By John Thomson
Monday 25 March saw Lilydale playing host to Kew Croquet Club.
It was a perfect Autumn morning, a bit fresh at first but warm sunshine breaking through the clouds.
The Lilydale team consisted of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Drew Pawley.
The first game was the doubles and Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up for this game. The Kew team started strong and had three hoops up before Lilydale were able to open their account. Lilydale were able to slowly work their way back into the game and after the twelfth hoop the scores were 6 hoops each, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Kew set up well and were able to take their opportunity and run the hoop to win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
The first of four singles games saw Alan Jones back on the court. Alan had obviously used the doubles game as a warm up because he did not let his Kew opponent get a look in winning the game 7 hoops to Kew 1 hoop.
Drew Pawley was next to play. This was Drew’s first game for the day, he started well and controlled the game for much of the time and was able to place his ball in the jaws of the hoop on numerous occasions denying the opposition the chance to run the hoop. Lilydale 7 hoops Kew 4 hoops.
At the break the scores were Lilydale 2 games 20 hoops to Kew 1 game 12 hoops. With two games to come the result was in the balance.
The first singles after the break saw Lilydale’s Kerri McCracken play. Kerri got away to a good start and seemed to have a grip on the game but her Kew opponent was not to be denied and started to get back into the game and level the scores at six all, so again the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. This hoop proved to be a challenge with neither player being able to run the hoop until Kerri finally put herself in a good position and ran the hoop. Lilydale 7 hoops Kew 6 hoops.
This win clearly put Lilydale in front for the day, but there was still one singles game to come.
Drew Pawley came out for his second game. This game was possibly the most intriguing game of the day. The Kew player started well and after six hoops Kew was 5 hoops to Lilydale 1 hoop. With Kew only having to win two more hoops to win the game, everyone was thinking it was just a matter of time, except for Drew. Drew started to take control and was putting pressure on his opponent and worked his way into the game and levelled the scores at six all with the thirteenth hoop to play to decide the winner. The pressure had taken its toll on the Kew player and Drew won the thirteenth hoop and the game. This was a great come from behind win. The scores were Lilydale 7 hoops Kew 6 hoops.
The final scores for the day were Lilydale 4 games 34 hoops to Kew 1 game 24 hoops.
There was no Division 1 Level Play this week as Lilydale had a bye.
On Wednesday 27 March, Lilydale handicap team hosted the Ringwood Croquet Club.
The Lilydale team consisted of Craig McCracken, Mick Crawley, Graham Rhodes and Liz Stewart.
In the first singles Mick Crawley was playing, Mick was starting one hoop behind his Ringwood opponent. Mick started well and soon made up for the one hoop defecate. Mick kept placing his ball in good hoop running positions and eventually won 7 hoops to Ringwood 4 hoops. In the first doubles game Craig McCracken and Liz Stewart teamed up. Because of Craig’s handicap, Craig and Liz were starting one hoop behind their opponents. Both teams were playing well but Lilydale just could not make up the one hoop they gave away. Ringwood 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
In the next singles Graham Rhodes played. There was no advantage to either player as they were both on the same handicap. The game was even all the way through and after 12 hoops had been played it was six all, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Both players set up reasonably well but it was Graham that took his chance and ran the hoop. Lilydale 7 hoops Ringwood 6 hoops.
The next doubles to be played, Mick Crawley and Liz Stewart teamed up. The Ringwood team were starting one hoop behind Mick and Liz. Ringwood got off to a very good start and it was not long before they had made up the one hoop defecate. Ringwood eventually pulled away from Lilydale and won seven hoops to Lilydale four hoops.
In the last singles Craig McCracken was playing. Because of Craig’s handicap he was starting two hoops behind and his Ringwood opponent had one hoop to his advantage, so this was going to be a real challenge for Craig. Craig was playing brilliantly and he made up his two hoops and proceeded to control the game winning 7 hoops to Ringwood 4 hoops.
The last game was a doubles and Graham Rhodes and Mick Crawley played. Both teams were on the same handicap so it was just going to be a level play shoot out. Graham and Mick got away to a good start and did not give their opponents much of a look in. Lilydale winning, 7 hoops to Ringwood 3 hoops.
The final scores for the day were Lilydale 4 games 37 hoops to Ringwood 2 games 31 hoops.
