By John Thomson
On Monday 15 April the Lilydale Croquet Division 1 Level Play team hosted the team from Monash.
The morning started out with a bit of patchy fog, but it wasn’t long before the sun broke through and dried the dew off the court making for a perfect day for croquet.
This week’s Division 1 team consisted of John Thomson, Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken.
The first game was the doubles and John Thomson and Murray Howlett teamed up. The game fluctuated back and forth with Lilydale getting a slight break only to see Monash come back and even up the game. At the twelfth hoop the score was six hoops each, with the thirteenth to be played to decide a winner. This hoop was hard fought with both sides intent on clearing their opponents balls away, eventually Lilydale got a break and ran the hoop. Lilydale 7 hoops to Monash 6 hoops.
Craig McCracken played in the first of the singles. This game was extremely hard fought with both players going hoop for hoop. Again, as in the doubles after twelve hoops had been played the scores were even at six hoops a piece, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide a winner. The Monash player set up better and was able to run the hoop to win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
In the next singles it was Murray Howlett to play. Murray unfortunately got off to a slow start and was having trouble settling into the game, his Monash opponent took full advantage of this and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 1 hoop.
At the break it was Monash 2 games 20 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 14 hoops. With only two singles games to come, Lilydale had the job in front of them.
In the first game after the break, it was John Thomson to play. This game again was close, then John got a bit of a break only to see the Monash play come back again and level the scores. After twelve hoops the scores were six hoops a piece so again the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Both players were intent on clearing one another’s balls away from the hoop until John made a mistake and the Monash player ran the hoop. Monash 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.
In the last singles Craig McCracken was playing. Craig got away to a good start and was able to build a lead early in the game and then not let his opponent settle into the game. Lilydale 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
The final scores for the game Monash 3 games 31 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 27 hoops.
In Division 2 this week, the team travelled to Monash. Although this game was scheduled as a home game for Lilydale they could not play at home as Lilydale only has the one court and the division one team were playing at home, so Lilydale division two team had to play away. One day hopefully the Lilydale Croquet Club will have more than one court and this anomaly will be a thing of the past.
The Division 2 team comprised Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Drew Pawley.
In the doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken played. Alan and Kerri started slowly trying to adjust to the vagaries of the Monash court. The Monash pair using their home ground advantage were playing well and went onto win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
In the first of the singles Alan Jones was playing. This game was tight with both players playing well and after the twelfth hoop the scores were six hoops each. The thirteenth hoop was played with Alan Jones prevailing to win 7 hoops to Monash 6 hoops.
In the next singles Drew Pawley was playing. The Monash player started well and built up a buffer, Drew was trying to fight back but the early break that the Monash player had built up was just a bit much. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Monash 2 games 20 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 14 hoops. Lilydale needed to win the remaining two singles games to win the day.
Kerri McCracken played first. Once again, the vagaries of the Monash courts were coursing the Lilydale players some problems. The Monash player was making the most of the home court advantage and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
Monash had now won the day with one singles game to be played.
Drew Pawley took to the court in the last game. The Monash player took an early break and was able to build on this during the game. Monash went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 1 hoop.
Final scores were Monash 4 games 34 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 18 hoops.
There were no games in the handicap competition for Lilydale this week as Lilydale had a bye.
