Llanfairfechan 10 Fylde 6

Llanfairfechan: Georgina Llewellyn (3.5), Jack Pattenden (5), Roger Edwards (8), Cecilia Lilley (8) (c).
Fylde: Ian Theakstone (4). Ken Harper (5). Catherine Bass (9) (c). Philip Bass (10).

Bank Holiday weekend, so Ken got us off to an early start. Traffic thin on the ground, we made good time, arriving at 8.45am. It was sunny with a wind chill factor. We waited in the car, watching train travellers, trains, blossoming trees, discussing jackdaws and starlings, guessing plant names - until Roger arrived. Apart from a short hailstorm, the weather continued sunny but chilly all day - we put on all our layers including waterproofs to keep warm. Eleven games went to time. Fylde won three of the other five within time. So after a very early start and, for some, the first match of the season, the team battled in spite of the score-line. In both morning games, Ken got his first ball round to peg but, facing high bisquers, couldn’t thwart them. He lost out 14-9 to Roger and was just pipped 11-10 by Cecilia. With play more level in the afternoon, Ken put in a strong showing and won both games – emphatically against Georgina (2-11) and Jack 10-11. Catherine squandered bisques against Georgina and couldn’t get organised losing 11-2. Against Jack, at 8-6, she returned to the lawn just before time, made a long roquet and three hoops (8-9) but having miscounted, attempted, but failed, to run rover, leaving available roquets for Jack’s return. Jack levelled at 9-9, sought clarification that a Golden Hoop was needed and left the balls positioned accordingly. Catherine could do nothing, so Jack returned and easily took his next hoop 10-9. She lost both games in the afternoon, unable to get breaks going against Cecilia (10-5) and Roger (10-5). Philip couldn’t make best use of his bisques against Jack and Georgina losing 10-5 and 11-4. He had a good start, but then lost to Roger (10-6). In his last game against Cecilia, grit and determination saw him through. Cecilia was hanging onto her bisques, playing two-ball and Philip had just one left. He took more time to plan leaves, which paid off. With his last bisque he managed an eighth hoop and left Cecilia’s balls separated with his own together behind hoop 3. Cecilia used up her bisques but was unable to fight back and Philip won 6-8. Ian had a difficult first game (14-0) against high-bisquer Roger, (who won all his matches on the day). Ian came from some way behind to pip Cecilia to a fine 13-14. It was also a close game against Jack. Ian had peeled his balls through rover earlier and all four clips were on peg. Ian hit in and pegged out his two balls first, finishing 12-14. He went on to beat Georgina 7-14. Winning three games, Ian was Fylde Man of the Match on the day.

Posted by Catherine, 6th May

Pendle 10 Fylde 6

Teams from Pendle and Fylde had a lucky dry day for their battle in the Short Croquet League on Tuesday 24th April. The home team of Paul Dowdall, Garry Wilson, Roy Berry and Ian Maxwell took on Ian Theakstone, Ken Harper, Len Ainsworth and Geoff Lipshaw from Fylde. The first session was honours even at 2-2, 2nd session Pendle took a 3-1 lead and the same in the 3rd session, final session was honours even again 2-2.

Posted by Pendle website, 24th April