WCF AC World Championship

Good morning from National Croquet Centre.
In my first attempt of commentary will endeavour to cover three games from the Plate - so bear with me.

Game 1 - Pete Landrebe vs Richard M Smith
Game 2 - Alan Walsh v Duncan Reeve
Game 3 - Claire Bassett v Brian Cumming

Plate knockout is single game.

G3 - Brian won toss and went to standard opening position with Y
CB cnr 2 with k
BC missed y
CB hit R with b, groveled thru 1 and retired 2 yards east of k in cnr 2.
BC shot with r form 5 yrds nth of 1 at b - missed
CB takes off frrom r to k, didnt get rush, but played wonderful croquet shot loading 3 and finishing 4 ft in front of 2 and ran it cleanly - should now complete first break in easy conditions

Game 2
AW to standard opening with G
DR to 1 foot north of cnr 4
AW shot from b baulk and missed to cnr 4 - no double
DR just nicked shooting into cnr 4 - however failed to get break going - setup near hoop 3 - with g at hoop 2 and b in cnr 4
AW shoots at P & W - missed.
DR sets up again near cnr 3, having dug out b to hoop 1, wired thru hp4 to g
AW shoots b at P&W - missed.

Game 1
RS standard opening with k
PL to 6 inches south cnr 2
RS shoots at R - misses
PL shoots at double - misses
RS makes 1 and gets rush to eastern boundary. - A good rush to cnr 2 will get him in good position to complete first break

Game 3
CB had break under control but blobbed in 1 back - (noooooooo!!!!!!)
BC hits 2 yarded from 45 degrees, and now has court layed out for easy break with R

Game 3
I went to the 'locker room' and came back and BC failed to make hoop2
CB will now complete break

Game 1 & 2
The wrong players are on the court (this is Aussie flavour commetary!!)
Could take a while as RS is one of the slower dragon slayers - see his post on facebook.

Game 3
CB sets a diagonal spread with her usual pinpoint accuracy

Game 1
RS failed to get position on hp4 , retreats to cnr 3.
PL shoots Y (sth of hp 4) at R - 2 yards nth of hoop 2 - hits
takes off to B & K in cnr 3 - should get break going.

Game 3
BC hits leave with y - makes h1 and has 7 yd return roquet - hits

Game 1
view obstructed by water cooler - PL didnt get going and coughed it straight back
RS reset in cnr 3 - PL shooting with y - misses

Game 2
DR failed 3 - AW has started break with B and just run h2 with h3 loaded

Clippage
Game 1 - (RS) B running hp4 + 1 - with no loads at either 5 or 6 verses (PL) 1 & 1 (dragon slayer not using a sword, more like a butter knife!)
Game 2 - AW going round with B, currently approaching hp6 &1, verses DR 4 & 1

Note - Games 1 & 2 are on far court - 100 yards away so takes a few moments to walk up and back.

Game 3 BC negotiates around through 3b - sets diagonal spread. 2 & 4b verse CB 1 & 4b

Game 2
AW grovels thru 2b, and has hampered shot - 5 yarder... not much swing... and hits - well just nudges it gently

Game 3
CB shoots with K from B baulk - misses
BC has delayed tp for the game, but has to rush B from very close to peg to h2 - left himself a five yard roll... nice approach and negotiates successfully

Game 2
AW sets a NSL
DR is shooting P from where it lies(between H1 & H2) at G& B - misses
AW has standard TP for the win

DOH - blobs in h2 - Pink taps on to recommence break from h4

Game 1
RS approaching 2back, plays a drive from 5 yards west of the hoop, placing K 5 yds south of 3b, gets perfectly in front of 2b - but has no reception ball..!!!!!!
Takes the 15 yarder at yellow - 3 yrds Nth of 3b - misses

After further interaction, PL gets break going with Y

apologies for delay - internet connection here is variable & weak.

Game 1
PL failed to make h4
RS now in with K and for h3 - required a quad to win

Game 3
BC successfully completed TP - CB off to the bar to enjoy the pleasant Florida weather

Game 2
DR completed break to 4b - now 4b & 1 verse B(4b) and G (hp3) - leave was flat on eastern boundary
AW lifts G, shoots from b baulk and misses double.
DR playing W, taps P and gets rush to h1 - standard TP to finish

Game 1
RS has put away the butter knife and taken out the sword.
Completed break to the peg and placing tight cross wire at the peg
RS peg & 3b verses PL 3 & 1

Game 1
The interaction continues,

PL hits with R - runs hp1 and hits 6 yarder. Not a laid out break but good control for rush to h2

Game 2
DR on easy break with W (back ball) going to the peg - no attempt at TP
AW still 3 & 4b

Game 2
DR set horizontal spread, P & W on western boundary - single ball target for G at peg - misses.
DR just needs to negotiate last 3 hoops to win.

Game 1
Pete (with fire in his nostrils) is playing tight break and going to the peg to peg off black

Game 2
DR pegged out for the win - AW to the bar

Game 1
K has been pegged off, giving contact.
Y on western boundary 3 yards south of cnr 2 - R in cnr 1

Dragon has put some heat on the Slayer...

Game 1
B takes contact from y, croquetting Y to 2 yards off eastern boundary from 4b
Has 6 yarder at R - misses.
Pete to set a tealady trap with B 1 foot out of cnr 1.
Will the Dragon Slayer take on the Tealady? - No. What a kind knight he is. B to 2 feet east of Cnr 2.

Dragon resets middle of eastern boundary
Knight is startled, and deems.
Dragon resets again behind the w(th)ickets, to ensure dolly rush
Knight only has stamina to hit ball 6 inches...

Dragon makes h3 and flies down to cnr 4, setting trap for the Knight.
Knight to middle of eastern boundary. (Rook 4)
Dragon rushes R to 3 yards SW of h4, takes offs to B, rolls into h4 - doesn't get position, so retreats to b baulk, covering the shot thru R.

B to eastern boundary, level with hoop 3.
Y shooting at red, hits.
Rolls up to h4 from near h6, makes hoop 4 and hits return 6 yard roquet to midway between h1 & h2.
Rather than take on hoop, retires back behind h1, setting yet another trap.
** due to distance from court unable to determine wirings

B to cnr 4, possibly awaiting lift...
Y has 4 yard rush to h5, edges it, so rolls down to behind h2.

B to directly south of its hoop (3b)
Y roquets R gently to set wire with rush up the lawn.

B is attempting 6 yd hoop.... Not the time to take that shot, miss that and gives the break, possibly game away)
B misses, squirting out to eastern boundary by a yard...

Dragon now circles in for the kill...

Y rushes R to near B, croquets toward h5, rushes B to sth of h5, sending it to h6
Ends up on 30 degree angle... just gets through
Roquets R, now has 3 ball break for the game...

Dragon, breathing fire, is smoking this 3 ball break getting good position on all croquet shots...

Dragon runs rover, circles back to R and strikes the final blow.

Dragon wins +5
Knight mortally wounded and is taken back to the bar...

Well done Pete.

Plate Game, round 2
Duncan Reeve v Pete Landrebe
During my lunch break Duncan made a quick opening 9.
Pete took the short lift shot, as long boundary is rather variable - missed.
Duncan, on a tp to finish, has completed 4b peel and now has straight double to finish.
Given current ball position he should accomplish this.

Duncan's rush approach to rover fell short, so has put in horizontal spread.
Pete taking shot from A baulk across smoother part of the lawn... and hits.
Coming from a long way behind, 1 & 1 vs rover & peg

In other plate games
Filbee on an equaling break v I Lines - a neat break so should be 1 & 4b a piece

Pete has completed break with deep reverse diagonal spread & with no rush to 1, Peg ball at the peg.
Duncan shot from end of A baulk through peg ball... misses.
Pete now on standard TP for the game, played a very roll from end of b baulk loading 2 and getting rush for 1.

I Lines has hit the short shot across the court - then sticks in 1.

Pete jaws 3 back after 3 - looking good.
Filbee hands innings back to Lines blobbing in h2

Stephen Howes referees the shot - Lines hits outside upright and ends up on a baulk
Howes gloriously signals that it didn't hit.

Pete jawed penult going to 1b - rushed it down to rover and duly peeled it going to 3b.
and finishes.

Pete to play the winner of the Lines / Filbee match for a place in the Plate final

The interactive game between Lines & Filbee continues...
Lines has made it through h2, after numerous attempts.
Clippage is 3(on break) & 4b verses 4 and 4b.

Make that 4 & 4b a piece... after Lines missed return roquet after 3

Filbee now 4b & 4b vs 4b & 4 - unfortunately blobbed in 4b - Lines take lift shot with h4 ball
Has opportunity to get delayed tp setup - but I ain't holding my breath!

No attempt to do triple, just keeping a tight break together - sensible given the previous 2 hours of play.

Lines has run his break to the peg, setting a diagonal spread.
Peg & 4b v 4b & 4b.

Filbee misses shot down boundary to cnr4 - Lines on a finish

and he does...

Now to do battle with Landrebe.

On other side of the draw, Marcus Evans has won cleanly this morning and waiting on a 1 ball game between Leo & Sherif.

Based on today's form Evans and Landrebe are favourites to play off in the final.

Missed the start as game transferred to lawn 12.
Pete (B & K) won opening but failed hoop 1.
Lines had tap on with Y but break came unstuck after 3 and successfully attemped to cross wire B & K around h4.
However accidently got hampered on h2 whilst retreating to cnr 2
Pete parjoins
Lines retreats to position on b baulk
Pete misses 3 yarder
Lines hits 14 yarder and takes off towards cnr 4 - and is for hoop 4.

Lines completes break to 4b and sets a diagonal spread

Lines set deep - level with h4 - expect Pete to take short shot.
... and he is.
hits.

Meanwhile - Kevin Beard outlasted Dwayne in marathon best of 3.

Pete broke down after one, LInes resets in cnr 4 - Pete shoots and misses.
Ian has a standard TP for the win.

Marcus is on standard tp against Leo in other game.

Lines takes opportunistic attempt of 5 yard peel after 3 - doesn't get close, but break still under control

*** I had better finish this off *** long dinner break
Lines completed break to peg and put in diagonal spread - not as deep this time
Landrebe took short shot again - didn't come off mallet well and duly missed.
Lines finished and progresses to the final

And just to seal the commentator's 'kiss of death' McBride defeated Evans. - apologies to Marcus and Pete.

All the best to Ian Lines & Leo McBride in Sunday's Plate final.

Cheers