Croquet's equivalent of the FA Cup saw the club based in Broomhouse Lane, Fulham, needing one more win over Norwich on Saturday to secure victory in the first round.

Tied at 3-3, all the other games had finished . Higgins suddenly found everybody gathered round her with baited breath.

Here five-point lead quickly evaporated and Green were beaten by just three shots after seven matches.

However, had 98-year-old Freddy Reynolds won the penultimate match, then Higgins could have relaxed. He didn't and nor did she.

It was a shame because 19-year-old Eugene Chang recovered from a night's revelling with his Imperial College pals to win his games. And Bretherton was in great form.

His 'triple peel' score against an afternoon opponent is the garden game's equivalent of a 147 in snooker - the first time he's caught sight of croquet's Holy Grail.

Bretherton said: "I think Gabrielle might have been feeling the pressure at the end, but it was an exiting match."

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AGE GAP: Freedy Reynolds (left) watches Eugene Chang

[Note: It has been suggested that due to a type-setting error the first digit of Mr Reynolds's age has been inverted and should read "68" not "98". The Hammersmith & Fulham Chronicle would like to apologise for any offence caused.]