The South East Metro Autumn competition concludes this week.
The competition was played over ten weeks, punctuated with some public holidays.
Lilydale has two of its three teams in contention to take out top spot, the division two level play team and the handicap team, the division one team will probably finish third.
This week the Lilydale division one team took on the top of the table team from Kew.
Lilydale’s team was Craig McCracken and Murray Howlett.
First game was the doubles.
Lilydale got off to a good start, half way through the game Kew tried to get into the game but Lilydale took back control and went on to win 7 hoops to Kew 3 hoops.
Murray Howlett played in the first singles game.
This time it was the Kew player who had the upper hand and although Murray battled hard the Kew player was able to run some lovely long hoops which kept her in control of the game. Kew 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
Craig McCracken played in the next singles game.
This game was close with early in the game and then later in the game Craig was able to run consecutive hoops to give him a slight advantage which he was able to hold until the end.
Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 2 games 18 hoops to Kew 1 game 15 hoops.
With two games to play either side could still win the day.
Murray Howlett played in the first singles after lunch.
Murray played a superb game, everything he did came off and the longer the game went the more the Kew player struggled to have an impact.
Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 0 hoops.
This win won the day for Lilydale with one game to play.
Craig McCracken played in the last game.
This time it was the Kew player who got off to a good start, but Craig was not going to just give her the game and tried to fight back but unfortunately the gap was to much and Kew went onto win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
The final scores were Lilydale 3 games 28 hoops to Kew 2 games 22 hoops.
Although Lilydale could only finish third they had a say in how the top spots on the ladder finished with Kew slipping to second position and Ringwood finishing in top spot.
The final ladder was Ringwood, Kew, Lilydale, Monash, Mornington and Sandringham
This week the Lilydale division two team travelled to Sandringham.
The Lilydale team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
Alan Jones and Mick Crawley played in the doubles. Lilydale seemed to struggle with the fast pace of the court and Sandringham were able to take control and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
Kerri McCracken played in the first singles.
This game was close all the way through, Kerri seemed to adjust to the pace of the court and both players were going hoop for hoop, at the end of the twelfth hoop the scores were six hoops each so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner.
Kerri was first to the hoop and setup well and with her next turn with that ball was able to run the hoop.
Lilydale 7 hoops to Sandringham 6 hoops.
Michael Crawley played in the next singles game.
Unfortunately, again, Mick could not come to grips with the speed of the court and the Sandringham player was able to take full control and go onto win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.
At the break the scores were Sandringham 2 games 20 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 12 hoops.
With two singles games to play Lilydale will have to come out after the break and win both games.
Alan Jones played in the first singles after the break.
Alan had been watching the last two games and was able to adjust his line and length to the speed of the court and go onto win 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
This win to Lilydale evened up the games score at 2 each but Sandringham still held a 4 hoop lead.
Kerri McCracken played in the last game.
As like Kerri’s first game this was also very close with both players not giving an inch and after twelve hoops had been played the scores were six hoops each, with the thirteenth hoop to be
the decider.
After some negative play by both players it was in the end the Sandringham player who was able to run the hoop and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
The final scores for the day were Sandringham 3 games 30 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 25 hoops.
Although Lilydale lost this game they still finished on top of the ladder for the Autumn season.
The ladder is Lilydale, Monash, Kew Kelpies, Sandringham, Kew Devils.
Congratulations to the Lilydale division 2 team of Alan Jones (captain), Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
The division 2 team finished on top of the ladder in the 2024 Spring season and now in the 2025 Autumn season a great result for this team.
The last game of the handicap season was played at Kew Croquet Club and Lilydale played against the Kew team.
As this was the last game Lilydale had all of its players playing this week.
Lilydale needed to win this game to remain finish the season on top of the ladder.
Lilydale’s team consisted of Murray Howlett, Mick Crawley, Kerri McCracken, Drew Pawley, Murray McLean and Mark Edgell.
Mick Crawley played in the first singles game.
Mick has had a very good season, so much so that his handicap has come down and he now has bigger penalties that he has to adapt to.
In this game Mick was starting with a twos hoop penalty and the Kew player had a one hoop advantage.
The extra pressure on Mick of trying to make up ground was a bit to much and he struggled to make up the deficit with Kew winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.
The first doubles game saw Murray Howlett and Murray McLean team up.
Lilydale were starting with a two hoops disadvantage.
This game was fairly even all the way through with Lilydale gradually making up their deficit and getting the game back on even terms.
After twelve hoops had been played the scores were six hoops each with the thirteenth hoop to be played to decide the winner.
Both teams set up fairly well and after a short exchange Lilydale were able to run the hoop to win the game.
Drew Pawley played in the next singles game.
Both players were on the same handicap so neither player had any advantage.
Drew started well and was able to take the lead early and build on this lead during the game to go on and have a good win 7 hoops to Kew 3 hoops.
Kerri McCracken and Mark Edgell played in the next doubles game.
Both teams were on the same handicap so again neither team had an advantage.
The Kew team got off to a blistering start and the Lilydale team could not settle in to the game with Kew having a comfortable win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Kew 2 games 23 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 18 hoops with one singles and one doubles game to play.
Drew Pawley played in the last singles game.
The Kew player was starting with a one hoop disadvantage.
The Kew player made up his disadvantage early but from then on, the game was tight with both players on six hoops each so the deciding hoop had to be played.
This deciding hoop was keenly fought over but, in the end, it was the Kew player who was able to run the hoop and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
Murray Howlett and Murray McLean played in the last doubles game.
For Lilydale to finish top of the ladder they needed to not only win this game but win it big.
Lilydale were starting with a two hoops disadvantage while the Kew team had a one hoop advantage.
Although Lilydale fought hard, they just could not make up the deficit with Kew going on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
The final scores were Kew 4 games 37 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 27 hoops.
The final ladder was. Sandringham Sharks, Lilydale, Kew, Ringwood Royals, Sandringham Bayside, Monash, Ringwood Rebels.
Congratulations and well done to the Lilydale handicap team who have again had another very good season and the experience the newer players got this season will be invaluable going forward.
