Matches				Games		Points
	P	W	D	L	W	L
Chester	7	5	0	2	29	20	10
Pendle Craven	7	5	0	2	27	22	10
Bowdon Griffins	7	4	0	3	25	24	8
Bury	7	4	0	3	24	25	8
Fylde	7	3	0	4	24	22	6
West Crake	7	3	0	4	23	26	6
Southport	7	3	0	4	21	28	6
Bowdon Earls	7	1	0	6	21	25	2

Table courtesy of the North West Federation

Chester 4 Fylde 3

Chester: Paul Watson, David Boyd, Peter Morgan (c), Frank Pounder
Fylde: Martin Bradshaw (c), Peter Hallet, Ken Harper, Betty Bates

Peter found a new place to park (near Bamber Bridge Parish Church - well he would wouldn't he) and cooler weather beckoned, but mercifully hardly a drop of rain. And, surprise surprise, a greener sward at Westminster Park than we have been used to. An intriguing situation with the possibility that Fylde would upset Chester's applecart if we won with a big enough margin. As it turned out they were up to the task but we fought to the bitter end.

Paul and Frank set off against Martin and Ken with the unusual tactic of the lower handicapper (Paul) using almost all the bisques ! However, Frank was up to the task of a bisqueless bash and finished off his match-winning break with a number of outrageous (no sour grapes here) rolls to the hoop, gaining a Chester win by +8. Betty lost no time in her morning singles and dominated her game against David running out a +15 winner. Peter found his namesake more tricky to handle and was unable to prevent another +15 win by the old sea dog.

The afternoon saw Peter get into his stride against David and was unfortunate to finish on the losing end by -5. Betty also lost out to Frank -6 clearly inspired by his morning performance but was always in the hunt. Martin used his single bisque early on and, unimpressed to be playing a man dressed in beige twice in a day, lost no time in winning +20. Ken had a huge tussle against the master mariner. The game hinged on Peter pegging out Ken with some time still to go, but Ken hung on impressively and ran out +1 on time.

Many congratulations on Chester winning the Mid-week League.

Paul & Frank beat Martin and Ken +8
David lost to Betty -15
Peter beat Peter (Hallet) +15
Paul lost to Martin -20
David beat Peter +5
Peter lost to Ken +1 T
Frank beat Betty +6

Posted by Mart, 16th September 2010

Fylde 4 Bowdon 0

Fylde: Terry, Peter Hallet, Ian & Leonard
Bowdon: Unable to field four players

Suffering from a general lack of availability, one or two injuries and without any prospect of retaining their title, Bowdon's midweek team brought their season to an end by conceding a walkover.

Posted by Francois, 11th September 2010

Fylde 3 Bury 4

Fylde: Terry Vernazza ( 9), Peter Hallett (10), Ian Theakstone (14) and Ken Harper (16)
Bury: Barbara young (5), Geoff Young (14) , Margaret Anderton (14) and Yvonne Gibson (18)

Ken and Terry lost to Barbara and Geoff -1 on time
Peter lost to Margaret -5 on time
Ian lost to Yvonne -8 on time
Terry beat Barbara +20
Peter beat Geoff +4
Ian lost to Margaret -14
Ken beat Yvonne +10

The lawns were covered with a heavy dew at the start of play and running slow. However, they rapidly dried as the sun was out and producing one of the hottest days for some time. In the doubles, Ken quickly found his form and took his ball to rover. Barbara's roqueting skills were soon in evidence, hitting in from long distances on a regular basis. this allowing her to advance her ball to rover as well. Terry and Geoff were more slow in scoring hoops but Geoff eventually put a good break together to enable Bury to win the game +1 on time. In the singles Yvonne was matching Barbara for hitting long roquets and putting breaks together. She eventually beat Ian +8 on time. Margaret and Peter had a more even struggle, Margaret eventually winning +5 on time. Lunch and Bury were 3 - 0 in the lead. Refreshed after lunch, and enjoying the sunshine, Fylde started the fight back. Terry quickly got both his balls to three-back and then after a long tactical battle beat Barbara +20. Peter and Geoff had a very close match, matching each other break for break. Both players were on peg and penultimate and then Peter surged into the lead and pegged out. Ian was unable to match his form from last weekend and was beaten by the very good play of Margaret. In the final match, Ken and Yvonne were having a close match until ken missed a long roquet but ran his hoop instead. making the most of this lucky break, he went on to win by +10. This win triggered a handicap change down to 14 for Ken (well done).

Posted by Terry, 8th September 2010

Griffins 5 Fylde 2

Griffins: John Saxby (c), Philip Hunter, Sue Cooper & Carol Steinberg
Fylde: Martin Bradshaw (c), Betty Bates, Leo Ainsworth & Ken Harper

John Saxby (14) & Carol Steinberg (18) beat Betty Bates (16) & Len Ainsworth (20) +7
Phil Hunter (9) beat Ken Harper (16) +12
Sue Cooper (14) lost to Martin Bradshaw (8) -3T
Phil beat Martin +12
John lost to Ken -2T
Sue beat Betty +1T
Carol beat Len +3T

The trouble with driving for an hour is that on occasion the mind can wander. Is croquet a sport or is it a pastime? Simon Barnes in The Times has for some time considered that any game where the player can wear a cardigan and smoke at one and the same time cannot possibly be considered a sport! He was referring to golf, and whilst his antipathy towards the game has mellowed of late, croquet I feel would also come into his target range. I have an element of agreement with this approach, but I would always maintain that the complexities of croquet lift the game well above this other 'swingers' game (this speaking as a late golfer of 40 years - mind you match play golf does take a bit of beating).
So, unusual Bowdon lawns slightly soggy to begin with after two days of heavy rain, but firming up after lunch once the showers ceased. And what a lunch, hot garlic potatoes, excellent relishes and dressings, and a hot blackcurrant tart and cream to die for. Oh, there was some croquet played amidst the morning rain. In the doubles Leonard stormed round to rover with minimal bisques, but the home combo of John and Carol kept Betty at bay and they prevailed +7. Philip was in top form all day and Ken found him too consistent losing -12. Sue was quite a handful for Martin but he squeezed through +3.
Philip recorded a second +12 win and was excellent in his defeat of Martin who blew hot and cold. The most intriguing game was John v Ken in which, with the game at its mid-point, John pegged out Ken despite having his second ball at two. Ken's remaining ball was on penult, and a whole hour of cat and mouse ensued with, to his great credit, Ken prevailing +2. So, 3 - 2 to the BGs and the remaining two games finely poised. Betty was most unlucky to lose -1 on time after Sue made up considerable ground, and Leonard found Carol very steady, succumbing -3. A close match, and thankfully not too wet a day.

Posted by Mart, 20th July 2010

Southport 3 Fylde 4

Southport: Tony Thomas (c), Margaret Dalley, David Key, John Mawdsley
Fylde: Martin Bradshaw (c), Ian Theakstone, Ken Harper, Alan Morton

A glorious day awaited us at Victoria Park, three-quarters of the team having got to know the backwaters of Longton and Bretherton on the way thanks to a police road-block. Dew on the ground soon disappeared, and from midday onwards the lawns became progressively slicker. Ken found Margaret's steadiness a little too much in the morning, but Ian was not to be disturbed by David's somewhat volatile approach and held on to win. The Martin/ Alan doubles combo started well but Tony and John played a canny game and the visitors succumbed. 2 - 1 down at lunch. The Carte d'Or ice cream was clearly an inspiration to Fylde in the afternoon singles. Thanks to Tony having a multitude of close misses when hitting in, Martin found himself with a lot of lawn time and secured a win. The ice cream didn't affect Alan the same way and he found John rather a handful. Meanwhile, Ian and Ken were slogging it out with Margaret and David, and despite the lead changing hands a number of times in both games both ran out narrow winners. A 4 - 3 victory and a pleasant amble home discussing the merits or otherwise of a River Ribble Barrage/Roadway.

Martin & Alan lost to Tony & John -7
Ken beat Margaret +4
Ian lost to David +2
Martin beat Tony +4
Ian beat Margaret +1
Ken beat David +3
Alan lost to John +6

Posted by Mart, 16th June 2010

Fylde 2 Pendle 5

Fylde: Martin (8) , Liz (2 ½) Alan (20 and Leonard (18)
Pendle: Ron Welsh, Andrew Webb, Robin Delves, Dicky Delves

The day was played in glorious sunshine with both the lean to gazebo and the new summer house in full use. The morning doubles saw a victory for the Delves twins over Liz and Leo (who was playing with a still damaged right hand rendering him unable to strike the ball firmly). Martin lost to Andrew and Alan lost to Ron. In the afternoon Alan was beaten by the relentless 2 balling game of Dickie Delves and the injured Leonard lost to Robin. Martin and Liz were the only winners beating Ron and Andrew respectively. Liz’s game being a very close timed game.

Posted by Liz, 2nd June 2010

Fylde 5 Westmorland 2

Fylde: Martin Bradshaw (c) , Peter Hallet, Ian Theakstone, Alan Morton
Westmorland: John Shakespeare, Stephen Holmes, John Burrows, Ivan Wheatley

Fylde’s winning streak continues! The morning’s doubles saw a win for Martin and Ian over the two Johns +12. Peter Hallet lost to Ivan Wheatley and Alan beat Stephen Holmes in the only morning game to reach a peg out. After lunch it looked like Ian was going to make short work of Ivan as he tore round with his first ball using only one bisque. He later got bogged down as he struggled to finish and only came out the winner by +4. Martin just beat John Shakespeare in a very slow game 13 -11. Peter Hallet lost to Stephen Holmes and Alan managed a win on time against John Burrows +11. Final score Fylde 5 – Westmorland 2. With only 4 peg outs!

Posted by Martin, 19th May

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