By John Thomson
On Monday 8 April, Lilydale made the long trip down to the Mornington Croquet Club.
The morning started out cool so it was on with the jackets, then out came the sun, so it was off with the jackets, then the clouds rolled in over the bay with a couple of showers of rain, so it was on with the jackets again. But besides the changing weather it was a good day for croquet.
Lilydale’s team this week consisted of Glenn Crook, Craig McCracken and John Thomson.
John Thomson and Craig McCracken played in the doubles. The first hoop seemed to take a long time as both teams struggled to run the hoop, eventually Mornington ran the hoop. Mornington slipped out to an early lead and although Craig and John tried to claw their way back into the game, the early lead that Mornington had proved to be too much. Mornington 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
In the first of the singles games Glenn Crook played. Glenn set up well on the first hoop and was able to run it, but his Mornington opponent was not to be denied and ran the next three hoops. It seemed that the Lilydale players were having trouble adapting to the very fast pace of the Mornington court. The Mornington player built on his lead and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
In the next singles Craig McCracken was playing. After having played already in the doubles Craig was able to adapt to the faster court surface. This game was extremely close, with both players positioning their balls well and running hoops. After 12 hoops had been played it was six hoops a piece, so it was down to the 13th hoop to decide the winner. Craig was first to the hoop and set up perfectly and on his next shot was able to run the hoop and win the game 7 hoops to Mornington 6 hoops.
At the lunch break it was Mornington 2 games 20 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 14 hoops. So, with two singles games to go Lilydale had to win both games and make up 6 hoops, a tough call.
John Thomson played in this game. Both players played well and the game was going hoop for hoop. At the tenth hoop the scores were 5 a piece then John was able to run the next two hoops and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
This win evened up the games at 2 games all but Lilydale were still behind by 4 hoops.
In the last singles it was Glenn Crook playing. Glenn was struggling with the faster court and his Mornington opponent was able to capitalize on this and went on to win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
The final scores for the day. Mornington 3 games 32 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 24 hoops.
In Division two, Lilydale hosted the Mornington division two side.
The Lilydale division two team this week consisted of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
In the doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Alan and Kerri got off to a flying start and did not let their opponents get a look in. Lilydale went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Mornington 1 hoop.
The first singles saw Alan Jones play. Alan has been in some really good form of late and this game was no exception. Alan started strongly and again did not let his opponent settle into the game. Lilydale 7 hoops to Mornington 1 hoop.
In the next singles Mick Crawley was playing his first game for the day. Mick started the game well and although his Mornington opponent was trying to get back into the game, Mick was able to hang on to his lead and go on to win the game 7 hoops to Mornington 3 hoops.
The score at the lunch break was Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Mornington 0 games 5 hoops. With just two singles games to be played Lilydale had the day wrapped up so it was just down to see if Mornington were able to fight back or were Lilydale going to hold onto their dominance of this match.
Kerri McCracken played in the first singles after lunch. This game was a much tighter fought out game with both players battling hard for each hoop. Towards the end Kerri was able to get a slight break and went on to win 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
Mick Crawley played in the last game. Mick has been improving each week and is becoming a very good and consistent player. Just like in his first singles game Mick started well and kept the pressure on during the game and went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Mornington 1 hoop.
The final scores were Lilydale 5 games 35 hoops to Mornington 0 games 11 hoops.
This resounding win will hopefully give the Lilydale division two side a boost up the ladder.
On Thursday 11 April, the Lilydale handicap team travelled to Kew.
The Lilydale team consisted of Craig McCracken, Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Colleen Howlett.
The day started off with a singles game in which Lilydale’s Alan Jones played. The Kew player was starting with one hoop advantage over Alan. The Kew player started well and was able to not only keep Alan from making ground but was able to run a couple of extra hoops. The final score Kew 7 hoops Lilydale 3 hoops.
The first doubles game saw Craig and Kerri McCracken team up. Again, the Kew team started with a one hoop advantage over Lilydale. Once again, the Kew team started well and did not let Craig and Kerri settle into the game and went on to have a convincing win 7 hoops to Lilydale 1 hoop.
In the next singles game Kerri McCracken was back on the court. Both the Kew and Lilydale players were evenly matched in this game. Kerri was obviously keen to make amends for the loss in the doubles and was able to set up an early break and hold that until the end, Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 3 hoops.
In the next Doubles Craig McCracken and Colleen Howlett were playing. This was Colleen’s first game for the day. The Kew team were starting with a one hoop advantage over Lilydale. Craig and Colleen started well and soon had that one hoop advantage of Kew’s made up and with both Craig and Colleen playing well were able to win the game 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
At the lunch break Lilydale had evened the scores somewhat. Kew 2 games 21 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 18 hoops.
With one singles and one doubles to come and only three hoops the difference the final result was still up in the air.
Alan Jones played in the last singles. Alan was starting two hoops behind his opponent. Alan started well and had soon made up one of those hoops, but the Kew player was not going to make it easy for Alan. The game went hoop for hoop for a while, then Alan got a break and was able to make up the second hoop and pull ahead. Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
This win put Lilydale in front by one game but they were also still one hoop behind Kew.
The last game of the day was a doubles and Colleen Howlett and Kerri McCracken teamed up. There was no advantage to either team in this game.
The team from Kew got off to a flying start and did not give the Lilydale pair much of a look in. Kew went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Lilydale 1 hoop.
The final scores for the day, Kew 3 games 33 hoops to Lilydale 3 games 26 hoops. Although both teams were even in games Kew won the day by 7 hoops.
