The final will start shortly between Marwan El Sabarouti (Egy) and Josh Freeth (NZ).

This will be a final of contrasting styles. Marwan is powerful and tactically on the aggressive side of balanced whilst Josh is positional and on the defensive side of balanced. The feeling amongst the competitors was that the winner of Marwan v Harry would be strong favourite for the final, but Josh's results are excellent

The final will be best of 3. The sun has come out and the wind is becoming gusty. The lawns will be running around 13 seconds

Marwan had some extremely strong patches against Harry this morning whilst Felix walked off the lawn, like so many of Josh's opponents, amazed at the quality of Josh's position play. This mornings game was on 11 second lawns, the extra 2 seconds should favour Marwan as exact positional play will become very difficult.
The final will be on lawn 5. There is still play on most of the other lawns as Plate, Bowl and Shield events reach their conclusion

There is a delay because no-one knows where Josh is

Both these players have qualified for the main worlds starting on Saturday. Felix Webby (losing semi-finalist) has been screwed over by the WCF and should have got a place.

We now have 60% cloud cover, but it is still warm. This has been a good event. Good play, good cameraderie and hopefully lasting friendships.

This is a great opportunity for me to thank everyone who has helped make the event a success - scorers, referees, lunchmakers, BBQers, sponsors (RPM mallets and University of Canterbury), hoopsetters, managers, everyone hosting players and officials and all Unite members for giving up their lawns so willingly. Plus anyone I've forgotten!!

Josh is apparently on his way. He's a United member, age about 17 who is about to start University in Auckland studying fine Arts. He will a handy acquisition to Epsom Remuera club I guess. He is current NZ U21 Champion and has been playing about 3 years.

Oh yes, must thank all the parents, many of whom have has sickies to support their kids and helped will scoring, transport etc

In the 5th/6th place play-off, J-P Moberly has taken the first 7-6 off Hemi McLaren and is 4-1 up in the second

Apparently J-P was 6-2 down in the first!!

The 3rd/4th place play-off between Harry Dodge and Felix Webby has just started on lawn 6. It's quite good that Josh still isn't here because it will hopefully allow some of these matches to finish so we get a better crowd for the final

Amir is off at NZ immigration trying to extend Marwan's visa so he can play on Saturday. At the moment, it expires on 10th Feb

J-P now leads Hemi 7-6, 5-2 in the 5th/6th play-off. I think some of Hemi's tactical choices are dodgy.

Marwan is now starting his warm-up. Has Josh arrived?

Marwan is wearing standard Egyptian gear. Long white trousers with a short sleeve white polo shirt which has EGYPT in large letters on the back.

By my reckoning, Josh has 15 minutes before he forfeits game 1.

Josh is here

He's got a black cap, blackshort-sleeve NZ shirt, black shorts and black trainers

We have scorers on both South and North boundaries, so the crowd should be able to keep up to speed with the current score.

Tony O'Donnell, United President will be referee in charge of the final.

The coin has been tossed and Marwan wins. Josh looks nervous, Marwan looks relaxed.

It must help playing your first world final on the lawn you play on 3 or 4 times a week though.

This won't be a ball by ball commentary since I'm sat in the Rugby club and have only a partial view of the lawn

J-P comes 5th beating Hemi 7-6, 7-4

The final starts (at last!!). Marwans plays Blue short to hoop 1 - good chance for Josh to compete now for hoop 1

Josh gets the pace right straight away with his ddep ball. Marwan nudges Blue forward with black, but it's still too angled

Marwan clears Josh to the south boundary and Josh misses the hoop entirely. Marwan now has his balls close to hoop1

Josh plays Red back in front of hoop 1 and Marwan opts to clear Y to the short boundary rather than try an easy block which would have given a potential double clearance. Y hits U - back to a fairly neutral position again

Josh runs a 5 yard hoop.
Josh 1-0

Marwan plays to 8ft angled at h2 with K. Y plays 4yards in front. U and R both go past the hoop. K takes close position

A couple of short stun clearance give Marwan the edge and Josh misses a 9 yarder. Marwan now has to jump over R in hoop 2 which came in fron the wrong side. If he gets this cleanly, Josh can't get anywhere near hoop 3. Marwan runs the hoop, but flicks red, so Josh is ok.
1-1

The 4 balls play over to h3. Josh clears Marwan to hoop 5. Marwan shoots back, but misses, leaving Josh a tricky 4 foot 20 degree hoop - clangs. Marwan now has a shorter but equally angled hoop which he smashes through by 9 yards
Marwan leads 2-1

Two poor position shots at 4 from Josh give Marwan the edge at h4. He needs his good positional play to be competitive in this match

Josh fails a long angled h4, Marwan hammers a straight 7 footer through. Marwan leads 3-1

Marwan misses the clearance from behind 4 to in front of 5 and Josh opts to turn down a 3 foot angled hoop for a stop-shot clearance of Marwan's other ball

Marwan plays back in and Josh does well to jaws in hoop 5. Marwan misses his 20 yarder at the ball in h5. Josh should take 5 and get a decent position at 6 now. No, bad decison from Josh who rush peels partner short of the peg leaving the strikers ball in hoop 5Marwan leads 3-2

Marwan takes short position at 6 and Josh plays a good gentle clearance with the ball than made hoop 5. Oh dear, Y wasn't in hoop 5, it was hard on a wire. Josh has had to play out sideways - advantage Marwan

K is 7 feet in front of h6 and Josh is shooting from the W boundary at it with R - hits centre ball gently, making him slight favourite for the hoop

Marwan fails to take position at 6 with U from 17 yards and Josh gentlly centre balls his 5 yards clearance which just makes it off the boundary. Marwan opts not to shoot and Josh now has a 7 foot straight hoop 6 - left hand wire - poor stroke.

K is now in front hoop 6 and Josh has an 11yarder with R. Restalks due to the wind - misses. Marwan crashes a straight 2 yard hoop off the North boundary. Marwan leads 4-2

Marwan tries to clear Y from in front of 7, but the ball is bouncing from the moment he strikes it. He hits it extremely hard and not always flat. Josh now has a 2 yard staright hoop or an easy stop clearance for position. Runs the hoop to 4 yards N of h8. That's a confidence builder Marwan leads 4-3

Marwan takes position twice allowing Josh to take on his hoop if he wants.............thinking............clears Marwan to the south boundary. Marwan plays back leaving Josh the same sort of hoop with his other ball. If he's open on it, he should take it. Clears Marwan to the short boundary. Marwan opts not to take a 7 yard clearance and plays back in. Josh plays in tighter, but leaves Marwan a 2 yards 10 degree hoop. Marwan's "flat" stroke almost hits the crown, but the hoop is made. Marwan leads 5-3

Josh takes 8 foot straight position at 9 and Marwan refuses to shoot. Josh runs his hoop, but only by a few yards. Marwan leads 5-4

K plays well short of 10, but both Y and U take close position. R joins them. Marwan clears Y possibly to wired position from U which has an easy hoop. Josh hits hoop 3. Marwan runs hoop 10. Marwan leads 6-4

Josh's approach to 11 is short and he promotes it with his second ball - but too far. The good news is that his second ballis in front. Josh opts to clear U with R - good decision. Mrwan now has an 8 foot 40 degree hoop 11 for the first game - bounces off. Josh runs 11, but goes past 12 by 5 yards - chances for a northwards clearance. Marwan leads 6-5

Marwan plays a really good positional shot to 6 feet in front 2/3rds wired from Josh's ball. Josh plays in front and Marwan smashes it through to go game up.
Marwan wins the first 7-5

In the 3rd/4th place match, Harry takes the first off Felix 7-3

Final Game 2
Josh atkes 7ft straight position at h1. Marwan misses with the 4th ball. Josh clangs the hoop

Marwan tries to jaws, but hits the outside of the wire

Josh clears to the short boundary. Marwan clears to C4. Josh plays back in and Marwan has a 7ft 10 degree hoop which he smashes through by 3 yards. Marwan leads 7-5, 1-0

Josh fails to take position at h2

Josh clears U with R to get back into the hoop

Then plays a perfect Y to 6" straight. Marwan then puts in a great block to stop an easy clearance

Good clearance anyway from Josh. Marwan misses a 9 yarder at possibly less than a full ball and Josh runs his 6" hoop. Marwan leads 7-5, 1-1

Marwan fails to get position at hoop 3 (the trickiest to approach), so it's anyone's hoop

With his partner ball 3 yards in front, Marwan smashes Josh off the long side boundary. Marwan's strikers ball leaps 6 feet in the air. Josh plays back in. Marwan now has a 3 yard straight hoop 3 - rejects off the north boundary.

Josh's R look to be a cm off the right hand wire off h3. U is on the N boundary and may have a possible in-off, which he needs to block with Y. Fails the block and U hits R, but doesn't go through. Slight advantage to Josh

Josh fails to get position from 7 yards to the side - disappointing.

Josh plays a good positional stroke with Y to short straight position and now tries to block U. U needs to jump from 5 yards. Clears the balls, hits the wire, bounces back clearing R. Josh taking on a straight 4+ yarder..........clangs. Now has another 4 yarder, but opts to clear abd almost jawses the strikers ball. Marwan hits an 8 yarder to get back in the hoop

Another great positional shot sees Y inches in front of 3. Marwan shoots at 1/8 ball or tries to run 10 from 10 yards S of h3...misses. Marwan now jumping from the north boundary. Jump fails to run hoop, but hits edge of Y moving it out of running position. Still a strong position for Josh though

Josh fails to get position with R and now tries to jaws Y............right hand wire.

Marwan allows Josh to stay there and Josh gets the in-off by a centimetre. Marwan leads 7-5, 1-2

At hoop 4, Marwan plays a gentle (for him) half ball clearance that still almost reaches the north boundary. Marwan takes on hoop 4 and finishes off the East boundary.

Marwan is 7ft in front of h4, Josh is 2 ft in front. Both can run the hoop, will Marwan clear of shoot the hoop? Smashes it through. Marwan leads 7-5, 2-2

Josh plays two really poor positional strokes at h5 and Marwan has a strong position

Some good centre ball 4 yarders see Josh back in the hoop

Marwan takes on an 11ft h5............runs it cleanly off the north boundary. Marwan leads 7-5, 3-2

Josh ups his game by taking on an 8ft hoop 6 instead of an easy clearance. Marwan leads 7-5, 3-3

Marwan runs a 5ft 20 degree hoop 7 off the south boundary. Marwan leads 7-5, 4-3

Josh responds with a 10 foot h8. Marwan leads 7-5, 4-4

Really good positional shot at 9 from Marwan. Josh is having 2 shots...........first one misses...............second one misses. Marwan runs h9 off the north boundary. Marwan leads 7-5 5-4 Josh heads to the bathroom.

No, just a quick drink of water and we're back

Plenty of interplay at h10. Josh got just in front of the hoop and had a nice double from h4 at his ball and an oppo ball, but unfortunately went through the middle. Marwan then played a great pwer clearance of the ball just in front and Josh stayed in the hoop by middling his 7 yarder .

Marwan now has a 3ft 40 degree hoop to take a 6-4 lead............bounces back

Josh needs to hit another 7 yarder............gets it half ball and goes in-off!!! Marwan leads 7-5, 5-5

Really good position at 11 from Marwan. Josh has 9 yarder..........hits it just off centre and almost goes through 11. Looks like it has finishes on the right hand wire

Marwan shooting at it from 8 yards - clears it well. Marwan has K 4 foot 10 degrees and Josh's R is 8ft straight in front - hoop or clearance? Neither - big discussion with referee????

Maybe clarifying whether U hit Y or just the hoop.

Josh turns down the hoop, plays a fabulous clearance to hoop position with R. Finishing wired from U. Marwan needs to shoot with K at a 16 yarder

Misses. This is a strong position for Josh

Josh plays Y into good position at 11.

Marwan declines to shoot at the 10th of a ball he can see, and plays north of the peg

Josh checks whether is has reached the northern half of the lawn, and now has a 1ft 20degree hoop 11 to run. He's considering not running it. Plays it gently. Jawses it.

Marwan plays black, from the north boundary, short of the peg

Surprised Josh didn't just run it - he should be rush-peeling hoop 11 now.

Taking on his rush peel...

Smooth stroke has yellow clear, rush peels red to three yards in front of rover. Easy clearance opportunity

Blue has an easy clearance - straightish 4 yarder. Coudl rushpeel it with an unlucky shot.

Runs hte hoop instead - very impressive. 6-6

Referee checking whether black is onside or offside, Yellow is offside (even though it had come through a hoop - only the most recent hoop counts for onsideness)

Players arguing as to whether it is onside of offside. Chris has headed out for a look. I'm here (Jenny) just as scribe really. Chris has disappeared into the clubhouse to get a book - this is pretty important.

Nope- he has had a look and is now on his way back... yellow on the penalty spot, Chris reckons black was offside, but not moved.

Great show with red with josh - 7 ft, 10 deg hoop.

Black now shooting at red from near the peg...

Move the crowd out of the way... this is one of the most powerful players here.

Hits half-ball on the right, leaving Josh on the boundary in front of 13.

Good crowd here. A few other games still going on. Greg Bryant looking unbelievably nervous.

Josh plays yellow from the west penalty spot ... end up half-way to corner 3.

Chris has abandoned me to do some videoing. For those who have been to United, there is so much greenery cleared, that one can see lawn 5 from inside the bowls clubhouse.

Marwan plays to 4 yards north of hoop 13, giving red a clearance opportunity

Josh hits his clearance 3/4ball on the right at midpace, end up 4yards southwest of the hoop.'

Marwan took position 2y in front of hoop 13

Josh clears his 4-yarder half-ball. A poor shot, Marwan is in control of this vital hoop now

Marwan is about 5y north of hoop 13 and a bit angled with blue

Josh plays red to east of the hoop - I can't tell if it's runnable, doesn't look easy, and offers a clearance pointing at corner 4

Marwan takes angled position west of the hoop with black. That looks pretty easy to run.

Josh plays yellow back in - overhits a bit.

Marwan goes for the 5 yard hoop for the world championship...not a bad stroke, but bounces back to a few yards west of the hoop.

Josh clearing black with blue

oops... Josh clearing black with red!

Must be about 50 people watching this.

no...looking at an angled shot to win the match...jumping...

Lovely wee jump stroke - Josh wins game 2 7-6

fantastic final so far by the look of this. Great to have another game to watch - been stuck at work all week!

Ok, have secured a prime viewing spot mid east boundary.

And we're off. .. Very angled position with blue from marwan

Report from 3v4: We're still in game 2, Felix leads 5-1. Harry is game up, 7-3.

back to the action on lawn 5...

Josh has gone deep and short with red

Nice position wtih black - a good contact here could see Marwan clearing red to corner 4

Yellow plays in, Blue takes position

Red clears blue - red to west boundary, blue to 5 yards north of hoop 1

Black to good position, yellow to very good position.

(6-2 to Felix)

Blue plays in to good position - red needs some power from the side boundary--- somewhat wibbly clearance - red ends up east of hoop 5 and black can play back in - hmm...I thought yellow was in front - hopeless side-of-lawn viewing

blue and black are both in jumping position, so Josh is in a bit of strife now?

looking at running a short angled hoop. chris wants him to jump it. ... dribbles at the hoop - hits the far wire, and has bounced back

Marwan jumping...

Nice clean jump, Marwan leads 1-0

Blue through to about peg high. Red takes great position 7 feet south of hoop 2

Black plays up well short. Red plays up - hits blue - didn't look deliberate, but has put Marwan off clearing. Tries to get position and it has gone miles past

Probably closer to 8 feet - red fails the hoop and bounces around to be a nice ball for blue to clear.

nice approach with Black from Marwan

Crowd looks smaller now - that's because there is a HUGE queue at the bbq!

Yellow clears black.

Blue tried to get tired position from yellow - overhits it a bit.

Red plays in - too far, and it's not in front.

Black goes 7 feet south - red is all over that

tidy clearance on blue to the peg, with yellow staying west of hoop 6

Blue plays back in as George Coulter and Lachy Hughes wander past with fistfuls of sausages!It looks like red has a double clearance. Chris is muttering as Josh wanders up to yellow

Felix takes the 3-4 playoff to game 3, winnin g7-3

Takes close position with red.

Marwan has a clear shot at the hoop - 5 foot shot with black - bounces off 5 feet to the east.

Josh has cleared blue to about 8 yards from red. They clear the crowd... looks like marwan had a double with red and hopop.

Bounces back 5 yards, Josh now has a 1foot hoop and black is offside

Runs his hoop as referee Tony O'Donnell has a chat with Marwan.

Black to the west offside spot. The score is 1-1

Black plays towards hoop 3.. it's rolling on... it is absolutely perfect - "that's an unbelievable shot" (Chris). 18 inch straightish position at "the unapproachable hoop" hoop 3 - it has a big hill on it and is quick.

Josh will need to shoot twice at this. Misses with yellow

Blue plays up from near hoop 2 - that's good as well - about 3 yards back but pretty reasonably straight

Red shooting... hits 3/4 ball

applause from an appreciative crowd

Black to back in front - runnable but a bit west of the hoop

Yellow takes good position, Blue is taking on its 3 yarder... ...huge result.. bounces back to a position where it is nearly touching blue - Marwan might not be able to clear yellow!!

Josh is taking position with red - leaves it short and east of the hoop. Let's see what Marwan has...

Referee is putting down markers. Josh looking concerned, but Tony is a very good ref. Josh probably needs to clear off. Both players discussing, Tony advising on the rules - it's unclear to me how the WCF rules match up to the Egyptian rules actually

More discussion - Chris now coming on to assist with watching. Josh looking like a new parent over this useful position

Plays black slightly into blue...its clean, but yellow hasnt been moved....

No its not!!!... a fault is declared and blue and black go back into that horrible tight position!

Yellow runs hoop 3 to 3 y north of hoop 4. Josh leads 2-1

Blue can only tap to the side, and red takes good position

Black sensibly takes on the shot, but bounces off towards hoop 4.

Josh shooting at hoop 4 with yellow - plays a hopelessly wimpy shot which misses the hoop entirely.

Blue shoots at red - misses to south boundary.

Josh now has a 1ft 25deg hoop - wibbles at it again and it ends up next to the right-hand wire - thsi hoop is open again. Seems to have been some rough ground there. Awful shot choice.

Marwan has taken 3 yard position with black.

Potential here to flick red in front of the hoop, wired.

After all the use of United this year, and moving hoops at key stages, there are a few rough areas around old hoop holes - it's pretty unusual for people play wimpy shots around that sort of terrain.

Just to clarify as Tony is tidying, Marwan played half-ball into that shot up by hoop 3, where the balls were less than 1mm apart. Both balls went miles - had to be a fault, IMHO.

Plays into positino with yellow, blocking black at the hoop.

Blue plays into position - but seems to be blocking black at yellow!

Josh down on the ground, looking at putting red in front - bad stroke - has hardly hit it - he's a bit tentative now.

This just about forces Marwan to take the jump on. His only other option is to clear blue into yellow.

Jumping...

Nice jump, from about 2.5 yards. Josh will be disappointed since he has had two shots at the hoop. World championship final game tied 2-2

3 good positional shots at hoop 5. Marwan is shooting from the south boundary... misses.

Red is really nicely in front - yellow will clear blue.

Clears blue - didn't take advantage of the wire offered by hoop 1, but gets good distance.

Very surprising!! - Marwan doesn't shoot - tries to take blocking position from towards corner 1

Josh has a great opportunity to run hoop 5 up to 6... fails it! - appears to be right in front.

Marwan plays back from near corner 2 - clears red!

Josh fails 5 with yellow from just over 2 yards at slight angle. Might have bounced back to block black.

Marwan clearing yellow - doesnt get a central clearance and Josh can now go just in front or clear black. He doesn't seem to like clearing, and goes 8 inches dead in front - nice position.

Marwan with another 3 yard jump attempt...

Hits the jaws, but it isn't through. Knocks red back, and ends up north-east of the hoop

Josh plays yellow up to south-west of the hoop. Marwan in front with blue. Red clears this to the east boundary, staying near the hoop, but not runnable.

Black clears red, getting 3y slightly angled position

Josh has yet another overly-gentle go at the hoop - it bounces back - not sure exactly where to.

Marwan shoots at yellow from the east boundary ... misses by 2 feet on the right.

Chris checking out yellow... dead straight and about 1 inch!! - Marwan will have another jump, or can try to clear - it's on one side.

Red takes great position - another momentum shift.

Black forced to take the jump on with red there...

misses the hoop entirely and bounces away from hoop 2

Slightly angled hoop 2 - runs it to just north of the peg. Nearly walks on red leaving his stance. Josh leads 3-2

Blue's attempt to get position from level with hoop 1 goes past by a yard - Josh has survived a short spell of playing pretty badly to be looking good in this match now.

Plays red to 3 yard position

Marwan plays black up to good position - tight and slightly angled. Not sure if blue can see red.

Gentle shot clears black. Red is 3 yards south - will Marwan block or shoot?

Takes 2 foot position. The issue here is that it's getting a bit cool, and is a bit windy.

Josh clears blue, but both blue and red end up north of the hoop - poor stroke

Good to hear a smattering of applause for a good shot taking position with black.

Yellow clears black, but is south and near the line of the peg - Marwan might have a totally wired spot to play into

Takes position - Josh is shooting though...4 yarder - hits it in the middle! Yellow can now clear blue when the rotation comes around

Good position with black - Marwan hanging in this hoop

Yellow shooting at black - an 8 yarder

A belated, but grateful, thanks to Lena for the sausage earlier - and many many thanks to her organising the troops for the daily sausage sizzles at United, and the delicious BBQ on Tuesday sponsored by Craig Smith of RPM Mallets.

Yellow misses black.

Blue has cleared to the north boundary

Josh shooting at black...

Misses narrowly. Interesting mix of feet-together and split-stance for Josh's shooting.

3 foot hoop to level things - Marwan hasn't run hoops well this game... through comfortably here...powers black through to the boundary. 3-3

Plays yellow in north-west of blue - that'll get cleared.

Half-ball clearance gets blue onto the north boundary in front of 7. Egyptian coach Khaled Younis is very pleased with this.

Josh plays red back - 2.5 yard position .Blue has a clear look at the hopop still.

Black plays in trying to hide from yellow behind red. Not a bad attempt.

Josh takes good position

Josh is a fantastic shot usually, but is also a very cautious and thoughtful player. This is clearly a great combination in these difficult conditions.

Marwan has blue moved in 6 inches - not sure why -maybe a divot?

Misses the hoop entirely - red has an easy clearance or a shot at the hoop.. taking the hoop on...

Fails it - rejects back to somewhere that either it or yellow must be blocking black. Chris getting ready to video another jump.

Not a jump - has a clean go at the hoop - fails it. Yellow should now have a chance - no - taking straighter position

Marwan on the south boundary contemplating his options.

Trying to move the assembled crowd - and their chairs - not sure Health and Safety plans included chairs inside the ball barriers!

Now moving people who are well off his line - don't blame him! Greg moves a stray spectator who is hovering behind

Worth it! - Blue clears red from about 30 yards distant!

Red shooting at black... lovely centre-ball contact - gentlish shot and it's over the fast bit to east of hoop 3

Misses the clearance. Josh has a 1 foot hoop which he'll be wanting to run down to hoop 8...

Lovely shot - runs a slightly angled hoop to north of hoop 8 - not sure it's runnable, but he's all over the hoop. Chris "he hasn't played very well in the last 15 minutes, and yet he's 4-3 up and first to the 8th hoop, that's pretty lucky to survive that 15 minutes"

Blue plays to 6 inches in front of the hoop - will be an easy clearance for yellow.Red to 3.5 yard position

black to a foot north east of the hoop - not sure it's runnable

Yellow cleared blue gently. Blue back in front.

Josh has a shot at the hoop with red..fails it and bounces away. The hoop running in this game has been poor from both players.

black takes position.
Josh has played a good shot with yellow through hoop 1, clearing blue, which plays back

plays red back into position - seems to just give marwan an easy stop-shot clearance to position. Takes it.

blue and black now in front and red and yellow not in front

poor clearance shot plays blue to straight in front of the hoop.

final game tied 4-4

Josh to approach hoop 9 first. This is such a big shot in the game. Plays tight... poor shot - a yard past the hoop

Marwan takes good position with black - about 8 feet back. Crowd a bit tense now - only applauding the kiwi, apart from Khaled who is doing a good job

Yellow takes position short. That spectator is still wandering around. Chris has just told him to go inside!

Blue eventually plays to position - bit long and angled.

Josh plays red in front - looks to be blocking - yes... another jump attempt. Didn't seem to hit it well, but it's through and off the north boundary! Marwan leads 5-4

Josh to 3.5 yards short, Blue goes too far, Josh runs hoop 8 to get north, goes near the boundary into offside position.

Black plays back in front, yellow clears,losing position for itself

Marwan has taken wired position from yellow.

Josh trying to play the promotion - reasonable shot - nudges yellow to now have a south clearance on blue. Black plays back in front.

Very poor clearance - should have had the middle of blue and yellow end up 5 yards away from a 18inch clearance.Blue plays back, red clearing black - both blue and red are now in position

Black playing back from the east boundary - stops a bit short. Bit more gusty now

I'd like to see Josh clear blue, but he goes for tight position from 5 yards. It's quick there and he goes past.Blue clears red - we thought he'd go for his hoop there!

red lucky to have a shot on back - but he is playing back in - black is quite angled.

taking on his hoop... runs hoop 10 really well from 30 degree angle to take a 6-4 lead. Disappointing for Josh from 4-3 up. Match point to Marwan at 6-4 up in the decider

Yellow goes for shortish position - goes too far

Blue takes 2.5 yard position

red plays in short, but again drifts past.

black to good position - about a foot back

Yellow's going to clear black, and give blue a shot at the hoop. He might have the block...

Marwan taking on the hoop for the championship - he's jumping...

walks away as the wind gusts up. This is about 3.5 yards actually

Nearly peels yellow!!! Marwan doesn't get over yellow and knocks it against the hoop - everything bounces away to unrunnable position

Red takes good position. I think yellow and black were wired.

yellow clearling blue - ... takes on the double clearance. We preferred clearing blue to where it had black in teh way

Blue clears red - almost gets the in-off!! Red is now off the east boundary, blue about 6 yards from hoop 11

red plays back in...it's still very fast there, and he has almost got there - probably a bit short

plays black into position - yellow needs to clear this

Clears black three-quarter ball and ALMOST has the block on blue at red.

blue plays back into position - red msut be too angled.

blue plays back in - tries to get wired from yelllow - not in front.

dribbles red back in - bounces off the far wire.

black into position - Josh considers leaving it there - nope - hits it centre ball.

blue now clearing red - good chance to get in front of the hoop, and black not that far from yellow. centres the clearance.. but blue rolls on to unrunnable position

red's coming back - Chris's applause almost starts a mexican wave of applause!

black plays in front - yellow has a 3yd clearance. Hits it, with yellow travelling on to near hoop 12. Really really needs to run this hoop 11 if blue leaves it there.

blue has about a 15 yarder...

misses.

I do think marwan has a lovely style. Irish grip, at top of his mallet, very smooth, doesn't move his hands down very far to jump. Very fluent.

Josh shooting at hoop 11... casting... runs it by a centimetre. That'll do1!

Yellow is down near hoop 12 - Josh is back in this match.

Marwan plays to 5 yard position

Sun is out - blessed warmth!

Yellow plays in front. Black probably has a double, but yellow is presently in nice position.

Blue plays down to slightly nicer position - 18 inches slightly straight.

Josh needs to block black at yellow... plays red too gently, but the backswing must be hampered. Great result!

Marwan cramped...

looking quite uncomfortable. Referee poised to adjudicate

Distinct risk of a rush-peel also!

Stalks again.. here we go...

has a go at the hoop!! - this should be 6-6...

Josh checks out that blue is slightly hampered to get to 13. Should run this firmly...

not that convincing - prods it through - not sure how close to 13 that one gets, but he has leveled the world championship final at 6-6!!

Championship point for both players now.

Marwan plays blue up first.. the lawn are slowing up.. blue is short!!

Red isn't great either - played from near the peg - it's too angled.

Marwan plays black up... hits blue - neither in front. Josh will get to play yellow up... check out the landscape...

Hits black! - black isn't runnable, but might be able to get into the jaws.

trouble now.. red is cleared to the north boundary near the middle. Blue is runnable, black can clear yellow to corner 4

Josh needs to hit blue... c'mon kiwi...

plays to deep and east.

just overhit that a bit

black plays to in front.

yellow into the jaws from the other side

blue in front - yellow can clear that

red clears black gently, but red has cannoned off and promoted yellow to a yard south of the hoop and probably wired from blue!

Black plays in front - too far east.

Josh hits the sliver of a ball that he can see with yellow and is now near the north boundary directly north of 13

blue plays towards the jaws from an angle - slides past the hoop.

Chris willing Josh to play to deep position. He's looking short - takes wired position from blue - not runnable.

Black plays in and Josh has the opportunity for a stunning hoop and gold medal. He has a free go as he'll get to clear black next shot. Needs to hit the wire though.

preparing himself.... having a look at all the balls... definitely don't want to rush this one

takes position.east of the hoop - probably not runnable. It was a free go.

Marwan takes position with blue. Good clearance with red leaving it in front of the hoop. Marwan needs to clear yellow..

6 yarder... I'm not sure Blue is in front either.. seemed to take on his hoop - must have had a target!

Has a clearance with yellow...nice shot - yellow is south of the hoop, but blue is south of hoop 1!

Josh will be crossing his fingers for a 7 foot go at hoop 13.

Marwan plays back in.. has gone north of red. Josh has a shot at hoop 13 for the world championship!!

It's in the jaws!! - Josh has got red into the jaws of hoop 13!!!!

Marwan now needs a jump reminiscent of Aix Verge in 2009 to get out of this one, and red is just poised to be promoted through. His only hope is a 6 yard jump stroke.

Yellow can't clear blue, so there is a clear shot - actually 5 yards.

Marwan plays black across the face of the hoop

couple of strokes and Marwan has a 5 yarder...clears the hoop

Josh taps through and Joshua Freeth of Christchurch, New Zealand is the Under 21 Golf Croquet World Champion!!!

Josh's practice partner (Chris Clarke) and about 50 other people are off to congratulate him.

So am I...

A few tears - don't blame him! - fantastic effort - particularly at 6-4 down - Chris asking... "has any other club got 4 world champions".

Edmund has just shown me a fantastic photo of Marwan's final stroke - it was straight, and it just hit the crown - one of the best croquet photos i've seen - get that onto facebook Edmund!

Still looking a bit emotional - and now clutching a bunch of flowers :-)

Meanwhile, Felix Webby, also of NZ, has won the battle for 3rd and 4th against Harry Dodge - another very impressive performance.

Josh and Marwan have both won the right to participate in the GC World champs starting in Tauranga on Saturday - very well played both.

I'd like to see Felix get a spot too - he certainly deserves a go.

Tony O'Donnell has come by all smiles - he has done an absolute power of work at this tournament. Chris has been up at 6 every morning and straight down here to mow, set hoops, make sure things run smoothly -very good job, and well done to Gordon Smith, the tournament manager.

It's 6.21pm and we have the prizegiving to do.

Time to go and do some announcing :-)