The Founder’s Cup, our AC level advanced play competition, was held this weekend, earlier on in the season to avoid some of the more congested tournament periods later in the year. Six players contested the knock-out format over three rounds.
Andrew Petit was drawn against Paul Wolff in the first round, as was Deirdre Cochrane against Andy Robertson. Andy Evason and Joe King had seeded byes in round one due to their lower handicaps.
Andrew, fresh from his handicap reduction won the opening and set off on his first break which he took round to 4-back (hoop 10). Paul missed the lift shot and Andrew played another good break this time stopping at Rover (hoop 12). Paul got in but sadly was hampered by the peg en route to 2-back (hoop 8). Andrew soon pegged out 26-9 and advanced to the semi-finals.
In her game, Deirdre took control of much of the early play and built up a fine lead. Andy had a number of narrow misses and couldn’t get going. But with an hour to go, Andy found more rhythm and as time became a factor had a break that would have got him back on to level terms. Unfortunately his approach to 2-back (hoop 8) wasn’t quite good enough and he failed the hoop. Deirdre kept her nerve as time expired to win 24-15.
Andrew faced Andy Evason (also fresh from his handicap reduction) in the first semi-final in a match-up of regular sparring partners over the winter. Both set off with good breaks and soon there were three clips on 4-back (hoop 10). Andy was the first to get a ball to the peg with Andrew on Rover and Rover (hoop 12). Both players had had opportunities to press on to the finish when Andrew left Andy a 13-yard shot which if he hit would likely be decisive. As it was Andy missed by a whisker and Andrew managed to run Rover and peg out 26-21.
In the second semi-final Deirdre played Joe. She took command of the opening and quickly advanced to a seven-hoop lead before Joe had taken croquet. She failed hoop 4, and Joe picked up a break going to 4-back (hoop 10) with a new standard leave. Deirdre then hit the lift but didn’t manage to advance her clips. Joe got in again and tried to set up a triple peel attempt, but was stymied by the peg. So he had to be content with a break to the peg with a vertical spread leave, with Deirdre’s balls in the jaws of Penult and Rover. Deirdre missed the lift this time and Joe finished 26-7.
The final started with Andrew playing the wrong ball on turn five. Joe made hoop 1 from the mistake but then under-approached hoop 2 letting Andrew back in. Shortly afterwards Joe had another opportunity, approaching hoop 1 with a stop-shot approach; but underhit it, leaving a long hoop which he missed, allowing Andrew to get a break going. It looked as though Andrew was in good control until a slightly awkward backward take off at hoop 4 left an angled hoop Andrew failed.
Joe then took his hoop 1 ball round to 4-back with an old standard leave, Andrew missed the lift which followed, Joe got going with his hoop 2 ball taking it round on a three-ball break until he could get the fourth ball into play after 2-back, Andrew faced a cross-peg leave and elected to shoot down the lawn, glancing off the peg and missing his ball by a whisker. Joe finished 26-4.
The weather was cold in the wind but spared us the prolonged rain suggested by the forecast.