East Dorset beat Sussex County 4-1

[<<] [>>] by Keith Southern at East Dorset
18th August (GC - Murphy Shield)

On August 16 East Dorset hosted Sussex County in a semi-final of this year's competition. These teams had last met in 2023 at Southwick in atrocious weather conditions - quite the reverse in 2026.

East Dorset led 2-1 at a late lunch break, losing the doubles in 3 close games and winning the match-up of the captains in 2 games. The other singles was a prolonged affair eventually going in favour of East Dorset in 3 very close games. While this rubber was concluding the top two singles completed some of their afternoon games. After lunch the East Dorset players each needed only one further game to wrap up victories in these rubbers, taking the match score to a decisive 4-1. With the likelihood of Sunday evening tourist traffic making for a problematic return journey through the New Forest with the major road still closed following the recent wildfire, the remaining two singles rubbers were abandoned, each after just one game, to allow the visitors an early departure.

Teams and handicaps :

East Dorset : Greg Vaughn (2), Mark Hamann (2), Tim Hughes (3), Keith Southern (3).

Sussex County : Martin Daniels (1), Tony Jolly (2), Vincent L'Estrange (3). Joanne Crosby (4).

The full results are on Croquet Scores. East Dorset will play Southport in the final at Cheltenham in late September.