Cornwall Croquet Club
My Tag Line
Federation League 2009
September 27th away to Bath to play Kingston Langley in the final
CORNWALL CROQUET CLUB WINS 4:1 IN SOUTH WEST REGION FEDERATION FINAL
Congratulations to Cornwall Croquet Club for this fine win, in a large region covering the whole of the South West, all the way from Dorset through Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Avon and into South Wales, with a total membership of almost 40 clubs, of which 17 contested this event. This win qualifies the club to compete in 2010 for The Secretary's Shield, a national competition between the winners from the nine constituent regions of the Croquet Association.
Cornwall's team met Kington Langley in the final on Sunday 27th September, on neutral lawns at Bath Croquet Club. Kington Langley looked favourites, having won the event last year as well as twice before. With teams consisting of three players, the match format was one doubles and one singles played before lunch, followed by three singles. Cornwall's players were Richard Griffiths, Captain (handicap 0), Tony Backhouse (7) and Peter Cutting (16, but obliged to play as 15 in this event). Tony played the morning singles leaving Richard and Peter to play the doubles. Against opponents Brian Shorney (3) and Eric Bevan (10), Richard and Peter received one free extra turn in the handicap scheme, not enough for Peter to undertake their much rehearsed opening gambit to get him round, so the game tactics had to be different to those planned. An opportunity to get under way from the one extra turn did arise, but failed to progress, but then opponents adopted a surprising line of play, with Brian (the better player according to his handicap) taking all the opportunities for scoring hoops without setting things up for his higher handicap partner. As a result Richard and Peter took the game at 26:11, with Eric having made no points. Meanwhile Tony Backhouse was having a to-and-fro match against Jane Hull (10), a very capable player, and a tough opponent when given three extra turns in a handicap game. Nonetheless, Tony secured a good win at 26:17 to put Cornwall at 2 games to nil before lunch, and needing only one singles win from the afternoon's play.
In the afternoon, Richard was giving three extra turns to Brian, and so expected a loss if opponent took an early opportunity to use them, which Brian did, winning 26:1. This left Richard to watch the other games hoping for a dominant position to emerge for one of his team mates. However, both games were very interactive, Peter not getting the lead he should with his five extra turns, and Tony finding that Eric, now with three extra turns, was making up for his lack of score in the doubles. With Eric leading against Tony, and Jane steadily eroding Peter's lead, Richard began to look anxious. However, all was well when Peter, with one ball already through all its hoops, took a well-judged shot at Jane's leave, and kept his head to take the last few hoops and win the game at 26:16, securing the match. Tony followed shortly, repeating his morning score of 26:17 to make it a solid 4:1 win overall. The trophy is The Federation Shield, first awarded in 1985, and presented by The Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society.
Match report by Richard Griffiths 28/9/09.
Attached photo of The Federation Shield
Teams in the Final of SWF Federation League. Kington Langley v Cornwall, Sun 27th Sept 09.
Left to right:- Eric Bevan(KL), Brian Shorney(KL), Jane Hull(KL), Richard Griffiths(C), Tony Backhouse(C), Peter Cutting(C).
Bob Whitaker(President of Bath Croquet Club) presenting the SWF Federation Shield to Cornwall.
September 6th away to Plymouth to play East Dorset
CORNWALL CROQUET CLUB MATCH REPORT
Cornwall, having won the South area competition, faced the Central area winners at Plymouth on Sunday 6th September. The first challenge was to adapt to two different brands of balls, secondaries being Barlow's, and primaries Sunshiny, with distinctly different characteristics. Richard Griffiths (capt.) partnered Peter Cutting in the doubles against Mike Glew (capt.) and Richard Vessey. Peter played a classic aggressive opening using the 2 available bisques to get to 3-back. After some prudent tactical play the advantage of this lead was converted into a good first win at + 22. Malcolm Hooper and Tony Backhouse had more protracted games, with Tony winning +1 despite having to give a bisque to John Pollard, a very tough opponent, and Malcolm (having very recently got down to a handicap of 8) conceding the narrowest of losses at -1 versus an opponent at the same handicap, though held for much longer. Buoyed up by the 2:1 position at lunch, Cornwall started the afternoon with a good win (+24) for Richard, who deployed his best tactical handicap play to tempt Mike into a rapid and unfruitful use of 4 of his 5 bisques for no hoops. A solid + 8 from Tony (receiving one bisque this time) secured the match win at 4:1 with plenty of play still to go in the other two games. With the match already won, Malcolm sustained a -1 loss, and Peter, with 7 bisques, took a convincing +13 win, despite facing highly competent tactical play from th every experienced John Lonsdale. Cornwall goes to the final at Bath vs Kington Langley on Sunday 27th September with high hopes for an historic win. Morning: Richard Griffiths (0) & Peter Cutting (15) Won 26 : 4 vs Mike Glew (5) & Richard Vessey (6)
Malcolm Hooper (8) Lost 21 : 22 vs John Lonsdale (8)
Tony Backhouse (7) Won17 : 16 vs John Pollard (8)
Afternoon:
Richard Griffiths (0) Won 26 : 2 vs Mike Glew (5)
Tony Backhouse (7) Won 26 : 18 vs Richard Vessey (6)
Malcolm Hooper (8) Lost 17 : 18 vs John Pollard (8)
Peter Cutting (15) Won 26 : 13 vs John Lonsdale (8)
Final result Cornwall win by 5 games to East Dorset’s 2 games
June 14th home v Plymouth
On Sunday June 14th Cornwall hosted Plymouth Croquet Club in the fifth round of the Association Croquet Federation League.
In the mornings play Tony Backhouse & Stephen Read beat Eddie Schaffert & Brian Stevens 24--17 on time in the doubles. Malcolm Hooper beat Bob Savage 26--12. Paul Schofield lost to Allen Schaffert 15--26.
At lunch time Cornwall were 2 games to 1 up. In the afternoon 3 singles were played.
Tony Backhouse lost to Bob Savage 16--26. Stephen Read beat Brian Stevens 23--21 on time. Paul Schofield beat Eddie Schaffert 21--14 on time.
Final result Cornwall 4 games, Plymouth 2 games.
Cornwall have now won 4 out of 5 of their South West Federation 'Association Croquet Federation League' matches.
Seated:- Plymouth team, Bob Savage, Eddie Schaffert, Allen Schaffert, Brain Stevens.
Standing:- Cornwall team, Paul Schofield, Stephen Read, Malcolm Hooper, Tony Backhouse.
Photo by Stephen Read
June 2nd home v Sidmouth
Cornwall v Sidmouth in the Southwest Federation, Association Croquet Federation League.
In wall to wall sunshine on Tuesday 2nd June Cornwall played Sidmouth in the 4th round of the SWF Federation League.
At lunch Malcolm Hooper & Tony Jennings(C) lost to Peter Hills & Derek Powell(S) 21/22T, in the doubles. Stephen Read(C) beat Peter Miller(S) 15/13T.
In the afternoon games Tony Jennings(C) pegged out against Derek Powell(S) 26/11. Tony Backhouse(C) lost to Peter Hills(S) 16/26.
Malcolm Hooper(C) beat Peter Miller(S) 26/25 in a very close game.
Cornwall won 3 Games to Sidmouth's 2 games.
Seated Sidmouth, Peter Miller, Peter Hills, Derek Powell.
Standing, Stephen Read, Tony Backhouse, Malcolm Hooper, Tony Jennings.
Photo Stephen Read
May 26th away v Budleigh
Cornwall v Budleigh Salterton in the Southwest Federation, Association Croquet Federation League
Cornwall Federation League team played away at Budleigh Salterton on Tuesday May 26th. The match was played in sunny but somewhat breezy conditions. The games were timed for 3 hours each.
Malcolm Hooper & Stephen beat Bob Donald & John Todd-White +6T
Nigel Grant lost to Michael Peters -9T
Tony Jennings beat Brian Pollock +4
Nigel Grant beat John Todd-White +4T
Malcolm Hooper beat Michael Peters +12
Tony Jennings lost to Bob Donald -4T
Stephen Read beat Brain Pollock +3T
Final score Cornwall 5 games Budleigh Salterton 2 games
Left to right:- Bob Donald(BS), Nigel Grant(C), Tony Jennings(C), Stephen Read(C), Brian Pollock(BS), Malcolm Hooper(C), Michael Peters(BS), John Todd-White(BS).
Photo by Stephen Read
May 15th away v Exeter
Association Croquet League on Friday May 15th.Cornwall Croquet Club played Exeter away in the second round of the Southwest Federation
Play started in rather damp and breezy conditions. By lunch time having won the doubles & one of the singles, Cornwall were 2 games to 1 up.
In the afternoon Cornwall won two more singles, to come out overall winners, Cornwall 4 games to Exeter's 3 games.
Attached photo of the Cornwall team.
Left to right:- Tony Backhouse, Richard Griffiths, Tony Jennings, Stephen Read.
Photo by Stephen Read
May 10th away v Nailsea
Cornwall Croquet Club's South West Federation League team began the 2009 season with a disappointing defeat at Nailsea on Sunday. Cornwall's doubles pairing of Ian Wilson and Nigel Grant were not at their best in going down 17-9 in their morning match but the other two members of the team gained victories - Tony Jennings by 26-19 and Malcolm Hooper 23-18. Cause for optimism, then - but the afternoon series of matches proved a disappointment, Cornwall losing all four. The team's next match is at Exeter and other members of the Federation League squad will be included in the match team.
