GC Handicap Match Report

Maldon Pavilion v Chelmsford Green Handicap Match Report 28/6/19. On yet another beautiful day Chelmsford Greens arrived at Forrester Park Golf and Country Club to play their away Golf Handicap match against Maldon Pavilion. The lawns were a bit bumpy but nice and green, the grass a bit long as the ‘man with the mower’ turned up too late! Unfortunately, the slope is still there. The Green Team of David Dawsey (7), Linda Murrell (9), Ernest Bailey (9) and Betty Craig (12) were facing a hard battle against a Pavilion side of Chris Joslin (6), Neil Grandy (7), Neil Clark (9) and John Hustwick (10). The doubles were shared with David and Betty overcoming Chris and John in a hard-fought game 7-6 but Ernie and Linda losing out to the two Neil’s’ 7-5. The first set of singles produced a win for David beating Chris 7-5. Match score 2-4 The second round of singles went better with 2 wins. David beating Neil G 7-4, Betty getting a good win over Neil C 7-6. Match score at lunch 6-4 to Maldon. A good lunch of sandwiches and chips was provided by the club before battle was re-joined. The least said about the last two rounds of singles the better with all 8 going to Maldon. The only good bit was Betty taking Neil G to the 13th hoop. Final match score 14-4 to Maldon Pavilion. Hoop Difference: Maldon 119 Chelmsford Green 81 Highlights: None. All in all a very pleasant day for the Greens played in good spirits by both teams, shame about the score. DD

GC Handicap Report

The Chelmsford Blue team of John Skuse (3) Judith Hand(4) Keith Harris (7) and Sheila Harris (9) entertained Maldon Pavilion on Friday when practically the whole match was played in weather intent on giving all of us a good soakng. However the 2 doubles games were played before the drenching and John and Sheila took their game 7-3 versus Al Brown (1) and Henry Humber (9) whilst Judith and Keith won by the same margin over Pete Howe (2) and Neil Grandy (8). The first set of 4 singles went the way of the visitors with only John chalking up a point with Judith and Sheila losing unluckily at the golden hoop. The next set before lunch was shared with wins for John and Sheila whilst the other two games were lost narrowly on the 12th hoop. Lunch was taken in the Clubhouse as we all moaned about the conditions and hoped for better weather in the afternoon. Score to date: Chelmsford 5 Maldon Pavilion 5. Our visitors took the 3rd set of singles 4-0 with Judith and Keith losing at the golden hoop (13th) whilst the final set was shared 2-2 with Keith having a very fine win 7-2 over Pete Howe whilst John ground out a 7-6 over Henry Humber over a considerable amount of time. At least by that time the rain had stopped. Final match score Chelmsford 8 (103 hoops) Maldon Pavilion 10 (98 hoops). However the result had to be referred to the League Manager as Maldon fielded 2 players with handicaps less than 3 which is in contravention of the rules for this handicap competition. A shame because the whole match was played in a fine spirit with little or no recourse to the GC rule book. A final word must go to the back-up we received from Anne Skuse by way of providing hot drinks, ringing out the entry mat once the rain had stopped.and together with Judith providing the excellent cakes for our after match refreshment.

GC Report 2nd June 2019

A lovely day at Writtle for our match in the 1sr round of the GC Inter-Club Championship versus Watford represented by Jason Carley (-1) Simon Hathrell (-1) Geoff Johnson (0) and Steve Dennis (2). The format for the match was 7 best of 3 level play games including 1 doubles between nos 1 and 2 of each team and, of course, 6 singles. Our team of Paul Bridgman (3) Tony Frewin (3) John Mariner (3) and Karen Jones (4) against the odds played their hearts out and the tributes paid by Watford at the end of the match whilst we enjoyed tea and cakes kindly supplied by Anne and Betty were entirely genuine. The first game on lawn 1 was a doubles between Paul and Tony for Chelmsford and Simon Hathrell and Jason Carley for the visitors who had little trouble in taking the first point 7-3 7-5. On lawn 2 John overcame Steve Dennis 7-4 7-5 whilst Karen fought well to lose in 3 to Geoff Johnson 5-7 7-6(phew) 1-7. Lunchtime score Chelmsford 1 Watford 2. After lunch Paul and Tony put their morning form behind them well and truly with Paul winning 7-4 7-2 over Simon and Tony, after a lengthy battle, beating Jason 7-5 5-7 7-6. Two tremendous wins gaining them lots of index points and making the match score at that point Chelmsford 3 Watford 2. Could we achieve the impossible as on lawn 1 John took on Geoff whilst with secondaries Karen had to play Steve. Hopes were high for Karen as she won her first set 7-4 whilst John narrowly lost 6-7. By this time tea and cakes were being served to the onlookers as we hoped for a momentous victory. Alas it was not to be as John lost in two straight 6-7 5-7 whilst Steve recovering from his defeat in the morning found his form to take the last two sets to seize victory for Watford 4-7 7-5 7-3. Final Result: Chelmsford 3 Watford 4 Congratulations to Watford and we wish them luck in the next round versus either Roehampton or Dulwich. Incidentally the last time Chelmsford entered this competition was in 2008 when we lost to Dulwich. Can anyone remember the team that played that match? Let us hope that it will not be another decade before we do battle once more in either this premier competition or the less onerous Murphy Shield.

Southchurch v Chelmsford Green Handicap Match Report 24/5/19.

On a beautiful May day Chelmsford Greens arrived at Rayleigh Cricket Club for their first away Golf Handicap match of the season against Southchurch. A day which may go down in history as ‘Ernies Day’. The lawns were, as you would expect from a cricket pitch outfield, long grass, patches of daisies, bumpy but probably not as bad as it would have been last year. The Green Team of Tony Frewin (3), David Dawsey (7), Linda Murrell (10) and Ernest Bailey (10) were facing an interesting battle on unfamiliar lawns against a Southchurch side of David Brown (5), Alan Cornelius (7) plus 2 rookies Eric Waterman (10) and Geoff Powell (12). The doubles were shared with David and Ernie beating Alan and Eric 7-6 and Tony and linda losing 6-5 in a timed out game to Dave and Geoff. The first set of singles produced two wins each with Tony beating Dave 7-3 and Ernie beating Geoff 7-5. Match score 3-3 The second round of singles went better with 3 wins. David beating Dave 7-6, Linda beating Geoff 7-5 and Ernie beating Eric 7-5. Match score at lunch 6-4 to Chelmsford. Lunch was eaten under a blue sky before battle recommenced. The third round of of singles went well with victories for Tony beating Eric 7-6, Linda with a stunning 7-2 victory over Dave and Ernie beating Alan 7-6. David managed to ruin a 4-0 session by throwing away a 6-4 lead against Geoff to lose 7-6. Match score 9-5, only one needed for victory. The final round of singles were shared with victories going to Ernie 7-6 versus Dave and Linda 7-6 against Alan. In what is becoming a familiar story David managed to throw away a 6-3 lead against Eric. Final match score 11-7 to Chelmsford Greens. Hoop Difference: Southchurch 104 Chelmsford Green 109 Highlights: 4 singles victories for Ernie and 3 for Linda. So what made this ‘Ernies Day’? Well apart from the 4 singles victory, he was also a victor in the doubles so 5 out of 5 but what else? Imagine Ernie 6-5 down on the twelfth hoop but his ball in the hoop. Both he and his opponent play halfway to the last hoop in anticipation of Ernie knocking the ball through but what does Ernie do? Rather than knocking the ball gently through to make it 6-6 he forgets that he hasn’t run the hoop yet and smacks the ball about 30 feet away leaving everybody stunned. So after his opponent explains what he has done they play the other 3 balls back to the twelfth hoop. Ernie, now 30 odd feet away, hits his ball back and runs the hoop. Those of you who have played at Southchurch know how tricky it is to hit anything straight over more than 10 feet so you can appreciate what he has done. So 6 hoops each but then his opponent plays a ball beautifully positioned a few feet in front of the hoop, game over, or so we thought. Ernie plays the ball, which he has just been put through hoop 12 from distance, up to and through the back of hoop 13 to sit inches in front, stunning his opponent, Alan Cornelius, who in this stupefied state is unable to clear or jump Ernies ball allowing him to win the hoop and match 7-6. All in all a fine victory for the Greens played in good spirits by both teams and a memorable one for Ernie. DD

Southchurch v Chelmsford Green Handicap Match Report 24/5/19.

On a beautiful May day Chelmsford Greens arrived at Rayleigh Cricket Club for their first away Golf Handicap match of the season against Southchurch.  A day which may go down in history as ‘Ernies Day’. The lawns were, as you would expect from a cricket pitch outfield,  long grass, patches of daisies, bumpy but probably not as bad as it would have been last year.

The Green Team of Tony Frewin (3), David Dawsey (7), Linda Murrell (10) and Ernest Bailey (10) were facing an interesting battle on unfamiliar lawns against a Southchurch side of David Brown (5), Alan Cornelius (7) plus 2 rookies Eric Waterman (10) and Geoff Powell (12).
The doubles were shared with David and Ernie beating Alan and Eric 7-6 and Tony and linda losing 6-5 in a timed out game to Dave and Geoff.
The first set of singles produced two wins each with Tony beating Dave 7-3 and Ernie beating Geoff 7-5. 
Match score 3-3
The second round of singles went better with 3 wins. David beating Dave 7-6, Linda beating Geoff 7-5 and Ernie beating Eric 7-5. 
Match score at lunch 6-4 to Chelmsford.
Lunch was eaten under a blue sky before battle recommenced.
The third round of of singles went well with victories for Tony beating Eric 7-6, Linda with a stunning 7-2 victory over Dave and Ernie beating Alan 7-6. David managed to ruin a 4-0 session by throwing away a 6-4 lead against Geoff to lose 7-6. 
Match score 9-5, only one needed for victory.
The final round of singles were shared with victories going to Ernie 7-6 versus Dave and Linda 7-6 against Alan. In what is becoming a familiar story David managed to throw away a 6-3 lead against Eric.

Final match score 11-7 to Chelmsford Greens. Hoop Difference: Southchurch 104 Chelmsford Green 109

Highlights: 4 singles victories for Ernie and 3 for Linda.

So what made this ‘Ernies Day’? Well apart from the 4 singles victory, he was also a victor in the doubles so 5 out of 5 but what else? Imagine Ernie 6-5 down on the twelfth hoop but his ball in the hoop. Both he and his opponent play halfway to the last hoop in anticipation of Ernie knocking the ball through but what does Ernie do? Rather than knocking the ball gently through to make it 6-6 he forgets that he hasn’t run the hoop yet and smacks the ball about 30 feet away leaving everybody stunned. So after his opponent explains what he has done they play the other 3 balls back to the twelfth hoop. Ernie, now 30 odd feet away, hits his ball back and runs the hoop. Those of you who have played at Southchurch know how tricky it is to hit anything straight over more than 10 feet so you can appreciate what he has done. So 6 hoops each but then his opponent plays a ball beautifully positioned a few feet in front of the hoop, game over, or so we thought. Ernie plays the ball, which he has just been put through hoop 12 from distance, up to and through the back of hoop 13 to sit inches in front, stunning his opponent, Alan Cornelius, who in this stupefied state is unable to clear or jump Ernies ball allowing him to win the hoop and match 7-6.

All in all a fine victory for the Greens played in good spirits by both teams and a memorable one for Ernie. DD 

 

GC Report

Our B level team of Judith Hand (4) Tony Frewin (3) David Dawsey (7) and John Skuse (3) travelled to Hunstanton to take on the home team of Pauline Donner (4) David Boxell (4) Sue Debenham (7) and David Brame (8) in our first B Level game of the season yesterday. Whilst Judith had travelled up the day before with her recently retired husband the three boys left Chelmsford at 6.30 and thanks to driver Tony arrived safely at 9.15am after a short stop for coffee en route. The match started at 10.00am with Chelmsford winning all 4 doubles and the first set of 4 singles with no game going to the 13th hoop. The next set of 4 singles were shared so we had at least drawn the 20 game match. Judith’s hard fought 7-6 win over Hunstanton captain David Boxell secured the winning points for us as we went on to win by 14.5 games to 5.5 and by 125 hoops to 100.The half point was conceded by Tony as the weather worsened as the final set was played. Unfortunately your scribe minus waterproofs played on and on in the pouring rain only to lose to jump shot specialist David Brame 6-7. That will teach him! A thoroughly enjoyable day (bar the rain) concluded with cakes and drinks from our hospitable hosts and we left for home shortly after 5pm.

GC Match report

This handicap match between our 2 sides intros competition served up a treat on Friday 3rd May with a match that had everything including a last minute substitution for the Greens, sunshine and heavy showers, a game played entirely without incident or reference to the rule book, some excellent cake and a comeback from the Blues of which more anon. Teams: Greens David Dawsey (7) Tony Frewin (3) Ernie Bailey (8) for the purpose of this competition and Betty Craig (12). Blues Judith Hand (4) Paul Bridgman (3) John Skuse (3) and Deborah Clarke (11). The Greens started well by winning the 2 doubles encounters 7-4 and 7-6 and proceeded to take a 6-0 lead by winning all the first set of 4 singles. As so often in handicap matches the Blues hit back by taking the second set 4-0 to leave the match score at lunch Greens 6 Blues 4. The penultimate set saw the Greens win the 2 games on lawn 1 but had to concede the 2 games on the lower lawn as Ernie missed from about 8 feet at the 13th to allow Paul to scrape through 7-6 to leave the match score Greens 8 Blues 6. The final set of 4 games was taken by the Blues 3-1 to leave the match result Greens 9 Blues 9 with everyone having won at least 1 singles. Hoop score: Greens 101 and Blues 105. Finally big thanks to Betty for enabling the match to proceed with 2 full teams and to the providers of the excellent refreshments. Only thing missing? The cuckoo

GC Report 12/10/18

The annual singles tournament started on 25th September with 9 members playing each other over 7 hoops. Karen and John Mariner each had 7 wins but as Karen had beaten John 4/3 in their encounter she was the winner on the day and went through to the final. The second half of this event took place on 4th October but, following the late withdrawal of 2 of the contestants only 7 players took part. Paul came through the group by winning all 6 of his games with Tony the runner-up with 5 wins. Mention should be made of Mick Fryer’s performance in coming 3rd with 3 wins. A brave effort in his first singles competition. So the final over 19 hoops would be between Karen and Paul on the 9th October. Unfortunately I arrived late as they were about to play the 19th hoop. Apparently it had been a monumental struggle particularly in the latter stages with no one taking a commanding lead as all the members present watched the final outcome. Paul was first to the 19th hoop and Karen was unable to clear. After 4 or 5 waves of his mallet Paul ran the final hoop to take the crown of singles champion 2018 but a first class final contested to the very end. Congratulations to Paul on his upteenth win in this competition. On the last club day of the season the final of the season long doubles took place between Judith and Mick versus John Skuse and Ernie. At one stage this looked fairly one sided with Judith and Mick trailing 3-6 but you never can tell. They fought back courageously to level at 6 all before disaster struck on the final hoop. Judith was last to play from hoop 12 and, with the shot of the match, cleared Ernie’s ball which was runnable. Eventually it left Judith with a shot of about 5 feet to clear John’s ball from in front of the hoop. What an anti-climax – she missed! John and Ernie emerged as very relieved winners. Phew!!!!!!! JS

Delivery by Post

Postman Bob was not short of advice as to how to deliver his ball to hoop 6 when stymied by the post yesterday. Another day ended in glorious sunshine after Paul qualified to play Karen in the final of the 2018 singles. It will be played on Tuesday next pm over 19 hoops.