With still one week left in Division 1/2 of the Northern District Croquet Association’s spring pennant competition, the Quarry Hill Rosellas (Chris Eiffert and Bernie Lacey) have put the championship beyond doubt.
This week they had what appears to be a resounding 6-0 games win over the QH Kookaburras (Gayle Deary and John Murdoch), but look closer and you will see that four of those six games were at 6-6 hoops each, and were won on the final hoop.
Typically going to the final hoop for a result can be a lottery, so the Kookaburras were unlucky that all four games went against them. However, the Rosellas were always the team to beat, winning seven of their eight matches, and are deserving champions for this season. Congratulations Chris and Bernie.
Second place will be decided by next week’s draw. Kyneton Blue (Pat Fahy and George Lund) had a very close win over Macedon Mt Gisborne (Elizabeth Payne and Penny Krstev), using their home court experience to advantage.
With one doubles left to play, Kyneton was down 2-3 games, after Fahy lost both his singles.
Kyneton had to not only win the last game to make it 3-3, but win it by at least two hoops. They combined well to take the win by 7-4, so taking the match for the day. That meant they have pushed back into second position, tied with the QH Galahs (Irene Murdoch and Col Scott) on five wins each, but ahead by just one game and three hoops.
These two teams face each other next week in the final round, and with six games and 78 hoops up for grabs, the result will come down to that last encounter.
Division 3 played their semi-finals this week.
Top ranked and current pennant champions Kyneton Blue (Judy Aldred and Margaret Parker) secured their spot in the grand final in two weeks time with a decisive 4-2 games win over second ranked Maldon Acacia (Rod Bennett and Gary Dykes).
Aldred and Parker each won both their singles games, but then lost both doubles games, including a close 7-6 win to Maldon.
Meanwhile, Maldon Maple (Julie and Trevor Ware) had a much harder time of it against last week’s finals interlopers Macedon Mt Towrong (Terry Goodley and Liz Harnden), who had scraped into the top four by virtue of a 1 hoop win last week.
Goodley won both his singles games, while the doubles were split one each, making it 3-3 games. Maldon took the win by just 4 hoops 34-30, and now go on to play their Maldon Acacia stablemates for the other place in the grand final.
It’s been a very competitive pennant season, with the final results going right down to the final matches. Well done, everyone.
