A tough gig for High Wycombe in the SCF Open League

Our GC Open team's competitiveness was not suitably rewarded in a recent scoreline against Phyllis Court A of 1.5 - 6.5.  The combined total handicaps pointed to a tough day:  7 (HW) up against -1 (PC)!
 
Richard Peperell was recognised as playing the best golf croquet of his career and took the middle game from the victor's much higher ranked captain Chris Roberts, in the highlight of the morning’s play.  ​Chris eventually got past Richard 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 when the latter stuck in hoop 10 and Chris executed a good jump to score leaving his opponent hampered in the hoop jaws.

Earlier, Phyllis Court’s Ian Norris had made short work of Wycombe captain Paul Gunn, winning 7-4, 7-6, inside an hour and a half, whilst repeated clearing of opposition balls prolonged the other three first round ‘best of three’ matches.

Phyllis Court’s 2-0 lead was pegged back when Rick Lilley was unexpectedly beaten 7-6, 5-7, 2-7 by Michael Bowker and the slowest match between Phyllis Court’s Roger Goldring and Alan Clark was suspended for lunch at 3-7, 7-5.

The 2-1 half-time lead was closer than Phyllis Court Captain Chris Roberts had imagined given the national rankings of the two sides’ personnel, but in the afternoon those pre-match expectations and wishes all came true in the head-to-head matches.

Chris finished first with a 7-4, 7-5 win over Paul and soon after Roger secured the team win with a 7-2, 7-5 victory over Michael.
 
Rick  was pushed all the way to the last hoop twice before winning 7-6, 7-6 against Alan just as Ian ran away with the last game of the number 2 rubber 3-7, 7-6, 1-7.

This gave Phyllis Court a flattering 6-1 team scoreline and it was agreed not to play out the final morning game of Goldring v Clark match, and for each side to take a ‘half’.