By John Thomson
This week Lilydale’s Division 1 level play team travelled to Sandringham.
Even though there were white caps on the bay, the trees around the court acted as a windbreak making the playing conditions quite good.
This week’s Level play team for Lilydale consisted of Craig McCracken and John Thomson.
The first game was the doubles. Lilydale started well and had snuck away to lead by a couple of hoops, but the Sandringham team started to find their length and clawed back the two hoop margin, and after twelve hoops the score was six hoops each, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to find a winner. Craig was first to the hoop and set up perfectly, two feet out and straight in front. Neither of the Sandringham players could clear him so Craig ran the hoop to win the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham hoops.
John played in the first of the singles games. Again, Lilydale started well but a couple of unforced errors let Sandringham back into the game and tied the game at six hoops each with the 13th to play. This time the last hoop was not so easy, but a missed jump shot by Lilydale gave Sandringham the win, 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
Craig played in the next singles. This game was also very tight with both players going hoop for hoop, and once more after twelve hoops the score was six hoops a piece. The 13th hoop was closely fought over, Sandringham put their ball in the jaws of the hoop but Craig was up to the task and made his jump to win the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.
At the break the scores were Lilydale 2 games 20 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 19 hoops.
Craig played in the first singles after the break. This was another close game. Both sides going hoop for hoop and not giving an inch. Just like the previous three games the scores were locked at six hoops each after 12 hoops. The 13th hoop was just like the previous 12, hard fought, unfortunately an error by Lilydale let Sandringham in and they won the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
John played in the last singles. Unfortunately, John struggled in this game and let his opponent get a break on him and was unable to bridge the gap. Sandringham 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
Sandringham won the day 3 games 33 hoops Lilydale 2 games 29 hoops.
In Division 2, the Sandringham side travelled to Lilydale to play.
The Lilydale team comprised Alan Jones and Mick Crawley.
Both Alan and Mick have been playing well in recent times and this was certainly evident in the doubles as Lilydale got off to a good start and were able to build on this lead and won the game comfortably 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
In the first game of singles Alan was able to reproduce his good form from the doubles and establish a good lead due to some excellent placement of his approach shots and won the game 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
In the second singles Mick played. Mick got off to a flying start and really did not give his opponent much of a look-in. Mick’s game was almost perfect winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 1 hoop.
At the break it was Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 7 hoops. With two games to play Lilydale had won the day so it was just a question whether Sandringham could respond or not.
In the first game after the break Alan was playing. This game was a bit closer fought than the previous games with Sandringham trying to salvage something from the day, Lilydale were able to establish a break halfway through the game and go on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops.
Mick played in the last game of the day. Sandringham started well and established a small lead but Mick started to work his way back into the game, this was the closest and hardest fought game of the day. After 12 hoops the scores were tied at six hoops a piece. The 13th hoop was then played to decide the winner. This hoop like the rest of the game was a struggle but in the end Mick was able to run the hoop to win the game 7 hoops to Sandringham 6 hoops.
Final scores Lilydale 5 games 35 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 17 hoops.
On Thursday Lilydale hosted the Sandringham Handicap team.
Lilydale’s team comprised Murray Howlett, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
Kerri played in the first singles game. The Sandringham player was starting with a one hoop deficit. Kerri got off to a very good start using her knowledge of her home court to advantage, once she had established a good break, she was able to maintain this to the end. Lilydale 7 games Sandringham 2 games.
Murray and Mick played in the first game of doubles. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop deficit and Sandringham with a one hoop advantage. Lilydale started well and after the first two hoops the game was back to even play. The two Lilydale boys kept the pressure on their opponents and went on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.
Mick was playing in the next singles. In this game Mick was starting with a one hoop deficit. Sandringham started well, winning the first couple of hoops. Mick was fighting hard but was struggling to make up the one hoop deficit and level the scores, in the end it was Sandringham 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
In the second doubles game, Murray and Kerri paired up. Lilydale were starting with a two hoop deficit. With this deficit Murray and Kerri certainly had the job in front of them. The Lilydale pair combined well together and were able to get a lead and hold it until the end. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 3 games 26 hoops Sandringham 1 game 17 hoops. With two games still to be played the final score was a long way from being decided.
Kerri played in the first singles after lunch. The Sandringham player was starting with a one hoop deficit. The Sandringham player started well and had soon made up the deficit, the game then was played on level terms with both players fighting hard for each hoop. The Sandringham player was able to make the most from an error and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
This win put Sandringham within one game of Lilydale but Lilydale also held an eight hoop advantage.
In the last game, a doubles, Murray and Mick were playing. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop deficit and Sandringham a two hoop advantage, for Lilydale to win this game they were going to have to play to their very best and then hope that Sandringham were off their game slightly.
Sandringham were able to get off to a good start while Lilydale were battling to bridge the handicap gap. The Sandringham pair were able to hold onto their lead and go on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
With this Sandringham win both captains had the calculators out working out the final hoop count, in the end it was Lilydale 3 games 35 hoops to Sandringham 3 games 31 hoops.
It just goes to show how every hoop counts.
