Report by 5+ team captain, Jeff Faulkner

The Broadwas GC Level Play 5+ team of Jeff Faulkner (Captain), Eileen Holt, Gill Richardson, Peter Hill and Howard Freeman completed their three match tour down South with a match at Swindon on Friday (26 July).

This followed away matches at Bristol and Nailsea. Unfortunately, the ‘Southern softies’ once again prevailed with Broadwas going down 13 -7 to make it a hat trick of defeats on the road.

The Broadwas team is now firmly anchored at the bottom of the table but has now retreated to its mountain stronghold to regroup before trying to repel invaders from Moreton and Bath during August. These two home matches will complete our first campaign in the South West Federation GC Level Play 5+ League.

Friday’s match was played in excellent conditions at the new Moredon Sports Hub on the outskirts of Swindon. Swindon Council has spent £7m on developing the hub around the Croquet Club which as a private club didn’t receive a penny other than the use of the swanky new car park! The lawns were true and very fast.

Each of the first two rounds consisted of two doubles and one singles game. As Broadwas were reduced to a team of five  players due to  David Kaner’s voluntary isolation after an encounter with Norovirus (courtesy of his grandsons),  all five of us had to play whilst Swindon could box and cox with their team of six.

Jeff Faulkner and Peter Hill took on the stronger pairs from Swindon and duly lost whilst Gill Richardson and Eileen Holt and then Gill Richardson and Howard Freeman had good wins against their weaker pairs to ensure the doubles spoils were shared. However, both of the solitary singles in these rounds were lost by Howard Freeman and Eileen Holt respectively against strong opponents, so 4 -2 down after 2 rounds.

The third round of 5 singles resulted in only one win. The  Broadwas win was thanks to Eileen. This resulted in an 8 – 3 deficit at lunch.

The fourth round of five singles saw wins for Peter, Howard and Eileen but both Gill and Jeff  suffered defeats. Peter’s win was especially laudable as he beat Swindon’s best player who was previously unbeaten, 7 -2.

 A 10 -10  draw was still just possible with the last four singles to be played in the fifth round.

At last captain Jeff Faulkner had to make a selection decision which given his own form was quite easy  – he dropped himself!

Unfortunately, Gill had her second successive 7-6 defeat and Howard and Peter slumped to quick defeats but once again birthday girl Eileen came up trumps to record her fourth win in five on her special day.

We are now enjoying the mountain air.

By Jeff Faulkner

Just A Reminder…

On the afternoon of Tuesday 30th July, there will be no roll-up.

The club is hosting heats of the National B and C Level GC Tournaments on Wednesday 31st July and Thursday 1st July, respectively, and the lawns are being prepared in readiness for the two-day event.

Players from all over England and Wales are coming to Broadwas to compete in the tournament including a few of our home players.

Club coach Jeff Faulkner and rising star Billy Cooke will be taking part in the B Level competition on Wednesday, while Jean Faulkner and Malcolm Armstrong will both be representing the club in the C Level competition on Thursday.

Why not visit the lawns on Wednesday and Thursday and watch some highly competitive games and give our home players some support.

Paul Felton