Scottish Croquet Association

Wilkinson Sword 2016

24 July, Kelvingrove

The 2016 Wilkinson Sword inter-club doubles tournament which was played on good quality, but at times very damp, lawns was won by the Aberdeen and Crathes pairing of Bill Strachan and Brian Clark.  With a good entry of six teams a round robin with five rounds of 14 point games, each lasting 1 hour 30 minutes, was used. Throughout the event Strachan and Clark played very positively and in three of their matches they scored a maximum of 14 points in time.  Their standard opening was turn 1 - Oppo puts a ball on the east boundary;  turn 2 - Clark puts a ball just south of hoop 2;  turn 3  - Oppo joins up on the East boundary;  turn 4 - Strachan shoots at the two balls on the East boundary and with bisques (he also hit in at times) takes his ball to the peg.

The team that came closest to the performance of the Aberdonians was Glasgow.  In round 3 Glasgow actually won against Aberdeen and Crathes but in the final round they were beaten by the Meadows pair of Alastair and Rosemary who after some excellent hitting in won the round. 

Other notable games:  Glasgow beat Meadows 14-0 in 45 minutes in round 1 and the Glasgow win over Aberdeen and Crathes required Durward to sprint round (those days are really gone!) and set up his partner Sparrow to score two hoops in the dying seconds of round 4.

Aberdeen and Crathes came out as clear winners with 4 wins, 60 hoops points and a net score of 44; well clear of all other teams.  Well done the Aberdeen and Crathes pair!

Brian Durward