All Mansfield encounter ....
Croquet Cuppers
Mansfield (2)... 17 Mansfield (4)... 20
This year Mansfield lawned six teams, but was disappointed to see their seeded first team go out in the first round. Mansfield II, The ‘Death Penalty Crew’ (DPC), remained in the tournament only to find themselves pitted against Mansfield IV in their last sixteen match. The DPC, with their seasoned second year team comprising of Colin Taylor, Charles Howarth and Steve Jackson were in expectation of an easy victory over Mansfield IV, an entirely first year team captained by Andrew Cook.
As such, they were not pleased when it seemed that the heavens were to push the match to the coin-toss. However, against forecasted expectations the rain held back for one perfect afternoon. The first leg pitted Howarth and Taylor against Webb and Burrows; early ‘banter’ soured almost immediately and known opposition only intensified the seriousness of the match for both sides. IV went off to a magnificent start leaving II struggling in the shade of the first wire.
Although exciting to watch, Webb and Burrows play a very dangerous game and at moments flashy mallet work gave way to careless errors. Not to disappoint the crowd, IV’s first pair played some truly inspirational croquet, executing a number of early long-distance roquets from opposite sides of Mansfield’s formidable quadrangle. However such showmanship was never going to prevail against the punishing and calculated tactics of Howarth and Taylor.
Taylor’s infamous unorthodox mallet style was used to split IV up turn after turn. In the second leg DPC played an aggressive game, which had in the past served them well. However, in time their controlled aggression gave way to a passionate fury, as Jackson and Jeff found themselves cheated by the lay of Mansfield’s rugged lawn. Pickles demonstrated a detailed knowledge of the quad, playing to its slopes with a delicate precision, but one wondered whether he had peaked prematurely.
Words are insufficient for the tension as Cook and Pickles brought their balls up to the wire that would ensure them victory. Error would have cost the game, with Mansfield II poised to secure the final hoop. Cook, however, took the required wire without any display of emotion, sending Mansfield IV through to the last eight.
1st Jun 2006