By John Thomson
Due to the Easter Monday public holiday, there was no Division 1 or Division 2 croquet.
On Thursday 4 April, Lilydale hosted the Monash Croquet Club in the handicap competition.
The morning started out cool with a heavy dew on the court, with the cloud clearing and no real wind it was going to be a perfect day for croquet.
The Lilydale team consisted of Alan Jones, Liz Stewart, Colleen Howlett and Graham Rhodes.
In the first singles Alan Jones had to make up two hoops on his Monash opponent. After the fourth hoop Alan had levelled the score and from then on it went hoop for hoop until late in the game when Alan just edged in front and went on to win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
In the first of the doubles Liz Stewart and Graham Rhodes teamed up. Both teams were evenly matched in this game so there was no advantage to either side. The Monash team got away to a good start, and although Liz and Graham battled hard Monash were able to hold their early lead and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
In the next singles, Colleen Howlett was playing. Colleen was starting one hoop ahead of her more experienced opponent. The Monash player got away to a good start and was playing some very good approach shots and did not let Colleen settle into the game. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
Alan Jones and Liz Stewart were playing in the next doubles. Alan and Liz were starting one hoop behind the Monash team. The Lilydale pair teamed together well and went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Monash 2 hoops.
At the lunch break it was Lilydale 2 games 21 hoops, Monash 2 games 21 hoops. With a singles and a doubles game to come the final result was going to be close.
Graham Rhodes was playing in the last singles game. The Monash player got off to a good start and had a handy lead half way through the game, then Graham started to fight back and almost evened up the score but the early lead that the Monash player had was just a bit too much. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
This win put Monash 1 game and 2 hoops in front, with the last doubles game to be played.
Alan Jones and Colleen Howlett teamed up for Lilydale. Alan and Colleen were starting one hoop behind their Monash opponents. Lilydale started well and had soon made up their deficit. Both sides were battling hard as this game would decide the winner for the day. A lovely angled jump shot from Alan put Lilydale in front and from there they went on to win 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
With both teams having won a game in the last round it was down to who had won the most hoops.
The final score Lilydale 3 games 33 hoops to Monash 3 games 32 hoops.
Lilydale winning the day by one hoop, it does not get any closer than that.
Congratulations to Liz Stewart for her first win in a competition game, this is Liz’s first season in competition so well done.
