hoops had been played it was 6 hoops each. The thirteenth hoop was a struggle but just like in the previous game, this time it was Alan who took his opportunity and won the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.
At the break, with three games played and two to come Lilydale had secured the win. Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops Sandringham 0 games 15 hoops.
Drew Pawley played first up after the break. The game was close for most of the game but the Sandringham player was able to get a slight break and put their first win of the day on the board. Sandringham 7 hoops Lilydale 5 hoops.
The last singles Kerri McCracken played. This game was also very close. Kerri managed to get a break over her opponent and hold it to the finish. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 5 hoops.
Final scores Lilydale 4 games 33 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 26 hoops.
On Thursday 7 March Lilydale Croquet Club hosted the Sandringham Handicap team.
Lilydale’s team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken, Liz Stewart and Mick Crawley.
In the first singles Alan Jones, because of his handicap ranking, was starting 2 hoops behind his opponent. The game was a close game but those 2 hoops were the difference in the end. Sandringham 7 hoops Lilydale 5 hoops.
The first doubles saw Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken team up. The handicaps were even in this game, and the game was also fairly even until Mick and Kerri were able to get a break and take the game and hoops to Sandringham ebbed 5 hoops.
In the next singles Mick Crawley was playing. Mick, because of his handicap, was starting 1 hoop behind his opponent. Mick was playing beautifully and it wasn’t long before he had made up that hoop and by the time the game was over had picked up two more hoops as well. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 5 hoops.
The next doubles Alan Jones and Liz Stewart teamed up. This is Liz’s first season, so she will be looking for some guidance from her partner. The game ebbed and flowed but eventually the Sandringham pair got a break, winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
At lunch the scores were Lilydale 2 games 24 hoops, Sandringham 2 games 24 hoops. You can’t get any closer than that and with 1 singles game and 1 doubles game to come, it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top.
The first game after lunch was a singles, with Lilydale’s Kerri McCracken playing.
Both players are on the same handicap so neither player had an advantage. The Sandringham player got off to a good start and was able to keep the pressure on Kerri all the way through the game, winning 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 3 hoops.
In the last game, a doubles, Alan Jones and Liz Stewart again teamed up. Lilydale had to win this game to give them a chance of winning the day.
Alan and Liz were starting 1 hoop behind Sandringham. The game was close but Lilydale struggled to make up for that 1 hoop handicap with Sandringham winning 7 games to Lilydale 5 games.
In a very close tuff battle over the day the final scores were Sandringham 4 games 38 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 32 hoops.
There were no Level Play games on Monday because of the long weekend.
