By John Thomson
Monday 14 October saw the Lilydale Croquet Club’s Division 1 team play at home against Monash
The Lilydale team this week was Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken.
The first game in level play is the doubles. Lilydale won the toss and hit off first. Lilydale got off to a good start and had a small break early but Monash came back only to see Lilydale skip away again late in the game to win 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
Murray played in the first singles game. This game was close all the way until Murray had a bit of bad luck which gifted the Monash player a couple of hoops which was the difference in the end. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
Craig played in the next singles game. This game was close early but then the Monash player was able to run a couple of very long hoops to give her a break and go on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
At the break the scores were Monash 2 games 18 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 16 hoops. With only 1 game and 2 hoops separating the two teams the final result was far from being known.
Murray played the first singles after the break. Both players were going hoop for hoop but then Monash took their chance and ran a couple of very nice hoops which gave them the break. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
With one game to play Monash had now won the day.
Craig played in the last game of the day. It seems that close games were the order of the day and this game was no exception. This time though it was Craig who was able to run the crucial hoops and go on to win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
The final score for the day was Monash 3 games 30 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 28 hoops.
The Lilydale Division 2 team this week travelled to Monash. The Lilydale team consisted of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Michael Crawley.
In the first doubles Alan and Michael paired up. Alan and Michael got away to a flying start and just did not let their Monash opponents get a look in and went on to win 7 hoops to Monash 0 hoops.
Kerri played in the first singles. Again a quick start by Kerri set up the game and she was able to then control the game winning 7 hoops to Monash 2 hoops.
Alan played in the next singles. This game was a bit closer but Alan was still able to take control and win the game 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Monash 0 games 6 hoops. With only two games to play Lilydale had already won the day so it was just a matter of whether Monash could get on the winners board.
Michael played in the second last singles. Again, Michael was able to get off to a very good start and was able to build a lead and hold it through to the end winning 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
Kerri played in the last singles. This game was almost a carbon copy of the previous game with Lilydale building a good lead early then being able to hold it through to the end. Lilydale 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
The final scores for the day, Lilydale 5 games 35 hoops to Monash 0 games 12 hoops.
This was a most emphatic win by the Lilydale team, the second time this season they have been able to keep their opponents scoreless and with four weeks to play might just have secured themselves top spot.
In the Handicap competition Lilydale hosted Monash this week.
Lilydale’s team comprised Murray Howlett, Michael Crawley, Kerri McCracken and Colleen Howlett.
Michael played in the first singles game. Michael was starting with a two hoop disadvantage. Monash had won the toss and hit off first. Michael was focused on his task at hand and had soon made up the two hoop disadvantage and just concentrated on playing a level play game and went on to win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
The next game was a doubles and Murray and Kerri teamed up for this game. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. This game was close early but gradually over the game Lilydale drew level and then was able to set up a break and go on to win 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
In the next singles Kerri was playing. Kerri was playing Monash’s top player so she was starting with a 2 hoop advantage and the Monash player was starting with a 1 hoop disadvantage. Kerri’s game has been improving over the season and this game was no exception as she went onto win 7 hoops to Monash 1 hoop.
Michael and Colleen paired up for the next doubles. Lilydale were starting with a 1 hoop disadvantage. The Lilydale pair got off to a good start and had soon made up their 1 hoop and from there on controlled the game to win 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
At the lunch break Lilydale were 4 games 28 hoops to Monash 0 games 13 hoops. With 2 games to play Lilydale had won the day.
Michael played in the last singles for the day. Michael had a 2 hoop disadvantage in this game. This was not an easy game with Michael slowly making up his 2 hoop disadvantage and then working his way into the lead to go on and win 7 hoops to Monash 4 hoops.
In the last game of the day Murray and Kerri paired up. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Lilydale soon had that one hoop made up and from there on controlled the game to go on and win 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
The final scores were Lilydale 6 games 42 hoops to Monash 0 games 20 hoops, a convincing win for the Lilydale team.
This win keeps Lilydale on top of the ladder, 2 tests, 8 games and 39 hoops in front of the second placed team with four weeks to play.
