Festival season at Victoria Park but it’s mixed results in the league
CROQUET players from all over the north west played in the Federation’s Annual Festival of Croquet at Victoria Park.
Southport used this occasion to provide their newcomers and less experienced players with opportunities to play against regional teams.
Whilst Southport may not have won any trophies, it was, once again an enormously successful tournament, with some individual triumphs from Bryan Roberts in the golf, and Maureen Spratt in the handicap.
In the league, teams have experienced a mixture of successes and losses since the season began.
The Advanced B Level Team lost their first match at home against Fylde 4-1.
Captain Ray Lowe hopes to have a stronger squad for his next home game against Bowden.
The Weekend Handicap Association team started away at Bowden St Mary’s and the experienced captain John Haslam reported a great victory, 6-1.
The Midweek Handicap League captain Carol Lewis reported a poor start to their campaign, losing their first two matches, firstly away to Chester followed by defeat at home to Pendle 5-2.
They managed to pick themselves up and in an exciting match at home, beat Westmorland 4-3.
The Short Association Croquet Team began at home against Bowden.
In a hard fought match Southport were unlucky to come out losers, 9-7.
They made up for this defeat in their next game away to Fylde, winning 13-3 with excellent performances from John Haslam and Pauline Rooney, both winning all four of their matches.
The Handicap Golf Croquet team, with the experienced captain Mary Warren, had not lost a match in two years.
They began at Fylde in a very close encounter, winning 9-8.
The second match at Bury North provided a great result winning 12-6.
However they suffered their first defeat at home to Bury Sout, 12-5, with the away team bringing their most experienced players to Victoria Park.
The Advanced Level Play Golf Croquet team, captained by Don Williamson started well, with a home win against Bury, 11-7.
The next game was a loss at Pendle, which they will be looking to turn around in their next match away to Culcheth.