The Final Matchday

Thrills, triumph, controversy, the bitterness of defeat and elimination—the final regular-season matchday of Portland Croquet League Version One had everything a fan might expect of a competition that has riveted the nine-wicket world.

Conditions bordered on idyllic at Columbia Park in North Portland, where the Jaguar Realm team laid out its home course on a rough, rangy, long-grassed pitch beneath an evergreen canopy. The course dimensions, the agreed-upon lack of boundary lines and the extremely uneven terrain promised an afternoon of rugged, big-hitting open-field play, and the fixture did not disappoint either the players or the assembled fans.

The Acorn and Make Like teams arrived via bicycle, Make Like sporting their trademark striped jerseys, while Acorn eschewed their customary neckwear in deference to the hot afternoon. No such concession was made by Jaguar Realm's debutante player Engler, who took in the pitch in full 1890s regalia, complete with bowler hat. Action commenced after a round of cheap Spanish Cava was consumed, and a refreshing delivery of Dilly Bars enlivened proceedings.

In Game One, Dan of Acorn overcame last minute nerves to secure a convincing win (his career first), with Make Like taking the second-place stake. Game Two saw a reversal of fortune between those two teams, leaving both on three points for the afternoon. Jaguar Realm was odd man out on its home course, ending its season after an outing when it simply could not get its proverbial groove on.

The day's other fixture saw the league-leading Half & Half team mysteriously grouped with the last-placed Courier Coffee team for the second time, which was surely a coincidence. In any case, the first game belonged to McCormick of the UrbanHonking team, a result that poised the side for a breakthrough to the top of the table. However, Half & Half's usual dominance reasserted itself for a Game Two win.

That brings us to the final V.1 table:

ALL MATCHES PLAYED

1. Half & Half :: 11 points // 4 wins

2. Make Like :: 9 points // 3 wins

------------------------------------------------

3. UrbanHonking :: 7 points // 3 wins

4. Acorn :: 6 points // 2 wins

5. Jaguar Realm :: 3 points // 0 wins

6. Courier Coffee :: 0 points // 0 wins

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: Half & Half v. Make Like.

Some players remarked that a two-team final may not be the best reflection of the competition, given that it means that the ultimate game will be contested under slightly different rules (a 3-on-3 game) than those that apply in regular-season matches (2-on-2-on-2). This weekend's results are especially cruel to UrbanHonking, a side that has found very good form over the past two weeks. The issue seems certain to be raised during the close-season league meetings.

However, none can dispute the worthiness of the two finalists. Half & Half has been rampant throughout the season, while Make Like established itself as an elite side over Matchdays 2 & 3. Both teams rely on short-hitting precision and sophisticated tactical play, and both team captains will face difficult selection decisions when it comes time to name their line-ups for the Final. Watch this space for more preview material in the coming two weeks!