Bowdon B lost to Peterborough 5-6

[<<] [>>] by Adrian Kirby at Bowdon
2nd September (AC - Short Croquet Inter-Club)

Yesterday, at Bowdon, Peterborough ever so narrowly beat Bowdon B in one of the Short Croquet semifinals.

The overall score was 6:5, but the visitors' win in the doubles (one of four Plus One On Time results) was an especially knife-edge affair. Just before time was called, and with a three-hoop lead, Brian decided not to risk a longish shot at Debbie (in Corner 1) and Adrian (deliberately two feet east). In the time turn Debbie played one of her best ever rushes, to put Pink six inches in front of Hoop 4, and she and Adrian (it was alternate-stroke) made the last three hoops and laid a dolly rush for the golden hoop, duly achieved when Philip missed them by a whisker from 20 yards. (Adrian had run the super-tight Hoop 5 very firmly, luckily being slowed up enough by both wires to stop south of White, for the rush to 6.)

Detailed results, visitor names first were:

Debbie Lines and Adrian Kirby (-3) beat Brian Medley and Philip Thompson (2.5) +1t (11:10)

Ian Lines (-4) beat Nigel Matthews (-5) +1t (9:8)

Stephen Cornelius (1) lost to Robert Cutts-Watson (3.5) -3t (7:10)

Interim game score 2:1

Debbie (-4) beat Nigel +8

Ian beat Brian (-2) +11

Adrian (-2) lost to Robert -14 (and with 1.5 bisques not used)

Stephen lost another nail-biter to Philip -1t (5:6)

Interim game score 4:3

Debbie lost to Philip -3

Ian lost to Robert -1t (10:11)

Adrian beat Brian +10

Stephen beat Nigel +4

Final score 6:5

(In the encounter between the team captains, Brian found himself having to peel Adrian through the last hoop - cancelling Adrian's second mandatory peel - to have any chance of continuing his break. Which then allowed Adrian a proper peg-out finish - hooray!)

The high-bisquers were the best performers on the day: Robert and Philip won all their singles games. Well done to them!

And thank you - Brian and team - for the excellent catering.