This morning is calm and sunny with small wisps of cloud which will probably disperse to leave another hot day. I am the relief referee here so will try to cover the three matches in general terms. The matches are all just starting.

Court 1 is David Maugham and Jamie Burch v David Malouf and Ben Rothman.
Court 2 is Robert Fulford and Samir Patel v Jeff Soo and Rich Lamm
Court 4 is James Death and Stephen Mulliner v Danny Huneycutt and Jim Bast

Court 1
Ben Rothman hit on turn 4, has made 1 and has a ball in II to get going if he can make 2 off it.

Court 2
Rich Lamm hit the tice on turn 4, set up in I. Robert Fulford sent his ball to III. Rich rushed to near III, left oppo's ball near 1 and 4 (wired?) and set up in III. RF shot at the balls in III from near 1, hit hoop 3. US should have a break.

Court 4
Stephen Mulliner started his first break but bounced off 3.

Court 1
Ben still in play has declined 3 and set a leave

Court 2
Rich bounced off 1 to a few inches directly in front. Samir is to shoot from near 1 at his partner near the eb level with 4. Hits and should have a break. The other ball is in III.

Court 4 This court is some distance away and I need my binoculars to see anything.
Danny is in play, setting up near 1. Clips are all on 1 except black which is on 3.

Court 1
Ben and David are in deep discussion as Ben ihas not got in front of 3. He retires to the n bdry with his partner ball 8 yards S. Oppo's are 9 yards apart near 4. DM hits.

Court 2
Samir just made 2 with a break. Has now made 4.

Court 4.
Referee is watchingDanny who misses a partly wired ball at 3 from 3 yards. SM makes the hoop and should have a break.

Court 1. DM has made 1. And has the break.

Court 2. Samir going around with tight control.

Court 4. SM is untidy. His pioneer for 6 is 4 yards S, but he tidies it up and is now in good shape.

Court 1. DM was hampered at 2 but copes, watched by referee.

Court 2. Samir has just made 1b.

Court 4. SM has just made 1b.

Court 1. DM has made 3 and 4.

Court 2. SP has all the balls at 3b. Sets NSL.

Court 4. SM has all the balls at 3b. Sets NSL.

Court 1. Ben is in play, DM's clip on 5. Ben should have a break.

Court 2. Rich lifts ball from 4 and shoots from III. Hits.

Court 4. DH shoots from III hits. (21y)

Court 1. BR is making 5.

Court 2. RL is approaching 1.

Court 4. DH has made 2.

Court 1. Ben is approaching 1b.

Court 2. Rich stuck in 1 and Samir hit in from near 2 (21y).

Court 4. Danny has made 5, sticks in 6.

Court 1. Ben has gone to 4b, sets a diagonal spread.

Court 2. England sts a leave on E bdry, Rich misses their balls from near 1. U is near 2

Court 4. James Death has a break, approaching 2. Now hampered after 3, calls referee. Copes.

Court 1. David shoots from III, hits (20y).

Court 2. Robert makes 1, runs up to the ball at 2, rushes it back to wb, sends it to 3, uses other balls to get going. Well away.

Court 4. JD stuck in 5 and Jim Bast is in play.

Court 1. DM has approached 5 to 5 ft at an angle. Bounces off.

Court 2. RF completes the first peel at 4b after making 3.

Court 4. Long discussion by US but I've lost the plot. Looks as though Jim failed to get in front of 1. He retires to IV.

I must leave commentary for a while and see if the referees need any relief.

I relieved on Court 4 for 15 minutes, during which time I watched James miss a hampered shot after 1b followed by Danny bounce off 5..

In the distance Robert Fulford completed his TP on court 2 and Game 2 is starting.

Court 1. DM is in play, just made 1b. His partner's clip is still on 1. Black clip is on penult and blue on 1b.

Court 2. Samir hit on turn 4, made 1 and bounced off 2. Jeff misses the opponent ball in II from 6 y. Robert is in play, making 3 with a set break.

Court 4. English clips are on peg and 4b, US's on 1 and 6. Danny just lifted his ball from near the peg after England set a diagonal spread. Danny shot from A baulk at the oppo balls but hit hoop 4. Stephen bounced off 4b and Jim has hit his ball.

Court 1. David Malouf is shooting at oppo's balls in IV from A baulk. Misses.

Court 2. Robert is in a tight break, with his partner,s clip on 2 and both oppo's clips still on 1.

Court 4. SM just made 4b and should finis, 26 - 5.

Court 1. Jamie Burch mis- approached 2 and retires to near (5 y) his partner ball near 4

Court 2. RF has made 2b.

Court 4. SM bounces off penult. Jim hits and is approaching 1.

Court 1. Jamie just made 2, with oppo's balls in I and on wb 8y S of III. He rolls from that ball and sticks in 3.

Court 2. RF sets a diagonal spread. A surveyor could not be more precise.

Court 4. Jim fails 1. SM shoots from near 2 at oppo's balls at 1 watched by referee. He hits the hoop and stays nearby. Jim has a break.

Court 1. David hits the ball in 3 from three yards. Discusses with partner.

Court 2. Rich misses ball at peg from B baulk to 2y E of I. SP has a break.

Court 4. Danny is approaching 1b. Sticks with partner ball 2y away, oppo's at 2b and near IV.

Court 1. David is in play, no break, closely attended by Ben, probably about to set a leave.

Court 2. Samir misses his partner ball on way to 3. Oppo's balls are just S of 4 and 1. Rich misses from near 4 to 1y N of I. TRF hits partner ball (10y). Takes off to ball near I.

Court 4. English clips on penult and peg. Danny in play, partner clip on 2, just ran 3b, about to set a leave.

Court 1. Jamie just hit in (10y).

Court 2. Samir is in play, no break.

Court 4. Danny is setting a leave.

Court 1. Jamie has just made 4, with partner clip on 4b, with oppo balls in II and as pioneer for 6.

Court 2. Jeff Soo just hit in. Goes off court by 1 cm behind partner ball, sending oppo ball 14 yards away.

Court 4. SM calls referee to penult after sticking in it. Ref says hoop is OK. DH hits in (8y) at ball at peg from near rover.

Court 1. Jamie has very controlled break, making penult with partner clip on 4b.

Court 2. Samir hits double in II from near 4 (30y), makes 3 and 4, return rush is hit into hoop with no pioner at 5. Oppo's balls are near 4b and near bdry W of 2. He rolls his partner ball to W of 6 and rushes one partner ball to N bdry 4y W of III.

Court 4.Blue clip is still on penult so US must have removed it. Jim Bast is in play, separating oppo's balls.

Court 1. Jamie sets a diagonal spread after going to the peg. David Malouf shoots at oppo's ball from near w bdry, hits to applause.

Court 2. Jeff is in play, with both US clips still on 1.

Court 4. Jim makes 2 with no pioneer at 3. His rush to 3 from 6 y N of 1 bounced and finished 8 yards short. His take off finished on the side of the hoop.

Court 1. David Malouf makes 3b with break but partner ball, for penult, is left behind on eb, peg high.

Court 2. Jeff over approached 1, joins partner across III. English balls are not quite wired across 1 and Samir hits (12y).

Court 4. Stephen Mulliner is in play. He has made penult and should finish

Court 1. David Malouf goes to the peg, with partner clip still on penult, pegs out Y (Jamie) with David Maugham's clip on 4b. Leaves balls in IV and peg high on wb. Maugham lifts to I and misses to II.

Court 2. Jeff makes 1, misses a cut rush on oppo ball.

Court 4. SM finishes. Lunch.

Court 1. US balls join in IV. Maugham misses 40 yarder.

Court 2. Jeff Soo back in play, makes 2, should have a break.

Court 1.Ben makes penult sets up in II with Maugham's ball between 4 and IV.

Court 2. Jeff has a controlled 4bb.

Court 1. Maugham shoots and hits (35y). Makes 4b.

Court 2. After 4 Jeff rolls partner ball a yard past 6 and misses a 6 yarder at an oppo ball, 3y S of 3. Samir hits that ball from near 5 (18y), sticks in 6.

Court 1. Maugham approaches penult from 6 yards, sending oppo ball to rover. Finishes. Lunch

Court 2. Jeff Soo peels Samir's ball through 6, rushes partner ball to 4 y ESE of 1. Oppo balls are wired across 6.

I am about to relieve on Court 4, so there will be no commentary for a while.

After lunch I'm back, still a beautiful clear sunny day with a gentle breeze to avoid it being oppressive, probably 22 or 23 degrees but quite hot in the sun.

Court 1 Game 2.
David Malouf has just made hoop 2 in a controlled break, with all the other clips on 1.

Court 2 game 2.
US clips are on 1 and 5 but Rich Lamm has just made 1 with a break. Both English clips are on 4b.

Court 4. There has just been an adjudication on a wiring lift, judged to be wired. Three clips are on 1, with Stephen Mulliner in play, He just bounced off 1b with the an oppo ball close and another oppo ball 4 y W of 1. Jim should have a break.

Court 1. Malouf has called a referee to look at a ball stuck? In 2b. The hoop is OK. Maugham lifts a ball from near 3b to the A baulk, makes a double of the oppo's balls, one in hoop 2b and hits the ball in the hoop. He has an easy break.

Court 2. Rich is in play with no break, oppo's balls in I and 3y NE of 3. He is for 4, laying up in IV.

Court 4. Jim sticks in 4 with all balls close. SM hits the ball in the hoop and should have a break.

Court 1. No break for Maugham. Oppo's balls are now stuck in 1 and near 1 and Jamie hits from near 2 (20y). He makes 1, is hampered and misses his partner ball on the wb. Ben shoots at his partner ball from near 1 and hits it, near 2 (18y) to the N bdry. Sets up in II. Maugham shoots at his balls and misses (23y).

Court 2. Jeff Soo just called me to watch for a cannon in IV. No cannon

Court 4. Jim is back in play, just making 4, collecting a ball from the eb on his way to 5.

Court 1. Malouf in play, Bounces off 2b.

Court 2. Clips are both US on 5 and both England on 4b. Jeff fails to get position at 5, retires to join partner in IV. Robert Fulford misses partner ballot wb14y N of I. Jeff rushes partner ball to oppo's balls, should have a break.

Court 4. Jim has made 5 on a controlled break, now at 1b.

Court 1. Malouf back in play, setting leave in IV other balls near 1 and 2.

Court 2. Jeff mis-approaches 5, long discussion, retires to eb, 14y n of IV. RF shoots at partner ball on wb, hits (14y). Makes 4b and penult.

Court 4. James Death in hedge, collecting ball. Declines 3y at 40 degrees, goes to end of A baulk. Oppo's balls are in IV and peg high on eb. Partner ball is peg high near wb.

Court 1. A US ball has bounced off 1 with Maugham's ball near 2. Maugham misses partner on eb peg high.

Court 2. Rf just set up in IV after going to the peg, one oppo ball 3 y from wb 10y S of N bdry. The other peg high 3y off the eb.

Court 4. US are considering, with Endlish balls set up on the S bdry, one US ball in III, the other peg high near eb. Danny shoots that one at English balls, misses.

Court 1.

Court 1. Ben is in a break, just made 2, with partner clip on 4b.

Court 2. Samir is approaching 3b from 4 y, has a 2 ft 6 inches shot which bounces off.

Court 4. Balls are all well separated. I don't know what happened or who is in play.

Court 1. Ben is attempting to jaws partner ball from 40 degrees at 3 ft. for his first peel

Court 2. UK clips are now on 4b and peg, with other clips on 5 and in play. Jeff just made 5 and has a break.

Court 4. James Death

Court 1. Ben did jaws partner in 4b and is now making 5.

Court 2. Jeff is collecting an oppo ball from near 4 on his way to 1b.

Court 4. James made 6 and laid up in IV. With oppo balls near 1 and on wb 12y s of II.

Court 1. Ben did the 4b peel and has rushed the peelee to penult on his way to 6.

Court 2. Jeff bounced off 1b and finished straight in front. Samir hits partner ball into I, rolls it to penult and gets a 4inch rush on an oppo ball to 4b. Gets 2 ft position and powers through. He should finish now.

Court 4. USare in discussion.

Court 1. Ben makes 1b with good position to attempt the death roll for his penult peel. Attempts peel but the peelee bounced back to 1 yard straight.

Court 2. Samir has to approach rover fron 6 yards north. Does so, makes rover and finishes. Match to England 2 to nil.

Court 4. England now in play, setting up.

Court 1. Ben has made 2b, one peel done.

Court 4. US clips are on 1 and 2b. English clips on 2 and 2b. James is in play, runs 2and has a break.

Court 1. It looks as though Ben bounced the peelee off penult on the way to 3b and he has N 8 y roquet on the 3b pioneer. Misses. David MUgham's ball is only A yard from the peelee at penult. His clip is on 1. He hits the peelee towards 2, takes off his partner ball and hits it to the oppo ball on the S bdry. He should have a break.

Court 4. James Death is making 1b with all balls under control.

Court 1. Maugham runs 1 to the ball at 2, rushes it to the N bdry behind 2, rushes the ball near 1 to IV and rushes his partner ball from near the s bdry to 4y NE of 2. He makes 2, sends oppo ball to near the peg and rushes partner to 3, makes 3.

Court 4. James death makes 3b, is hampered and calls referee at 4b, copes, makes rover and is hampered. Calls referee (which reminds me I need to see if he needs a break)

Commentary suspended for a while.

Back from relieving on Court 4. Still a blue sky, breeze is more than gentle but still a breeze, about 23 degrees in the shade.

Court 1.Jamie is in play and just made hoop 3. US clips are on peg and penult. His partner clip is on 2b. He sticks in 4.

Court 4. Danny is in play, for 3, just set up N of 3 and now makes 3 after James Death hits to middle of wb.

Court 1. David Maugham is now in play and has rushed an oppo ball to the wb just N of 2b, which he approaches to 1 yard. Smashes through to S bdry with a rush North. He has a break, with his partner's clip on 5. Opponent's clips are still on penult and peg.

Court 4. James Death hits an oppo ball in II from the other side of 4 (32 yards). His clip is on the peg. He sets a rush for 4b near the s bdry, S of hoop 4 with Y near II and R near 3.Danny hits R to 1 y E of I.

Court 1. David Maugham goes to the peg and pegs out Ben's ball. Y is 2y S of III and R on the wb, peg high. David Malouf lifts his ball to A baulk and makes a double. HHe hits Y to loud applause.

Court 4. No action at all

Court 1. Long discussion. Maloufs clip is on 5. He sends Y to mid-way between 1 and 5, roquets R and sends it to 4 yards W of 3, retires to wb 14 y S of II. David Maugham hits R to 4 y S of III. Malouf misses Y to end of A baulk. Jamie hits Y to III.

Court 4. I think SM has just stick in 4b with oppo ball close. Danny hits that ball out of the hoop, and is now making 5.

Court 1. Malouf looks at 35 yard shot at R. Declines it and eb 7 y N of IV. Maugham rolls their balls to corner II, sets rush for Y to its hoop, 5. David Malouf goes to goes to peg high on the wb.

Court 4. Danny makes 6 and has a break. Has reached 2b.

Court 1. Jamie rushes R to 6, rolls to eb, near IV. Malouf goes to eb 12y S of III.

Court 4. Danny makes 3b (just) with a tiny jump from close in, angled. Strangely, no applause, but he is a long way from the spectators! Now hampered and plays a sweep shot, closely watched by referee, successfully. Now walks to the shelter, sits and discusses with partner for five minutes already. Leaves his ball by the shelter comes to clubhouse, saying something to James on the way.

Court 1. I missed some action while watching the other court. R and Y are now laid up in III with Malouf's ball wired on eb. He goes to N bdry,, 5 yards W of III. Jamie hits partner ball to SE of 1b, takes off to try to rush his ball to in front of 1b on N bdry, but hits it on croquet stroke, sends it to near 1. He shoots and misses to N bdry. Jamie over-rolls 1b and retires to S bdry where his partner is 8...

Sorry, low battery, must go and re-charge.

I'm now inside the clubhouse where I can plug in and keep commenting, but not in a position where I can see court 4.

Court 1.
Jamie is Y, approaching 4b with a solid break. Oppos are still on penult and peg. He finishes. England win 2 games to nil.

England now lead by 4 matches to 1.

I'll have to wait for a while to charge my battery before continuing the commentary for court 4.

Court 4 is too far away from where I am peering out a window! I will walk over to see what's going on.

Court 4
US clips are on 4b and penult, English on peg and 4b. Long discussion by US. Jim, Y, is rushing an oppo ball to 4b, with his partner 3y N of 2 and the other oppo ball 4 y n of rover. He fails to get position to run 4b and retires to between his partner ball and II. James Death, K from near 4b, misses U into I.
Danny, R, hits Y , goes to K, starts discussion with partner. Now sends K to 4b, rushes U to end of A baulk, takes off back to partner, sets rush for partner to due S, but only after five minute discussion.
Now James and Stephen have a long discussion, walking back and forth from K, at 4b to II. James hits K to I.
Y , Jim, rushes R to I, no cannon, rushes K towards U but goes off 14 yards short. Sends K to 5 y SE of 6, goes to U, sends it to near IV and sets up in corner 1 with rush for R.
James, K, hits U (25y) sends U to 4y S of 4b, goes to oppo's balls in I, rushes R to 3y S of 4b, sends R to a wired position from K on the N bdry, checks that R can see Y and sets up with U S of 4b.
Danny, R, shoots at Y (39y), misses.
Stephen, U, hits K, makes 4b, rushes K to wb, peg high, puts K to rover and goes to oppo's balls, rushes Y to penult, makes penult and finishes. England wins, 2 games to nil.

England now leads the US 5 matches to 1.