Beds & Herts League 2021
v Enfield (home) 6 July won 3-
David Marsh (-
George Collin (½) beat Peter Brock (18) +9
David Marsh and George Collin lost to David Frost and Peter Brock -
John Bevington beat Brian Dawes +3
It was teams of three as one of Enfield’s players had had to isolate at the last minute, so Bryan Harral, having arrived early and set up the lawns, was able to offer encouragement from the sidelines. We were 2-
v Northampton (home) 3 June won 5-
David Marsh (-
George Collin (1) and Tim Brewer (2½) beat Mike Hills (1½) and Mel Christie (20) +10T
David Marsh beat James Skelton +8
John Bevington beat Mike Hills +20
George Collin beat Richard Caine +13
Tim Brewer lost to Mel Christie -
After a year’s abeyance the B&H League restarted on a warm and sunny day with a home win. The diminished number of available AC players meant that the team was closer to a Mary Rose squad than the usual League team. In the doubles John got round but an intended short rush turned into a tempting double which James hit and made up ground. Richard may have suffered from being given detailed instructions which were invariably and confusingly concluded with “Do what you think best” or words to that effect. After a couple of false starts David finished with a rover peel. The singles went 3-
© Wrest Park Croquet Club
v Watford (home) 13 September won 5-
David Marsh (-
Bryan Harral (-
David Marsh beat Simon Hathrell +12
Bryan Harral lost to Geoff Johnson -
George Collin beat Arthur Reed +11
John Bevington beat Mark Homan +11
Wrest Park, needing to win or draw against Watford, won the Beds & Herts League for the first time in ten years by winning 5-
v Letchworth (away) 11 August won 4-
David Marsh (-
Bryan Harral (-
David Marsh beat Keith Rhodes +4
Bryan Harral lost to John Noble -
George Collin lost to Colin Davies -
John Bevington beat John Hall +15
David went round to rover almost immediately and ran it some time later. John B then failed hoop 5 giving Keith a break. He went round but declined to peg David out and was then pegged out himself, leaving John H stranded. I don’t think we actually finished before time was called. In the other game Bryan recovered the innings in spectacular fashion when, for 2-
In the singles Colin won comfortably, and John Noble had pegged one ball out before Bryan had barely started. Bryan had got one ball round but John finally hit. Keith got to rover with both balls before losing to David, and John B, after taking one ball to rover early on, was the last to finish. To Watford next, with an unbeaten record to defend. Thanks to Letchworth for the nice lawns, the coffee, cake and sunny weather.
v St Albans (away) 19 July drew 2-
David Marsh (-
George Collin (0) beat Roger Bowman (12) +9
David Marsh and George Collin beat Heather Bennett and Roger Bowman +1
John Bevington lost to Stephen Mills -
Wrest Park maintained its unbeaten record but only after a protracted end game which began with Heather for peg against David for 2-
David and George then embarked on a series of manoeuvres for position while shifting Heather into distant corners. Heather tried everything but failed to hit, and David was finally left with a short rush to the peg.
The morning doubles was strewn with errors on both sides before time ran out, but George won after Roger ran out of bisques, and in the afternoon singles Stephen beat John comfortably with good break play and a final flourish when, for peg and peg, he hit first time from distance in successive attempts. An entertaining match played in great heat. Our thanks to St Albans for their hospitality and to the surrounding trees for providing welcome shade.
Heather Bennett in play during the morning doubles at St Albans, with the tennis courts, cricket field and pavilion in the background.
The teams after the final match against Watford. L-
Club
Croquet
Wrest Park