By John Thomson
On Monday 24 March, Lilydale hosted the Ringwood Croquet Club in what was expected to be a very close game with Ringwood in second place on the ladder and
Lilydale third. Craig McCracken and Murray Howlett made up the Lilydale team.
In the doubles, Craig and Murray played extremely well, they could not do a thing wrong, running hoops clearing the opponent’s balls, it all came together for them. Lilydale 7 hoops to Ringwood 1 hoop.
Murray Howlett played in the first singles game. Murray kept up his good form and controlled most of the game, winning 7 hoops to Ringwood 3 hoops. Craig McCracken played in the next singles game. Craig was a bit sluggish getting away and the Ringwood player had built up a lead and was able to hold that lead winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.
At the break, the scores were Lilydale 2 games 16 hoops to Ringwood 1 game 11 hoops. With 2 games to play the final result was still up in the air.
Craig McCracken played in the first singles after lunch. Craig had obviously reflected on his previous game and came out and took control from the start. The Ringwood player was trying to get back into the game but Craig had built up a lead and was able to hold it, winning 7 hoops to Ringwood 3 hoops. The last game promised to be a great game with the best players from both clubs going head to head. The Ringwood player got off to a very good start and had the first three hoops on the board before Murray Howlett got off the mark. Murray fought back and evened the score at six hoops each so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner. Ringwood was first to the hoop, both players set up well, unfortunately the Ringwood player madethe wrong tactical decision which let Lilydale in to run the hoop winning 7 hoops to Ringwood 6 hoops. The final score was Lilydale 4 games 30 hoops to Ringwood 1 game 20 hoops.
Lilydale thought that this win would put them into second spot on the ladder, but due to Kew beating top team Monash, Lilydale have rocketed to top spot in Division 1.
The Lilydale Division 2 team played at Monash this week. Lilydale’s team comprised of Alan Jones, Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken.
Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken played in the doubles. This game was closely fought with both teams going hoop for hoop until Lilydale managed to pull away by a couple of hoops and went on to win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops. Alan Jones played in the first singles. Again, this was a close-fought game with both players running consecutive hoops until late in the game when Alan was able to get ahead by a couple of hoops and win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops. Mick Crawley played in the next singles game. This game was almost a carbon copy of the first two games with play being even until Lilydale was able to sneak way and win 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops.
At the lunch break the scores were Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Monash 0 games 15 hoops. Lilydale had won the day with two games to play. Kerri McCracken played in the first game after lunch. The Monash player got off to a good start and was able to build up a handy break and then maintain the break to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops. Alan Jones played in the last game. Monash started well and was able to build a good lead, Lilydale fought back but it was all a bit late as Monash went onto win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.
The final score was Lilydale 3 games 29 hoops to Monash 2 games 29 hoops. This win keeps Lilydale in top spot on the ladder.
On Thursday, this week’s handicap team travelled to the bayside suburb of Sandringham. The Lilydale team this week was Murray Howlett, Mick Crawley, Kerri McCracken and Murray McLean.
Murray McLean played in the first singles game. The Sandringham player was starting with a one hoop disadvantage. It was not long before the Sandringham player had made up his one hoop disadvantage and from then on, it was a level play game and the more experienced Sandringham player was able to control most of the game and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.
In the first doubles game, Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken paired up. Mick and Kerri always seem to combine well. The Sandringham pair were starting with a one hoop advantage. Lilydale started strongly and the combined experience of the Lilydale team was the main difference in this game as they went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops. Kerri McCracken played in the next singles. Kerri was starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Kerri’s good form continued into this game and although it was a little bit closer than the doubles, she was able to have a good win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops.
Mick Crawley and Murray McLean played in the next doubles. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Sandringham started well on the other hand, Lilydale were struggling with some tactical decisions and also their hoop running with Sandringham winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops. At the lunch break, the scores were Lilydale 2 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 2 games 20 hoops. With two games to play the final result will be decided by which team comes out after the break with the best focus. Mick Crawley played in the first game after lunch. Neither player had an advantage or disadvantage in this game, so it was a straight shoot out between the two players. Mick got away first and put hoop pressure on his opponent from the start. Mick kept up his good play throughout the game, winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops. This win gave Lilydale the edge but it would be the last doubles game that would decide the day.
The two Murrays, Howlett and McLean paired up for this game. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage while the Sandringham team had a one hoop advantage. Because of the handicaps, the game was close, but the two Murrays were slowly working their way into the game and evening up the score and were eventually able to get a small break and go on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops.
The final scores in a close day were Lilydale 4 games 35 hoops to Sandringham 2 games 28 hoops.
Lilydale are second on the ladder and next week they take on the top team in what promises to be one hell of a game.
