Thomsons triumph

TWO Gisborne married couples finished first and second in their section of the Morrinsville Golf Croquet Handicap Doubles Tournament.

Ross and Betty Thomson played consistent croquet to win their section.

Finishing second to them were fellow members of Barry Memorial Croquet Club, Dave and Chris Newton.

Both pairs won three games and lost one during the day. The Thomsons won their games 7-2, 7-4 and 7-5, and lost one game 7-5.

The Newtons had won their games 7-3, 7-3 and 7-4, and lost one 7-5.

The game between the Gisborne pairs proved to be the deciding game for their section. This was by far the toughest game of the day for both pairs. They struggled to score hoops against their opponents’ fierce defence. Several times it took over 10 minutes for a hoop to be scored.

One pair would play a brilliant set-up shot only for it to be hit away just as brilliantly from over 10 metres away. The score see-sawed until, at 6-5 up, Dave Newton tried to run the hoop but his ball jawed in the hoop. Sitting in the hoop, his ball was well positioned for a certain point and the winning of the game. Ross Thomson had no option but to try to jump the ball, but his ball was three metres from the hoop and on a slight angle in a seemingly impossible position.

He made the jump, though, and the score was 6-6. The Thomsons went on to win the last hoop and consequently the section, with the Newtons runners-up.

Ten pairs from Waikato, Thames Valley and Bay of Plenty also took part.