The East Anglian Golf Croquet league is divided into four areas, the Northern, Eastern, Central and Western areas, and the clubs in each area played in an all-play-all block over the course of the season. There are four players per team who play four timed handicap singles against their opposite numbers, plus two handicap doubles – a total of 18 games per match. The results of the matches in each block can be found by following the corresponding links. The four area winners then proceed to a knock-out stage for the semi-finals and finals to determine the overall winner.
The North & Mid vs. Western Area semi-final were played at Newport on Tuesday 17th September, the Central vs. Eastern Area semi-final at Enfield on Friday 6th September, and the final at Leighton Linslade on Tuesday 24th September.
Weather: Early fog, but perfect sunshine from the start of play and throughout the day.
Everyone was made very welcome by Leighton Linslade, and
play commenced.
Round | Enfield | v | Ipswich | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DFr | v | MF | 4-7 |
DM | v | JW | 5-7 | |
DFe | v | CP | 7-1 | |
BS | v | PP | 7-4 | |
2 | DFe | v | PP | 2-7 |
BS | v | CP | 7-3 | |
DFr | v | JW | 7-6 | |
DM | v | MF | 5-7 | |
3 | DFr | v | CP | 7-5 |
DM | v | B2 | 5-7 | |
DFe | v | MF | 3-7 | |
BS | v | JW | 6-7 | |
4 | DFe | v | JW | 6-7 |
BS | v | MF | 7-4 | |
DFr | v | PP | 7-3 | |
DM | v | CP | 7-4 | |
Doubles: | DFr+BS | v | MF+PP | 6-7 |
DM+DFe | v | JW+CP | 7-3 | |
WINS: | 9 | - | 9 | |
Play-off: | DFr+DM | v | MF+JW | 1-2 |
Enfield | Ipswich | ||
---|---|---|---|
DFr | David Frost (2) CAPTAIN | MF | Martin French (0) CAPTAIN |
DM | David Minihane (5) | JW | Jill Waters (4) |
DFe | David Fenner (8) | CP | Celia Pearce (7) |
BS | Brian Stuart (10) | PP | Pam Plumbly (10) (12 playing off 10) |
After Round 1: 2-2; David Fenner beats Celia 7-1.
After Round 2: 4-4; Pam beats David Fenner 7-2.
After Round 3: 5-7; all 4 matches are close. Advantage to Ipswich.
After Round 4: 8-8; Enfield fight back - Martin French is beaten for the first and only time in the tournament this season by Brian Stuart 7-4.
On to the Doubles:
It's now 9-9 so they go into a 3 hoop play-off.
Play-off: David Frost & David Minihane vs.
Martin French & Jill Waters.
David Frost wins the toss, so plays from corner one up to hoop 3.
Hoop 3: After 5 minutes of play David Frost runs the hoop with a good shot to give Enfield a 1-0 lead.
Hoop 4: Immediately Martin is blocked behind hoop 3 but plays a well weighted shot, finishing 8 feet to the right side and level with hoop 4. Then David Minihane's ball is aimed 2 feet to the left of the hoop and finishes some 10' short. Jill hits her ball hard and true from behind hoop 3 and it goes straight through hoop 4 without touching the sides, off the lawn and into the park to tie the score at 1-1. Game on!
Hoop 5: After several minutes of play with Enfield having a couple of missed shots at the hoop, David Frost tries to knock his blue ball back through the hoop, but it gets stuck half way in the jaws. With Martin's red ball off the lawn and David Minihane's black ball ready in front of the hoop Jill decides to attack the hoop, knocking the blue ball back through the hoop and hers with it (see picture)! Ipswich win!
The League Manager's "Star Player" award goes to Jill Waters of Ipswich, with runner-up Brian Stuart of Enfield.
Many thanks to:
See also:
GC League score-sheet ( 24 kb)
GC Level Play league
GC League play-off results by year:
Previous GC league winners - summary
Semi-Finals & Final Rounds
Jason Carley
League Manager
tel: 07825 241712