By John Thomson
On Monday 1 May, the Lilydale Section 1 team played host to the team from Kew.
With the Kew team sitting on the bottom of the ladder, Lilydale were keen to make it two wins in a row.
In the doubles the Kew team jumped out of the blocks and had the first 3 hoops before Lilydale was able to get on the board. Kew were playing superbly and were not letting Lilydale get into the game at all. Kew winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.
In the first of the singles games Lilydale’s Glenn Crook was playing. He had beaten his Kew opponent in recent times and was looking forward to doing the same again, but this time his opponent was out to make amends for her previous losses and went on to beat Glenn 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 4 hoops.
In the next singles Lilydale’s Murray Howlett had a real battle on his hands as both sides went hoop for hoop. Eventually Murray was able to get a break and take the win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
At lunch Kew held the upper hand. Kew 2 games 19 hoops, Lilydale 1 game 13 hoops.
Glenn Crook was determined not to let his next game and the match slip away. The game was close but Glenn was able to get the upper hand late in the game and win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
With both teams on 2 games each it was down to this last singles game to decide the match.
Murray Howlett was up against Kew’s best player in this game but was not going to let her dominate the game and held his nerve and after 12 hoops the score was 6 all, with the 13th hoop to decide the winner of the game and match. This hoop was hard fought with both sides not giving their opponent an opportunity to run the hoop until Murray seized on a chance and was able to win the game, 7 hoops to Kew 6 hoops.
The final score for the day, Lilydale 3 games 27 hoops to Kew 2 games 30 hoops.
A fantastic result for the Lilydale team. That makes it two wins in a row and moves them up to third on the ladder with one round to play.
The Lilydale Section 2 team was playing away to Kew’s Section 2 team.
The first game is the doubles and Lilydale’s pair of Alan Jones and Craig McCracken started well and played a great doubles game winning 7 hoops to Kew 2 hoops, complimenting each other’s game.
In the first of the singles John Thomson of Lilydale played a steady game running some nice long hoops. Lilydale 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
In the next singles Craig McCracken played the perfect game (if there is such a thing). Craig did not let his opponent get near the hoops, which put pressure on the Kew player who then started to make mistakes. Lilydale 7 hoops Kew 0 hoops.
With only 2 games to play after the break Lilydale had won the day, 3 games 21 hoops to Kew 0 games 6 hoops.
After lunch, John Thomson got off to a good start and was leading his opponent 6 hoops to 3 hoops. A couple of bad errors let the Kew player back into the game and after 12 hoops it was all tied up at 6 hoops a piece with the 13th hoop to decide the winner. Both players’ approach shots were short of the hoop which led to negative play by both players, John finally had a chance to win the game but missed the hoop which then let his opponent in to run the hoop. Kew 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.
The last game was another tight game with both players going hoop for hoop. Again after 12 hoops the scores were 6 hoops a piece, with the 13th hoop to play. Lilydale’s Alan Jones was able to make the most of his opportunities and win the game 7 hoops to Kew 6 hoops.
The final score, Lilydale 4 games 34 hoops Kew 1 game 19 hoops.
This win keeps Lilydale on top of the ladder with two weeks to play.
On Thursday 4 May, the Lilydale Handicap team travelled to Monash where the top two teams fought it out for top spot on the ladder.
Lilydale’s captain Glenn Crook was first to hit off. Glenn is in good form having won the Monash Open Tournament a couple of weeks ago.
He won the first 2 hoops, his opponent, who had 3 extra turns was using them well to keep her in the game, but once she had used them Glenn held on to the lead and won 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
The first of the doubles saw Lilydale’s Alan Jones and Mick Crawley team up. These two have not played a lot of doubles together.
This game was close all the way through with the Monash pair having 2 extra turns to help them. After 12 hoops had been played the score was 6 hoops a piece, so the 13th hoop had to be played to decide the winner. This hoop was a battle with both teams trying to get a clear hoop running shot. Eventually Alan Jones cleared the opposition ball away to give Mick Crawley a shot at the hoop which he was able to complete. Lilydale 7 hoops to Monash 6 hoops.
In the next singles John Thomson was playing his first game of the day. John started by running the first hoop but his Monash opponent used her extra turns well and was able to take the lead and aided by some poor hoop running by John was able to win the game. Monash 7 hoops Lilydale 3 hoops.
In the second doubles game the regular pairing of Glenn Crook and Mick Crawley teamed up for Lilydale. Glenn and Mick started well but the Monash pair were using their 4 extra turns to keep them in the game but once they had used them up Lilydale were able to win the last 2 hoops to win the game 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Monash 1 game 23 hoops to Lilydale 3 games 24 hoops, with 2 games to come after lunch and only 1 hoop difference either team could win the day.
After lunch Alan Jones played in the last singles and although he was giving away 2 extra turns, Alan played very well and had a comfortable win, 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
The last game was the doubles and Glenn Crook and John Thomson paired up for Lilydale.
Although John and Glenn were giving away a total of 6 extra turns they did not let their opponents settle into the game at all and had a 7 hoop to Monash 2 hoop win.
The final score for the day Monash 1 game 28 hoops to Lilydale 5 games 38 hoops.
This win secures Lilydale into top spot on the ladder for the home and away season with one game to play next week and then it is the finals.
