By John Thomson
On Monday 24 April, the Lilydale Division 1 team played away at Sandringham in near-perfect weather conditions with just a slight on shore breeze.
In the doubles game, Lilydale’s Glenn Crook and Murray Howlett got off to a good start and, although the Sandringham pair battled hard, Lilydale had the upper hand and were not going to let Sandringham start to take control. Lilydale 7 hoops – Sandringham 4 hoops.
In the first of the singles Lilydale’s Glenn Crook, who was just coming off a tournament win at Monash on the weekend, was playing superbly and took this match, 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
In the second singles Murray Howlett had a much tougher battle with both teams going hoop for hoop and after 12 hoops it was all tied up at 6 hoops a piece, so they had to play the 13th hoop to get a winner. Murray set up his first ball well and was able to run the hoop and win the game.
At the lunch break the scores were Sandringham 0 games 13 hoops Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops, meaning Lilydale had won the day with two games to go.
For Murray Howlett, an error in judgement by the Sandringham player gave Murray the opportunity to get the upper hand and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops.
The last game was a mammoth struggle, the game going hoop for hoop, with both players intent on clearing the opposition ball away. Going to the 13th, Glenn Crook took a chance and at last ran the hoop. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.
The final score for the day was Sandringham 0 games 24 hoops Lilydale 5 games 35 hoops, a great effort by the Lilydale boys to keep their opponents scoreless for the day and have their second win of the season.
The Division 2 Level Play team were at home to Kew this week.
The first game to hit the dew off the court was the doubles and Lilydale’s formidable pair of Alan Jones and Craig McCracken took to the court. Kew got away to a good start winning the first 3 hoops before Lilydale started to fight back. Alan and Craig worked well together with one clearing the opponent’s balls while the other ran the hoops, eventually Lilydale won 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
In the first of the singles John Thomson started slowly with Kew having the first 2 hoops before John scored. John then controlled the game and won 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
In the next singles game Craig McCracken controlled this game from the outset and never looked back winning 7 hoops to Kew 2 hoops. Craig has certainly improved and is now a very good and consistent player.
At the lunch break the score was Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops Kew 0 games 11 hoops.
With two singles games to go Lilydale had won the day so it was just a matter now to see if Kew could respond.
In the next game John Thomson again, was slow out of the box, but unlike his first game he could not make up the lost ground. Kew winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
In the last singles Alan Jones played, and this game went for some considerable time as both players tried to get on top only for their opponent. Off to the 13th and deciding hoop, it saw some contesting for this hoop Alan had one of his balls in the jaws of the hoop ready to run it with his next shot, the Kew player, with his next turn did a lovely jump shot to win the game, Lilydale 6 hoops to Kew 7 hoops.
The final score for the day, Lilydale 3 wins 32 hoops to Kew 2 wins 25 hoops.
This win keeps Lilydale on top of Division 2 with three games to play.
On Thursday 27 April, the Lilydale Handicap shield team hosted Kew at the Ringwood Croquet Club.
In the first singles game Lilydale’s Murray Howlett was giving his opponent 7 extra turns. This is because Murray’s handicap has now gone down to a three. To win a game when your opponent has 7 extra turns is going to be a huge effort. Murray started well making the most of his opportunities and keeping his opponent under pressure at all times. Unfortunately the Kew player wasted some of his extra turns of which Murray took full advantage and won the game 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
The next game was the first of the doubles and Glenn Crook and Mike Gilsenan teamed up for Lilydale. Mike has only played a couple of games for the club and was happy to be mentored by the captain Glenn. This game was tight all the way through and after 12 hoops it was all tied up at 6 hoops a piece with the 13th hoop to decide the game. The Kew pairing were first to the hoop and set up well and when it was their next turn took full advantage of their good placement and won the hoop and the game. Kew 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.
In the next singles Glenn Crook, like Murray Howlett, was giving away 7 extra turns. Once again, the Kew player wasted their extra turns and Glenn was able to capitalise and win the game 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
In the next doubles game Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken teamed up. Both of these players have been in sparkling form all season and even though the Kew pair had 6 extra turns between them that was not going to stop Murray and Craig from taking out this game.
Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
In the last of the singles games, Craig McCracken was playing, he was giving away 5 extra turns to his opponent and this time the Kew player used them much better and certainly kept her in the game. After 12 hoops the score was 6 all with the 13th hoop to decide the outcome again. This hoop was a real battle with neither player able to get a clear shot at the hoop, eventually Craig played an excellent hoop running shot and won the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Kew 6 hoops.
The final score for the day, Lilydale 5 games 41 hoops Kew 1 game 30 hoops.
This win keeps Lilydale on top of the ladder in the Handicap Shield with Monash breathing down Lilydale’s neck, and next week these two teams will meet in a top of the table clash at Monash.
