On Tuesday, 29 July, Chester Senators travelled up to Southport to play the Southport Falcons in a NW Federation Handicap Golf Croquet League match. David Johnson (captain), Sandy Grievson, Lesley Newman and David Mann, playing off handicaps 12,9,11 and 11 respectively, faced John Marsh, Mike Armstrong, Simon Hancock and Cheryl Sherwood, playing off 8,5, 9 and 12. Given the overall lower handicap of the Falcons, a competitive day’s play was expected, and the teams were not disappointed.
The day started cloudy, with a light, refreshing, drizzle, and by lunchtime the Falcons led 6 games to 3. The weather brightened in the afternoon, and at 3.00 pm a three minute silence was observed in memory of the three girls murdered in the town the previous year. The afternoon games were closely fought, but the Senators managed to pull back to end the day at a draw (9 games each), a very fair reflection of the calibre of play of both teams and the overall standard of the competition. Our thanks to the hosts, Southport, for an enjoyable and challenging day’s play.
On the following day, Wednesday, 30 July, Chester Centurions visited Bowdon to play the Bombers in a NW Federation Level Play Golf Croquet League match. Bowdon’s more experienced team of Nigel Matthews, Alan Mayne, and Alan Dix ( handicaps 0, 0 and 5) presented a challenge to the Chester team of Mark Lloyd, Rick Davies and Andy Wilson-Chalon (handicaps 1, 3 and 5) were leading 6 -3 by lunchtime. However the afternoon saw Chester pull back, with Bowdon ending the day with a narrow victory of 10 games to 8.
In the Advanced B level AC League, Chester travelled to Crake for this match on Saturday, 2 August, which was played in bright warm sunshine on flat and beautifully green courts.
The team of Mark Lloyd, David Boyd and Robin Tasker lost a tightly contested match to a Golden Hoop finish of the final game to be completed.
At lunch the score was tied at 1 – 1 with the doubles lost, and after a scintillating start Mark held on to win his singles game. The three afternoon singles matches were all close affairs. Robin Tasker was just unable to keep pace with his opponent; David Boyd caught up right at the end to win by a single hoop; and Mark Lloyd missed out in the most tense of finishes.
The match was played with great spirit and was thoroughly enjoyed by both teams although the long journey back would undoubtedly have been improved if Chester had won!
The defeat – Chester’s first of the season in this league – leaves them tied with Crake but still top of the league with a healthy hoop difference lead going into the final round of league fixtures: Chester away at Bury, Crake away at Bowdon and all to play.