By John Thomson
The first game in Lilydale’s first season in Section One in the Level Play Shield Competition saw them host Monash.
First off was the doubles, Monash started well and was really never troubled in this game.
The first of the singles games saw Murray Howlett take on the most experienced of the two Monash players. Murray settled into this game much better, perhaps the nerves of the first game had now gone. The game was quite close all the way through, but again just a bit more experience at this level from the Monash player saw him just get a slender lead and come away with a win.
Glenn Crook was up next, Glenn was fighting hard to stay in the match but unfortunately, a couple of missed opportunities cost him and Monash won.
With only the two reverse singles to come, Monash had already won the day, so it was going to be interesting to see if the Lilydale boys could get a win, or maybe two.
Glenn Crook was up first, he had obviously thought hard about his game over the break and came out very focused. Glenn got the early break and kept the pressure on his much more experienced opponent by clearing his opponent’s ball away from the hoop as much as possible, limiting the Monash players’ opportunity to score.
In the last singles game, Murray Howlett came out with a steely look of determination in his eyes. Murray took the lead from the start and never looked back playing extremely well and did not give his opponent an opportunity to dictate play and came away with a very good win.
The final scores, Monash 3 games, 28 hoops to Lilydale 2 games, 25 hoops.
LEVEL PLAY SECTION 2
Lilydale section 2 players travelled to Ivanhoe expecting hard-fought games.
In the doubles, Alan Jones and Craig McCracken took the field.
The Ivanhoe pairing jumped away to a good lead and had the first three hoops before Lilydale could score and they could not pull back the early lead that Ivanhoe had.
Next was the singles, this game was extremely tight going hoop for hoop all the way and it was up to the 13th hoop to decide the winner. Craig had a clear shot at the hoop and ran it for a Lilydale win.
John Thomson for Lilydale was up next, this was his first game for the day and once again it was the 13th hoop to decide the winner.
John took his opportunity and ran the hoop and won the game.
At lunch, the match was evenly poised and could go either way.
Now for the reverse singles, John Thomson was first to play, and although having made some bad skill errors and a couple of poor decisions, it was again off to the 13th hoop to decide the game. Both players kept clearing each other’s balls away, and finally the Ivanhoe player to his chance and ran the hoop and won the game.
Ivanhoe had their nose in front by three hoops.
In the last game, Lilydale’s Alan Jones played and for the fourth time, this singles game was all tied up on the 12th hoop but a missed opportunity for Lilydale saw the Ivanhoe player take out the game.
Final scores for the day. Ivanhoe 3 games, 33 hoops Lilydale 2 games, 29 hoops.
These two teams will meet again next Monday, this time on Lilydale’s court, where they will be looking to turn the tide.
Handicap Shield
Lilydale was away to Ivanhoe for the first game of the Handicap Shield for the autumn season.
In the first game, Lilydale’s Glenn Crook was playing singles, giving away two extra turns to the Ivanhoe player that certainly helped the Ivanhoe player stay in the game but Glenn prevailed by the narrowest of margins.
In the doubles, Lilydale’s Craig McCracken and John Thomson paired up. This game went hoop for hoop all the way, and once again it was the 13th hoop to decide the winner, after a bit of negative play around the hoop Ivanhoe found themselves in a hoop-running position and took their chance.
In another singles game, Lilydale’s John Thomson was giving away 2 extra turns and got off to a slow start allowing the Ivanhoe player to get a couple
of hoops ahead, but he worked himself back into the game and finally won the game.
In the next game, Glenn Crook and Mick Crowley teamed up for Lilydale but today was not their day, a number of bad shots and wrong decisions saw Ivanhoe come away with quite a comfortable win.
At lunch, there were only two hoops separating the teams.
After lunch, Craig McCracken played a very steady game throughout and kept clearing his opponent away from the hoop so that she could not settle into the game.
The last game of the day saw John Thomson and Mick Crowley team up for Lilydale, the first time these two have played together. The game was close all the
way but in the end, Lilydale was able to capitalise and win the game.
The final scores, Lilydale 4 games, 36 hoops Ivanhoe 2 games, 34 hoops.
Lilydale was relieved to come away with the win and start the Handicap season off on a winning note.
