Northland failed to capitalise on home advantage at the Upper North Island Croquet Championships held in Whangarei over the weekend. The team of Ian Faulkner (A grade, Kerikeri), Tangi Kirikman (Intermediate, Whangarei), Melva Robinson (B Grade, Whangarei) and Brent Robinson (C Grade, Whangarei) had high hopes heading into the weekend's competitionat the Whangarei and Kensington Croquet Club greens but it was Bay of Plenty who emerged as champions on Saturday. "The greens were too fast and dry for the Northland team and they obviously suited the Bay players," tournament referee George Depree joked. The Bay side took out the championship with 13 wins out of a possible 20, one game ahead of Thames Valley and Counties-Manukau, who both finished with 12 wins. Thames Valley were second on countback. Defending champions Auckland finished fourth with 10 wins and Waikato pipped Northland for fifth with seven wins. Northland was last in the six team competition with six wins.
