As the third heatwave of the summer continues, so do the NW Federation league matches.
On Saturday, 18 July, Chester Senators played Pendle in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. The match was originally scheduled to be played at Chester but was moved to Pendle as the Chester lawns have been so parched and brown and unpredictably fast and erratic. At Pendle there was green, dew drenched grass everywhere and the lawns were flat. The morning temperatures stayed in the high teens with an occasional rain shower !
The result was a 14 – 4 win for Pendle but the Chester team all played well and spent a very happy day with convivial hosts in a beautiful setting. We didn’t come away empty handed as we were awarded a cup which the team was very proud to receive and bring home.
On the following day, Chester was host to Bowdon Griffins in the NW Federation association croquet 26 point handicap league. Here the lawns proved a real challenge to both teams with the slightest of shots overshooting and balls making unpredictable turns at the end of their runs. As an added challenge, the Chester team found themselves facing 53½ bisques – free shots – by the Bowden players compared with just 4 bisques for one of the Chester players.
As a result the Chester team of David Guyton (captain), David Boyd, Robin Tasker and Ant Fletcher, who was playing in his first full lawn association croquet league match, found themselves having to work hard against a keen and competent visiting team. In the morning games, Chester won the doubles and one of the two singles games, all three games finishing with very narrow hoop differences. The four singles games in the afternoon were similarly hard fought with both teams winning two games each giving Chester an overall 4 – 3 win against the Bowdon Griffins team.
Then on Wednesday, 22 July, Chester Centurions played away against Bury Sovereigns in the NW golf croquet level plat league.
The match was won Bury, 10 games to 8 but it was a tight finish and could easily have gone either way with seven golden hoops, four won by Chester. It was a long day not finishing until almost 5:30 p.m. played at Whitehead Park at Bury on a pleasantly cool morning turning into a warm sunny afternoon. The match was played in great spirit with Bury led by Simon Attwell support by Richard Leach and David Barrett; such a joy to be on the lawns with David, quite the master tactician.
Chester led by Rick Davies supported by Edward Baskerville and Greg Orriell had a combined average handicap of 4 against 5 for Bury so we were closely matched teams. In the event Bury scored 112 hoops whilst Chester managed 101. At the second tea interval when we were offered lemon drizzle cake and ice creams the score was Bury 8 and Chester 7. The match hinged on the final session with two golden hoops games, one going to Bury and they took the third game too.
Rookie Greg Orriell on handicap 7 had a splendid first outing with Chester Centurions winning three of his games and making good use of his renowned jump shots, snatching victory from Simon in a 7 – 5 finish before lunch. After the scorching heat that has baked Westminster Park, it was pleasing to find the surface at Whitehead Park nicely playable even if rather brown in places.
Thanks to Bury Sovereigns and Simon for making the Chester team so welcome and giving us such an enjoyable day’s golf croquet.