Federation League Final   Nailsea 0  Sidmouth 7

On Saturday Nailsea Croquet Club took part in the Federation League Final against Sidmouth. Once again, some of Nailsea’s regular Federation League players were unavailable and, as in the semi-final two weeks ago, the Club fielded their Advanced League team with one other player. The team had a 17.5 handicap disadvantage compared with their opponents and although the venue for the Final is chosen before the beginning of the season, normally at a neutral ground, the Sidmouth team had the home advantage. The Nailsea team had played extremely well to reach the Final, but this time they were unable to produce their best form.

In the morning Nailsea lost both singles. In the doubles PETER DYKE had a chance to make a break early in the game, but he broke down at hoop three. The opponents used just two of their five bisques (extra turns) for their weeker player to score ten points. KRISS CHAMBERS hit in and made a ten-hoop break. The stronger of the two Sidmouth players got of to a bad start using two bisques to score the first hoop but then he went to the peg using their final bisque. The Nailsea pair had a few long shots, but failed to hit in, and the Sidmouth pair scored the last two hoops and pegged out.

Three-nil down at lunch, Nailsea needed to win all four afternoon singles games. However, J.DIXON was given no chances and was beaten by a maximum 26 points. ALEX LEGGATE hit in on the fourth turn and made a nine-hoop break. His opponent used his 3.5 bisques to score eleven points with one ball and ten with the other before breaking down. ALEX took his second ball round and attempted a triple peel. The first two peels were successful, but he failed the rover peel on the first attempt. He did a jump shot over his partner ball and then used his opponent’s ball to do a cannon peel, but he failed to get the rush back to the peg. He attempted to do a long peg out, but missed so he just pegged out one ball. His opponent hit in and went on to win by a single point.

Things looked good for KRISS as his opponent used five of his sixteen bisques before scoring the first hoop, but he then scored eleven points using only four more bisques. KRISS hit in, but failed to get in front of the first hoop. His opponent just managed to get his second ball round to the peg and peg out both balls using his seven remaining bisques. PETER DYKE was the only member of the Nailsea team to receive bisques, but he got off to a bad start scoring only four hoops with his six and a half bisques. His opponent played carefully giving PETER no easy chances and it was a long time before the Nailsea player scored another point. PETER rallied towards the end of the game it was too little, too late, to avoid a total whitewash.

Although the Nailsea team were disappointed with their performance, this is the highest they have finished in the Federation League since they won the league in 1988. Last year they came third, this year they were runners-up, and they hope to go one better again next year. This season they were also runners-up, their best ever performance, in the Advanced League, which was won once again by Bristol Croquet Club.

Results

KRISS CHAMBERS & PETER DYKE  lost  -14

ALEX LEGGATE  lost -14   -1    J. DIXON  lost -10 & -26

KRISS CHAMBERS  lost -26    PETER DYKE  lost -17

Nailsea Croquet Club Beginners Competition

Nailsea Croquet Club had seven entries for their Beginners Competition on Sunday. The Final was a closely fought contest between MIKE PETERS and ANDY MORGAN, which MIKE eventually won by four points.

Results:

1  MIKE PETERS, 6 wins   2  ANDY MORGAN, 5 wins