Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

Beds & Herts League 2024

v Letchworth (home)     18 April     won 5-1

George Collin (-½) and Peter Rothwell (8) beat Keith Rhodes (3½) and Sheila Haggert (20) +1t

John Bevington (1) and Tim Brewer (2½) beat Colin Davies (5) and Stuart Haggert (10) +2t

George Collin lost to Keith Rhodes -9

John Bevington beat Colin Davies +10

Tim Brewer beat Stuart Haggert +16

Peter Rothwell beat Sheila Haggert +21

Fresh white lines, newly powder-coated hoops and some welcome sunshine made it an ideal setting for the first match of the new season, and both doubles went the distance. George and Peter’s game went back and forth until a loud cry announced George’s making the decisive hoop at the last minute. The other game started with the usual flurry before John made a break to rover, after which Colin and Stuart clawed their way back to make it level. Tim had been having a hard time of it but finally got in and, aided with a rover peel, got us home +2.

The top two singles were shared, but Tim and Peter both won comfortably to seal the win. Spare a thought for team organiser Bryan Harral, who was expecting to be with us for tea after visiting family in Dubai but encountered unseasonably wet weather. We also had rain, but it held off until after the match was over.