Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club had to win against Nailsea to become the South West Federation Association Croquet Intermediate League area champions.
All was going to plan; by lunch, CPCC were leading 3:0. Lunch changed everything; the home team won the next three games.
In the last, Ros Key-Pugh took an early, but small, lead. As time ran out, and fingers crossed, her opponent, in a perfect position to steal the game and the match, missed an easy shot.
CPCC had won and go forward to meet Kington Langley, the northern area winners in the Semi-Finals, to be held, coincidentally, at Peasedown St John. Will Kington Langley bring packed lunches?
Camerton were in a position to influence the outcome of the GC Central South area League. One contender, Dowlish Wake, needed to beat CPCC to keep their chances alive.
It was a closely-fought match, being tied at lunch and beyond. However, Ros Key-Pugh successfully took a long shot at the final hoop in her game, finishing the match 11:9.
Nailsea, too, knew the importance of their home match against CPCC and put up their strongest team; all handicap 3. The away team were always playing catch-up, but managed to lose only 9:11. However, against all expectations, Abbey, the League’s early run-away leaders, were beaten by Taunton Deane, while Weston-super-Mare trounced Dowlish Wake. This left Weston, who CPCC drew with earlier this month, the area league winners.
Meanwhile, in a lighter vein, CPCC were hosts to over thirty members of the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Rotary Club for an evening of croquet, friendly banter and family rivalry, which continued until the sun set and the Pimms dried up.
If you, or a group, would like to sample a CPCC’s taster session, contact Brian or Mo on: 01225 708540.