Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District

Lamb prevails after tense tussle

Croquet

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Jonathan Lamb is Canterbury’s 2017 associatio­n croquet champion but he came within an ace of putting victory in jeopardy, writes Frank Hughes.

Henry Bryant, his opponent in the final of the Alf Moat Trophy, had already disposed of last year’s champion, internatio­nal player Tobi Savage, in the previous round and soon showed signs of repeating the feat against Lamb, another internatio­nal player with an even lower handicap.

Lamb knew that he needed to make big breaks early on to prevent Bryant using his huge handicap advantage to take the game away from him.

However Lamb, in his own words, mucked up early on and Bryant began to progress. After an hour he had made 10 of then ran hoop 11 but failed to run 12.

Bryant now had no more extra turns and it looked all over but he hit in from 25yards and fought on.

However Lamb got in once more and this time took his black ball from one to 11 in one faultless break.

More drama followed when Lamb’s casual shot at hoop 12 left his ball a fraction short of running it.

Bryant’s ball was millimetre­s away, giving a chance to tap both balls back through the hoop and then run it with his.

But he misjudged the power needed and his ball was not through by a hair’s breadth, so he could not claim the hoop by running it.

He also could not hit either of the other two balls, so left the way clear for Lamb to hit in and clinch the match. the 12 hoops needed with his yellow ball and three with his red but had used most of his handicap extra turns.

Lamb was confident enough to take his blue ball through hoop 12 to the centre peg, leaving Bryant the chance to do the same and then peg out Lamb’s blue ball. This would have left Lamb trying to make 12 hoops with his black ball and no partner ball to help.

Lamb left Bryant with a 20-yard shot to hit in and cause problems but the latter was up for it. He

 ??  ?? Canterbury Croquet Club chairman Barry Sales presents the winner’s trophy to Jonathan Lamb
Canterbury Croquet Club chairman Barry Sales presents the winner’s trophy to Jonathan Lamb
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