THE AC PENNINE CUP 2018 – Sunday 1^stJuly at Albert Park

 The annual match between the North East (Yorkshire / Croquet North) and the North West Federations took place, for the first time, in Middlesbrough. Further more, because of player shortages, it was contested between teams of only four (with the EPL format).

All lawns were in use, the sun shone (too much) and folk enjoyed their lunchtime buns and fruit salad – what’s not to enjoy about a day’s croquet?

North East:   
Derek Watts 1.5 (Tyneside)                
Charles Waterfield 2 (Mbro)              
Nigel Roberts 10 (Mbro)                    
Julian Gibson 12 (Mbro) 

North West:  
Robert Essler 1 (Pendle)
Howard Bowron 3 (Penrith)
Paul Dowdell 8 (Pendle)
Garry Wilson 9 (Pendle)

Advanced Doubles:
Derek & Charles beat Robert & Howard +6t

Advanced Singles:
Derek lost to Robert -12
Charles lost to Howard -10t

Handicap Singles:
Nigel beatPaul +9
Julian lost toGarry -5
Nigel beatGarry +17
Julian lost toPaul -16

 North West won by 4 – 3

Lancashire Win Trans-Pennine Cup (22 June, Hosted by Pendle CC at Earby).

Lancashire croquet squad lift the trophy, or they would have done if t’other lot had brought it back.

This match is the last remaining fixture from the old Confederation of Northern Croquet Clubs (under Mike Evans), and as such, is always played in great spirit and this year wasn’t an exception – good fun was had in the fine dry sunny weather at Pendle.

The few players who had made themselves available to the Squad Manager (Paul Rigge), were rewarded by being turned out as as the *under-dogs*, being weaker card vs card (19 Vs 16.5), than the visitors from the East but under Tom’s Captaincy they bagged the majority in the morning doubles to lead 2-1 at lunch (it could have so easily have been all 3).

The East’s quickly leveled as the single results started to be recorded, so it came down to the captain’s rubber to cross the line, with Tom pegging out just as time was called to give us our first win in five years.

The final victory was by the same margin as last year, 6-3, and for the first time ever in this friendly, all the games were played to advanced rules – well done to both teams and Pendle for again hosting.

Doubles:
Tom Griffiths (0) and Howard Bowron (5) beat Charles Waterfield (1) and Dennis Scarr (3.5) by +20
Liz Wilson (2.5) and Andy Brandwood (4) beat Phil Errington (1.5) and Roger Staples (3) by +16
Peter Wilson (2) and Terry Vernazza (6) lost to Derek Knight (1.5) and Malcolm Daines (5) by -5

Singles:
Tom beat Charles +9;   Peter lost to Phil -7;   Liz beat Derek +15;
Andy beat Roger +4;   Howard lost to Dennis -22;   Terry beat Malcolm +7t.