Advanced Croquet League Table 2011
	Matches				Games		Points
	P	W	D	L	W	L
Bowdon Saints	7	6	0	1	41	22	16
Fylde	7	5	0	2	38	25	13
Bowdon Canons	7	5	0	2	37	26	12
Pendle Craven *	6	3	0	3	27	26	8
Bury *	6	2	0	4	26	27	8
Crake Valley **	5	2	0	3	21	24	4
Liverpool **	5	1	0	4	17	28	2
Southport **	5	0	0	5	8	37	0

** 2 matches not played * 1 match not played
Table courtesy of croquetnw.co.uk

Liverpool Pirates 3 Fylde 6

It is remarkable to see what selfless dedication and hard work can achieve in a sporting context. For a small club to take some neglected tennis courts and transform them into Croquet lawns and then fill them with a series of the Northwest's strongest players in the Advanced League takes a special kind of person. This is why we all call her 'Boss' and why FCC has a big heart. Liz's remarkable form continued and was rewarded by triggering down to 2.5 with some tactical plays against James. This put the bonus point we needed (to keep in touch with Saints) in sight but Pirates snatched it away in the last game when James beat Peter.

The Pirates started with a man overboard.
John Haslam (-0.5) beat Liz Wilson (3) +12
James Hawkins (0.5) lost to Lee Hartley (-1) -13
John beat Peter +26
James lost to Liz -19
John lost to Lee -26
James beat Peter +3

So we will not retain the trophy this year but nevertheless a wonderful season full of happy memories and great play especially from Lee who so often contributed three wins per match building the springboard for either Peter or (more often) Liz to get us across the winning line.

Posted by Peter, 10th September 2011

Bowdon Saints 4 Fylde 5

Perfect conditions, lawns and strong oppositon. Liz came close to a win against Ken in a three ball ending carefully nursing her ball to Penult, but Ken produced a great lift shot and finished. So we went to lunch three all. In the final round Lee completed his third TP of the weekend beating David. Peter had only a few chances but did not get going so once again the match result was hanging on Boss who had played brilliantly to get to Peg and Rover. The final points were long in coming, but come they did. We picked up two bonus points, keeping a faint hope of retaining the trophy alive.

David Walters (-1.5) beat Liz Wilson (3) +24
Ken Cooper (-1) lost to Lee Heartley (-1) -26
Mike Sandler (1) lost to Peter Wilson (1.5) -11
David beat Peter +16
Ken beat Liz +3
Mike lost to Lee -26TP
David lost to Lee -25TP
Ken beat Peter +23
Mike lost to Liz -3

Posted by Peter, 4th September 2011

Fylde 6 Bury 3

We set the courts in dry conditions and although the whole day was very warm the rain started as Bury arrived and only stopped for the final moments of the last game. Throughout this, the lawns kept clear of water all day. We had some welcome support from Martin, Jo and Betty as well as Alan (who practiced!). David had a great day winning all his games and triggering down to 0.5. The match was full of memorable moments. Lee's beautifully controlled triple in the final game. Peter running 4b from 2 yards NE of 6 (a shot to nothing) gaining the innings against Paul. Liz's 7 point comeback against Barbara on peg & box. The match was closer than the score suggests, many games turning on critical moments of fortune.

Lee Heartley (-1) beat Barbara Young (5) +9
Peter Wilson (1.5) beat Paul Rigge (-0.5) +1
Liz Wilson (3) lost to David Barret (1) -6
Lee lost to David -7
Peter beat Barbara +13
Liz beat Paul +4
Lee beat Paul +12TP
Peter lost to David -14
Liz beat Barbara +2

Posted by Peter, 3rd September 2011

Bowdon Cannons 5 Fylde 4

Lee Heartley (-0.5) beat Lorna Frost (6) +21
Peter Wilson (1.5) lost to Colin Irwin (-1.5) -25tp
Liz Wilson (3) lost to Alan Mayne (-1) -25
Lee beat Alan +1
Peter beat Lorna +12
Liz lost to Colin -19tp
Lee lost to Colin -7
Peter lost to Alan -17
Liz beat Lorna +21

For Liz & Peter this was the sixth consecutive day of Croquet. Bowdon's team looked to secure the match win but because Lee beat Alan in the scond round things became 'interesting' for the last round. We played in team order. Liz was the first to finish beating Lorna. Alan's long hitting proved too much for Peter who only got to four back. But then the spectators became interested in Lee's game with Colin. A fantastic effort from Lee had pegged Colin out at one back. The three ball ending was masterfully played by both players keeping their team mates and spectators on the edge of their seats. Lee was gaining but at on point a difficult chance came to Lee for a three ball break starting at two back. Lee took it on but the hoop was failed leaving Colin a twelve yarder which he hit and with a series of great shots finished from four back.

Posted by Peter, 10th July 2011

Crake 4 Fylde 5

Tom (0.5) beat Liz Wilson (3) +9
Lee Heartley (-0.5) beat Peter Wardel (1) +24
Peter Wilson (1.5) beat Graham Whitehouse (2.5) +14
Tom beat Peter Wilson +23
Peter Wardel beat Liz +8
Lee beat Graham +13
Lee beat Tom +15
Peter Wardel beat Peter Wilson +15
Liz beat Graham +11

Team Flyd arrived bright and early at a sunny Crake Valley, although only Lee had remembered to wear his Team Flyd t-shirt. We arrived to find white lining taking place, though this is not to say that the Crake grounds staff (Graham) had been negligent. Rather the white lines that had been painted yesterday, just before the prolonged downpour, had been almost completely washed away. I think there is a lesson for all groundsmen there. The rain had left the bottom 2 lawns with standing water on them, but the top 2 lawns were playable if a little slow, and they gradually dried out in the warm sunshine. The total handicap of each team was 4, which suggested a very tight match and that is how it turned out. In the morning games Lee beat Peter comfortably +24, completing a standard FTP in the process. Peter and Graham both had chances but Peter prevailed in that one +14. Tom and Liz had a similar game, but despite Liz’s best efforts Tom pulled away at the end to win +9. So it was 2-1 to Fylde at lunch, which involved a visit to the excellent chippy just over the road. In my view this is definitely a good option when the home team consists of 3 males. The after lunch games also all went to form, with wins for Lee against Graham +13, Peter against Liz +8 and Tom against Peter +23. Fylde 3 Crake 3. The final round of games see each player play their opposite number, which with the teams closely handicapped was always likely to prove not only to be the decisive round but to provide a close finish. And what a finish it was. Despite a few tantrums, involving stomping round the lawns, mallet throwing, and kicking a bottle of sun tan cream into the white lining paint (which washing off proved surprisingly therapeutic), Lee completed his own personal hat trick by beating Tom +15 in frankly a low quality affair. Fylde 4 Crake 3. However, Peter W was playing very steadily against Peter W and ultimately had little problem in finishing him off +15. Fylde 4 Crake 4. By the time we had both finished, the final game between Liz and Graham didn’t have that long left. And at that time Graham was well in front, being for peg and rover against Liz’s 3 back and 3, with hoop 2 being a particular nemesis for Liz having failed it 4 times during the game. In order to win Liz had to get both balls round, and so with less than quarter of an hour left when she got a chance she sensibly decided to take the forward ball round to peg. Following a missed roquet after running rover, Graham decided to play a ball safe rather than take on a missable roquet. Liz missed herself, and so Graham then decided to put his other ball safe. Or so he thought. Liz managed to get in and set a 3 ball break up running hoop 3. All she now had to do was go round to peg to get in front. Though it had taken her well over 2 hours to get to hoop 3 so this seemed unlikely. But with the adrenaline pumping, and nothing to lose, Liz ran hoops 4, 5 and 6 all under beautiful control. 1 back came and went, and after running 2 back she shot and picked up the “other safe ball” in the corner. With all balls now in play a win seemed a real possibility. But could Liz hold her nerve after time was called during the turn? Not only did she get round to peg, but she even managed to peg out and thereby deprive Graham of a final shot to try and get level. A fantastic break, almost certainly one of Liz’s best, and a 5-4 triumph for Team Flyd.

Posted by Lee, 9th July 2011

Fylde 8 Southport 1 ( 1 Bonus Point )

Lee (-0.5) beat Don Williamson (3) +8
Peter (1.5) beat Alan Pidcock (1) +1
Liz (3.5) lost to Ray Lowe (1.5) -15
Lee beat Ray +6
Peter beat Don +12
Liz beat Alan +3
Lee v Alan 0
Peter v Ray 0
Liz v Don 0

Southport fielded a team rich in experience but as the match progressed collected a couple of injuries and with the match already lost after two rounds respectfully declined to play the third. Notable play overcoming (well almost) the considerable home advantage from Don with an eight hoop three ball break, Alan with precision pioneers and Ray's rushing power, all a delight to watch in play.

1st May 2011

Pendle 5 Fylde 4

This season the match captain has done a magnificent job arranging to play two matches in one weekend three times. We opened the first of these with a close match. Pendle was warm and bright but a strong Easterly made conditions difficult for all players. The close match was decided by a two ball ending between Liz and Abdul The pressure having been put on that game by Pete being out of touch for the afternoon matches.

Lee (-0.5) beat Abdul (4.5) +17
Peter (1.5) lost to John Filsak (1.5) -13
Liz (3.5) lost to Rob Essler (2.5) -10
Lee beat Rob +11
Peter beat Abdul +25
Liz lost to John -3
Lee beat John +21
Peter lost to Rob -13
Liz lost to Abdul -3

30th April 2011

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