Going Down Fighting!
The Tunbridge Wells Golf Croquet ‘Level League’ team were given a thorough drubbing in their latest league match against Cheam, played at Surbiton to avoid the potential mayhem of triple banking and tertiary balls on Cheam’s single lawn!
We knew we were in for a tough test when we learnt the Cheam Team were fielding a team comprised of two ‘1s’ and two ‘2s’ in terms of handicap (against our more modest standing as a declining 2 (!), a 3 and two 4s), but the 1-6 scoreline was perhaps a little unkind.
Our only success was in the Doubles, where Michael Gentry and Trevor Houghton-Berry exceeded their own expectations – and Cheam’s – by winning 2-1 against the two Cheam ‘1s’ , with the final game going to the golden hoop. Michael Gentry demonstrated his nerves of steel (!) by taking the 13th hoop after a world class approach shot from hoop 12.
The two other morning singles matches both went to 3 matches, but both were ultimately lost 2-1, including another golden hoop game that went against us for David Pratt.
We again slumped after lunch (too tasty and too substantial?) and lost all 4 afternoon singles in straight sets, 2-0. That said, both David and Phil Taylor each lost one of their afternoon matches 6-7, which I think showed the contest was much closer than the overall score line suggests!
Two matches to go – can we avoid a whitewash?! Watch this space!