Mary Rose
1 October Final v Woking (at Surbiton) Lost 3-4
Malcom Bigg (0) & Alan Edwards (½) beat Bryan Harral (1) & George Collin (1½) +25
Collin Southern (3) lost to John Bevington (1) -15
Annabel McDiarmid (2) beat Terry Mahoney (1½) +1
Malcom Bigg lost to Bryan Harral -14
Alan Edwards beat George Collin +9
Annabel McDiarmid lost to John Bevington -6
Collin Southern beat Terry Mahoney +2
Last year’s final weekend at Surbiton was windy and very wet, and one Wrest Park supporter who had arrived on Sunday morning for the Longman Cup final began the day by pushing the squeegee to remove standing water on lawns 3 and 4. The contrast with this year could not have been greater, with record October temperatures and unbroken sunshine. The lawns were officially “soft and easy”, according to George Noble, and were in excellent condition.
In the doubles on lawn 1 Woking were in form from the word go. Wrest Park were not, and it was not until Woking reached 4-back and peg that Wrest Park took croquet. Woking’s accuracy and touch deserted them briefly but Wrest Park were only able to score one hoop before their fate was sealed. Wrest Park’s participation in the doubles was best summed up by a supporter who said “we didn’t see you on the lawn very much”.
The morning singles were double-banked on lawn 2. John Bevington got the first break to 4-back as Collin Southern struggled to find his rhythm, but then set up a wired rush to hoop 6 on the East boundary only to be told that the pioneer for 1-back was also cross-wired by the peg. He later made up for this oversight by hitting in from near corner 4 when Collin’s balls, for 4-back and 3, were positioned just in front of and behind the hoop ready to make hoop 3 and complete the peel, and went on to win +15.
Terry Mahoney consistently hit-in against Annabel McDiarmid and had got both balls on rover when he attempted a rover peel from what in racing parlance would be described as a distance, with an opposition ball dangerously close by. Needless to say neither ball got through, but Annabel missed and Terry later needed a 5 foot peg-out to win. He played it gently, the forward ball missed and he pegged out his other ball. He had two more shots at the peg, both of which were close, but Annabel held her nerve to win +1 and put Woking 2-1 up.
After an excellent lunch the afternoon singles got under way. Alan Edwards and George Collin had a cautious game with more than a few mistakes – Alan picked up his ball after a croquet stroke, and when George grovelled through 2-back but couldn’t hit anything he decided to stick his ball in baulk despite a lift coming! George battled hard but Alan’s greater accuracy won out in the end and he won +9. Collin Southern had recovered his form in the afternoon and his game against Terry had a dramatic finish. Collin had both balls on the peg, but Terry caught up and reached the same position. Terry then put Collin’s ball off the lawn and was unable to join up, but Collin hit the 25 yard shot at partner and was thus able to set up a rush to the peg. Terry shot at Collin and missed, but the rush went awry and Collin left both balls near the peg. Terry missed narrowly and Collin pegged out to win +2, which gave Woking their fourth win and with it the match.
Bryan and Malcolm’s game saw frequent innings changes and wide joins, which made for slow progress at first. Malcolm was for 4-back and 4 when Bryan found his form and two turns later was for 4-back and peg. Malcolm missed the lift, whereupon Bryan was able to finish +14. John and Annabel were the last to start, and, with the match still in the balance, the initial play was circumspect. John was the first to make progress as Annabel failed hoop 1 more than once, but he then wasted a golden opportunity when, wanting 1-back with Annabel’s balls both at hoop 1, he completely missed an easy rush to 3-back from the third corner. Once Collin and Terry’s game finished there was only honour to play for, and John eventually had a chance to peg out from near rover, pegging out one ball. Annabel then missed allowing John to win a close game +6
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Congratulations to Woking on winning the 2011 Mary Rose trophy, presented by CA President, Quiller Barrett who also thanked Surbiton on behalf of the visitors for providing, in order of importance, fine beer, fine catering and fine lawns. We should perhaps add that their management of the weather is unlikely to be surpassed.
