WCF AC World Championship
Playoff Day at Paraparaumu by Jenny Clarke
Kia ora koutau, and welcome to Waitangi Day at the 2018 World Championships. Sorry for the slow start - we took advantage of a bit of a snooze and a different route over the very scenic Paekakariki hill.
We are well provisioned, and I'll introduce the team soon, but first, let's catch up as we're probably an hour behind.
06 Feb 2018 10:27AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Lawn 1 we have Dwayne McCormack v Nelson Morrow. The loser is out, the winner goes into a best of 3 with Jarrod Coutts starting game up.
06 Feb 2018 10:28AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Dwayne is on 1 and 4back, and has sneaked out of the venue for a quick puff.
06 Feb 2018 10:28AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Nelson is on 1 and break
06 Feb 2018 10:28AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Lawn 2 Stephen Richard v Chris Shilling. This is the block that needs 2 qualifiers, so the winner goes through, and the loser goes into a best of 3 with Brian Cumming, and will go in game down.
06 Feb 2018 10:29AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Many thanks to Callum Hyland for providing the lawn updates, we'll settle on a game soon
06 Feb 2018 10:30AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Stephen Richards is on 4back and has crept through hoop 2 but managed his hampered shot. Shilling on 1 and 2.
06 Feb 2018 10:30AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Lawn 3 Edward Wilson of Australia playing Steve Jones of NZ. Two go through - so the winner qualifies, and the loser starts a best of three game down against Alain Giraud.
06 Feb 2018 10:31AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Edward is on a TP, turned into a delayed double now and he's taking off to 3b leaving good balls up at penult. Steve is on 1 and 2back.
06 Feb 2018 10:32AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
These are all single banked, and the crowd favourite matches are on distant lawn 4. Let's check that lawn out...
06 Feb 2018 10:33AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Primary Colours: Stephen Mulliner in Sudden Death (well, that's a bit extreme) against Vincent Commarieu. Vincent won their block clash 12-10 on the moonscape of Plimmerton.
06 Feb 2018 10:33AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Mulliner is on 1 and 4back - yelow on 1, red on 4b. Vince has blue on 2 and black still on 1. The kiwi has the innings, with Stephen having just put red into corner 3. Hits partner, wee takeoff puts it to hoop 2 going to corner 3. Hits red, and he's rolling this into the lawn going to yellow that's at hoop 4 - needs a really good croquet stroke - I'd be taking off!
06 Feb 2018 10:35AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Puts red in front of rover, and he has a 2 yard slight cut - underhits it and will be approaching from 4 yards ESE of hoop 1.
06 Feb 2018 10:35AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
If Vincent gets this he has a 4ball break
06 Feb 2018 10:35AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Meanwhile Edward has 2 peels down, peelee in front of rover and he's rushing to penult with full control.
06 Feb 2018 10:36AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Commentary team here... John-Paul Moberly of England, me, Michael Wright of NZ via South Africa, and Australian Callum Hyland.
06 Feb 2018 10:37AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Meanwhile - Vincent has failed hoop 1 off yellow, and Stephen has a 3 yarder which he makes no mistake with.
06 Feb 2018 10:37AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Finally, third seed of the tournament Jose Riva is playing Edmund Fordyce, the 16 yo (I think) kiwi in the block C playoff. Simple two for one scenario here.
We arrived to see Edmund on the lawn, but looking up now Jose is in play and approaching hoop 1 from about where Vincent was.
06 Feb 2018 10:39AM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Looks like it's 1 and 1 (Jose) v 4back and peg (Edmund) !!!!!
06 Feb 2018 10:39AM (Tournament); 38 Readers
We'll follow that after the pegout...
06 Feb 2018 10:40AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
First qualifier from the playoffs... Michael Wright "[Ned Wilson] flirting with danger, but in a cute teenage Australian way". hmmm
06 Feb 2018 10:40AM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Ned's lining up the pegout, and wins +19TP against Steve Jones. Ned's through, and will hopefully join the commentary team, and receive his prize (William Worley's book which the title of which I forget sorry). Steve is one down in a best of three against Alain Giraud
06 Feb 2018 10:42AM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Right - back to lawn 4...
06 Feb 2018 10:43AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Italics for Jose v Edmund, non italics for Stephen v Vincent.
06 Feb 2018 10:43AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Not sure what advice I'd been given, but Stephen Mulliner is now on a TP. Runs 3 bit hard and seemed to try to get a rushpeel - bounces it off the wire, and now it's a delayed TP
06 Feb 2018 10:44AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Jose has made 1, rushed towards corner 4, put out a hoop 4 pioneer, and has just run 2 with a ball at 3. This will be a ball around. Not sure if there are time limits, but having a ball off here might be interesting. Or will he have a ball to 4back and cross his fingers?
06 Feb 2018 10:44AM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Comments/questions to [email protected]. If there's a game you are particularly interested in, we can turn our focus more towards that. It's a bit messy covering 4 games at once.
06 Feb 2018 10:45AM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Good morning Robert ... I can confirm the two-for-one playoffs are best of one. That's in the sports regs and was affirmed last night that it will definitely be one.
06 Feb 2018 10:46AM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Jose through 3, has an early 6 pioneer, through 4, it's a boring old 4bb
06 Feb 2018 10:50AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
rats, not italics
06 Feb 2018 10:50AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Stephen had a very short 6 pioneer, so no peel before 6, but has peelee well placed, and a good 1back pioneer. Makes 6 with a rush north, so he'll be having a go on the way to 1back
06 Feb 2018 10:51AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Alain is warming up on lawn 3. Unclear if their match will be on that lawn - Steve only made 7 hoops on it, and has had a long sit out. Alain will have 15 mins to check it out - or they'll be double banking somewhere.
06 Feb 2018 10:52AM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Stephen rushes blue off the boundary north of hoop 3, is croqueting that to 2back getting a rush to 4back. Gets the rush nicely, but that 2b ball is about level with hoop 5. The lawns and hoops are pretty friendly, so he should cope.
06 Feb 2018 10:52AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Rushes red dead in front of 4b, and a quick pressup to check the alignment - nice takeoff has the first peel completed as the breeze picks up.
06 Feb 2018 10:53AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Breeze? - omg - that WIND yesterday was nuts at Kelburn - one of the least fun sets of conditions I've played in. Exhausting, headache inducing, and just hard work.
06 Feb 2018 10:54AM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Stephen makes 1b, rushes across to corner 3 - disaster! - creams into peelee, so his 3back pioneer is either red, or a black ball that is 9 y ESS (is that the right ordering) of 4b
06 Feb 2018 10:56AM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Bit of double banking marking going on, but Stephen has sensibly tried to tidy things up - but seems to have rushed red too close to blue, so won't have much of a 3b pioneer unless he can pull off a Hoganesque stop shot.
06 Feb 2018 10:56AM (Tournament); 50 Readers
Not - 3b pioneer is 2 yards east of hoop 5.
06 Feb 2018 10:57AM (Tournament); 48 Readers
Jose has... had a 1back leave!!!
06 Feb 2018 10:57AM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Pink is very close to corner 1 (that's the 4back ball)
06 Feb 2018 10:58AM (Tournament); 48 Readers
And it's good morning to Edward's mum. Edward has joined us on the commentary team - just a lovely chap, and it's really good to see him through..
06 Feb 2018 10:59AM (Tournament); 49 Readers
Jose's hoop 1 ball is 2 yards in from corner 3, and brown is a foot in front of hoop 3. Checks the backswing of white, and he seems happy enough.
06 Feb 2018 10:59AM (Tournament); 51 Readers
Stephen has coped with 2b, replaces his 4b pioneer with blue from 2b and rushed towards that wayward 3b pioneer. He'll be looking for a straight double.
06 Feb 2018 11:00AM (Tournament); 56 Readers
*Edmund checking out Jose's balls. Strides down to corner 1. He'll be shooting the 37ish yarder...
06 Feb 2018 11:01AM (Tournament); 55 Readers
Shoots.... misses into corner 3
06 Feb 2018 11:01AM (Tournament); 54 Readers
Let's see where Jose gets to... maybe three peels and a ball or two off...
06 Feb 2018 11:02AM (Tournament); 56 Readers
Jose back on the court. He has a sextuple peel in front of him - a very challenging turn which will win the playoff if he manages to make his 12 and peel his partner ball through a further 6 hoops. A more simple explanation... Edmund is on 4back and peg - he has 21 points, and Jose is 1 and 1back - he has 6 points.
06 Feb 2018 11:04AM (Tournament); 51 Readers
Sorry, I've lost track of Stephen .... he has made 3b off partner but doesn't appear to have got it up to penult for the peel - it could well be a ball to the peg. Hasn't rushed it in front of penult, so it looks like just one peel and a spread.
06 Feb 2018 11:05AM (Tournament); 56 Readers
Meanwhile Jose has made one hoop and has the balls well set for doing the first peel after hoop 2. He should at least get around, and peg out Edmund with a couple of peels, if he doesn't get something heroic finished.
06 Feb 2018 11:06AM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Sorry if the commentary has got a bit random, trying to describe the state of play of a sextuple peel for Jose's family also who are not AC players
06 Feb 2018 11:07AM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Stephen is indeed having a ball around and will finish on penult and peg with a spread, with Vincent on 1 and 2
06 Feb 2018 11:07AM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Jose has put an escape ball out, has full control at 2, but a poor hoop 3 pioneer which is yards east of 6
06 Feb 2018 11:09AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Has rushed partner dead in front of hoop 2 - this is a problem - can't get the ball to a nice peeling position
06 Feb 2018 11:10AM (Tournament); 59 Readers
JP is off negotiating for an umbrella for the team. Looks like he might be succeeding!!
06 Feb 2018 11:10AM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Jose on the ground trying to skim partner past hoop 2. Runs the hoop (he has 8 now) but has a 45 degree peel attempt. Won't get that down very far
06 Feb 2018 11:11AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Vincent taking his lift. Takes the long lift...misses.
06 Feb 2018 11:12AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Steve Jones v Alain Giraud has started. Steve one down in a best of three. No points scored yet, but Steve has just hit in.
06 Feb 2018 11:12AM (Tournament); 57 Readers
*Jose plays a good shot, has the peelee through by maybe 3 yards. Has good control and has put out a good hoop 4 pioneer.
06 Feb 2018 11:13AM (Tournament); 62 Readers
Looks like Stephen has rushed well across the lawn, he'll be finishing that off.
06 Feb 2018 11:14AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Jose runs hoop 3, that's 10-21 for those following on the continent, and he's going to make a lot more points
06 Feb 2018 11:14AM (Tournament); 59 Readers
JP returned sans umbrella, but now the manager has appeared with one for us!!! - he has clearly charmed yet another set of locals. Thanks Paraparaumu
06 Feb 2018 11:15AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Steve Jones has the chance of a first break on lawn 3. The kiwi is in very tidy whites.
On lawn 3 Chris Shilling, resplendent in kiwi black, s completing a diagonal spread after what looks like an equalising break.
06 Feb 2018 11:16AM (Tournament); 59 Readers
Some of the youngsters have celebrated qualifying with a big night out, didn't seem to affect Edward too much, but we'll be having photos if he dozes off!
06 Feb 2018 11:16AM (Tournament); 62 Readers
Jose has just played a lovely stroke, putting out his 2back peelee from the east boundary. He'll be peeling 2back before hoop 5
06 Feb 2018 11:17AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Stephen just finishing off.
06 Feb 2018 11:17AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Have checked William Worley's book - has a very kind dedication to me and Chris - it's only on loan to Edward to read. If he leaves the country with it Andrea, please make him send it back!!
06 Feb 2018 11:18AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Stephen has done something awful!!! - seemed to get yellow and blue all tangled, and took off to the hoop - clip on rover. C'mon Vincent!!!
06 Feb 2018 11:18AM (Tournament); 59 Readers
Jose through hoop 4, checking out his options, and he's in full control
06 Feb 2018 11:19AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Steve only made one hoop - the balls weren't in great positions. Laid up in corner 3.. Alain hits from hoop 2 to hoop 4.
06 Feb 2018 11:19AM (Tournament); 59 Readers
Jose has an ok hoop 6 pioneer, and he's lining up his peel at 2back
06 Feb 2018 11:20AM (Tournament); 56 Readers
Vincent is joining up, having not got going from Stephen's error at rover
06 Feb 2018 11:22AM (Tournament); 57 Readers
And tournament referee Graeme Roberts has now joined the commentary team as JP and Ned occupy a nearby umbrella
06 Feb 2018 11:22AM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Jose is wandering around the lawn a bit - it appears the brown might have bounced out of 2back - hard to tell from here. He has a longish rush to 5 though, so should keep going.
06 Feb 2018 11:24AM (Tournament); 55 Readers
Stephen has a long shot from hoop 2 to likely a target in corner 4... looks like he missed.. but he's taking croquet, so must have nibbled it. He is taking croquet with his peg ball.
06 Feb 2018 11:24AM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Alain and Steve Jones going toe to toe with long roquets but no hoops. This time Steve has hit in. He has a rush to hoop 1, and partner is 5 yards east of hoop 2.
06 Feb 2018 11:25AM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Jose is through hoop 5 and rushes white off the south boundary - no, he has clearly peeled 2b, as he goes well west of it to rush it to 3b. Has put out a good 1b pioneer. He's making sure this break stays together
06 Feb 2018 11:26AM (Tournament); 64 Readers
Quick score count... 13-21 now. Bends over in horror as he snicks brown west of hoop 5. Moves it closer to 3b taking off well to pink
06 Feb 2018 11:27AM (Tournament); 66 Readers
Sherif has a live stream on facebook of playoffs at Kelburn. JP is going to run a livestream here on facebook.
06 Feb 2018 11:28AM (Tournament); 65 Readers
Jarrod Coutts all in black too, keeping Edmund company. Jarrod has the 'unlucky' bye in the block of 3-for-1 place, where Nelson Morrow has control of the lawn against Dwayne. Clips there: Dwayne is 1b and penult. Nelson 4b and break, now approaching 3b
06 Feb 2018 11:29AM (Tournament); 67 Readers
We don't know if there are time limits. Hope not. Quite a different game if there were - Ned confirms there aren't.
06 Feb 2018 11:30AM (Tournament); 68 Readers
Meanwhile - Jose has made 6, hard to see him getting a 2b pioneer out, but he'll be looking to peel 3b before 2b, so probably doesn't need it too far. Stops pink to 6 yards from 2b, has a rush to 3b. Will have a crack at the peel going to 1b if he can
06 Feb 2018 11:31AM (Tournament); 69 Readers
"that's one of the most miserable positions he can rush into, given he can only take off from one side and can't get it in front of the hoop" ... he has rushed brown onto a front wire of 3b.
06 Feb 2018 11:31AM (Tournament); 70 Readers
Takes off well to white, the break is still going.. 14-21 - he's catching up!
06 Feb 2018 11:32AM (Tournament); 68 Readers
And hello to Felipe also - fantastic how many people have supported and are following Jose. He's a really lovely chap, and we enjoyed the pleasure of his company and that of his sister (whose name i'm going to try to spell as Patti, but apologise it must be wrong!)
06 Feb 2018 11:33AM (Tournament); 72 Readers
Jose through 1b (15-21), and apart from a woeful 2b pioneer he's doing really well. If he blinks, though, Edmund will pounce.
06 Feb 2018 11:34AM (Tournament); 73 Readers
Stephen is finally finishing.. has a rush to the peg, and Vincent has been unable to make progress. .. Stephen qualifies for the world champs knockout, winning his playoff with Vincent Commarieu 26-1 And there goes my chance of a top 16 seeding...
06 Feb 2018 11:34AM (Tournament); 72 Readers
Jose has a southern 4b pioneer, is looking to rush brown in front of 3b and will peel going to his 2b pioneer 2-3 yards west of hoop 5
06 Feb 2018 11:35AM (Tournament); 74 Readers
Very good rush - lining up the peel from close and dead in front...
06 Feb 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 72 Readers
Steve Jones on a break - has just made hoop 5, has all the balls.
Nelson setting a leave at 4b and peg vs 1b adn penult
06 Feb 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 72 Readers
Chis Shilling having a ball around.
06 Feb 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 74 Readers
Chis Shilling having a ball around.
06 Feb 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 74 Readers
go kiwis!!
06 Feb 2018 11:36AM (Tournament); 73 Readers
Jose has peeled 3b up to about 8 yards south of 4b... but left himself a 10 yard rush to 2b!! Hits it mid pace... middles it!! - has a 2 yard hoop approach - lovely shot!
06 Feb 2018 11:37AM (Tournament); 72 Readers
He has approached 2b, and is considering his options for peeling 4b and rushing to 3b from a very long away away.
06 Feb 2018 11:38AM (Tournament); 70 Readers
Very reminiscent of watching Reg. No casting, some similarity of grip (not the full South African grip though), lovely compact style.
06 Feb 2018 11:39AM (Tournament); 70 Readers
Jose runs 2b - another score check with Callum... 17-21, rushes up towards hoop 6, Rolls across, needs to nudge partner and avoid putting it with white in the way of the peel*
06 Feb 2018 11:40AM (Tournament); 76 Readers
Rushes brown past white - that's safe - stops it to about 8 inches in front of 4b, and has a good rush pointing at 3b. Pink is 7 yards SW of 4back.
06 Feb 2018 11:41AM (Tournament); 79 Readers
interesting to note - possibly the two tallest people at the venue are talking to the shortest person at the venue, and they're almost up to his shoulder height , and they're sitting
06 Feb 2018 11:41AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
(that was a quote, I meant to use "..." there!)
06 Feb 2018 11:42AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Stephen congratulates Ned on qualifying, and Ned returns the compliment, with JP there.
And hello to Pierre Beaudry. Another very lovely croquet player - very nice international community we have
06 Feb 2018 11:43AM (Tournament); 86 Readers
Jose through 3b and has a forward rush - that's 18-21 for those following the points
06 Feb 2018 11:43AM (Tournament); 85 Readers
Rolls white to SW of 4b and rushes pink towards brown. This will be a straight TP attempt - I think he's evens to finish this, maybe slightly odds on
06 Feb 2018 11:44AM (Tournament); 88 Readers
With white reasonably close (4y SW of 4b) it looks like he'll take on the bombard to promote partner to penult. He has so much control it's on
06 Feb 2018 11:44AM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Query about watering - the lawns here at Para are greener than they were 2 days ago - suspect they are putting some sprinkles on
06 Feb 2018 11:45AM (Tournament); 84 Readers
Jose looked to have to choose which side to put his escape ball to, and took the narrow option.
06 Feb 2018 11:46AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Peels 4b irish - so both balls go through at the same time (20-21 - it's getting close!!)
06 Feb 2018 11:46AM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Peelee went through very cleanly, and he won't be bombarding anything. I thought he might have put pink southish of penult and gone to rush white back, but he just taps pink forward and has a rush on brown.
06 Feb 2018 11:48AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
The sextuple peel is over - brown sails past the face of penult, and he's putting it to the peg getting a rush on white
06 Feb 2018 11:48AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
What will happen here - Edmund has a contact, and three hoops to make - will it be one, or two balls off?
06 Feb 2018 11:49AM (Tournament); 80 Readers
Rushes white very close to penult - time to take a breath and contemplate the leave.
06 Feb 2018 11:49AM (Tournament); 80 Readers
Sorry Faye... Chris is doing well. He's on 4back and in a break on 3back. He has a 6 inch hoop, but we think a big hole in front of it, so it's being repaired. Oppo is 2back and 4back
06 Feb 2018 11:51AM (Tournament); 78 Readers
Jose approaches penult - he's a bit angled, but plays a smooth stroke and the ball rolls through enough to have a clear shot on white. More thinking
06 Feb 2018 11:52AM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Dwayne back in - Nelson is on 4b and peg. Dwayne missed his "last" lift, but Nelson misapproached 4back. Dwayne just made 1back and has a double peel to win
06 Feb 2018 11:52AM (Tournament); 78 Readers
*Jose hits white, leaves it at the peg - that ball is definitely leaving - and rushes partner to rover. He has left pink at 4b and is making rover off partner. *
06 Feb 2018 11:54AM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Runs rover - takes the lead .. 22-21. He has just crept through, but rushes partner towards corner 1 - it's not in the corner!
06 Feb 2018 11:54AM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Callum checking out 3back - the refs are working hard to make a patch that doesn't disappear below the ball as soon as it is placed onto there. It will be a pretty easy hoop for Chris - but not nice if there is potential for the ball to kick out horribly.
06 Feb 2018 11:55AM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Jose has left brown just out of corner 1, and is pegging out white
06 Feb 2018 11:56AM (Tournament); 80 Readers
(23-21)
06 Feb 2018 11:56AM (Tournament); 80 Readers
Edmund has a contact.. white is off (22-22 actually, sorry)... and green is played into corner 2
06 Feb 2018 11:57AM (Tournament); 83 Readers
So 4back and box (pegged out) (Edmund) plays penult and peg (Jose) - game on!
06 Feb 2018 11:57AM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Edmund down to corner 1 - he should be able to cut this to a reasonable position to approach 4back.
06 Feb 2018 11:58AM (Tournament); 78 Readers
Rushes brown to just below halfway between 3 and 4.. rolls up... brown's short - level with 4back...
06 Feb 2018 12:00PM (Tournament); 79 Readers
Runs a 2 yard hoop with lots of applause.... but misses the 6 yard return
06 Feb 2018 12:01PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
23-22
06 Feb 2018 12:01PM (Tournament); 80 Readers
Meanwhile Chris Shilling has made 4back and he's in full control
06 Feb 2018 12:01PM (Tournament); 80 Readers
*Edmund now on the end of A baulk, and Jose can shoot at partner in corner 2 from 4back - but looking at his options - Edmund will shoot at everything (quite rightly)
06 Feb 2018 12:02PM (Tournament); 80 Readers
try this video...https://www.facebook.com/GolfCroquet/videos/1680050275374207/
06 Feb 2018 12:04PM (Tournament); 76 Readers
Don't like this - Riva went to the middle of north boundary - that's a 13 yard join!
06 Feb 2018 12:05PM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Edmund plays to 10 yards south of green on the west boundary - putting a bit of pressure on Riva
06 Feb 2018 12:05PM (Tournament); 79 Readers
JP doesn't have a stream running - Paraparaumu won't give out the wireless password - this commentary is coming courtesy of my phone, but i dont really understand the internet usage of streaming -but fear it!
06 Feb 2018 12:07PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Anyways, Jose hits Edmund, leaves him down level with 1 on the west boundary, and will roll close to hoop 3
06 Feb 2018 12:07PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Remember Jose is penult and peg, Edmund is penult alone
06 Feb 2018 12:08PM (Tournament); 78 Readers
Rolls brown and green towards corner 3 - they're both off!! Brown in corner 3, green (the peg ball) north of hoop 3
06 Feb 2018 12:08PM (Tournament); 79 Readers
I called it!!! (ok, not on the commentary, but in chat with the team Edmund appealing for a wiring lift!!!
06 Feb 2018 12:09PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
hoop 6 shadowing the shot at brown, and 3 in the way of green.
06 Feb 2018 12:09PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Callum reports that green is open
06 Feb 2018 12:09PM (Tournament); 80 Readers
only a single test ball. Disappointing, but at least there's one. And it's... open.
06 Feb 2018 12:10PM (Tournament); 85 Readers
*Edmund shooting - probably at Green- hard to finish from there. *
06 Feb 2018 12:10PM (Tournament); 85 Readers
Gosh he hits that hard. Misses, and yards pink on east of green
06 Feb 2018 12:11PM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Jose has a 6 yarder potentially for the game, or a tap-on for a leave.
06 Feb 2018 12:11PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Takes the longer shot......unlucky! - hits pink in the middle, stonks green to the middle of the north boundary, and it's a takeoff.
06 Feb 2018 12:12PM (Tournament); 82 Readers
Now Dwayne Penult and peg vs Nelson pn 4back - Nelwon going for 4back - bit angled.
06 Feb 2018 12:12PM (Tournament); 80 Readers
Chris Shilling is on 4b and peg, and Stephen Richard lining up the long lift
06 Feb 2018 12:12PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Jose has taken off short - bit wimpy, and has a rush to... the middle of the north boundary, from the middle of the north boundary
06 Feb 2018 12:13PM (Tournament); 82 Readers
OK, it turns out it was pointing at corner 2. Taps partner, and he's approaching penult
06 Feb 2018 12:13PM (Tournament); 84 Readers
Stephen has missed his lift. Chance for Chris Shilling to secure a place in the World Championship knockout
06 Feb 2018 12:14PM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Stephen Richards lifted the ball near the west boundary, so Chris has a rush to a ball at the peg, and three hoops to make.
06 Feb 2018 12:14PM (Tournament); 84 Readers
Nelson made 4back, and is now in the middle of the west boundary
06 Feb 2018 12:14PM (Tournament); 84 Readers
Nelson made 4back, and is now in the middle of the west boundary
06 Feb 2018 12:14PM (Tournament); 84 Readers
Jose does the big stoppo approach sending partner to near the middle of teh south boundary - but overrolls, and can't run his hoop. Joins up on the south boundary - the peg might be stopping the shot at brown, but probs not, as Jose didn't look for it
06 Feb 2018 12:15PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
Edmund weighing the options - from north boundary, a miss at green would be good night, a miss at brown is also a good opportunity for Jose to win - but a great opportunity for Edmund!
06 Feb 2018 12:16PM (Tournament); 85 Readers
Seems to be stalking... but hits pink firmly to the west boundary level with hoop 1. Jose should be able to find a wired spot to rush to here.
06 Feb 2018 12:17PM (Tournament); 85 Readers
Steve Jones is up to 4back on his second break - nothing being peeled.. .awful croquet stroke after 3back puts red north of hoop 2,but he has the other balls (after a 4 yarder at yellow,, which puts that 8 yards north of penult. He can roll that back to somewehre decent*
06 Feb 2018 12:17PM (Tournament); 85 Readers
Jose rushes green off the east boundary. Looking for a wire across hoop 4, and hoop 1 could be in play also. Experience might make the difference here
06 Feb 2018 12:18PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Chris Shilling through 4back, approaching penult off partner from a nice position, and has a ball at rover
06 Feb 2018 12:20PM (Tournament); 83 Readers
Jose has left himself a rush to penult, but I'm not sure if he has left something for Edmund to shoot at. Edmund wanders over for a look
06 Feb 2018 12:20PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
Argh - Chris has just failed penult giving Stephen all sorts of targets. Sorry Faye
06 Feb 2018 12:21PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
Edmund clearly can see something - shoots... misses
06 Feb 2018 12:21PM (Tournament); 90 Readers
oops, lots of bold stuff - sorry
06 Feb 2018 12:22PM (Tournament); 91 Readers
Jose croquets Edmund west of hoop 4, but doesn't get his rush - cuts it towards penult... but it's 5 yards east of penult.
06 Feb 2018 12:22PM (Tournament); 91 Readers
As a quick recap for the non-AC players out there... Edmund and Jose both have 2 hoops to go through, Edmund's other ball has been pegged out, which means he can't join up with it, Jose has two hoops to make, but both his balls on the lawn, so he can keep them together when he wants to.
06 Feb 2018 12:23PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
Jose tries to approach the hoop sending green west of it -he's well short. Scatters green well - Green to mid west boundary, brown to corner 2.
06 Feb 2018 12:24PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
This gives Edmund a free (long) shot at green
06 Feb 2018 12:24PM (Tournament); 88 Readers
Stephen Richards has played a few average shots - he has the innings though.
06 Feb 2018 12:25PM (Tournament); 86 Readers
Edmund takes position at Penult. 2/3 of the commentary team are very unhappy wtih this. I rather like it.
06 Feb 2018 12:26PM (Tournament); 87 Readers
Jose had a 15 ish yarder for the game... misses!! - he has a longer return from corner 1
06 Feb 2018 12:26PM (Tournament); 93 Readers
Edmund stamps pink through to the boundary... this time he's looking at a very long shot at brown
06 Feb 2018 12:27PM (Tournament); 91 Readers
Given brown has a longer shot back, that logic that saw him take position at penult (Jose's hoop!!) we expected him to take posi again
06 Feb 2018 12:28PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Alain taking the long lift - should be his last shot if he misses - shoots more softly this time - both shots have fallen off - Edward Wilson confirms that both have hilled off. Whitters something about "lack of power" - I am very envious of his power!!
06 Feb 2018 12:29PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Edmund takes on the 13 yarder at brown... misses (fortunately to the left of it), and Jose is taking off to partner
06 Feb 2018 12:29PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
Jose leaves pink in corner 1 and has rolled up towards corner 3 - Does Edmund fancy the suicidal shot.. looked like he might have been able to have a ping at brown and leave Jose a sweaty 6 yarder. Plays to the north boundary north of hoop 2.
06 Feb 2018 12:33PM (Tournament); 93 Readers
This would be a sad way to go out, not shooting... but Jose has a longish (4y?) rush to penult - hits it poorly leaving a 6 yard roll in.
06 Feb 2018 12:34PM (Tournament); 99 Readers
Jose has rolled green to south west of the peg... but it's long, and a bit angled. Looks unhappy... smashes brown off covering the hard shot
06 Feb 2018 12:34PM (Tournament); 96 Readers
*Great option by Edmund... shoots very gently at green - hitting wins, missing gets him another shot... misses, and Jose is on quickly to rush pink off toward corner 4
06 Feb 2018 12:35PM (Tournament); 97 Readers
Stephen Richards is for 4b and 3b vs penult and peg, hasn't rushed well to 3back, and is taking off into the recently cultivated farmland in front of 3b - plays it well.
06 Feb 2018 12:36PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
Jose leaves pink near corner 4 (couple of yards west of it), and is rushing partner towards corner 2...
06 Feb 2018 12:36PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Smacks it hard into rover!! - but at least it's not stuck in the hoop - he can rolls them away
06 Feb 2018 12:37PM (Tournament); 97 Readers
Dwayne now for penult and peg, Nelson for penult.
06 Feb 2018 12:37PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
Dwayne has tried to wire, with Nelson east of the middle of north boundary
06 Feb 2018 12:37PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Jose rolls off into corner 2, with green on the north boundary, brown in corner 2. Green very nearly wired, need to be careful of that here.
06 Feb 2018 12:38PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
As a recap... Edmund has one hoop to make, Jose two.*
06 Feb 2018 12:38PM (Tournament); 96 Readers
Steve Jones finishes off cleanly to win 26-0. They're shaking hands, but doesn't seem aware that they have another game to play! - no,they're onto it - quick shake hands but they're off for lunch.
06 Feb 2018 12:39PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
Edmund has lurked 10 yards south of corner 2. Brown isn't actually in corner 2 -it's a yard south of it, so no easy rush to wired.
06 Feb 2018 12:40PM (Tournament); 96 Readers
The commentary team are giving honours for this pegged out game to Edmund, but it's anyone's still.Jose looking a little rattled at times
06 Feb 2018 12:40PM (Tournament); 93 Readers
John-Pau Moberly is off to set up a live stream of the ending - I'll post the link as soon as tehy send it to me. Look higher on the commentary to find Sherif's Kelburn link.
06 Feb 2018 12:41PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Stephen Richards is on penult in his break, he's on 4b with his other ball
06 Feb 2018 12:41PM (Tournament); 96 Readers
Jose hits partner, croquets pink down to south of hoop 4, and lags back to leave himself a 4-5 yarder.
06 Feb 2018 12:43PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
Edmund is back in his 10 yard lurk south of corner 2
06 Feb 2018 12:43PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Nelson hits from corner 3 to corner 1
06 Feb 2018 12:44PM (Tournament); 95 Readers
That'll be Dwayne out the gate ... walks across the middle of the lawn to get to the nearest gate - yup - he's outta here for a puff
06 Feb 2018 12:44PM (Tournament); 92 Readers
Jose nicks partner. The commentary team prefer putting partner back towards corner 2 and pink back to corner 4, but he's looking for a wired spot towards corner 3.. there are a couple of narrow hoops in play
06 Feb 2018 12:45PM (Tournament); 93 Readers
Jose rolls towarsd corner 3 - parks green on south-west wire of hoop 3!
06 Feb 2018 12:46PM (Tournament); 92 Readers
Nelson's rush, from near hoop 1, is immaculate - rushes red through the back of penult into perfect position. He's a bit nervy though, and has rush the hoop be 5 yards.
06 Feb 2018 12:46PM (Tournament); 94 Readers
Shooting back at red, yellow near rover... takes a step or two, and nearly gets to red before blue does! But he does hit
06 Feb 2018 12:47PM (Tournament); 97 Readers
Jose plays a kind of scatter shot to bombard green off teh hoop. Leaves a rush to nowhere - Chris will be pleased with that
06 Feb 2018 12:47PM (Tournament); 97 Readers
Edmund plays to the north boundary, north of hoop 2. Jose now has a great chance to get a wired spot
06 Feb 2018 12:47PM (Tournament); 98 Readers
Nelson with an angled rover to win... grovels through - our lip-reading team know something one-syllabled was said, but can't quite work it out. Probably rhymes with 'duck'
06 Feb 2018 12:48PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
I love having Callum here for the commentary.
06 Feb 2018 12:49PM (Tournament); 101 Readers
Nelson can't hit anything, so rolls to 10 y from the peg.
06 Feb 2018 12:49PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Stephen Richards pegs Chris Shilling out - it's 4b and peg v penult alone
06 Feb 2018 12:49PM (Tournament); 104 Readers
Jose has rolled to a pretty wired looking position, with a rush to penult.
06 Feb 2018 12:50PM (Tournament); 104 Readers
Edmund checks it out - shooting - clips hoop 3...
06 Feb 2018 12:50PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Jose looking at the pickoff - about 4 "oh dear, oh yuck, yuck".. he's hampered on pink - and it's a 3-4 yarder. Takes the tight rush on partner to penult - sensible.
06 Feb 2018 12:51PM (Tournament); 103 Readers
Rushes close to penult - this looks more controlled - he's in front - let's see if it's a rush back to pink, or to rover...
06 Feb 2018 12:51PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Jose runs the hoop with a bit of wire, and needs to rush to rover... plays it wel l - approaching rover from 3 yards ENE off partner
06 Feb 2018 12:52PM (Tournament); 100 Readers
*poor approach - caught by the mound and this is about a 35 degree hoop frmo a wee way back... *
06 Feb 2018 12:52PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Ends up in the jaws of rover!!!.
06 Feb 2018 12:53PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Green is quite wide too, so even if he gets through, the pegout isn't assured. Though Edmund will shoot at this, it's his hoop..
06 Feb 2018 12:53PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Edmund shoots at green from next to hoop 3 to near mid south boundary...misses
06 Feb 2018 12:54PM (Tournament); 101 Readers
Chris is in... Stephen pegged him out, but leaves his balls together on the east boundary - giving Chris his choice of double with his lift. absolutely nuts. Chris hits everything of this target!!
06 Feb 2018 12:54PM (Tournament); 104 Readers
Jose runs rover, hits his 4 yarder at pink, and is taking off to rush partner to the peg.
06 Feb 2018 12:55PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Meanwhile Dwayne hit the ball Nelson cruised out east of the peg, and is making rover to win
06 Feb 2018 12:55PM (Tournament); 101 Readers
Jose Riva wins the Block C playoff 26-24
06 Feb 2018 12:56PM (Tournament); 102 Readers
Dwayne makes rover... and misses the return!!!!
06 Feb 2018 12:56PM (Tournament); 96 Readers
Nelson has wiring lift!!!!!! - has a tap-on and he's for the peg.(Dwayne missed to the middle of the north boundary and his other ball was also wired from Nelson
06 Feb 2018 12:57PM (Tournament); 88 Readers
Nelson rushes yellow towards hoop 3, has a clear takeoff to the peg... made that 3 foot pegout look horrendously difficult, and chases it all the way to the peg.
06 Feb 2018 12:58PM (Tournament); 86 Readers
Nelson Morrow wins and will play Jarrod Coutts for the one block place, game up in a best of three
06 Feb 2018 12:58PM (Tournament); 81 Readers
Back tolawn 2... Chris Shilling failed penult. Stephen missed partner. Chris needs to hit in agan.
06 Feb 2018 12:59PM (Tournament); 72 Readers
we'll focus on that.
06 Feb 2018 12:59PM (Tournament); 72 Readers
Giraud standard ball to east boundary, Steve Jones slightly easterly duffer
06 Feb 2018 12:59PM (Tournament); 70 Readers
Shilling misses
06 Feb 2018 1:00PM (Tournament); 72 Readers
We join Canadian Brian Cumming in a 3 for 2 situation with Chris Shilling and Stephen Richards. Brian starts off game up in a best of three with whoever loses this match.
06 Feb 2018 1:01PM (Tournament); 67 Readers
Stephen has adopted the stranded giraffe stance and he smashes his three yard roquet on black. He's for 4back and peg still, Chris is on penult.
06 Feb 2018 1:02PM (Tournament); 62 Readers
We've moved into the shade, so can't see much of Jones v Giraud. I'm torn there -Alain is just lovely, and Steve is a very nice chap and (currently) a kiwi
06 Feb 2018 1:02PM (Tournament); 61 Readers
Stephen sends a good penult pioneer out and has a rush on partner to 4b. It's always nice to rush partner to start your first break.
06 Feb 2018 1:03PM (Tournament); 61 Readers
It's a straight rush which he hits well.. it's a little north-west, but he has a backward takeoff.
06 Feb 2018 1:03PM (Tournament); 61 Readers
Brian entertaining us while he awaits the outcome - explained his day at Plimmerton "I slaughtered Chris ...8 to 6" - Plimmerton sounds absolutely brutal!
06 Feb 2018 1:04PM (Tournament); 62 Readers
Not the most convincing shot at 4b, but it's through with significant Murray control (named for Martin Murray, who can smash through any hoop - by a convenient 12 inches).
06 Feb 2018 1:04PM (Tournament); 60 Readers
Rushes to south of hoop 2 - this will put him on the rushline to his westerly penult pioneer. if hoop 2 isn't in the way. Winning this would see Stephen into the knockout, and Chris 1-0 up and playing Brian Cumming.
06 Feb 2018 1:05PM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Steve Jones looks to have all the balls and is rushing to hoop 1
06 Feb 2018 1:05PM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Richards puts out a very tidy rover pioneer and rushes well to penult. Do the Atkins hoops yet have something to say here?
06 Feb 2018 1:06PM (Tournament); 59 Readers
Approaches penult well. Stephen plays with an Irish grip, held low on the mallet. fairly wide stance. Runs the hoop nicely to 5 feet south of black.
06 Feb 2018 1:07PM (Tournament); 53 Readers
I really can't tell you how nice it is to be commentating rather than fighting for a place in the KO today. So relieved to get through my three games yesterday. Very sorry for Edmund who leaves the main event now after some very impressive and positive play.
06 Feb 2018 1:07PM (Tournament); 53 Readers
Richards hits black, rolls it to good deep ball position, and hits partner. He's approaching rover with a takeoff - I don't like that - putting partner a couple of yards south and out of the way of rover gives you a lot more control to approach a hoop, but each to their own.
06 Feb 2018 1:08PM (Tournament); 54 Readers
Takes off to a longer than ideal hoop, but it's straight. it's only a foot
06 Feb 2018 1:09PM (Tournament); 55 Readers
Makes no mistakes there - smashes it through off the boundary. He looks good when he keeps his body still
06 Feb 2018 1:09PM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Has a 3 yarder on black for the game...
06 Feb 2018 1:09PM (Tournament); 57 Readers
We've seen these missed - about 5 mins ago...
06 Feb 2018 1:09PM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Nearly rushes black into the jaws of hoop 2 - he made sure of that one too!! - not that impressive given that red is back down very close to rover.
06 Feb 2018 1:10PM (Tournament); 58 Readers
But points for making the roquet
06 Feb 2018 1:10PM (Tournament); 58 Readers
Takes off - threads rover and red, and has a nice rush to the peg.
06 Feb 2018 1:11PM (Tournament); 57 Readers
Stephen Richard wins the first playoff game of block B and is into the knockout. Chris Shilling needs to win 2 against Brian Cumming
06 Feb 2018 1:12PM (Tournament); 54 Readers
From Christian "Plimmerton is not awful. Plimmerton are world class challenging lawns"
06 Feb 2018 1:14PM (Tournament); 51 Readers
Fair call - the Plimmerton club have done a LOT of work to create challenging lawns. Problem is they aren't overly flat, and things have got a bit too challenging. They have done a vast amount of work on lawns, and providing a marquee for spectators. Various versions of whether spectators are allowed in the clubhouse or not at Plimmerton - might be there is a restricted access area, which is ok.
06 Feb 2018 1:15PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
So, what's happening here while i ramble on... Steve Jones is on the first break in game 2 vs Alain Giraud, Others are warming up for the next games in teh playoffs. I'm off for lunch - back very soon
06 Feb 2018 1:16PM (Tournament); 49 Readers
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