Trans - Tasman Series
Test 3 - Day 1 - Doubles again... by Callum Hyland
Good morning World!
Doubles again today.
The bulk of the pressure is off Australia, so any play influenced by that factor should be gone today. However, NZ have been playing better each day, so they may be hungry to with 1 Test remaining in contention.
27 Apr 2018 8:59AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Today's matches-up are:
Lawn 4: Clarke & Freeth (so far undefeated in doubles) v. Wilson & Verge
Lawn 3: Shilling & Mayard-Husson v. Forster & Landrebe
Lawn 2: Robinson & Hakes v. Bassett & G. Fletcher
Lawn 1: Bryant & Fisher v. Sharpe and M. Fletcher.
27 Apr 2018 9:00AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Should be some interesting matches in this bunch, but on current form, I will tip a 2 - 2 doubles result for today...
27 Apr 2018 9:03AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 3 has begun.
Forster (Black) to standard position.
Shilling (Red) to Corner 2
Landrebe (Blue) at partner from A-baulk - misses.
Mayard-Husson (Yellow) from A-baulk at opposition - misses.
27 Apr 2018 9:04AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Forster taps makes a cannon, plays it a bit short on roquetted ball, rolls to 1 and fails hoop. Will be stuck against the left wire and probably unable to hit anything if NZ don't get going.
NZ thinking.
27 Apr 2018 9:06AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 4.
Clarke (Blue) to standard,
Wilson (Yellow) to duffer position - short - 4ft west and 1 north of H6
Freeth at duffer...
27 Apr 2018 9:07AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Freeth (Black) hits duffer out near the east boundary peg high.
27 Apr 2018 9:08AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 3.
Mayard-Husson fires from north of 1 at the ball at 2.
Landrebe fires from 2y south of 2 to the ball on the leg of 1.
Mayard-Husson fires at partner in corner 2.... snicks.
Takes off to 2ft from the south boundary ball. Great shot for early in the morning (or any time actually). Should have a break.
27 Apr 2018 9:10AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
I'm off for a coffee run, so my delightful assistant will take over for a bit ;)
27 Apr 2018 9:12AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 4.
Freeth plays Blue .. standard East side.
.Wilson put in a duffer short 4 ft NE of 6.
Freeth rushed the duffer towards blue on the East boundary from where he obtained the perfect rush to Hoop 1.
Excellent rush out of Hoop 1 to East border from where he rushed to Hoop 2.
Good load on 4, sticks 3.
Virge. takes the shot on ball in hoop 3 and snicks it in the jaws, gets rush on Black to Y. Load on 2, Angle hoop and reception toward W boundary. Red bounces back from 1.
Freeth and Clark consider their options... Clark takes the shot Blue from 2 to Black at 3 and hits. There is a ball at !!
27 Apr 2018 9:29AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Lawn 3
Maynard-Husson in a standard break running 3B, about to set her leave. Not happy about playing partner before Oppo ball at 3B. R a few yards short of E boundary.
Sends Black to halfway between H2 and SW toward W border. Blue to peg.. Shilling in to assist with wiring, Maynard-Husson fires Y to E boundary behind R..
Landrebe lifts ball at peg and fires from middle of B baulk, misses.
Lawn 4
Jenny on a standard 4 ball break, makes H6 with partner ball, R at 1B and Y at 2B. Leaves B in the court 4 yds W of 6.
Rjust L of CP, Black 2 yds L of R, approaches 2B with Y, rushes to just W of Black, stop shots Y out to the E of the peg.. Taps R and leaves W and close to peg. Rushes Black to W boundary, rush. Reverse cross court diagonal spread. Clip on 3B
Ed lifts Y and fires from A Baulk. Hits Black.
27 Apr 2018 9:47AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Lawn 3
Maynard-Husson setting for Shilling, ball at 2 and ball on border S or H1. Goes out on the croquet stroke on E boundary.
Landrebe fires (long shot) on ball at 2, misses.
Discussion on the court.
Lawn 4
Ed in H3, Ref out to confirm that it is through, markers down. Takes short shot on Black, hits. Loads H5, rushes R to E boundary, sends R to 5 going to Blue., short rush to 4. .
Load to 6 and standard play at present.
Lawn 3
Steven is in. He obviously did something brilliant (like hit a long roquet) and has set the court with Y NE of H1 and R off E boundary. Black on boundary NE of H2 , Blue just off boundary behind H2.
Maynard-Husson fires Y to just N of Corner 4.
Steven in play with a take off to R on E boundary, take off to Y, cut rush to middle of S boundary. Hoop approach to H 1, a little wide to the W and returns to partner behind H2.
Lawn 4
Ed sets 2-4. leave after 4B.
Freeth lifts Black from H2 to B Baulk, hits R. on E boundary. QP plans I think.
lawn 3
Landrebe makes H1, R on E boundary, Y in C3.
takes off to R gaining a good rush up the court to N between 6 and 3. croquet R to 1yd S of 3 going to Y in corner. Y to N of 2 and B going back to Black on S boundary.
Lawn 4
Freeth makes 4, peels Blue sending it up the court to almost level with peg.. Rushes R to just E of H3, consult with Clarke, pass roll back to Y at 5. r goes half way and W of 3 between 3and 6. Black W of 5, roquets Y, consult and hoop approach with Y W, angle shot W of hoop, through! No rush on Y to Blue! Roquets Y, sends Y toward 3, Black W of Blue. Stop shot would have been better here. Blue croqueted to 1B . Needs a good cut rush to 6. Good outcome. Good hoop with rush toward Y. Rushes R to just S outh Y, sends R to Just SW of 3, rush Y to N border E of 1B. Stop shot Y to just N of 2B, short rush to 1B.
Lawn 3
Landrebe makes 1B, sends R to ready for leave towards border SW of 1B . Load to N of 3B and pulls up short of load at 2B. Misses...
Easy start for Shilling. Red lifted, rushes Blue to C4. Croquets Blue to 4yds SE H2 , good rush on Y to Black. Should e a standard 4 ball break here.
Lawn 4
Freeth with Black for 4B, Y at PU, Blue 7yds SE between PU and Peg. Looks like standard play to the peg.
Leave with Red SE of H2 7yds in. Y to wire. Cross court diagonal spread
27 Apr 2018 10:36AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Hello again all,
Callum here again.
And many thanks to my delightful assistant - these WA folks are good at commentary!
27 Apr 2018 10:39AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
Verge picks up the westerly (hoop 1 ball) and fires at oppo from A-Baulk. Misses.
3 hoops to go for Clarke to take Game 1 against Wilson and Verge...
Lawn 3.
Shilling continuing his controlled TP. Will be attempting the second peel on time (after 6).
27 Apr 2018 10:42AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Just to update you on the farthest two lawns from the commentary corner (due to a dying battery, I'm confined to a 2.5 by 1.5 foot space behind a door leaning on a handrail to support the computer most of the time), the state of play is:
Lawn 2. Hakes on 1, Robinson on 4 (came through 3 hampered and fled earlier on). Bassett made 9 in 2 breaks (not including a replay at 2back after a jammed ball - followed by a very polite and exact discussion between an oppo and a referee other than the one on court about opposition's rights for looking at things before replays are awarded), and Fletcher is now doing a TP. Currently attempting to peel penult while getting a rush to 4B.
27 Apr 2018 10:45AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1.
Much interaction.
Sharpe was doing well, but came unstuck between 6 and 7. She is now on 1back, Fletcher on 2 (has just hit in), and opposition are on 3 and 3 Back.
27 Apr 2018 10:46AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 4.
Clarke getting an old hoop hole dimple filled up next to rover so she can do a 6in approach shot from the side.
Makes the hoop, rushes back to partner at penult, rushes to peg (after calling referee... waste of time in my unhumble opinion), and pegs out both balls to take Game 1 against Wilson & Verge, 26-9. Well done kiwis. A very solid game. Their opposition will have to play well to win this match!
27 Apr 2018 10:48AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 3.
Shilling continues his TP, but ends up with a short angled 2back.
Shilling stalks the hoop from down near the peg, then calls ref., presumably because he wanted to determine the effect of the shot (my words).
27 Apr 2018 10:52AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Makes hoop and has a hamper... continues by firing at partner which is 5ft North of 5 (having been placed there to peel). Misses by 6in to the right.
Forster on Hoop 1 has a 2 yard lift shot to rush to 1..
27 Apr 2018 10:56AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 4.
Game 2...
Wilson plays Y as a supershot (2y W and 3 N of 5).
Clarke plays BL to C2.
Verge fires at BL from B-Baulk. Misses into the corner, and should be a double target for Freeth.
Freeth bisects the double and there will be 3 balls in 1ft of lawn up near C2. cannon chance for Verge if she plays it well.
27 Apr 2018 10:57AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Verge taps the first ball, does a disjointed cannon loading 2 and snicking the other ball... She's now taking off from this to the supershot ball (almost 20 yards) leaving oppo 9 yards apart... Not sure what the plan was there.
However, the takeoff is pretty good, and should be able to take her 1yard cut to 1.
27 Apr 2018 11:00AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 3.
Forster made 1, but overrolled 2. Retreats to partner over by 3.
Oppo have 17 and 14 yard options.
27 Apr 2018 11:01AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 2.
G. Fletcher finishes his TP to take game 1 against Hakes & Robinson, 26TP (F) - 3.
27 Apr 2018 11:02AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1.
Malcolm Fletcher seems to have broken down having done 2 peels of a sextuple. He's on 6 and partner on 2back.
Oppo (Bryant) has hit in with his 3back? ball, and seems to be setting a leave, as things aren't in a great position for a break.
27 Apr 2018 11:03AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Lawn 3.
Mayard-Husson puts Yellow behind a lamppost near C1 (intentionally), and Landrebe will be doing a load and hold out of that corner with oppo balls to try and start a break from 2back. Forster still on 2.
(Shilling on 3B and N.M-H. on Rover).
27 Apr 2018 11:05AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Has a 2 yard hoop, and fails it.
Shilling is on the other side, with a ball at his hoop (3b). Likely to be game over.
27 Apr 2018 11:07AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
However, he fails 3back and Forster is in. Will have an 18 yard rush to 2, and not the best load at 3 (8y SSW).
Overrolls 2 again, and will retire to somewhere on East Boundary.
27 Apr 2018 11:13AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
Verge seems to be continuing her break with ease. However... Wilson's constant presence on the lawn suggests that a SXP is the planned winning tactic. Hmm.
27 Apr 2018 11:14AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Nothing like confidence when oppo is shooting better and making more consistent breaks than you, and you're game down.
Bit of fun though.
27 Apr 2018 11:15AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Aiken would like a certain reader to know that he has been very polite and courteous today. And indeed he has. Full marks for the non-playing sides of the day so far.
27 Apr 2018 11:16AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1.
Robinson has made hoops 3 and 4, and is approaching 5 with a 4ball break.
Bryant is on 3B, Fletcher on 6, and Sharpe on 3B. Close game, and could go either way.
27 Apr 2018 11:17AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 2 are about to start Game 2.
Lawn 3. Shilling (3back) is just S of C3, NMH (rover) is EBoundary level with 4. Forster is on 2, and Landrebe is approaching 2back from 2y SE. Makes hoop.
Lawn 4. Verge setting croswire at 1. Oppo hoping they set it wide so a jump can be successfully played. Other half of oppo is hoping such a shot is not possible...
27 Apr 2018 11:20AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 2.
G. Fletch puts in supershot (2y N and 1.5 W of 5.)
Robinson follows it up to leave a single... but it hills left, and is short. Bassett has a 10-11.5Y double.
Hits the front ball.
Lawn 4.
Crosswire is set. One ball will be able to jump the hoop... but not get down again in time.
Oppo are setting up in C3. However, the rush up there was short, the roll put the front ball in a wired position from the westerly of the crosswired balls (they're on the NW/SE axis) and the continuation will have to be careful not to concede a wiring life.
The big news is though, that Oppo has hit a nice gently shot at partner across hoop 1 and middled it!. It was Freeth, and he was the ball closest to the hoop (i.e. the one with the smallest target).
Steve Wardle has been very prompt and shown me a photo of the completely open shot.
Wilson & Verge have nevertheless packed their luck. Freeth under approaches H1 from 2 yards and blobs hoop.
Wilson has a 4ft rush along N. Boundary to get position for his first peel. Overhits.
27 Apr 2018 11:27AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 3.
Landrebe made 2back, but not 3back (didn't see what happened), and now Forster is in and will be doing another long rush to 2.
27 Apr 2018 11:28AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 2.
Bassett is 3balling it around, and has just left herself a 4ft hoop 3, on a slight angle. Middles the left wire, and Hakes will be able to make a variety of double targets on turn 4.
Hmm.
27 Apr 2018 11:29AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe has just been seen running 3Back (partner still on 6.).
Bryant is on 3back, and Fisher's clip is not in sight, so no idea what happened there.
Spectators are busy watching the tactical SXP attempt on Lawn 4, so no help from them.
27 Apr 2018 11:31AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Said tactical sxp might not, on serious reflection, have been the best option, given that the striker made it as far as hoop 2, with no peels done - except one on the oppo through hoop 1.
Clarke now has a tap on at 2, with another ball sitting pretty there, and partner over towards 3.
She taps on, rushes said other ball to partner, croquets it to 3, and rushes partner towards 1.
Who would have thought that NZ would get another turn.
27 Apr 2018 11:33AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Lawn 3.
Forster approaching 5 with 4 balls in play. Should go to peg...
27 Apr 2018 11:34AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Lawn 2.
Hakes hit the double and set a leave down near C1, leaving oppo at 3 and 4.
Bassett hit from 3 to 4, took off to oppo, and will now be rushing back up to 3.
27 Apr 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 12 Readers
In breaking news, drastic changes have been made to tomorrow's lawn allocation.
Mayard-Husson and Fisher do not return to lawns 2 and 4 respectively for their 5th day out of 6 on said lawns, and the NZ men have their streak of 3 consecutive days on 1 lawn broken and are all moved elsewhere. They won't know where they are on foreign turf!
27 Apr 2018 11:37AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe bombs rover, leaving Fisher with a 2 yard shot at the peg, and 2 balls at rover (she's for 3back - as is Bryant). Game On! (again).
Lawn 2.
Bassett fails 3 again, and Hakes is back in.
Lawn 3.
Forster continues on his merry (if you can call it that) way. and is attempting to peel NMH through rover as he goes.
Lawn 4.
NZ discuss things (nothing unusual there) at hoop 3, and continue 4ball break.
27 Apr 2018 11:40AM (Tournament); 12 Readers
The sausage rolls here are particularly nice. As was yesterday's chocolate cake, and Claire Basset's anniversary cake (sent by a loving husband). I can recommend that Wynnum catering staff and ever helpful (though seemingly sometimes bored) helpers. They do a great job from dawn to dusk and are greatly appreciated and ever friendly (though occasionally tired..).
27 Apr 2018 11:43AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Lawn 2.
Hakes starts break.
Lawn 1.
Fisher made 1 hoop and has done a sort of set-up.
Fletcher is firing from 6ish to 5ish (slightly East to West shot), and oppo are camped at EB with a 6 yard rush in lawn, pointing at 5. Not my ideal leave, but it has trapped the opposition into a long shot, so could be worse.
27 Apr 2018 11:45AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Fletcher misses (ended up shooting at the ball at 4) to S. Boundary.
Bryant to play (3back).
27 Apr 2018 11:46AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Bryant takes his 6 yard reverse rush, and should have a ball to the peg.
Nothing whatsoever interesting is happening on other lawns.
27 Apr 2018 11:47AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
Diagonal spread from Clarke
Wilson's h2 is the Westerly ball, and he middles partner at the peg from where it lays. Must be millimeters off a cannon on East Boundary.
Lawn 3.
Forster sets a reverse crosswire at the peg (didn't get the rover peel on oppo.)
Lawn 2.
Hakes in break.
Lawn 1.
Bryant has a 7 yard return roquet after 3back, and takes on the 10 forward roquet instead. Misses to N.Boundary.
Oppo join up over near the boundary west of 5. and Bryant hits his 9 yarder and will soon have a long rush back to 4back if he so chooses.
27 Apr 2018 11:55AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Lawn 4.
Wilson makes 2, and continues his break.
Very conservatively he has declined his SXP attempt.
He now seems to be plotting a QPO instead.
Given that his partner is on 1back, and oppo's partner on 2, this doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
27 Apr 2018 11:57AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Lawn 2.
Hakes sets a ladies SXP leave (ball in jaws of 1back, with partner behind it to rush it through, and oppo wired across 1.).
Bassett fires the northerly ball from 1 at oppo at 2, and misses.
Robinson turns on Bassett, and his the 5 yarder. Partner isn't quite in perfect peeling position, but has a chance of making more out of this SXP than Wilson did over on court 4.
Lawn 1.
Fletcher is in, and making 1back. NZ still have both clips on 4back. Sharpe is on rover.
27 Apr 2018 12:00PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 2.
Robinson makes 1, but hasn't started her Sextuple yet. Has all the balls ahead though.
Alison's problem this tournament has been - I think - lack of play. She didn't get a lot on the practice days before the event, and her opponents haven't been giving her much time to adapt to the lawns. Hopefully she'll get a few more good breaks in before the end of the tournament.
Lawn 3.
Time went... And Landrebe & Forster have won Game One - 21-19 against Shilling & NMH. Landrebe says she's still shanking roquetts (as per yesterday)...
27 Apr 2018 12:06PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Lawn 4.
Wilson mid way through QPO. Has 2 peels done, and will be attempting to rush peel Blue through penult before 3back.
Lawn 2.
Robinson has abandoned the SXP, but is continuing her 4ball break.
Lawn 1. Fletcher doing a straight rover peel from in the jaws, and is on the way to taking Game 1 against Bryant & Fisher, 26-18 - catastrophe excepting.
27 Apr 2018 12:09PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Lawn 1.
Catastrophe avoided (not that it was ever possible) and Sharpe & Fletcher win Game 1.
Lawn 2.
Robinson continues break.
Lawn 3.
Players having a chat before resuming.
Stay tuned.
27 Apr 2018 12:13PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Lawn 4.
Interesting...
From an easy rover peel to finish a QPO, Wilson now has a hideously angled short peel... (peelee is just clear of the jaws, but about an inch offset, and almost touching a leg.
Crouetted ball goes through 1ft. Striker hits leg and bounces back to another horrid position. Only luck will get this through without roquetting Blue.... 2 refs. in attendance.
Fails hoop and ends in the jaws.
Contact given. 3 balls at rover, Oppo has a ball on the peg, and the hoop 2 ball is 3 yards off S.Boundary.
Black (for 2) is lifted and placed in contact with the ball in the jaws of rover (on the non-playing side). Taps it through, rushes oppo's 1back ball down near S.Boundary, loads it up towards 3, and gets a rush on partner to 2.
27 Apr 2018 12:22PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Lawn 2.
Robinson is up to 2back with full control.
Games have started on lawns 1 and 3, but I'm off for a snack, so back soon. Will see if I can find my delightful assistant...
27 Apr 2018 12:23PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Back
27 Apr 2018 1:27PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
So, on Lawn 4, Freeth finished from the 4 ball rover contact leave, to take game Two 26-17, and the match in straight games.
Lawn 3 are at lunch during Game 2.
Clip positions are: Forster and Landrebe on 1 and 4back, Shilling and Mayard-Husson on 1 and 1. They seem to have joined up, and the Aussies have missed something.
NZ to play, with a 2y roquet, and a ball in the middle of the lawn. Don't know when they'll resume.
27 Apr 2018 1:29PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 2.
Fletcher is on 1, Bassett on 3back (non-tactical stop), and Hakes is continuing a TP he started some time ago. Had done 1 peel, when he broke down after playing a poor rush from 3 to 2back, and a poor roll approaching the hoop. Has now peeled penult posthumously, and will be setting a leave with a ball on the peg and partner on rover. This is game 2.
Lawn 1.
Fletcher went to Peg, with patner on 4back. Fisher missed. Sharpe failed 4back. Bryant hit a 7 yarder and is now doing things - i.e. approaching 4. Also game 2.
27 Apr 2018 1:32PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Lawn 2.
Hakes' leave is:
Blue (Claire - for 3back) in the jaws of rover - pretty much in the middle.
Black (Greg - for 1) 2 yards off the East Boundary, peg high.
He has set a rush for his partner (Red, for rover), over on WB pointing roughly at the peg.
AUS are thinking...
27 Apr 2018 1:35PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 1.
Bryant is through 6 with a 6 yard return. Middles. Carries on.
Lawn 2.
Fletcher lifts and will be shooting at the ball in rover from A-baulk...
Middles it. Should be a quad but may be a set up.
I must do some more errands now, so will be back with updates soon (and a Kiwi wants my internet - so it's her fault if anything unexpected happens.)
27 Apr 2018 1:38PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Back - again.
Lawn 3. Mayard-Husson is on a break, and has just run 2 back. Partner still on 1, and opposition on 1 and 4back.
27 Apr 2018 2:11PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 2.
G. Fletcher on QP. - he did the second peel with a rush to 3back, and will have a good looking straight double to finish.
Opposition are still on Rover and Peg.
27 Apr 2018 2:11PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1.
Fletcher & Sharpe are on Box and 4back (i.e. 1 ball only left)
Bryant & Fisher are on Peg and 1.
Blue (for H1) in C1,
Red (4back) 1y West of center line,
Black (peg) in C3
Lunch break, with Blue and Black to play.
27 Apr 2018 2:14PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
NZ do not receive lifts.
27 Apr 2018 2:14PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
NZ Manager Steve Wardle playing a practice game with AUS Reservce Jannine Hawker.
Wardle hit 2nd turn and put Hawker at 2, trying for a break, and retreated to C4.
Hawker firing at that ball... Changes mind. Fires at partner from B.Baulk. Misses.
Wardle hits partner in C4, takes off to the West boundary ball (peg high), and will need a good roll for a break.
Jannine has been hitting better roquets and running better hoops than most of the Australians in practice.
However, TT rules do not allow reserves to be played at any time after the initial playing team is named for the first test unless there is a "permanent casualty", so no swaps for lack of form/confidence etc.
27 Apr 2018 2:18PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Back to the serious stuff...
Lawn 2.
Fletcher finishing off his QP. Has a 2ft6in straight rover peel, with 2 escape balls handy.
27 Apr 2018 2:20PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 3.
NMH set a leave after 9 (not sure what), Aus missed, and Shilling has a cut rush from a ball at the peg to get a break going.
Will have a 4y sideways approach with oppo's 4back ball.
Partner is at 2, and oppo's H1 ball 9y East of peg.
Plays a good approach and should be ok.
27 Apr 2018 2:21PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
Hawker hit Wardle's setup and should have a good chance at a break. Go AUS!
27 Apr 2018 2:21PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 2.
Fletcher's peelee goes through 8 yards, and striker stops in jaws.
So, if all goes well, Fletcher & Bassett should take Game 2 against Hakes and Robinson, 26QP(F) - 23. A very good win.
27 Apr 2018 2:23PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1 = Lunch
Lawn 2 = Fletcher misses front ball pegout from 2.5 yards. - both balls slide past the peg on the right, so probably a poor stroke. Croquetted ball goes 2.5y west of 2, and striker will be hit away somewhere. Oppo are 2y NE of 1 (the peg ball), and 2y NE of the end of A-baulk.
Lawn 3 = Shilling break for potential finish (Aus are 1 game up), or ball to peg.
Lawn 4 = NZ Manager v. Aus Reserve. Both are hitting long ones but neither getting position in front of 1 yet. I haven't seen Wardle play, but I'm tipping Hawker no matter what. She is playing very well at the moment, and is great under pressure - doesn't change her game with the pressure or the opponent, which is excellent.
27 Apr 2018 2:29PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Lawn 2
Black (Fletcher) goes to C4.
Hakes plays and his mallet makes an almighty clink (it's been falling apart, but this sounds worse than ever).
Not sure he knows the best end to play with now one is coming lose...
27 Apr 2018 2:35PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Lawn 3.
Shilling up to 2back under control. No peeling attempts.
27 Apr 2018 2:36PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1.
Blue (Fisher) goes to WB level with 6.
Red (Sharpe) lags in front of 4back - 4ft position, but slightly angled.
Lawn 2.
Hakes hits partner, takes off putting it back towards South Boundary. Goes to ball in C4, croquetts that very close to C3, and sets a rush just off the SB for Robinson towards Peg.
27 Apr 2018 2:39PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1.
Blue fires at partner in C4.
Misses leaving 8in target.
Sharpe fires at it from 4back, and misses.
27 Apr 2018 2:40PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 4.
Hawker has a 3ball break v. NZ Manager with a ball just out of C1.
Lawn 3.
Shilling continuing break to the peg.
Lawn 2.
Fletcher firing from C3 to partner west of 2...
Middles it :)
27 Apr 2018 2:41PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1.
Fisher leaves oppo in C4, and makes 1 with no rush. Will be setting up as close to C2 as possible.
Makes it H6 height on West Boundary with a rush to 2.
Lawn 4.
Noises from Wardle as he nearly takes off out. (Jannine blobbed 3), and he has now made 1 and has a chance for a break
27 Apr 2018 2:45PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe to WB level with 5.
Fisher fails 2.
27 Apr 2018 2:47PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe plays to mid N. Boundary.
Bryant plays, putting Sharpe down near 1, and sets up a rush for partner behind 2.
27 Apr 2018 2:52PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 2.
Fletcher leaves Hakes' peg ball just off SB 2y W of 4, and Robinson's rover ball in mirror image position N and W of 3.
Sets up near C2.
Ref was seen on lawn, not sure why.
They were taking their time to set up, but since referees are on request only, and opposition didn't call them, it would be a pity if (as has happened several times already this tournament) said ref. were interfering without jurisdiction to do so. Let's hope that was not the case here.
27 Apr 2018 2:55PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Anyway, Robinson hits from North of 4 to West of 2. Must be a flat bit of lawn up there - or it has a channel in it - as that's the shot Greg F. hit a little while ago.
27 Apr 2018 2:56PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 3.
Shilling makes it to peg with a diagonal spread.
Landrebe hits the oppo balls on EB (didn't see where from) and has underapproached 1 with partner.
27 Apr 2018 2:57PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 1.
Looks like Sharpe just moved a little, and is still West of 1 (or fired and croquetted there.. didn't see), and Fisher has made 2.
Sets a Southward rush on EB level with 4.
27 Apr 2018 2:58PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 2.
Robinson leaves Bassett on WB level with 2, and Fletcher 5y South of 3.
Sets up with a cut rush to rover from South of 4, with 1 ball wired? from Fletcher's Black.
Lawn 1.
Sharpe to C2.
Lawn 3.
Landrebe sits in front of hoop.
Mayard Husson to C3.
Landrebe runs 1 and then not sure what...
Anyway, N.M.H. is doing a wide join up near C3 (8 apart), Landrebe is 4yN of C4, and Forster 3.5y N and 1 E of 1.
Forster firing at partner.
27 Apr 2018 3:03PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Lawn 2.
Fletcher at partner...
Misses one..
Robinson rushes to 1y SW of rover. Must get this or oppo have a 6in rush to the peg from WB.
Lawn 4. (practice game)
Wardle on 2 and 2,
Hawker on 1 and 1back - hampered.
27 Apr 2018 3:05PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Lawn 3.
NZ 1ft apart in C3 (for peg and 4back), AUS 3in apart 3y North of C4 (for 2 and 4back).
Aus to play.
Forster tries to rush partner to C3 for a cannon. Almost makes it, and will have a cannon with oppo balls instead.
Lawn 1.
Fisher doesn't get position at 3, and runs leaving Bryant's ball 5yS of Sharpe's hoop.
Sharpe shoots at this and misses wildly. This is not her best roquet tournament...
Bryant ignores Sharpe and goes out of my vision. (somewhere in the SW corner of the lawn)
Lawn 2.
Robinson makes Rover, gets a rush back to the peg, and has a 2y pegout...
27 Apr 2018 3:08PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Robinson pegs out on Lawn 2, and NZ take a surprise Game Two (to square the match), 26-24.
27 Apr 2018 3:09PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe goes WB slight N of 5.
Kiwis setting up SW of 4 with a rush to 3.
27 Apr 2018 3:11PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
This could be a long, long game.
27 Apr 2018 3:11PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Lawn 3.
Shilling is in and setting up. Forster didn't make a hoop.
Lawn 4.
Reserve Hawker has 9 and a leave (2-4) Wardle picks up the 2 ball and is firing from B-Baulk. Snicks.
Lawn 1.
Still mucking about.
Fisher doesn't get position, and runs away again. Sharpe fires from C2 and hits hoop? Bryant taps her, takes off to SB where partner resides.
27 Apr 2018 3:15PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Or maybe Bryant didn't tap, and left Sharpe with no hit on anything. If he did hit her ball, it he didn't move it much.
27 Apr 2018 3:16PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 3.
Forster shanks a long shot and just makes the boundary.
Mayard-Husson has a chance to finish from 4back.
Lawn 1.
Sharpe runs to WB level with 5 again.
Bryant setting up a wired rush E of 4 for Fisher.
Wonder how much time's left...
27 Apr 2018 3:17PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe to NB behind 2.
Fisher rushes to hoop, approaches well, and runs 3 with an easterly rush. Will be off in the 4 direction now.
Lawn 3.
NMH runs 4back, rushes partner over towards C2, takes off to the abll on SB, and misses.
AUS have a lift, and 2balls in baulk. They are for 2 and 4back.
This is rather slow.
27 Apr 2018 3:21PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
I'm just going to stick with lawns 1 and 2 I think...
27 Apr 2018 3:23PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Lawn 1.
Sharpe to C1.
Fisher makes 4 with a cut rush back towards 5.
Rushes to 4ft NE of hoop and considers running away...
27 Apr 2018 3:25PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
?
Must have tried for position and then retreated to WB
Sharpe moves 2ft North...
Bryant hits partner on EB and sets a rush to 5.
Sharpe shoots into C4.
27 Apr 2018 3:30PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Time must be running out...
27 Apr 2018 3:30PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Fisher fails 5.
A passing spectator guesses that there's 23 minutes left. I heard a player say "25" earlier so that sounds about right.
27 Apr 2018 3:33PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Sharpe fires at WB level with 2 and middles it.
Bryant hits partner at 5 and sets up a rush towards the aforementioned hoop in a wired position SE of 5.
Lawn 2 - Game 3 Begins.
Robinson standard opening.
Fletcher C2
Hakes at Fletcher from B-Baulk, misses on the southern side.
27 Apr 2018 3:34PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Sharpe to EB 1y N of C4.
27 Apr 2018 3:36PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
That was on lawn 1.
on Lawn 2, Bassett hits partner in C2. She usually does that.
Lawn 3.
Tempus Fugit - rapidly. Forster and Landrebe hurrying to take shots.
Shilling and NMH on peg and peg. Forster & Landrebe on 4 and 4back.
27 Apr 2018 3:37PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Lawn 3. Time goes and NZ win Game Two - 24-12. Oh dear. Another game...
27 Apr 2018 3:39PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Lawn 2.
Bassett is getting going and has balls ahead, but will be approaching 2 from C2 - or would have been, had she not missed the roquet at the ball in C2. Lucky it was partner, but leaves Hakes a double from 3.
Misses...
Lawn 1.
Fisher missapproached 6 and ran. to mid WB
Sharpe goes to C1.
Bryant goes to 1y in lawn from C2
Sharpe fires up WB, missing into C2.
27 Apr 2018 3:41PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Bryant sets.
Sharpe plays into C3
Fisher approaches 6...
27 Apr 2018 3:45PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Lawn 2. Bassett gets going nicely and then blobs 3. Same as last game really.
27 Apr 2018 3:45PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Robinson fires from 4 to 3 and hits.
Lawn 1.
Fisher makes 6, but fails 7.
Sharpe creeps 2y west of former position.
27 Apr 2018 3:49PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Bryant peels partner through 1back? anyway, sets up mid-lawn.
Sharpe fires from C3 and misses.
Bryant sets up.
Alison lurks West Boundary.
Should be about 3 min left.
27 Apr 2018 3:53PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Lawn 2.
Robinson doesn't get position in front of 1, despite a magnificent pass roll that lobbed a ball in the back of the jaws.
Fletcher hits and discusses.
27 Apr 2018 3:54PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Lawn 1.
Fisher makes 2back and sets up.
Sharpe to C1.
27 Apr 2018 3:55PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Fisher makes 3back, and has to roll 8y to 4back from EB. Angled position...
27 Apr 2018 3:57PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fisher makes 4back, with a rush to mid NB - conceding a lift.
Scores are level...
Discussions.
Lawn 2.
Fletcher set up.
Robinson missed.
Bassett has a rush to 2.
27 Apr 2018 3:59PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Lawn 1.
Fisher rolls for penult, gets good position, and runs it past the peg. Has a 3y return.
Discusses.
Lawn 2.
Bassett makes 3, and misses long return.
Hakes hits 9? yarder to SB. Takes off to the ball which was to be a H3 receiver for Bassett.
27 Apr 2018 4:02PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Lawn 1.
That 3 yard return must have felt mightily long.
Fisher runs to longest point on EB.
Sharpe has 1 turn.
Takes lift from A-baulk at EB.
Misses.
NZ takes Game Two, 23-22... another game here too.
27 Apr 2018 4:06PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Lawn 2.
Hakes set up.
Bassett missed.
Robinson approaching 1.
27 Apr 2018 4:06PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Lawn 4.
Apparently Jannine Hawker failed a TP at a straight rover when peelee glued itself to a leg and striker followed it in. So, NZ Manager Steve Wardle is still in with a chance...
27 Apr 2018 4:09PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Lawn 2.
Robinson has been marshaling balls in, but has a longish Hoop 2 with opposition as receiver... balls ahead though if she gets it.
She does not, and it's Fletcher's turn (still for H1).
27 Apr 2018 4:12PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Battery is low. Break from commentary now. Might not resume today, but we'll see.
Otherwise, I hope you've enjoyed for the day.
Cheers.
Callum.
27 Apr 2018 4:15PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
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