CROQUET NEWS: Tasman Croquet Test a Cliffhanger

Aussies surprise Kiwis with determination on wet greens to leave nailbiting croquet test tied.

12 February 2009
Manawatu Standard, Palmerston North, New Zealand
story by Penny Miles,
photo by Murray Wilson

Today's eight singles matches will determine the first trans-Tasman test winner after Australia surprised New Zealand with dogged play in the mixed-doubles late last night.

ON FORM: New Zealand's Greg Bryant was in supreme form on day one of the first trans-Tasman test at the Rose Gardens yesterday.

New Zealand's Greg Bryant and Jenny Clarke blitzed their opponents in yesterday's morning session as New Zealand raced out to a 1-0 lead, but Australia fought back to tie the first test 2-all, just before 8pm last night.

The last match went Australia's way in nailbiting fashion, with Mike Jenner and Alix Verge winning by the smallest possible margin, 15-11, 19-22, 19-18.

While pairs from both teams produced terrific performances at the Rose Gardens Club, cracks were revealed in the Australian team off the lawns.

A late change to the green and gold line-up saw the No 1 Australian woman Liz Fleming dropped last month after an apparent argument with team management. She appealed, but was replaced by Verge, leaving questions about the team's unity.

Fleming still travelled to Palmerston North to watch her husband Bruce Fleming play, but without her, New Zealand No 1, Clarke, predicted Australia would struggle.

Clarke, a former world No 1, and Bryant, who has been ranked as high as No 15, only needed two games to take their match.

"We both played solid aggressive croquet without errors," said Bryant, the New Zealand No 4 from Nelson's Richmond Croquet Club.

"You get full control of the game if you complete a TPO [triple peel of opponent] … And that's what we did. We played well enough to maintain the innings for the rest of the match."

But the wet lawns, after surface flooding from Tuesday's deluge, affected the Rose Gardens courts. With the water-logged ground, there were damp patches for the players to navigate, and early predictions of a fast surface proved to be off the mark.

In the singles today, Bryant will play Australian Pete Landrebe, originally from Timaru. Bryant is confident he can win his toughest singles match of the three tests. While he was to face the Australian No 2 today, the No 3 and No 4 await him in the second and third tests.

"I've played Pete quite a bit. I remember playing him nearly 25 years ago. I beat him in the Australian Open last season 2-0, so that gives me some confidence. We're fairly evenly ranked, around No 30."

Bryant has sunk back from a career high of No 15, but said his form was improving.

If today's forecast rain has arrived, singles matches will most likely be transferred from the Takaro Club, where the lawns were flooded earlier in the week, to Dannevirke.

First Test Day 1 Mixed Doubles New Zealand 2 Australia 2

Individual results:
Jenny Clarke & Greg Bryant (New Zealand) bt Stephen Forster & Miranda Morgan (Australia) 26-1, 26TPO (B) 14;
Sue Lea &  Aaron Westerby (New Zealand) bt Bruce Fleming & Claire Bassett (Australia) 26-16, 26-17;
Pete Landrebe & Margaret Melville (Australia) bt Nina Mayard-Husson & Paul Skinley (New Zealand) 26-14, 2-26TP (S), 26-24;
Mike Jenner & Alix Verge (Aust) bt Pam Fisher & Paddy Chapman (NZ) 15-11, 19-22, 19-18.