Ealing Croquet Club

The annual Lloyd Pratt Trophy was contested at High Wycombe on 8 April, where an unseasonably warm and sunny day greeted us. The match is played each year at alternating venues in recognition of when High Wycombe were without lawns for a year and played at Ealing.  The matches feature both AC and GC games, all played as doubles.  Ealing were defending a 4 year unbeaten run, so High Wycombe were particularly keen to redress the balance.

The morning provided Ealing with mixed fortunes and at lunch we were trailing a game behind. Fortified by a generous lunch in the sunshine, provided by our hospitable hosts, Ealing went into battle, getting into their stride. The final game was played out before a full set of competitors. Little did Fred and Bridget realise all they had to do was win the final game and the trophy would be retained. Battling it out at 6 all, High Wycombe came through to win and make it a draw overall, so time for the penalty shoot out – once again. This comprises attempting to hit the centre peg from the boundary, no mean task at the end of a long day.

It began with eight shots from each side with the score ending 1-1 after David scored for Ealing. Then it was four shots from each side, which resulted in High Wycombe pipping us to the post, literally.

Congratulations to our hosts ……until next time!

Report: Bridget Goodman