Day 2 at the U21 GC World Championships

Another scorcher at United where the lawns are around 13.5 seconds, with patches closer to 15 seconds. We started the day with lawns 3 and 4 in the shade of the big leafy Hagley Park trees.

Chris was just sitting here looking very pleased that the 4 chaps he has coached have, at the time of writing, won all of their matches.

There are only a few matches going still, one being an absolute cracker between Hemi McLaren, who has been playing really strongly, and 15 year old Felix Webby who is getting better and better. Hemi took the initiative in game 1 and a couple of weak tactical options by Felix saw Hemi win 7-5 after trailing much of a close game.

Game 2 is presently going, and Hemi got a 4-0 lead which looked pretty strong. Felix showed great spirit and has come back with some good hitting and excellent hoop-running to get a 6-5 lead. The wind has now got up and is complicating things. This match is on lawn 4 where things are pretty quick. Hemi appears to be struggling a bit with being behind, and has failed two longish goes at hoop 12.

We’re currently facing a situation where Hemi has cleared blue to 4 yards dead north of hoop 13, and there was an interesting option for Felix to rush-peel yellow. The hoops are a bit challenging though, so he took a safer option of clearing yellow and we’re back to a battle for hoop 12.

In other matches, Josh Freeth has continued to dominate his block playing with poise and accuracy to beat Liam Reeves, another dangerous kiwi player, and then defeated the top Egyptian player Nadine El Manoufi in straight games also. He’s a modest lad and is claiming a bit of luck in his matches also.

Jasmine Rule has been one of the standout players at taking position, which is huge in these difficult conditions. She played well against classy Egyptian Marwan El Sabrouti losing the first game on the 13th hoop, and the second 7-3. Having a win against Mary-Kate Prankard she’s now on 2 wins, and has two important games tomorrow – my bet is she’ll be taking a place in the knockout.

The game between Mahetab and Logan was enormously frustrating for the referee on call as he watched them play the wrong partner ball and was unable due to the “awful rules” to say anything about it and had to watch them play 20 strokes and then run a hoop before anyone realised. (yes, it’s a commentary based on chatting to people courtside today!)

George Coulter (one of the nicest house-guests you could have!) had a very good day, hitting absolutely everything in his first game, against Sean Pearless – bit tough on Sean, who was playing well himself, however Sean has bounced back well and won his final match against Liam Reeves. Sean has only one match win so far, but is an impressively sensible lad and has already spotted he’s well in with a chance for a playoff.

Ned has just passed by – reporting he has been swinging with a lot more control today. He’s 0 from 2, so I’m feeling a bit guilty now! Still think he’s a really nice chap though, and he is still in the mix for a playoff tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Giles Lusty, bottom seed in his block, played out of his skin to have a big win against Nadine El Menoufi, in three games. The win has thrown block B into total disarray and there’s everything to play for tomorrow.

Back to the exciting lawn 4 match where Felix played well to level the match. 7.04pm and there are still over a dozen spectators here. A couple of generations of Felix’s family, Hemi’s mum, George Coulter and his mum (brilliant to see such support from family), John-Paul Moberly, super-hoop-setter Jared Keeman, Chris Clarke and Tony O’Donnell (so we’re sorted for referees), Gordon Smith has joined the lineup on the west boundary as they compete for game 3, possibly also George’s grandparents. There’s also a wee bunch of spectators over on lawn 1 where Edmund Fordyce is in the decider against fellow kiwi Shaun Theobald. Ed Cunningham has just arrived to join the evening crowd. Josh Freeth has just headed off to give some of the Egyptian players plus Jasmine a tour of Christchurch.

Since this looks like being a really entertaining match, I’m going to write a few quick words on each block and do a live commentary on the match.

Block wrapup:

Block A: Harry and Marwan are all class and will play off for top spot early tomorrow afternoon. Lachy, Jasmine and George Redpath all are in contention here.

Block B: Josh Freeth has been very impressive and is expected to maintain that form. As mentioned above, this block has been blown wide open by Giles’ win over Nadine, and George is the only other clear-cut qualifier now.

Block C: Edmund’s about to beat Shaun, so he and Karim will have an exciting match to look forward to tomorrow to decide 1 and 2 with Laura and Shaun likely to take the final spots.

Block D: John-Paul, Hemi and Felix are all guaranteed at least a playoff, with late replacement in the event Logan McCorkindale eyeing up the other place in the KO with a good win over the strong Egyptian Mahetab Abu El Soud

As a reminder, qualification is by match wins only, with players tied on matches and looking for qualification spots only playing off in a single 13-point game tomorrow afternoon. Once the 4 qualifiers are found, the block positions are determined by match wins, net games, net points, then who-beat-whom.

Time for something live. Thanks for the messages I’ve received. I’m hoping someone will write a few words on play tomorrow.