By John Thomson
On Monday 3 April the Lilydale division 2 level play team travelled to the northern suburbs to take on Brunswick Croquet Club.
The chilly morning turned into a perfect day for croquet.
Lilydale’s doubles pair of Alan Jones and Craig McCracken hit the dew off the court first.
The Brunswick team ran the first two hoops courtesy of some wayward shots from Lilydale, then the boys from Lilydale started to settle into their game and only let Brunswick run one more hoop, winning 7 hoops to Brunswick 3 hoops.
The first singles game was a very mistake-riddled game and Lilydale’s John Thomson just could not get his usual game going, Brunswick 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
The next singles saw Lilydale’s mister reliable Craig McCracken play. This year Craig has taken his game to another level and this game was no different as he controlled the game winning 7 hoops to Brunswick 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 2 games, 19 hoops to Brunswick 1 game, 15 hoops. With two singles games to play after lunch, the day could belong to either side.
In the first singles after lunch John Thomson was keen to make amends for his mistakes in his first game. John got away to a good start and went on to win 7 hoops to Brunswick 2 hoops.
This win gave Lilydale the break they needed, and with just one singles game to go, Lilydale was keen to take this win as well.
This game was a huge battle and both teams had different opportunities to close the game out but then let the other team in again. After 12 hoops the score was tied up at six hoops a piece so it was off to the 13th hoop to find a winner.
This hoop went for a long time as both players were keen on roqueting the opposition ball away. In the end Lilydale’s Alan Jones took a chance and was able to run the 13th hoop to win the game.
The final scores were Lilydale 4 games, 33 hoops to Brunswick 1 game, 23 hoops.
This win puts Lilydale on top of the ladder with five games to go in the season.
Lilydale’s section 1 team had a bye this week.
