MALDON Croquet club have entered two teams in the East Of England Croquet Federation league this year and the first match of the season saw both pitched against each other.

Maldon Lakeside and Maldon Pavilion met on the Maldon Croquet Club lawns at Forrester Park Golf Club in a match consisting of 16 singles and two doubles games.

Maldon Lakeside hosted the game as the 'home' team.

Playing for Lakeside was Neil Clark - in his first league match - alongside Neil Grandy, Diana Pettitt and team captain Chris Joslin, while the Pavilion team was captained by Jean Healey with Peter Marvin, Joan Fairclough and new member Colin Beckett.

Lakeside got off to a flying start, winning five of the first six games, however, the Pavilion team slowly pulled the match around finishing with a winning score of 12 games to six.

The new member of the Pavilion team, Beckett, played exceptionally well, winning three out of four singles.

The hoop score for the match was Pavilion 105 and Lakeside 95, with many matches going to 7-6 and 7-5 scores so it was a close match in hoop terms.

Meanwhile, the club is looking forward to hosting National Croquet Day on June 5.

Maldon are inviting people to visit their club at Forrester Park Golf Club in Beckingham Road, Great Totham to try the sport.

Those attending can just go along on Sunday, June 5, contact Jean Healey on 01621 843643 or visit the web site at www.essexinfo.net/maldoncroquetclub