By John Thomson
On Monday 12 May, the Lilydale Division 1 team played at Ringwood. These two teams are fairly evenly matched so it should be a good close competitive match.
The Lilydale team as usual is Craig McCracken and Murray Howlett. The first game was the doubles and both teams started well but the further the game went Ringwood were able to build a slender lead and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops. Murray Howlett played in the first singles game. Ringwood ran the first hoop but from then on Murray was able to take control of the game and hold the lead to win 7 hoops to Ringwood 4 hoops. Craig McCracken played in the next singles game. The Ringwood player has been in some very good form in recent times and has just returned from playing in the Australian Open competition. The Ringwood players’ good form carried over into this game as he went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops. Craig McCracken played in the next game after the break, Craig had put his last game behind him and was focused on his current game and built a good lead to go on and win 7 hoops to Ringwood 3 hoops. This win by Craig levelled the scores at 3 games and 21 hoops each with one game to play. Murray Howlett played in the next game. This game was a battle between the top players from both clubs and the calibre of croquet that was played lived up to their rankings. The game went hoop for hoop and after twelve hoops had been played the scores were tied at 6 hoops each, with the thirteenth hoop to be played to decide the winner. Both players set up well and the Ringwood player tried to run the hoop but he could only sit his ball in the hoop, Murray had a ball in front of the hoop but a fair distance from the hoop, the only option he had was to play a jump shot. The shot was good, it got off the ground and was going through the hoop but unfortunately on its way through it clipped the Ringwood player’s ball and put it through, game to Ringwood 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops. The final scores were Ringwood 3 games 28 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 27 hoops. This certainly was a great match between two very good sides.
This week, the Lilydale Division 2 team played at home against Monash Croquet club. This week’s team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Mick Crawley. Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken played in the doubles. Lilydale were slow to get started and unfortunately their Monash opponents had built a good lead and were able to hold that lead winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops. Mick Crawley played in the first singles game. Mick has had a very good season and his game is improving every week. Both players started reasonably well. As the game went on Mick was able to build a slender lead and win the game 7 hoops to Monash 5 hoops, Alan Jones played in the next game. Alan came out really focused in this game determined to make amends for the doubles. Alan played some great croquet, clearing balls, running hoops and had a comfortable 7 hoops to Monash 2 hoops win. Kerri McCracken played in the first game after the break. This was a tight game with both players playing well and taking their chances when they were able. After the twelfth hoop, the scores were six hoops each with the thirteenth hoop to be played. The Ringwood player was first to the hoop and set up well and when her time came to play that ball again was able to run the hoop and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops. Mick Crawley played in the last game. Mick had obviously been saving his best for the last game as he came out and completely controlled this game and did not put a foot wrong and won 7 hoops to Ringwood 0 hoops. The final scores Lilydale 3 games 30 hoops to Monash 2 games 21 hoops. This win keeps Lilydale on top of the ladder with one week to play so they should be able to take out top spot this year.
This week the Lilydale handicap team played at home against Ringwood. This week’s team consisted of the complete Lilydale handicap squad, Murray Howlett, Mick Crawley, Kerri McCracken, Andrew Pawley, Murray McLean and Mark Edgell. Mick Crawley played in the first singles game. Mick has had a very good season so far, but the consequence of that is that his handicap has come down and in this game he was starting with a two hoop disadvantage. The Ringwood player got off to a good start and it took a while for Mick to make up his disadvantage and get into the game, but by then it was too late and Ringwood won 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops. Murray McLean and Mark Edgell played in the first doubles game. Neither team had an advantage in this game. The game was close for the most part of the game until late in the game Ringwood were able to get a break and go on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops. Drew Pawley played in the next singles game. Drew was starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Drew started well and had soon made up his one hoop disadvantage, Drew kept up his good play and went on to have Lilydale’s first win 7 hoops to Ringwood 4 hoops. Kerri McCracken and Murray McLean played in the next doubles game. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. The Ringwood team got off to a good start and really never let Lilydale settle into the game and Ringwood went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.
Mick Crawley played in the last singles game for the day. Mick was starting with a two hoop disadvantage. Mick started well and had soon made up his two hoop disadvantage and from there on the game was close but in the end Mick was able to get a break and win 7 hoops to Ringwood 5 hoops. This win keeps Lilydale in with a chance with one doubles game to be played.
Kerri McCracken and Mark Edgell paired up for this game. Lilydale were starting with a one hoop disadvantage. Lilydale had made up their one hoop disadvantage early and from there on the game was close with Lilydale able to get a slender break towards the end of the game to win 7 hoops to Ringwood 5 hoops. This win evened up the number of games both sides had won so the captains had to check the hoop count for both teams. The final result being Ringwood 3 games 35 hoops to Lilydale 3 games 33 hoops. A very close result in the end.
Even though Lilydale lost they are still sitting on top of the ladder thanks to a drawn game between Sandringham and Kew. With one game to play in the season, there is only half a game separating Lilydale first and Sandringham second, so a win to Lilydale next week against Kew is vital to win the season.
