By John Thomson
This week was the last week of the Autumn Croquet competition. It has been a mixed year for the Lilydale Croquet Club teams, with players moving up in division and new players coming into the teams and getting valuable experience, which all bodes well for the future.
In Division 1 level play this week Lilydale hosted Mornington Croquet Club.
The Lilydale team this week consisted of John Thomson, Craig McCracken and Murray Howlett.
John Thomson and Craig McCracken teamed up to play in the doubles. John and Craig started well and had won the first four hoops before Mornington were able to score. John and Craig teamed well together and did not let their opponents get a look in and went on to have a convincing win 7 hoops to Mornington 1 hoop.
In the first of the singles games Murray Howlett was playing. Murray started slowly with his opponent winning the first two hoops, then Murray started to work his way back into the game. After twelve hoops had been played the score was six hoops each, with the thirteenth hoop to be played to decide the winner. This hoop was a battle with both players playing a defensive game until Murray put himself in a position to run the hoop and win the game, 7 hoops to Mornington 6 hoops.
In the next singles John Thomson was playing. In this game John seemed to be playing catch-up all of the time as his opponent would get a couple of hoops ahead and he would catch-up again. After twelve hoops had been played it was six hoops a piece, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to again find a winner. Both players set-up well and after a bit of defensive play John was able to get a ball in front of the hoop only to have his opponent complete a nice jump to win the game. Mornington 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.
At the break it was Lilydale 2 games 20 hoops to Mornington 1 game 14 hoops.
After the break Craig McCracken was playing. Craig started well but his Mornington opponent worked his way back into the game and slowly got on top and went on to win, Mornington 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
With both teams now having won two games it was now down to the last game to decide the winner for the day.
Murray Howlett was playing in this game. This game ebbed and flowed between the two players until Murray was able to establish a break and was able to go on and win the game, 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
The score at the end of the day was Lilydale 3 games 32 hoops to Mornington 2 games 26 hoops.
This win put Lilydale into second position for the season. This is a great result especially as it was Craig McCracken and John Thomson’s first season at this level. Well done to the Division 1 team.
The Lilydale Division 2 team travelled down the freeway to Mornington.
The Lilydale team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
In the doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Alan and Kerri got off to a good start and controlled the game for most of the time and went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Mornington 2 hoops.
Alan Jones played in the first of the singles. Alan has been playing well in recent times and this game was no exception with Alan controlling the game 7 hoops to Mornington 3 hoops.
Mick Crawley played in the next singles. This game was a closer affair than the first two, with both players playing well. Mick was able to establish a break late in the game and went on to win 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Mornington 0 games 10 hoops.
In the first singles after lunch Kerri McCracken was playing. This game was tight all the way through with both players not giving an inch, this was certainly the best opportunity for Mornington to win a game. After twelve hoops the score was six hoops each so it was off to the thirteenth hoop to decide a winner.
After some very defensive play Kerri took a chance and was able to run the hoop to deny Mornington of a win. Lilydale 7 hoops Mornington 6 hoops.
Mick Crawley played in the last singles game. This season Mick has come on in leaps and bounds and is playing some really good croquet.
Mick got on top early in this game and held his lead through the game to win 7 hoops to Mornington 2 hoops.
Final scores for the day, Lilydale 5 games 35 hoops to Mornington 0 games 18 hoops, an excellent victory by the team.
Lilydale Division 2 side finished the year in third position. The team was largely inexperienced in playing competition so to finish third was a great result. The experience gained from this season will hold them in good stead for the future.
On Thursday the Lilydale handicap team travelled to Monash Croquet Club.
The Lilydale team this week consisted of Craig McCracken, Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken.
Mick Crawley played in the first singles and started strongly. Mick has been in good form of late and he carried his good form into this game. Mick controlled the game all the way, and in the end had a comfortable win 7 hoops to Monash 3 hoops.
In the first of the doubles the husband and wife combo of Kerri and Craig McCracken teamed up. This game was a close game with both teams not able to get a clear break until late in the game Lilydale was able to get a couple of hoops ahead and win the game 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
In the next singles Craig McCracken was playing. Because of the handicap system Craig was starting one hoop behind while the Monash player had a two hoop start. This was going to take a big effort from Craig. The Monash player was playing well while Craig was battling away manfully, unfortunately the handicap system worked against Craig and Monash won 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
In the next doubles Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Both teams were evenly matched so neither team had an advantage. Monash started strongly and were up by a couple of hoops before Lilydale got going. It was an even battle from then on but Monash still had that two hoop advantage and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Monash 2 games 22 hoops, Lilydale 2 games 23 hoops. It was obvious that the final result was going to be close.
Kerri McCracken played in the first singles after lunch. Kerri was starting with a one hoop advantage. Whatever the Monash player had for lunch certainly had the right effect as he got off to a flying start and never let Kerri settle into the game. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
The last game of the day was another doubles match, this time Mick Crawley and Craig McCracken teamed up. Craig and Mick were starting one hoop behind and Monash held a one hoop advantage.
Craig and Mick combined well and even though they had to make up two hoops they were able to do this and then go on to win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
With both teams winning one of the last two games the final result was going to come down to the hoop count.
Final scores, Monash 3 games 34 hoops to Lilydale 3 games 33 hoops. Only one hoop separated both teams on the day.
The Lilydale handicap team finished the year in fourth position. As in the Division 2 team there were a number of inexperienced players in this team so the fourth placed result was well earnt, and again I am sure valuable experience has been gained for the future.
See you all again for the Spring season.
