Public - Nottingham Croquet Club

Dan Greenaway reports as follows:

Secretary's Shield Match Nottingham VS Middlesbrough Saturday 11th Aug 2012

Nottingham Team: Omeid Hallam (4.5), Dave Gunn (8), Dan Greenaway (10), Alan Scott (12).
Middlesbrough Team: Roger Staples (4), Michael Akester (12), Nigel Roberts (14), John Fitzpatrick (16)

Morning Games:

Hallam and Gunn lost to Staples and Akester -22
Greenaway beat Fitzpatrick +9
Scott lost to Roberts -14

Afternoon Games:

Hallam beat Staples +10
Gunn beat Akester +20
Greenaway beat Roberts +17
Scott beat Fitzpatrick +2T

Nottingham win 5-2

On a nice sunny day in Nottingham, Middlesbrough made the trip down for a match in the Secretary's Shield. The visitors made the better start in the morning; the doubles match of Hallam and Gunn verses Staples and Akester started tight, but then Akester got in and went round giving Middlesbrough a lead Nottingham couldn?t claw back ending in a +22 win for the Teesiders. On the other lawn Greenaway scored Nottingham's first point. A break with the white gave him a good lead but Fitzpatrick using his bisques picked off hoops narrowing the margin to a +9 win to Nottingham. The second game on lawn 3 was a tactical battle between Scott and Roberts; Roberts took an early lead which Scott couldn't get back resulting in a +14 win on time for Middlesbrough and an overall 2-1 lead going in to lunch.

The weather carried over to the afternoon for some more top croquet. On lawn 2 Staples took an early lead against Hallam, but a stumble on hoop one allowed Hallam back in who promptly seized his opportunity and won +10. Gunn changed his morning form around and was firing both barrels in the afternoon giving himself a +20 win over Akester. Over on lawn 3 Greenaway had a good game against Roberts resulting in a +17 win. In the second game on lawn 3 Scott was making the most of the weather again with his game going to time again. This time he reversed his fortunes with a +2T win meaning Nottingham finished the day with a 5-2 win, to give them a chance to defend the trophy in the final against the Bear of Rodborough.

Rachel Rowe managed the first Nottingham GC Open, for the new Diamond Jubilee Bowl, which had 12 entries, and has sent this report.

We had the luxury of 5 lawns all weekend and most games were single banked with no time limits. There were some very tight games and a few upsets in the blocks, although everyone won at least one game. At the end of Saturday there were 2 clear qualifiers from each block – Ray Mounfield, Richard Thompson, Tim King and Ryan Cabble; only Ray Mounfield was unbeaten with 10 wins.

After a leisurely start on Sunday morning Tim was playing well and brought an end to Ray’s winning streak in straight games for a place in the final. Ryan held himself together well after losing the first game in the other semi, found his form again in the second game and took the third, despite a strong comeback from Richard. Both Ryan and Tim were shooting well in the final and not many hoops were missed. An hour and a quarter later, and in time for an early tea, Ryan was victorious. Sunday’s
consolation event was an all play all block for all willing participants. David Bell played well to win all of his games and the consolation event. Richard beat Ray in the 3rd/4th playoff.

Handicap reductions for:
David Bell from 4 to 3 and Harry Dodge from 3 to 2.

Semi final results:
Tim King v Ray Mounfield 7-4 7-4
Ryan Cabble v Richard Thompson 6-7 7-2 7-5

Final:
Ryan Cabble v Tim King 7-3 7-4

3rd/4th playoff:
Richard Thompson v Ray Mounfield 7-2

Nottingham beat Middlesborough 5-2 to reach final of Secretary’s Shield

Ryan Cabble won first Nottingham GC Open

More informaton

Members’ Information