On Tuesday, 19 May, the much anticipated match between the two Chester level play golf croquet teams of Chester Centurions and Chester Chariots took place.
The Centurions were drawn as the home team and fielded Sam Seal (captain), Edward Baskerville and Andy Wilson-Chalon. The Chariots team was Sarah Clements (captain), Chris Thomas and Robin Tasker.
The early matches were very tight with a number going to a ‘golden hoop’ finish. By lunch time the Chariots took a slim lead knowing that either team could win during the course of the day. Indeed it was decided on the last round of games when the Chariots gained a marginal lead and held onto it with a final score of 10 games to 8. The number of hoops scored were incredibly close with 104 to the Chariots and 102 to the Centurions.
No match report can avoid mentioning the weather and, wow, that was really three seasons in a day. All the players took coats off, put them back on and took them off again at least three times. The teams gallantly played through the rain and basked in short bursts of sunshine as if someone had switched a heater on.
Thanks to Jayne Taylor for helping with the match reporting form and the process of the day. And good luck to both teams against the rest of the North West Federation teams in the level play golf croquet league.
