By John Thomson
Last Monday the Lilydale Croquet Club Division 1 team travelled to Mornington.
The Lilydale team consisted of Murray Howlett, Glenn Crook and Craig McCracken.
As always the first game was the doubles, and Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken teamed up. The game was close right from the start with both sides going hoop for hoop. It was not until Lilydale missed a vital opportunity to run a hoop that Mornington were able to get a break. Mornington won 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
In the first of the singles games Lilydale’s Glenn Crook was playing Mornington’s top player. Glenn has been in good form of late so it was always going to be a tight game. Both players were playing well but this time it was the Mornington player that was to make a mistake and Glenn capitalised on this and won the game 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
Craig McCracken was next to play, the Mornington player was positioning his ball beautifully in front of the hoops which put pressure on Craig to try to continually clear him away, but the continual pressure was a bit too much with Mornington winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Mornington 2 games 19 hoops Lilydale 1 game 16 hoops.
With two singles games to come the pressure was on Lilydale to win the final two games.
Murray Howlett was playing his first singles for the day. This also was a tough battle, both players not giving an inch, then, the Mornington player lost a bit of concentration and Murray seized the moment and won the game 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
With Murray winning his game the scores now were Mornington 2 games 24 hoops Lilydale 2 games 23 hoops. With Lilydale trailing by just 1 hoop the pressure was really on.
All these games seemed to be on repeat as neither player was giving an inch. The Mornington player, although not as experienced as Glenn Crook, was taking the game right up to him. Again, it was just a slight lack of concentration that opened the door for Glenn to take the advantage and win the game 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
The final score for the day was Lilydale 3 games 30 hoops to Mornington 3 games 29 hoops.
A great come from behind win for the Lilydale team.
This week the Division 2 team was at home to Kew. Representing Lilydale was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Drew Pawley.
In the Doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Alan and Kerri got off to a good start and combined well, they played to one another’s strengths and came away with a good win 7 hoops to Kew 2 hoops.
In the first of the singles games Lilydale’s Drew Pawley played. Drew has been starting to find his form in recent games after not having played any competition for quite a while. The game was close all the way through both players running hoops well. Towards the end of the game Drew was able to just sneak away and won the game 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
Alan Jones was playing in the next singles. If the last game was tight, this game was even tighter. Both players went hoop for hoop and after 12 hoops had been played it was six all, and then it was off to the thirteenth hoop to decide the winner. The Kew player was able to set up his ball in a good hoop running position and on his next turn was able to run the hoop, winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
At the break the scores were Lilydale 2 games 20 hoops to Kew 1 game 14 hoops. Even though Lilydale held the lead there were still two singles games to be played, so Kew could still get up and win the day.
In the first singles after the break Lilydale’s Kerri McCracken played, Kerri has been working into some good form in the last week or two. Kerri jumped out of the blocks straight away and was playing probably the best game of her season so far. In the end Kerri won the game comfortably 7 hoops to Kew 1 hoop.
This win sealed the day for Lilydale even though there was still one singles game to go.
Drew Pawley played in the last singles. The game was close early but the Kew player ran a couple of very good hoops to take the lead and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
The final score for the day, Lilydale winning 3 games 32 hoops to Kew 2 games 22 hoops.
On Thursday 21 March, Lilydale’s handicap team travelled down the freeway to take on the might of the Mornington team.
Lilydale’s team was Craig McCracken, Mick Crawley, Kerri McCracken and Colleen Howlett.
In the first singles game Craig McCracken played, with the handicap system Craig had to win two hoops before he could get on par with his opponent.
Craig, as always, battled hard and levelled the scores but his Mornington opponent was just able to get that extra hoop in front at the end.
Mornington 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
The first of the doubles saw Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken pair up for Lilydale.
This game was also very close. The Mornington side started one hoop behind Lilydale. Mornington slowly worked their way into the game to even the scores and again they were able to win the deciding hoop. Mornington 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
In the next singles Mick Crawley played. Mick was starting 1 hoop in front of his opponent. Mick was able to retain his one hoop advantage plus make up a couple of hoops more taking out the game, Lilydale 7 hoops Mornington 3 hoops.
The next doubles it was Kerri McCracken and Colleen Howlett to play. Colleen has not played any competition for quite a while due to injury and holidays. The Mornington team was starting one hoop behind Lilydale. The Lilydale pair were playing well against their more experienced Mornington opposition. Mornington were able to level the score and then take the lead to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
In the next single Kerri McCracken played. The Mornington player was giving away two hoops to Kerri, Kerri battled hard but the more experienced Mornington player was able to control the game and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
The last game was a doubles and Craig McCracken and Colleen Howlett teamed up. Craig and Colleen were starting one hoop behind their opponents.
The Mornington pair were playing well, Lilydale just could not make up any ground and eventually went down, Mornington 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
Final scores for the day Mornington 5 games 38 hoops Lilydale 1 game 32 hoops.
Even though the Mornington team won by four games the hoop count 38-32 shows how close the games really were.
