By John Thompson
On Monday 31 March, the Lilydale Division 1 team travelled to Kew.
The Lilydale team consisted of craig McCracken and Murray Howlett. The first game was the doubles and this game was extremely tight with neither side able to get a break and after the twelfth hoop, the scores were 6 hoops a piece so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. This hoop was also hard fought with a lot of clearing of the opponents balls until Lilydale were able to seize an opportunity to run the hoop and win 7 hoops to Kew 6 hoops.
Murray Howlett played in the first singles game. The Kew player got off to a good start and had a slight lead, Murray fought back but unfortunately just could not bridge the gap and Kew won 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops. Craig McCracken played in the next singles game. This game was almost a copy of the last with Craig just not able to get on level terms with his Kew opponent. Kew 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
At the break the scores were Kew 2 games 20 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 17 hoops. With 2 games to play, Lilydale had to win both games to win the day. Craig McCracken played in the next singles. The Kew player soon had a good lead in the game as Craig was struggling to run his hoops when the opportunity arose. Kew winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops. Murray Howlett played in the last game. This was a very close game with both players trading hoops. The score was 6 hoops each after the twelfth hoop so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Murray was first to the hoop and set up well and from there was able to run the hoop and win the game 7 hoops to Kew 6 hoops. The final score in what was a very hard fought encounter was Kew 3 games 33 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 27 hoops.
This week, the Lilydale Division 2 team hosted the Sandringham team. This week’s Lilydale team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley. Alan Jones and Mick Crawley played in the doubles. Lilydale got off to a good start and were able to control most of the game and built a comfortable lead and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops. Kerri McCracken played in the first singles. The game was even to start with but Kerri eventually was able to get a break and go onto win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops. Alan Jones played in the next game. This game was very close but Alan was able to get away late in the game to take the win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops. At the bread,k the scores were Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 13 hoops. With 2 games to play, Lilydale had won the day. Mick Crawley played in the next singles game. The Sandringham player started well and was able to build a decent lead. Mick fought back late but the gap was just a bit too much. Sandringham 7 hoops Lilydale 5 hoops. Kerri McCracken played in the last game. This game was a close affair with both players not giving an inch until late in the game Kerri was able to get a slight break and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops. The final scores were Lilydale 4 games 33 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 25 hoops.
On Thursday, the Lilydale handicap team hosted the team from Sandringham. Both of these teams are on the same amount of tests and are first and second on the ladder, just separated by games and hoops won, so the winner will be on top of the ladder at the end of the day. This week’s team for Lilydale was Murray Howlett, Mick Crawley, Drew Pawley and Mark Edgell.
Lilydale won the toss and Drew Pawley played in the first game. Drew was starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Drew got off to a solid start and had made up his disadvantage on the first hoop. From there on he played a very steady game running and clearing his opponent’s balls whilst building a good lead to go on and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops. Mick Crawley and Mark Edgell played in the first doubles game. The Sandringham team had a one hoop disadvantage in this game. Lilydale started well but the Sandringham team had soon made up ground and were back on level terms with Lilydale. A couple of bad decisions and missed hoops by Lilydale gave Sandringham the ascendancy and they went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops. Both of the first two games were extraordinarily long, with the doubles going for over two hours. Mick Crawley was playing in the next singles, Mick was starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Sandringham ran the first couple of hoops but Mick clawed his way back and got on level terms and then was able to get a break and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops. Murray Howlett and Mark Edgell played in the next doubles. Sandringham were starting with a one hoop advantage in this game. This game was tight all the way with both teams going hoop for hoop and after the twelfth hoop the score was six all so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Neither team setup well and there was a lot of negative play until finally Sandringham were able to run the hoop and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops, the difference in the end was the one hoop start that Sandringham had due to handicaps. Due to the games all going for so long there was no lunch break it was just grab a drink and something to eat when you could. The scores at this point were Lilydale 2 games 25 hoops to Sandringham 2 games 23 hoops, with two games to play. Drew Pawley played in the last singles game. Sandringham were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Sandringham made up their disadvantage on the first hoop, and from there, it was back to a level play game. The game was close but marred with a number of mistakes from both sides. Sandringham in the end was able to go on and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops. This gave Sandringham the lead by one game but Lilydale were ahead by 1 hoop with a doubles game to be played. Murray Howlett and Mick Crawley played in the last game. Lilydale had a 2 hoop disadvantage while Sandringham had a 1 hoop advantage, Lilydale certainly had their job cutout for them. Lilydale started strongly, then Sandringham settled into the game, but the more experienced Lilydale team were able to get the ascendency and go on to win in another tight game 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops. This gave Lilydale not only the win on the day but top spot on the ladder. The final scores were Lilydale 3 games 38 hoops to Sandringham 3 games 35 hoops. This match was what you would expect and hope for from the two top teams, a close, tough day which started at 10.30am and did not finish until 5pm. Lilydale’s motto is ‘Every Hoop Counts’ and it was certainly the case in this match.
