By John Thomson
There was no level play competition this week due to the Easter Monday Public Holiday.
On Thursday, the Lilydale handicap team travelled down Maroondah Highway to take on the Ringwood Croquet Club.
Lilydale’s team this week comprised of Murray Howlett, Mick Crawley, Drew Pawley and Mark Edgell.
Mick Crawley was first to play. Mick was starting with a two-hoop disadvantage while his opponent had a one-hoop advantage. Mick has been in good form of late and he carried this form into this game. Mick made up his deficit quickly and had soon taken the lead in the game to go on to win 7 hoops to Ringwood 4 hoops.
In the first of the doubles, Drew Pawley and Mark Edgell played. Lilydale had a one-hoop advantage while the Ringwood team had a two-hoop disadvantage. Unfortunately for Lilydale, it was the Ringwood team who controlled this game and were the stronger combination and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops. In the next singles game, it was Drew Pawley to play. Drew was starting with a one-hoop disadvantage. The Ringwood player got off to a good start and had Drew 6 hoops to 4 down, then Drew started to find some form and evened the score up to 6 hoops each, so the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide the winner, which Drew eventually won, 7 hoops to Ringwood 6 hoops.
Mick Crawley and Mark Edgell played in the next doubles game. Lilydale had a one hoop advantage while the Ringwood team had a two-hoop disadvantage. This was a close-fought game all the way, but in the end it was the more experienced Ringwood team that were the winners, 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.
At the lunch break, it was all tied up with both teams on 2 games 24 hoops, with a singles and a doubles game to play. Drew Pawley played in the singles game. Ringwood were starting with a one-hoop disadvantage. Drew started this game where he left off his last game. Drew played the game of his life, setting up, clearing his opponent’s balls and running hoops and generally controlling the game to win 7 hoops to Ringwood 0 hoops.
Murray Howlett and Michael Crawley played in the last doubles game. Lilydale were starting with a two-hoop disadvantage. Ringwood started well, while Lilydale struggled and could not make up the two-goal disadvantage with Ringwood going on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops. The final scores were going to be close with both the captains checking and double checking the scores, and, in the end, the final scores for the day were Lilydale 3 games 34 hoops to Ringwood 3 games 31 hoops, a 3 hoop win to Lilydale.
This win puts Lilydale into second position on the ladder. Next week will see the four top teams play off in a round robin to decide the overall winner for the season.
