Cornwall Croquet Club
Match Report
Fri 22 Jul 2016 - SWF Golf Croquet League (Played at Cornwall CC)
Cornwall Porthpean v Barnstaple
22 July saw Porthpean play their last golf croquet handicap match of the 2016 season when the team hosted Barnstaple.
The club house was replete as both teams fielded a full team of eight and Barnstaple had brought two supporters who wished to watch their fellow club members' progress. Porthpean's players were pleased to see many familiar faces who had been opposed over previous seasons.
With only a couple of exceptions handicaps throughout both teams were similar, ranging from 7-12. This meant that many games could be played level and if this was not possible handicaps largely dictated that only one or two extra turns were required. A warm atmosphere and pleasant weather conditions prevailed.
With two doubles games underway the day's first point was awarded to Porthpean when Janet Bell and Trevor Bainbridge secured a 7-5 win over Ray Young and Irene Fane. Barnstaple then took the doubles game which was being played on the second lawn and this created a pattern which flowed for the remainder of the match. Most victories were followed by a defeat with Porthpean always on the back foot.
From the singles games Janet Bell benefitted from two wins, firstly by defeating Jim Wright 7-3 before being taken to the Golden Hoop by Simon Gibbon. With two close games Porthpean's Gill Clark also went to the Golden Hoop, firstly with Ruby Featherstone then with Irene Fane, emerging successfully both times. Howard Rosevear also won 7-6 when meeting Irene Fane. Porthpean triumphed further when Linda Lang beat Ruby Featherstone 7-3 and Felicity Owen defeated Mella Wright 7-5, a score which was replicated by Rhona Foster when playing Jim Wright. Joyce Wilson enjoyed a 6-6 draw against Mella Wright before repeating this result when they met in a doubles game, now joined by Felicity Owen and Simon Gibbon. The final doubles game between Gill Clark partnered by Linda Lang and Su Wynne accompanied by Jim Wright also resulted in a 6-6 draw.
Having trailed by a point throughout most of the match, Porthpean's fortune improved towards the end of the day and with two consecutive wins from the penultimate and final games the home team drew level and then overtook the visitors to achieve an overall 10.5 - 9.5 win.
Porthpean thanked Barnstaple for bringing their season to a close in such an agreeable way before wishing the visitors a safe journey home.
Final Score: Cornwall 10.5 Barnstaple 9.5
Report by Kathleen Moorshead.