General synopsis of Rounds 2-4.

The lawns have been quite tricky since first thing with significant variation in pace in the lawn and sometimes a noticeable wind gradient. Longish croquet strokes were frequently followed by 5 yarders. Conditions should be similar tomorrow.

Most games have been more interactive than I have time to report in any detail.

Dave Maugham definitely made the fewest errors by a distance today getting to 4/4. Dave played the weakest 4 other players so doesn't have a very significant lead over Paddy Chapman and Me both on 3/4 having played each other and Stephen Mulliner.

Arguably the key games in rounds 2-4 were Paddy against Stephen and Paddy against Myself.

The first I saw of Paddy and Stephen's game, Stephen had just missed his 1b pioneer with a 4b peel attempt jawsed. Paddy then missed a 5 yard lift. Stephen got the innings peeling partner to penultimate and laying up. Paddy then hit a 25 yarder, but rushing downwind to 1b rushed virtually to c2 and then his approach was woefully short. Stephen turned down a 13 yarder in favour of a more defensive 18 yarder and missed, but it proved enough for Paddy to finish off.

In my game with Paddy I had a 4th turn ball to 3b, then hit a 25 yarder 6th turn but missed a long return roquet after 6 with one peel of a quad done. Paddy went to 1b. I hit the lift but in quick succession we both made 1b and failed to make 2b. I finished in two turns from 2b and 4b.

The four outsiders for the event, Avery, Dawson, Hopgood and Wicks all struggled today, but at least all got a game under their belts. Avery will be happiest having played just the top 4 and getting a game off Mulliner.