By John Thomson
On Monday 17 March, the Lilydale Division 1 team comprising of Craig McCracken and Murray Howlett made the journey down the Peninsular to play Mornington Croquet Club.
Mornington started strongly in the doubles winning the first four hoops, Lilydale then started to get their game going and evened the game at four all, then it was five all, Lilydale made the most of their opportunities with the last two hoops and won the game 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops. Murray Howlett played in the first singles game. This was a close game as well with both players not able to get a break early on. Late in the game, Murray was able to run a couple of consecutive hoops to give him a small break and be able to win the game 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
Craig McCracken played in the next game. This game was a carbon copy of the previous two games with neither player able to get a break until late in the game and Craig was able to get away and win 7 hoops to Mornington 5 hoops.
At the lunch break, Lilydale had the day won with 3 games 21 hoops to Mornington 0 games 15 hoops.
Over lunch, Mornington had obviously reassessed their game plan and came out in the first singles after lunch and played a very attacking game putting Lilydale on the back foot. Mornington went on to win 7 hoops Lilydale 3 hoops.
In the last game, Murray Howlett was determined not to let the Mornington player dictate this game, Murray started strongly winning the first three hoops and from there was able to control the game winning 7 hoops to Mornington 4 hoops.
This week the Lilydale Division 2 team were at home to the Kew Croquet Club with a team consisting of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley.
Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken played in the doubles. Kew started well then Lilydale hit back, both teams then went hoop for hoop and after the twelfth hoop, the score was six hoops a piece with the thirteenth hoop to be played to decide the winner. Lilydale had the first shot at the hoop and set up well and from there was able to win the game 7 hoops to Kew 6 hoops.
In the first singles, Mick Crawley played. Mick got a couple of hoops in front early only to see the Kew player hit back and even the game. Mick was determined not to let the game slip away and was able to get a break and go on to win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
Alan Jones played in the next singles. Alan was able to get a small lead early, but the Kew player was not going away, Alan was able to stay focused and win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
Lilydale had the day won at the lunch break 3 games 21 hoops to Kew 0 games 16 hoops.
Kerri McCracken played in the first game after lunch. This was another close game, neither player was able to set up a lead and after the twelfth hoop, the score was 6 hoops a piece. Both players set up reasonably well at the thirteenth hoop, then after a bit of negative play the Kew player was able to take his opportunity and run the hoop winning the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
Mick Crawley played in the last game. These two teams are obviously very evenly matched as this game was very close like all the others. It was Mick in the end though who was able to get a break and win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops. The final score was Lilydale 4 games 34 hoops to Kew 1 game 28 hoops. Even though Kew only won one game this was a very close hard-fought match.
The Thursday handicap team were at home this week to Kew. This week’s team comprised of Murray Howlett, Kerri McCracken, Murray McLean and Mark Edgell.
Murray McLean played in the first singles game. Both players were on the same handicap so neither player had an advantage. The game was fairly even in normal field play, but unfortunately, the Kew player was finding it difficult to run her hoops early and Murray was able to set up a slender lead and go on to win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
Kerri McCracken and Mark Edgell played in the first doubles game. Both teams were on the same handicap so again neither team had an advantage. The Kew team started well and it wasn’t long before they had built up a lead over Lilydale who were struggling with their positional play. Kew 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
Kerri McCracken played in the next singles game. Kerri was starting with a one-hoop disadvantage. Kerri started well and had made up that disadvantage on the first hoop so from there on it was as if it was a level play game. Kerri’s experience was the telling factor in this game as she went on to win 7 hoops to Kew 4 hoops.
Murray McLean and Mark Edgell paired up in the next doubles. Both sides were on the same handicap so neither team had an advantage. This was the first time Murray and Mark have played as a team so it was interesting to see how they combined together. The game was close all the way it wasn’t until late in the game that Lilydale was able to get a break and go onto win 7 hoops to Kew 5 hoops.
At the break, it was Lilydale 3 games 25 hoops to Kew 1 game 21 hoops. With two games still to play and only four hoops separating the sides, Kew could still get up and win the day.
Kerri McCracken played in the first singles after lunch. Kerri was starting with a 1 hoop disadvantage. The Kew Player started well and had the first three hoops before Kerri was able to win her first hoop to cover her disadvantage. The Kew player continued to play well and took his opportunities when they came and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops. This win to Kew put them one game behind but one hoop in front of Lilydale, so the last doubles game will decide the day. The two Murray’s, Howlett and McLean paired up for the decider. Lilydale were starting with a one-hoop disadvantage while Kew had a won hoop advantage. With Murray Howlett’s steadying influence and experience, Lilydale was quickly able to make up the differences and get the game on a level play basis and control the game to go on and win 7 hoops to Kew 3 hoops. The final score in a very close match was Lilydale 4 games 34 hoops to Kew 2 games 31 hoops.
