[<<] [>>] by Tim King at Cheltenham Croquet Club
8th August 2009 (GC - Inter-Club)

Results (Cheltenham Names First)

Morning

David Foulser (0) & Richard Thomspon (1) beat Tim King (1) & Ray Mounfield (1) - 7-3, 7-6
David Kibble (2) lost to Rachel Rowe (3) - w/o, 1-7
Tony Forbes (3) lost to Will Gee (1) - 7-6, 3-7, 2-7

Afternoon

Foulser versus King - abandoned - 7-6, 4-7
Thompson versus Mounfield - abandoned - 3-7, 7-4
Kibble lost to Gee - 3-7, 6-7
Forbes lost to Rowe - 4-7, 2-7

Report (by the Collected Ashby Team on the Drive Home)

Having not had a home fixture this year, Ashby were away yet again, this time against Cheltenham. Ashby's team remained unchanged from the previous matches, and had travelled somewhat less in the preceding 24 hours on this occasion (see report on the Auckland match). Although Ashby enjoyed a smooth journey (with a different driver, by rotation), elsewhere traffic problems deprived Cheltenham of their fourth man for the first part of the morning's play. The eventual solution was to award the first game as a walkover to Ashby.

Meanwhile Ashby went one game down in both of the other morning legs. Will recovered his form to win the next two games, whilst Ray and Tim recovered theirs too late in their second game, losing at the thirteenth hoop. Rachel had a quick victory against David; suggesting that tactics do in fact exist in Golf Croquet! This gave Ashby a 2-1 lead at lunch.

In the afternoon Will built on this lead, beating David. Shortly afterwards Rachel sealed the match for Ashby, beating Tony. This rendered the remaining matches superfluous, and given both other legs were tied at one game all, the players retired to the bar. Ashby were grateful for the good condition of the lawns, as it helped prevent undue home advantage. They also appreciated not having to double-bank.

Ashby are now through to the final (their fourth in six years), to be played September 26th, when they will meet the winner of Ryde and Surbiton. So far, the youngsters have been the stars of the show for Ashby; both are unbeaten in legs and Rachel has won 11 games and lost 3, Will has won 10 and lost 3.