BUDE CROQUET CLUB LATEST NEWS

ON A SUNNY August 7, Bude paid their annual visit to St Agnes to try and win back the Pasty Trophy which St Agnes have held for the past two years.

The match began very favourably for Bude with five wins out of the six singles matches, all by comfortable margins.

Tim Benson notched a big 7-2 win against one of St Agnes’ strongest players, a score matched by young Bobbo Peers who is turning in some outstanding performances in his debut year.

In the second round of doubles matches, St Agnes fought back with three wins in the four games, but the next round saw Bude reassert control of the match with wins by Chris Ham (7-3), Colette Ham (7-5) and a remarkable 7-4 win for Bobbo Peers against a very experienced and accomplished opponent, giving Bude a 9-5 advantage with six games remaining.

So intense was the competition at this stage, that five of the last six games were won by only one or two points, but Tim Benson and Paul Knight succeeded in securing the two vital wins to ensure an 11-9 overall victory, bringing the Pasty Trophy back to the Crooklets clubhouse.

SOUTH WEST FEDERATION HIGHER HANDICAP LEAGUE

Plymouth vs Bude

ON AUGUST 15, Bude travelled to Plymouth for their final game in the South West Group Section needing a win to secure the runners-up spot.

The six-hour match was played throughout in dismal drizzly conditions, but the quality of play was outstanding and highly competitive. 

The first round ended all square at 2-2, Vic Frampton and Bude’s up and coming Danny Walker winning their doubles 7-1, and Dave Langdown gaining another point with a 7-4 win.

The second round, six singles games, saw Bude open up a two-point lead, Colette Ham and Val Langdown gaining comfortable 7-3 victories and Bude’s youthful dynamic duo of Bobbo Peers and Danny Walker earning outstanding wins against much more experienced opponents.

Although Plymouth fought back in the next six-game round, Vic Frampton, Danny Walker and Bobbo Peers all won their encounters to maintain Bude’s two-point lead.

With four games, two doubles and two singles, remaining to play, Bude needed two wins for overall victory. First to finish was Colette Ham with a 7-4 loss, Bude now only one point ahead.  Next to finish  was Dave and Val Langdown’s 7-2 win which guaranteed at least an overall draw. Bobbo Peers was next back to the clubhouse with an excellent day’s play, crowned with a 7-3 win. 

Danny Walker and Vic Frampton then ended the final game with a 7-3 win to finish the match 12-8 in Bude’s favour, thereby securing runners-up spot in their league.

So in their first season competing in a top level league, Bude’s two teams have completed their fixtures as champions of the Handicap League and runners-up in the Higher Handicap League, far exceeding the club’s expectations at the start of the year.