On Thursday 11 May the Lilydale Handicap Shield Team played away at Ringwood Croquet Club.
This was the last week of the home and away series, and although Lilydale could not lose the top spot on the ladder, Ringwood was desperate to win so that they would finish second and play in the finals.
In the first game, Lilydale’s Craig McCracken gave away three extra turns to his opponent.
Ringwood started very well and had the first three hoops before Craig could score.
Ringwood used their three extra turns wisely and kept Craig at bay.
Ringwood went on to win the game, 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 3 hoops.
In the first of the doubles, John Thomson and Alan Jones teamed up for Lilydale.
These two have not played a lot of doubles together this season.
Lilydale ran the first hoop but the Ringwood pair played well and with a combined four extra turns were slowly getting on top of John and Alan.
Ringwood won, 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
Alan Jones played in the next singles game.
The game was close, Alan was playing well even though he gave away four extra turns to his Ringwood opponent.
Alan was able to run a couple of crucial hoops to get in front and win, 7 hoops to Ringwood 5 hoops.
In the next doubles game, Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken teamed up for Lilydale.
Murray and Craig gave away a combined four extra turns and again with the Ringwood pair playing well and using their extra turns wisely, they were able to win, 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 5 hoops.
At the break, it was Ringwood 3 games 26 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 20 hoops.
With two games to play Lilydale was looking down the barrel, they were going to have to win the remaining 2 games and win them comfortably to make up the hoop count as well.
Murray Howlett was playing in this singles game and he was giving away five extra turns to his Ringwood opponent. Murray was playing well and forced his opponent to waste his extra turns in desperation to win the game. Lilydale 7 hoops to Ringwood 5 hoops.
In the last game, Lilydale had to win and also make up at least four hoops to win the day, a big ask especially seeing that Ringwood had a combined four extra turns to help them.
Ringwood started strongly and had the first four hoops before Lilydale scored, Lilydale fought back and levelled the score at 5 all, Ringwood then used the last of their extra turns to help them win the game, 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
The final score for the day was Ringwood 4 games 38 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 32 hoops.
This win puts Ringwood into second spot and will play semi-finals next week, as will Lilydale who finished in the top spot.
The semi-finals will be played at Ringwood and will be against the top two teams from the Western Division.
