Good morning from an overcast Wellington.

Morning briefing is a little confusing.. 3,5,7,9,11 confirms the Referee of Tournament. Manager nearly left them unlimited.

There's a draw for the lawns as they hunt for clocks.

Stephen and Paddy on Lawn 1, Reg and Jose on lawn 2

Apparently Reg and another stuck in 3back, and asked for it to be checked - no replays though.

The hoops will be in new holes, and I've checked out the biggest diameter of the biggest ball on lawn 2 on a couple of hoops. Paul Skinley will be weeping somewhere in the club house - I've never seen them set this wide!

Players warming up. Paddy checking out the west boundary, Jose approaching hoop 2 from corner 2.

I had a fun chat wtih Reg earlier about the "using a clip to mark a position" issue yesterday. He's just lovely, and chuckled about it - he had been unsure and had asked a referee and was told it was ok!

Stephen delighted to learn a new law.... damaging the ground (with your mallet) in playing a cannon is a fault. I showed it to him in the NZ yearbook "that's the NZ list!" - he found it in his battered CA rules book - they seem to be the same! He did advise he did his referee exam in 1976!

Good chap though - very good humoured, and while he made the knockout through a playoff, Stephen has just got better and better.

Paddy seems ready - Stephen still practising - the regs say something about 5 mins, but day 1 of the KO they started with "you can have a 10 min warm up" - some odd looks exchanged there!

Stephen Mulliner v Paddy Chapman - game 1

Stephen tosses, Paddy calls tails... it's a head. Stephen starting, Paddy chooses blue and black.

Black's the biggest ball on lawn 2, but we're on lawn 1 here.

1. Stephen puts yellow out as a slightly deep supershot

2. We haven't seen this enough... Paddy going into corner 2... oops - doesn't hit that all that well and it's actually IN corner 2. - had a bit of hill there.

3. Stephen ready to shoot before Paddy puts his ball on. A commentator's joy is Stephen's pace - I don't like mucking about

Takes a step back as Reg's mallet clunks on his ball. Shoots. leans, moves his knee off to the side... but none of that helps - red misses to the left, and comes on with a micro sized gap to black

Stephen has, by his own account, been shooting very well this tournament.

Paddy waits as Jose shoots - an audience of 2 clap. There's loads of people here, but I'm not sure why they didn't put their hands together.

4. Paddy playing blue - has a lovely double to start with - it's a poor first shot - drags it across the face of the double, and misses to the left of the target. Stephen will be counting his blessings.

5. Stephen has done something horrible! - it's hard to tell (mainly as i was distracted by the huge pile of bhuja mix I just threw all over the Wellington MCC porch!)... he started this turn with red and black maybe a mm apart, then we saw him playing a shot with blue and black VERY close together, plays a rush... black (the dead ball) goes 10 yards south of corner 2, and blue is rushed... 5 yards north of hoop2!

croquets blue to hoop 3 getting a rush to hoop 1 - but he has coped with a slight cut rush, and approaches hoop 1 well. He doesn't have a hoop 1 pioneer, but if he runs this hoop under control he can rush to blue which is well north of hoop 3.

He doesn't run the hoop under control, and now has a rush to the boundary south of hoop 1. Will need some good shots to get out of this one.
I suspect he tried to play a dinky wee croquet stroke and the balls fell back together.that corner looks like a bit of a cliff, with corner 2 maybe 2 inches lower than the north boundary north of hoop 2.

He did have a bit of a cut, and cuts yellow to the east boundary about level with hoop 4.

Takes off to get a northish cut on blue - rushes that into corner 2. I was tempted to send red over as he lined his ball in, but it's deathly quiet here (apart from the chatter in the commentary box), and red was north of hoop 3 - so rather near the middle of the lawn 1/2 area!

Takes off from blue down the notorious east boundary. They've done a lot of work and paid a LOT of money to get that improved in recent years - and I reckon Stephen will feel they've done a good job! - he chips blue out to north of hoop 2 and has a rush to hoop 2. Rushes it well

These lawns are definitely slower than Kelburn - they are a lush shade of green, and are unlikely to speed up much with the slightly overcast conditions. Like Kelburn, there are still clear scars from the coring evident on the lawns.

Stephen through hoop 2 well - hits blue on the boundary and punts it to the middle of hte lawn. Remember that he doesn't have a hoop 3 pioneer - he rushed that (blue) to corner 2 to try to make hoop 2.

But he has left himself a rush south-east, and will look to visit partner that he left east of hoop 4.

His hoop 2 shot suggested the hoops were firm, but had some width to them. A good shot should always go through, but they might catch something iffy.

Rushes black to the middle of the east boundary - he'll need a decent roll

Gets a good hoop 4 pioneer, but he has rushed yellow 2 yards north of hoop 6!!

Looking to roll to the hoop putting a slightly defensive yellow. ... it has gone a little far. We'll have at least 2 press ups here!

One...stalking... I was wrong -just one press up...

I was right... two pressups.

Not enough pressups - hits the middle wire and bounces a foot to the west of hoop 3.

That hoop sounded very firm -Chris said at the start today that he felt Stephen may struggle with the new and firm hoops.

6. Paddy shooting from the middle of the lawn at red next to hoop 3... "that wasn't actually that close either" says someone on the line of the shot.

7. Stephen has a 5 yarder with either of his balls at the other, and about a 9 yarder for a break (shooting at that blue in corner 3. Black golf glove on his left hand. Yellow grip on his mallet... here we go... taking the safer shot.

Stephen has a nice looking Irish grip, which is somewhat less nice looking when he twists his wrists at the end of a shot. Hits though, and rolls yellow next to hoop 3 going to blue. It'll be a stoppo approach out of corner 3. That slightly grubby yellow grip looks like a cricket grip, over a very smart Trimmer mallet.

Black is already at hoop 4, so he plays a drive sending blue to between hoops 1 and 2, and he's back on teh ground... longish and only slightly angled hoop

Second pressup...

Third pressup as he's distracted by Jose playing a stroke on the adjacent lawn.. hits the inside wire again. "didn't hit that with much conviction".

John-Paul Moberly is live streaming this match on facebook - and has copied it to the international golf croquet facebook site. I'll try to get you the link

8.Paddy has a much longer shot now with blue. Checked and red and yellow are not wired.
That link... https://www.facebook.com/johnpaul.moberly/videos/1585013791552821/

Shooting at partner this time...

About 16 yards... hits it in the middle!!!

Rolls black to south of hoop 2, hits red a little unconvincingly. Just needs an ok takeoff and decent rush and Paddy's away.

Questions, comments, feedback, ideas, etc to [email protected] I'm sitting next to John-Paul Moberly and Andrew Gregory so can pass anything on.

JP clearly seeking new friends - to watch the streaming semi final you need to be friends with him - so send this friend requests in and he'll accept you.

He's absolutely lovely anyway, so who wouldn't want to be friendsl

North America has arrived! - Jim Bast and Brian Cumming have just walked in,

Meanwhile, Paddy took off.. and rushed yellow just east of the middle of the south boundary. Bit disappointing, but a good croquet stroke and he's away...

And it is quite a ood croquet stroke, but leaves him a very angled hoop 1. Live streaming of this won't work with someone standing determinedly in front!

Bit harsh on the chap though.

Paddy swinging... runs hoop 1 very well!!! - up to black

Rushes black east of the peg. That was his (wayward) hoop 2 pioneer, but yellow's north of 1 and available as a hoop 2 alternative, and red is up at hoop 3 and would be obliging also

Rolls yellow to 3 getting a cut rush to 2 -hits that well, he's in front of hoop 2 - it's first break to Paddy! (Stephen stalled on hoop 3 doesn't really found as a break)

tight hoop 4 pioneer. Stephen really needed to take that break around to put Paddy, and his shooting, under a bit of pressure. Paddy's tight break play (and that excellent hoop 1) will likely be the difference in this match.

Very well controlled break... Paddy on 1back

He'll be having a spread

Through 2back, black and red (the hoop 3 ball) at the peg.

approaching 3b from a bit of distance, but nice stroke.

Yellow towards the west boundary, red tight at the peg, and it's a diagonal spread. *Paddy: blue on 4back, Stephen: red on hoop 3, other balls on hoop 1

Trevor Bassett sent out to check if yellow and red are wired... he's moving slowly this morning. Big night out with the kiwi drinkers.

Perfect spread.

9. Seems to be angled quite a long way north-south, but it has got Stephen shooting from the end of A baulk with red (hoop 3 ball) from the peg. Centre ball!

Trev bit surprised there was no POPping by Paddy - he did have full control - guess he just wanted to settle a bit

A reminder of the live feed on facebook... https://www.facebook.com/johnpaul.moberly/videos/1585013791552821/ - you need to send JP a friend request first though

Croquets blue to 6, rushes partner to 3 - approaching 3 from 4 yards to the leg.. it's a yard back and angled.. no way...

Uses his firmer hoop stroke this time - gets the middle of the outside wire this time and it bounces right back at him.

10. Paddy has a 6 harder with his 4back ball... hits it in the middle.

Croquets yellow towards the west boundary, and rushes red down towards black. He'll leave that a bit south of peg high between hoops 3 and 4 - must be wired from yellow to leave it there reckons Trev. Has a rush on partner to corner 1 - cuts it to nowhere much.

Rolls into corner 1 (remember, he's playing his 4back ball)

The leave has black very deep - about 2-3 yards north of corner 1 and very near the yardline. Blue 5 feet infield of this giving a rush to hoop 1.

Stephen isn't wired - he's shooting at partner from near corner 2...

11. likes it - centre ball!!

This is his hoop 1 ball, and there are two balls at hoop 1. Slightly brown very close to hoop 3, and traditionally there have been hills around the hoops at Wellington, though that was part of the improvements was getting rid of that.

Rolls red to south of hoop 2, rushes blue to black, he has a 6 inch hoop - not guaraneteed if his hoop stroke is as gone as in the NZ Open two weeks ago...

Runs hoop 1 - by nothing! - but has a handy rush on black back to blue. He'll get at least as far as hoop 3 here. That hoop stroke might not survive today though. He is indeed shooting well though.

Through 2 off partner, and he has a rush back down the lawn. hoop 3 pioneer is a bit NW of the hoop.

Croquets red to hoop 4, rushes black to the hoop - it's going to be a TPO!!! - if Stephen can run hoop 3...

Approaching from NW of the hoop - it's pretty close, but a bit angled. pressup...

Has to run it fairly gently... I can't watch!...gets a fair bit of wire on a decent hoop stroke, and runs into peelee - has a short peel now...

Plays it very quickly , as a roll - yellow has a 5 footer and blue is in the jaws - Trev not approving of that roll

Through 4, but he doesn't have a rush back up the lawn!

Red croqueted to 6, going to black at hoop 5 .... red is short

approaches 5 from close - he'll need to run this gently to get a rush...

runs it gently... mallet in the air - he can hit this, but not hard

Hits it nearly in the middle, but it only moves it about a yard

Has a big croquet stroke to play, then he'll need to rushpeel blue, and get to that wayward hoop 6 pioneer.

Big croquet stroke... "it's absolutely rubbish" - thanks JP - fairly accurate, as yellow sails past blue. That'll be a ball to 4back now, as remember we were on a TPO. It has got very delayed now.

Ref is out, hits blue, removing it from the hoop, he's taking off fine, so might still fancy a go at rush-peeling it after 6.

Stephen takes off fine to get a rush to hoop 6. Rushes well.

Approaches hoop 6... through, and has a rush to the east boundary... actually into corner 3 - decent rush.

Croquets red to 2back... runs into blue - it was almost perfect - blue is 6 inches in front of 4back. In any case, he will have an easy peel as he only just nudged into it..

Takes off from blue... jawses it... Poor takeoff!!! - he almost ends up in front of 1back! - that would have been handy, as he now has a backward takeoff.

Plays it well though, and has a 2 foot straight hoop. That's a bit long for Stephen?

Actually it was 18 inches, and he runs it with no wire.

Jp enquiring about Trevor's play for this - blue is to be TPO'd and is in 4back.
JP "would you send black to 3back and go down and rushpeel blue"
Trev "I'd rush it out of the hoop and set a .... leave!"

Stephen takes JO's line of play. Black is nearer hoop 5 than 3back.

Decent takeoff - blue still north of 4back. But has a rush to 2back. Approaching it from 4 feet in front. This break might be settling Stephen a bit - the added challenge of a TPO taking his mind away a bit from those hoops.

Through 2back, has a rush pointing at the middle of the east boundary.

Rushes it off the east boundary north of peg high - needs to put this as an escape ball and get blue to a good position - remember this is a TPO. If this gets gets too messy to get a decent leave we may see two balls off! Paddy is better at croquet strokes I feel, but Stephen is shooting better.

Rushes blue down, croquets it back up well to peeling position, red is a good escape ball, and he has done well at 3back and has rushed back up. game on!

Peeling from close - oh dear!!! - blue isn't through!!! - it's on a bit of an angle too

Rushes well to 4back, and he's through. Blue is still very close to penult, so he'll keep going - has conceeded a contact already with running 4back.

Meanwhile, up on lawn 3 we have the best-of-three semi finals of the plate. I can't see it as I'm on the verandah of the clubhouse - very kind of them to leave this table for the commentary team - usually it has tea on it.

Stephen for a straight double.. he's peeling from about a foot out - that's surprisingly far given what he had, but i guess he wanted to guarantee it straight.

Doesn't hit it at all well. Blue through to 2 yards SW of the peg. Stephen's ball bounces back really badly... about 45 degrees and very short. Referee on marking things!

Runs it firmly, and he's off again - got it through surprisingly far from that angle!!!

Has a 4 yarder back at black..hits - has to get blue through rover now

Rushes well to rover - has black south west of the hoop, partner only just south and slightly east - a good ball to rush away after the peel, and has a 3 foot straight peel - but no deep ball...

Short stop shot - blue is comfortably through, but he needs to run this 6 inch hoop very gently...

plays it well, rushes partner off to the spot on the east boundary where it won't easily roll to hoop 1.

We thought he should have bailed on this, but he has determinedly kept going and has done really well.

Takes off back to black. Hits that, organises a rush on blue to the peg. Referee on - pegs out blue and nearly runs onto the peg himself!!!

Stephen Mulliner has TPO'd Paddy Chapman. Paddy is on hoop 1 and pegged out, Stephen is on hoop 3 and the peg

Stephen's peg ball (yellow ) is in corner 2, red on the west boundary and it's Paddy's black ball that is yet to start.

Only ONE person applauds Stephen's TPO (where the first peel was completed after 1back!!) - really gutsy turn and well executed in the end

actually, Trevor clapped too. We couldn't get the very partisan crowd to move.

Paddy has been TPO'd 29 times in his career and has won 18 of the games!!!!

That said, a lot of these have been on trivial English lawns with easier hoops.

A couple of photos on instagram #acworlds, but I am a complete novice.

12. Paddy takes croquet from yellow, rolls it to north of hoop 1 going to red. Going, going... that would have been off by about 7 yards if not for the stop boards. That was screaming off!

13.Stephen has a 6 foot cut rush with his hoop 3 ball to hoop 3. Cuts it off the lawn 2 yards up from where it was!

Needs to go and tidy up yellow now.

Rolls black to hoop 1, has a 4 yarder on yellow - Trev doesn't fancy this at all!

Hits.

Will roll to corner 3

Rolls... red parks in the front of hoop 6... if that was in the jaws he would have been in a LOT of trouble.

He can get to yellow - but Paddy will have the option of a shot through into corner 3 - Stephen has a 5 yarder or will have a 6 yarder into corner 3.

Paddy checking out his options - plays into corner 1.

14. Paddy into the corner

15. Stephen hits his 5 yarder onto the boundary - after moving some spectators away.

16. Paddy waves at Stephen - leaves black in corner 1.

17. Stephen rushes well to hoop 3 (he'd left himself a good, wired, rush before, after playing his peg ball)

Seems to have put yellow directly behind hoop 3, so carefully plays it past the wire of hoop 3, and he has a very short hoop. Runs it nicely and he's looking to rush to the middle of the east boundary to a spot wired from paddy by maybe hoop 5.

I can't see his leave, but Paddy is moving black to a foot east of corner 1. I think Chris would want him to run to corner 3 here.

that was 18.

19. Stephen rushes to hoop 4, makes it and rushes just NE of hoop 5.

approaches 5, runs it - not sure what's planned now... rolls up from south of the peg to hoop 6... and he's short and angled. .. looking to the north boundary.

Good stat - 7 years running Trevor Bassett has done more triples than JP Moberly has career games in the rankings!!

Stephen plays off the north boundary. Has a 4 yarder pointing at hoop 6.

20. Paddy takes a look. I think he'll wait for his lift here.

walks down to corner 1... shooting into corner 3 - well behind Stephen's break. Seemed to pass quite close to the peg on its way

21. Stephen pointing to the spot on yellow he needs to hit to rush it to hoop 6 - doesn't get all of it, but taking off from a yard NW of 6. Plays it well

Runs 6 with very little wire and has a 3 yard.rush to corner 1. Looks like he may have a wire. He's laying up at Paddy's hoop, so needs to wire this!

Gives himself a 6 inch rush to 1back - that'll be wired. Paddy won't be moving from corner 3

Andrew Gregory stretches out of the commentary box to confirm Stephen does have the wiring.

22. Paddy to 8 inches west of corner 3

23. Rushes to 1back, approaches - not sure from where - we were distracted by Reg in corner 4 of his lawn

24. Yellow is 5 yards south of 1back.. runs 1back to... 8 inches south of 1back. This will be an runaway - at least the lift hoop is cleared, but yellow looks handy!

Reg turned up today looking very smart - in South African dark green blazer. He is playing with a Dave Trimmer mallet - he has used it in exactly three tournaments - and has never lost a match with it!! - he has won the Golf Croquet world championship with it (including a stunning 10+ yard jump shot at hoop 10 against me in the block play), and both the AC and Golf Croquet British Open Championships. That's the only events for it, and he loves that mallet!

Stephen plays red to maximum distance position on the east boundary.

25. Paddy has a lift, but is also in corner 3ish, so could shoot from where it lies - however it's a bad boundary.

Paddy preferring the flatter boundary and is shooting at yellow from the end of B baulk.

Casting... shoots... hits!!!

Rushes yellow off the east boundary.

Needs a good takeoff or an excellent croquet stroke here.

Taking off slightly thick to red. Keeps it on the lawn - and has a 6 yarder at red with yellow 2.5 yards north-west of hoop 2.

Clunk suggests he has hit it. "21 yard roll for the game"

At least he can set a squeeze if he doesn't get it perfect.

reminder Paddy has black on hoop 1 and blue is pegged out, red is for 2back and yellow for the peg

Big roll - almost on the blade of grass!!!

He's about on a line with the south boundary corner 1 yardline marker. Red is between 1 and 2.

Chooses to play gently in front of hoop 1.

26. Stephen plays red in t corner 4.

Huge crowd on the embankment now.

Standing room only in some areas. It's helpful to be in the media area

At least 60 here watching at the "Best Little Croquet Club in the World"

27. Paddy runs 1 with a lot of wire - up towards hoop 2, and hits yellow closer to corner 2

croquets yellow across the line of the hoop well and he's in front.. runs hoop 2 well - but gets a really unkind wick and goes past the righthand side of yellow. He now has a rush pointing at the middle of the west boundary. Looked really unlucky there with the wide hoop.

Really nice cut puts yellow 3 yards SW of the peg.

Remember Red's in corner 4. Trev wants yellow between 3 and 4 going to red, and a thick takeoff to 4. So does Paddy

Croquet stroke is good. Hits red.

IT's another squeeze

(or can he get in front - hasnt played that yet)

The takeoff is a perfect weight, but ends up a bit east of the hoop. After turning down hoop 1, he won't take this one on.

No - it's slightly straighter and he's having it...

Lovely hoop!!! - some of the crowd even clap!

Has a choice of 9 yarders. Taking the safe one at yellow back up the lawn.

Hits it well

Rolls yellow to 5 going to red on the south boundary. Needs a decent takeoff for a chance at finishing now

Rolls yellow to 5 going to red on the south boundary. Needs a decent takeoff for a chance at finishing now

Good take-off

Runs hoop 4 well - he should finish from here.

Really lovely pickup by Paddy

Through 5, has a good 1back pioneer, and rushes to 6

Has a forward rush out of hoop 6.All under control

That really was a superb series of strokes to pick up the break

Gets a rush out of 1back to the middle of the west boundary. lovely stuff.

Making 3back now.

Running 3back looking for a forward rush... black holds up - he's not through!!!!!!!

Only saving grace is that it's off Stephen's peg ball.

Paddy 3back and pegged out, Stephen peg and red is for 2back

They have about 35 mins left!!!! - stupid timed games.

Good spot from Trevor- after Paddy broke down the crowd totally defocussed and started nattering.

Stephen takes off from black on the south boundary behind hoop 4 to partner and it gets a little quieter. The cicadas are going nuts though.

28. Doesn't get a rush, but rolls off on west boundary - red into corner 2, yellow 6 yards south of it.

29.. Paddy is 6 yards in front of his hoop, but not that silly. Shooting at black in corner 2.. he's watching that.... but misses.

30. Stephen rushes to 2back, runs it, has rushed to 3back.

He's in front of it. There is a mad rush of people getting lunch, standing in front of the camera, replacing the people who were in front of the camera - argh.

Stephen is through 3back... rolling down to corner 4. Has to leave it open, so he's leaving an open (long) shot for a finish at Paddy's hoop.

Jose was asked between games "would you like your hoops checked?". His reply "yes please, they are very wide" Classic!

Stephen now on 4back. Paddy on 3back

31. Paddy shooting. ..

Misses yellow

32. Stephen should get through 4back now.

Takes on his 3 yarder with his 4back ball - almost missed that!

JP looking murderous as people keep wandering past the camera

Rushes partner really well to 4back. It's about 2 yards south

Approaches it well

He should get a rush out of this - will be looking to finish...

He should get a rush out of this - will be looking to finish...

Through 4back, rushes to penult.

Approaches penult and has a short hoop, but slight angle... runs it well to get a rush to rover.

Still a little bit of life in this one...

Choose to cut to black rather than rushing to rover an make it off partner. I don't really like this as his rush was pointing at rover. Over cuts it!!

Has to cut black to rover - it's a shocker - hits it in the middle, and he has a 2.5 yard backward takeoff.

The very wonderful Nick Chapman has turned up - with a coffee for me!!!

Stephen... has a 4 foot rover to win... doesn't get close!! - has blobbed it to in front though, Paddy wont be able to see this.

Chris wants black to shoot at yellow from where it lies. Black south of cover, yellow 13 yards away - a yard south of the peg, and 4 yards in from the east boundary.

I can't see anything - this crowd is focussed on feeding themselves and are chatting constantly. Many unaware of this classic game being played out!

Probably 15 mins to go.

33. Shoots at yellow - looks really disappointed.. missed by a long way

34. Stephen has a 4 yarder with his peg ball.

I can't see a thing - the thronging crowd are thronging

He's not keen on that 4 yarder - shooting at red instead - a good shot will peel this.

They must only have about 15 mins left.

Stephen shoots - referee in attendance - misses into near corner 1.

Paddy can have a long free shot at that.

35. Paddy is open on everything

It has taken a very long time for the crowd to settle, and Paddy finally can shoot... gets the gap between red and yellow - misses both by some margin.

36. Stephen now has a tap-on with yellow.

Let's try this coffee...

15 mins left now

And it's good! (the coffee)

He hasn't touched red - takes off from black and pegs yellow out.

Paddy shooting at red - referee there - watching... hits!!! - cuts it towards 3back!!!

37.Paddy has shot from corner 1 as red in front of rover, and cut it to 5 yards in front of 3back!

Taking off...gets a 4 foot 10 degree hoop. Needs to run this by 3-4 yards.

Plays a smooth hoop stroke - but hits lots of wire and it's in the jaws. Stephen has a 4.5 yarder at most of a ball.

38. Stephen doesn't get much of that - but it's enough!

Red going towards the north boundary - black not far north of the line of hoop 6, he'll need to take on this 3 yard hoop.

About 9 mins left.

2-2.5 yard hoop, not too angled. Re stalking a little

Runs it well.

"now, regrettably, you don't have time to play a normal pegged-out ending

Plays red to corner 1.

Paddy wasting about 40 seconds walking very slowly up to his ball - he doesn't have this time to spare!!!

39. Paddy takes 5 yard position at 3back.

4.5 yards. straight

40. Stephen plays up to peg high, a couple of yards in from the west boundary

41. Paddy runs 3back... lovely shot, but it has run past 4back. He's going to lose on time here. - ridiculous in a world championship event!!

The clock is in the hut near corner 1. Cant be long left.

Paddy takes position at 4back.

Stephen playing to a wired position at the peg - it's short!!!!

43. Paddy has a shot at this - it's about 11 yards...Dribbles very gently... hills on!!!!!

The peg is in the way, but Chris reckons he can easily get a 2 yard straight hoop.

It looks ugly.

Check out #acworlds for pictures and video from Nick Chapman

Meanwhile - Paddy Chapman... rolls up - has a 2.5 yard slightly angled hoop, and red is in great position to rush to penult.

Casting... bounces out!

Stephen has a safe 5 yarder for the game.

44. Stephen hits - rushing black to the middle of the east boundary.

Takes off to the peg, short peg out. Short man wins game 1.

Stephen Mulliner wins game 1 against Paddy Chapman 26 TPO - 22

Quick lunch break for us. They will have just over 2 hours (maybe just on 2 hours) for their next game!

Game 2

1 Stephen blue to east boundary
2. Paddy short duffer with yellow

no - not trustig my sources here... let's find someone who was awake

noone seems to know what is going on here!

There was a supershot. From someone. Sorry I was lunching. 30 people were watching. I can't find a reliable witness.

Paddy has hit something, taken off from next to hoop 2 to Stephen who was joined up near corner 4.

IF anyone wants to give me accurate details of the opening, that would be wonderful please.

Andrew G..

Paddy supershot
Mulliner east boundary
Paddy missed from B baulk into corner 4

Someone else thought t was a "standard, very standard opening".

i wouldn't want this lot as witnesses!

Paddy is through 1, rushes to the east boundary there's a 3 pioneer now, The crowd are chowing down, and Paddy is through hoop 2 with a break ahead of him.

Phil Cordingly suggests from what we saw that Mulliner hit the supershot ball from south boundary 4th turn - rushing it to the short duffer position I returned to see, but didn't get going.

Then in turn 5 Paddy hit and we have this turn.

1. Paddy supershot about 12 yards.
2. Mulliner max distance east boundary
3. Paddy shot down the line and missed into corner 4

4. Stephen hit the supershot ball, rushed it to north of hoop 6, took off to the boundary ball, didn't get a rush, took off to the corner ball, didn't get a rush. Tried to roll off hoop 1. Didn't get position, came back to partner on the east boundary north of corner 4.
5. Paddy hit the ball north of hoop 6, and is going around comfortably now

Turns out Chris was watching and hadn't disappeared to the Mediterranean Warehouse for lunch with Michael Wright yet. Phew.

Thanks for your emails and support Dave Trimmer in the UK (gonna be a late night for you!), and Greg Diprose in roasty Canberra. Getting cool here - heading to 33 deg there.

Samir saw a few drops of rain on the windscreen, and it is a lot cooler here now. Hope it stays dry today.

Remember this Paddy v Stephen game is 2 hours time limit - I expect Stephen will still TPO given the chance.

Very nice lunch WMCC - basically a buffet of lovely meats, salad ingredients and very fresh crusty rolls. Other stuff too, but you can't go past their mashed egg and chicken

Well, some people probably can.

Paddy will be having a spread. He has 3back to make now. Looks like he changed balls. He usually plays blue and black, but after the woes at 3back perhaps he changed.

Hmmmm - odd - Paddy won this toss - but he went second, and with his non-favoured blue and black. Maybe he just wanted to get rid of black???

5. Paddy around to 4back with a spread.

6. few spots of rain falling as Mulliner lifts black from the peg - takes the short shot... misses!

7. Paddy stops black nicely in thelawn, rushes red ..short!... of blue, and has a slightly uncomfortable croquet stroke to put out a hoop 2 pioneer and rush to 1

Less people on wifi now, so the images from JP are much less blurry - lunch dying down now, so less people wandering past the camera

Copes - and he's through hoop 1!

I can't see ANYTHING of the corner

Nice stuff.. Paddy through hoop 2, and rushes partner across - it's in peeling position!!! - approaching 3 off blue - black is 5 yards north of hoop 4.

Jose's mum is soo nervous - absolutely gorgeous

Paddy through 3 - has knocked red a bit angled though, likely to stop it gently into the jaws from here.

It's not a great shot, but it's a bit quicker and very firm around that hoop. Red pops out to 6 inches in front and straightish

Paddy through hoop 4, rushes to the middle of the south boundary, and black goes up level with hoop 6, but 5 yards east of it - he'll need to rush-peel 4back I think.

Stephen popped in for a cuppa - confirms Paddy chose play, and Stephen chose to swap ball colours - he reckoned after 4 games with red and yellow that it was time for a change!

(I never swap winning balls!)

Paddy makes 5, rushes off the middle of the east boundary - plays a really good shot to get a 1back pioneer and a straight rush on red to peel it - red's not having any of that! - bounces out

That's the rogue ball that didn't want to go through hoop 3 at the start of the day.

Rushes well to 6 and out back to the east boundary.

Still looking for the TP, PAddy stops black to between 1 and 2 (wee bit south of that), and rushes red to peeling position before 1back

Follow Reg v Jose live via video streaming if you're a facebook friend of Christian Carter's on: https://www.facebook.com/christian.l.carter/videos/10100972496243755/

Takeoff peel - bounces off.

Paddy rushes his 1back pioneer 2 feet SW of 1back.

Approaches 1b well, splitting blue across the face of the hoop to end up with a rush pointing at the middle of the north boundary.

Well, he had to cut it here, but rushes blue to the middle of the east boundary after 1back.

PAddy now has that poor 2b pioneer, and is contemplating setting up to peel 4back rushing to 3back. Well, it is the World Championship Semi Final

Takes off from red, leaving it close in front of 4back - maybe slightly angled for the rushpeel. Gets a decent rush on his pioneer. Approaches sending black deep - too deep - it's on the yardline, so he won't have a rush back.

Cuts it near the middle of east boundary - rolls up - black to penult... rushpeeling 4back..

Rushes red solidly into the jaws of 4back!!!

That leaves an awkward takeoff, as blue is north-west of 4back

taking off from the back of red...

once he sorts that out, he'll be able to rushpeel red and roll it across getting a rush on black to 4back.

Mallet in the air as he plays a very thin takeoff - that'll be fine.

Its fine, but he has to cut blue to 3back. Pretty decent shot. Need to ensure he doesn't follow on to red and promote it out of the hoop.

The angle is ok - he has rushed it really well to a yard in front of 3back. A yard directly in front.

Takes off - It's a little angled, but it's a very good shot. He won't be going gently at this!

Applause as he runs this hoop a yard past blue.

Rolls them up - they are travelling.. yellow is perfect! - has an easy rush peel.Blue is.. traveling... perfect! - hits penult and parks next to it.

Peels partner, rolling it to penult - this is classy stuff

Poor ratio - red skates past the front of penult, and he has to play a delicate cut to 4back.

Copes and is approaching from 2 yards SW of 4back.

He seemed to give that some, but has judged it perfectly, and runs 4back off the boundary with a rush pointing at the middle of the east boundary. He'll cut that somewehre slightly more useful, put it near the peg and go to blue. All under control, but red is about a foot west of penult.

Black to west of the peg. Looks like he's having some sort of cannon - plays it really really well. Looked a bit unnecessary until you see he cannoned it pretty much dead in front.

Roquets red a tad off centre. and we have a straight double to finish.

Hits the peel shot really well - red to 2.5 yards north of rover - first person I've seen hit this hard enough in ages

Bounces into the middle of the hoop

croquets blue as a genuine deep ball!!!

hits black - he's having a genuine side ball too. At last

Rushes red 15 inches in front of rover and it's pretty straight

Peeling... red through well, yellow just through - that's what the side ball is for folks.

Paddy wins game 2 7th turn 26TP-0

Spoiler alert: an interestng refereeing question... check out instagram, #acworlds, and Jose playing a peel... is it a fault?? -https://www.instagram.com/p/Be_tcvGhgT0/?hl=en&tagged=acworlds... votes and justification to [email protected]

Thanks to Nick Chapman for this video - very useful.

Paddy and Stephen lunching, by the way.
Or don't look at instagram - it is a spoiler.

fascinating one though

Nick Harris votes no

(I won't name everyone - just trying to get the ball rolling here)

Oh dear - hoop 3 - defeater of the red ball - is up and out of the ground. That was holding up well! Maybe Paddy's slap through it earlier changed its setting a bit. I hope they're not making them wider!

And it's in the ground - oh dear - it's back out of the ground.

And it's in again.

Game 3: Stephen Mulliner (England) and Paddy Chapman (New Zealand) locked at 1-1

1. Mulliner yellow supershot - bit deeper this time

2. Paddy took blue and black back

Plays black into the lawn east of yellow. Good to see him changing things up.

It's peg high and a few yards east of the peg

3. Stephen in corner 1 - taking a very long shot at partner - it'll be some sort of ugly dribble

no - he's on the end of A baulk now.

dribbling... watching... misses. Chris reckons he has missed on the correct side to not leave a double - shot from the end of A baulk and missed on the left. Good to have Chris in the expert commentary box.

Good afternoon Chris Lavina - I will certainly be at the Dixon Advisory Classic - really looking forward to that at the start of March!

4. Paddy shooting... not sure what sort of target he has... but misses to north of hoop 2

5. Stephen has a 5 yarder with yellow... hits. Takes off to red - rushes it to 1 - has first go at the hoop... through with a rush!

Black is between 3 and 4, but he has rushed red back south of hoop 4, and blue is on the north boundary pretty much behind hoop 2. He should be able to get going here.

Stephen rushes well and copes at hoop 2. Half the crowd walk into the way as rain starts to fall.

he's through 3, has a slightly rough hoop 4 pioneer, but he'll be fine

Stephen through hoop 5.

I was going to chat about croquet laws, but Stephen is doing something exciting... he's having a 1back leave. I'm surprised this is happening given how badly Paddy is shooting

It's a one-back leave!!! - Blue and black cross wired at hoop 1- looks like Paddy was considering the jump

6. Shooting at yellow, the in-lawn ball - misses.

7. Stephen starting a sextuple...

hits blue, stops it north of hoop 6, just south of the line of 1 and 3

Rushes yellow across - it's a little west of perfect.

Lining up the peel

Doesn't take long over that shot... peels yellow to 7 yards north of hoop 1!!! - has a good rush to hoop 1.

Approaches hoop 1... runs it - just whiskers past black - not long enough to rush yellow back for the peel

Rolling yellow to in front of 2back from peg high

Rolls it to 4 feet in front of 2back and rushes north of hoop 6

Rolls black to 3, has to cut blue a bit - points at the spot he wants to hit

rushes it ok, but it's a long, angled hoop... runs it really well

Famous Mulliner fist pump to go with it

Cuts blue to somewhere north of hoop 1, as Janet Boutel ducks below the live streaming camera

He has left blue next to yellow to peel 2back before hoop 4

rushes well to 3, needs a rush out really

Stephen has badly misapproached 3 from right in front!!! - was trying too hard to get a rush out maybe

45 deg? - more?? Hits it hard.. clip on 3

"that was a rubbish approach from Stephen ... he was right in front" - from teh commentary team - not me...

8. Paddy has a 5 footer at red in the front of hoop 3, and two balls at hoop 1. Bit angled though, and he's contemplating the 3 yarder at hoop 1.

Takes on the 5 footer - doesn't hit much of that! - red was well off the wire "kiwi ref says 'yes'". Aussies..

Takes off from red to blue and yellow at hoop 1.

catchup: Stephen on 3 (red) and 2-back (yellow) after a failed sextuple attempt, Paddy still 1 and 1, but has all the balls

Hits blue, plays it short of hoop 2, has a rush to hoop 2.

That's three times now Stephen has failed hoop 3 with red. And it took Paddy 4 or 5 (or 6?) goes to get red through 4back.

Paddy through 1 with yellow

ok, through 1 and hits yellow,sorry - distracted. Takes off to blue. He's playing black.

Through 2, and he's popping red through 3 after making the hoop himself. Gives himself some protection from a TPO, and lots more options for the leave.

No discernable hoop 5 pioneer, but full control at hoop 4

ok, after a while trying to sort out random devices draining data, we've locked things down and are back online.

Paddy putting blue to 2back, red and yellow are at 1back, which he's up to with black.

Stephen is on 4 and 2back - red popped through hoop 3 by paddy, yellow peeled through 1back by Stephen. Paddy on his first break

Crowd - are they reliable?? - think he has popped red through 4. Hmmm...

Apparently he did have it in the hoop. Im' asked it he was going to peel it out - I'm not even sure what a 10-peel on opponent would be recorded as!

Turns out to watch Christian's feed you don't need to send a friend request - it's a public share - that's Reg v Jose.

The vast majority of opinion on Jose's game is fault, and Graeme reckons Jose thinks he his hit (single ball stroke!) twice - so that's definitive.

Will be interesting to do an analysis of that video on insta - might chuck it through Silicon Coach live and do some analysis if I ever catch up on work stuff.

4 days until the start of term and...I've been summoned to a one-day first aid refresher course. It'll be chaos this coming week!

ok, Paddy has put yellow deep towards the west boundary in a standard spread.

Spain ... use this link to watch Pepe v Reg... https://www.facebook.com/christian.l.carter/videos/10100972558014965/

That's game 4

Paddy has finished his diagonal spread. Red was not peeled through 4 (why would you), and it's left by the peg.

9. Stephen lifts yellow from near the west boundary. That's his 2back ball. I'm surprised he picked that one.

Shooting from corner 3...

They had 4 minutes left after game 1, then Paddy gave them a lot more time, leaving 1hr 7 mins to add on for game 3.

So they have 3hrs 7 mins for this game.

Stephen shoots... it's awful - hates it - looking... misses the inlawn ball by an inch!

10. Paddy has a delayed TP for game 3 in front of him.

It's very overcast now, but the rain has stopped falling.

Paddy hasn't left himself a nice rush to hoop 1 here, but cuts it really well. It's abit short, but nicely cut.

2yd NW of hoop 1. Taking off...

MAkes 1 well, and has a rush he can cut into corner 4. that corner is hidden from us by spectators, so not sure if he made it.

Yup - he seems to be in the corner, but yellow isn't. Can stop that into the lawn a bit and get a rush out to black. I don't think he'll regard that as a good enough hoop 4 pioneer (probably had space to get it a yard out of corner 4 - it'll be good to get back to kelburn - catering not the same, but at least there are places for people to see the whole lawn!

Plays a nice croquet stroke putting yellow 18 inches SW of hoop 3, and he has a rush on partner to 2.

Red is about a yard and half out of corner 4. Paddy has chosen to cut black across and is having that red as his hoop 4 pioneer.

Black in front of 4back, approaching off yellow - he has a lot of control here. Looks to be punishing that sextuple attempt.

Through hoop 3 as a few drops fall.

Black into the jaws of 4back and he has a good rush pointing at corner 4. Hits it really well.

He'll stop that south of hoop 4 and run 4 to it, will be interesting to see how far towards hoop 5 he sends red.

Rushes red up - looks like he'll send it all the way to hoop 5. Slightly longish hoop 4, but that'll be coped with nicely

Through to the boundary - looks very unimpressed to get no wire and hit the middle of yellow

Through 5, rolls red to south of 1back, and rushes black through 4back. The lawns will have slowed even more with the moisture, and he'll look to roll black in front of penult to peel after 6. He has a really good hoop 6 pioneer for this - it's 4 feet NE of hoop 6

Rolls black 2.5 yards north and a little east of 6, has a nice rush to 6

after 6 the peelee in front of penult - should be able to rushpeel it after 1back

Rain coming down now - only fairly misty stuff though.

Through 1back, 2back pioneer is short, but it's all good

Red smartly stopped to 3back and he'll be rushpeeling partner - good shot! - bit too good - it's 4 feet SW of rover.

The commentary box declares its love for Trevor Bassett as he brings a round of drinks - thanks Trev!

Jose has joined us!!! I won't tell you about his match - many people read after the fact and I don't want to spoil the enjoyment of those readers

After 2b - sends yellow very nicely to 4back - lovely control from Paddy, and he has the powerful strokes when needed.

Hits partner - will be peeling going to 3back. "he'll have a transit peel" - what on earth have you been reading JP????!!!

Andrew Gregory hasn't heard of it either!

A round of coffees arrives - thanks Phil. (that's for Andrew - I'm not double parking my brews!)

Lovely stuff Paddy! - peels rover by 2 feet, runs 3back and rushes back to it - red as a tidy rover pioneer and rushing partner up - all peels done - thanks for that error Mr Mulliner - Paddy on the way to a 2-1 lead

From JP "Don't teach nursing do you?"
Me "no, why?"
JP "Cos you're nursing that beer!"

Cheeky boy!

Paddy through 4back, nowhere much to rush it to, as he has a good penult pioneer and a perfect rover pioneer.

Cuts it a little closer to penult and he'll croquet it towards the peg.

Through penult ... partner to the peg... through rover...

Paddy Chapman wins game 3 26TP-10

From one game down, Paddy is now 2-1 up. What was Stephen doing with that sextuple leave with Paddy struggling to shoot??

We won't have a long break from these two - probably a 3 min comfort and sausage roll stop.

Game 4: Paddy leads Stephen 2-1

1. Paddy gets the start and his choice of balls. Plays black up as a deep supershot

2. Stephen rolls a ball in 5 yards east of black

3. Paddy looking like he might shoot hard at yellow into corner 3

No - medium pace. It bounces a lot on its way, and goes harmlessly past yellow to about 3 yards NE of the peg.

4. Stephen has his choice of doubles - opting to take it from B baulk, shooting at blue and yellow

Hits the middle of... the back ball. Phil Cordingley "good lining up"!

It can be quite hard to make a proper double there.

Rolls yellow to hoop 2 and... runs into blue - it'll have to be a takeoff to get a rush to hoop 1.

Alison Sharp has just wandered past. She has two delightful twin boys. I first met them about 6 years ago at the first Women's AC world champs at Cairnlea in Melbourne. They were both about 13 then. They were sitting around a table in the clubhouse, Ali introduced me to them - both turned their devices off and stood up to shake my hand in greeting - beautifully raised chaps, and it's great to see Charlie Sharp taking up the game (well, GC so far)

Stephen has coped with his rush to 1, makes the hoop, puts two balls to hoop 3 - good idea - it's red he's playing!!

Has a rush to 2 - plays that well.Black and blue are optional hoop 3 pioneers - both a few yards from hoop 3

Very cloudy, and nearby hills are obscured by the mist.

Through 2, yellow croqueted tidily to hoop 4 and he has a rush on black north of blue - blue was closes t to hoop 3

In front of 3 ... no wire!!

Through 3, croquets blue to 5. Has a rush on black.

Will he start preparing for a final against Reg with a 1-back leave? Or is that preparing for a 3v4 playoff with Reg/Jose after that last game?

Puts blue to ... next to 1back...and rushes yellow up the lawn... did that go through hoop 6 without touching any wire????? - looked like it did, but it might have threaded through the gap between 6 and black

Anyway, it's going to be a 1back leave. "that decision is like a 0 out of 10"

PC (not Chapman): "it's clearly good given Paddy is shooting very well" ... ...replied to by Trev with "He's clearly not watching the same match as us!" -

alternatively "it's great .... for New Zealand"

Anyway, blue and black are now cross wired at 1, Stephen's red ball had made hoop 3 in this turn, so that'll be a relief to him, and he's leaving himself north of hoop 3 with a rush to 1back.

That was the first break, turn 4. Stephen's red is on 1back, and all other clips on hoop 1.

5. Paddy shooting at the tea-lady.

Toby's head rises out of the hut near corner 1 - checking out the line. Then he moves to the side and the rest of his body has appeared

Taking the shortest shot with black... started walking after that??

Misses.

Stephen has an enormous smile - I suspect that may have hilled off, as Stephen was on the line to that ... aah - I thought Paddy intially looked disappointed and then slightly interested..

Trev returns to say that "it was always missing, but it turned on in the end ... and missed by nothing"

We got up to about 145 viewers, but it is now 2.15am UK time!

Stops black into the lawn, north of hoop 6... rushes red off the middle of the south boundary!!

actually, south of hoop 4.

Croquets it up to... south of hoop 6! - it's west of there, but south of the line - it's not very too if you're thinking of control and peeling

Approaches 1 well, runs it to get a rush off the north boundary in front of hoop 3. Bit untidy this, but he should be able to pull it together. Wonder what he'll do if he doesn't get this SXP under way

Puts black as a good escape ball for the peel,a nd rushes partner well to hoop 2.

Through hoop 2, past red, and he can rush this to somewhere tasty.

Has a 1 foot peel

Phil Cordingley has started an engrossing tactical conversation ... as to whether there is sufficient washing powder left. Annabel 'sat here for the scintillating conversation' - unlucky!

Peels red past the peg (it has wicked about a yard or two west of the line of 1 and 2. Puts black down - it's far too far north to be interesting.

Through 3, rushing across the lawn. Will need to peel 2back going to hoop 5 at this rate.

Through 4, puts his hoop 6 pioneer west of 3back, and he'll be peeling 2b before hoop 5 with good control

Peels 2back and he has approached 5 pretty well - it's longer than he'll want though... - couple of pressups...

He'll hit this firmly

Runs it very nicely, and has a cut back to the south boundary.

Rushes blue off the middle of the south boundary. It'll be a 1back pioneer.

I wish Chris was here to tell us where to put it - he has given up - very little seating available and a sore back... courtesy of the 2007 New Zealand GC Opens where he was forced to play in waterlogged courts - it took over two years to find a musculo-skeletal specialist - Jenny Keightley - hugely recommended in Christchurch - to stop it from being fairly constant intense pain.

Anyway, his back is really sore, he is having a break and will be back to hopefully share some tactical insights.

pioneer for 1back is 8 yards south and a bit east of hoop 2.

puts red a yard WSW of hoop 4 and rushes to 6. Rushes back to the middle of the south boundary. So that's 2 peels done, well set for another one, and he's on 1back. In good position here.

Black to equidistant between the peg, hoop 6 and hoop 3, as a very distance 2back pioneer. Peeling 3back... really good shot gets it 2/3 of the way to 4back and he has a 4 yard straight rush to 1back.

three peels down, and he's on 1back

I still think his slightly flakey hope stroke is a worry

Has a 18 inch 1back... flops through by 6 inches to get a perfect rush pointing horizontally to the east boundary.

It is perfect position, so we could give him some credit for a perfect hoop stroke?? - it did sound like it got a lot of wire though, and I'm along way away from it!

Blue to 3 yards SE of 4back. That's his 3back pioneer.

Stops red into good peeling position - a yard south of 4back, and he has... a cut rush to 2back. - plays it really well

has approached to 18 inches and runs the hoop off the south boundary - he'll have another good rush pointing at 4back

it's long though.. 4 yards again??

Dave Trimmer will be loving this - his mallets are performing exquisitely!

Hits - rolls black to penult (presumably as escape ball for the penult peel before 4back, but it's a bit too straight) and has a 1 yarder at peelee... hits it well...it hills a mile

Peeling from right in front... but it's red... and it does not want to go through!!! Red bounces to the east.

Phil C "he's not quite as clinical as Reg is he"

Christian needs to set up a new stream after power issues... new link... https://www.facebook.com/christian.l.carter/videos/10100972600604615/

that's for the Reg v Jose stream.

Stephen rushes blue to level with 3back on the east boundary.. approaches it well - 3 feet straight in front - didn't get anywhere near the middle of the hoop!!!

Stephen's SXP stops at 3back and 4back

7. Paddy hits is 4 yarder at yellow. Takes off ... short! - he has a 5 yarder - hits the middle of it!

through 1, approaching 2... he's angled!!!

Tries to run a rather angled hoop 2 firmly... rejected!!

Actually, after taking off short, Paddy's shot at red rush-peeled it. So Stephen is now playing his penult ball. Red on penult (he'll be pleased it's through 4back!). If he hits he can have a very powerful leave not conceding a lift.

Sorry for the breakdown in reporting - was sourcing a plug to get JP back online.

Hopefully JP will be back soon.

anyways... 8. Stephen can't see blue!

Shoots at partner near the south boundary ... misses.

9. Paddy shooting from 3 to 2. Misses by miles.

10. Stephen rushes yellow up the lawn, he's playing that penult ball.

Croquets partner south of the peg going to black

Stops that out towards the peg

Rushes to penult

approaches a bit long

pressup- this looks scary

runs it really nicely. Fair bit of wire, but it's a firmly hit straight hoop stroke

Blue is next to the peg, yellow a little south.

everyone distracted as Reg does something interesting

hits yellow, rushes blue to teh hoop - he'll be crosswiring around hoop 4, but will necessarily lay up at Paddy's hoop (Paddy for 1 and 2, the latter with blue)

I'm not sure Chris can take the excitement of this many errors!

Has to run rover quite firmly from a bit of an angle as well, but copes with that.

he has the crosswire and blue has the longest shot. He's in corner 2 - this is a very long shot.

11. Black shooting - shortest shot... misses.

12. Stephen really should finish this by now.

Stephen for 3back and peg, in play with his 3back ball. Paddy 1 and 2. this is game 4

Rushes down, makes 3back, big croquet stroke is played really well (these lawns really are quite slow), and he's in front of 4back. I didn't find that stroke very convincing, but he's comfortably through.

Rushes red into corner 2, rushes black across, puts it to rover going to a good penult pioneer. We're going to have a decider!! (or are we...)

Can't see how this is a spoiler... Bowl final: Jonathan Powe v Stuart Lawrence

Plate final: Alain Giraud vs the winner of a marathon Sherif Abdelwahab v Stephen Morgan - so far they are +4, -5 to Sherif, and Alain has suggested the hoop running wasn't particularly immaculate

Stephen through penult, tight rush to rover - through rover... Stephen Mulliner wins game 4 +25

I expect they still have a lot of time left on the clock, so that won't be a problem thankfully.

The Decider... Paddy Chapman (NZ), Stephen Mulliner (Eng) 2-2

I'm not starting a new thread as that would be something of an ultimate spoiler!

They're havin ga very quick cuppa

Stephen is ready. Has a cup of tea and two small fruity muffins

He has lined up the balls attractively on the south boundary

JP is back online: https://www.facebook.com/johnpaul.moberly/videos/1585365844850949/

and we are off...

1. Stephen goes first. Paddy keeps black and blue

Stephen supershot 4 yards north and 3 yards west of hoop 5

2. Paddy plays black to maximum distance position on the east boundary.

3. Stephen striding up the lawn with red.

Shooting...

Nice irish grip there.

Absolutely hates it. Expression of some pain.

Christian thinks his brass end is coming out - he has firsthand experience of that. Dave - help!

Paddy shooting at partner from the end of A baulk.

4. Paddy shoots... misses by about a foot according to a spectator. There would have been a roar if he'd hit. - comes on a couple of yards north of black.

5. Stephen shooting up the line from corner 4... very aggressive.

Can't have missed that by much. - he was about a yard west of corner 4, so it wasn't necessarily that close.

Anyway, he has missed.

Bit of discussion of the choice of shot - Christian sensibly points out if Stephen misses with the midlawn ball that Paddy will go around anyway.

6. Paddy doesn't opt to rush into corner 3, but croquets partner to SE of hoop 2 (nice position), getting a rush to hoop 1, which he hits well. That should be a ball to 4back.

Ian Lines has just turned up "it's like a morgue here!"

I think everyone is in a slightly sophoriphic state after tea

Black to north of hoop 6, takes off to red in corner 3. He has a really good hoop 3 pioneer, so this is totally under control.

Interesting discussion of jawsed balls... let's say you try to run a hoop from 3 inches, but fail the hoop into the jaws. It's pretty clear which axis the ball was on. But you can ask for the hoop to be tested if a player suspects that the outcome of a stroke he has just played was affected by a ball being in contact with both uprights of a hoop simultaneously. So you call a ref because you "suspect" - even though you can check and find out on any axis that the ball actually hit the hoop it's clear.

Then we roll the ball all around, as after that suspicion, If it is found that the ball does touch both uprights of that hoop on some axis, he may elect to replay the stroke, unless his turn has ended for another reason.

Led to an interesting discussion with Phil Cordingley - I entirely get his point. He reckons he'd ask his oppo if he really suspected it if it is from that short.

Paddy through 4, puts red to 6, rushing to partner at 5 - he'll have an early 2back pioneer. He won't be laying for a sextuple.

In case you were closely following the progress of our round two defeateds, the "Shield" has disintegrated into a last-man-standing situation (literally 'man' - no women in round 2 or beyond it). Noone wanted to go to Paraparaumu or Waikanae to play, so lots of people withdrew - with three left it was decided there was space at Kelburn for play (apparently today there is exactly 1 of 5 lawns available for some Z games). Then Brian Cumming realised he has to leave earlyish on Sunday, so can't play the Shield final. Voila... the Shield is at Kelburn, just the final tomorrow, and the last two to not pull out because of distant early-round venue are in the final!! - James Death v Greg Fletcher.

Paddy is making 1-back!!

He'll be having a spread.

Through 2back. His 3back pioneer is south-east of the hoop, but it isn't a cause for concern - just a little more care.

Paddy leaves partner as escape ball at the peg, and rushes yellow to corner 4 - nice tidy stuff, and he croquets it back up getting a rush to 3back.

Approaches 3b very nicely and has a forward rush out of it.

Puts red deep towards west boundary. Rushes yellow closer to the peg, it's a good leave.

Foresakes a rush on partner to make sure of the cross pegging - I thought he'd have been able to get a rush also, but rolling towards the East boundary from the peg. Has played that pretty well - black a couple of yards inside the boundary

7. Stephen quickly up and lifts yellow from the peg. Misses blue by not much!

Can he do it???

Paddy 1 and 4b, Stephen 1 and 1, can Paddy finish this time - plenty of opportunity to dig out a standard TP here.

8. Paddy ignores yellow and rushes blue across the lawn. Puts it to 2, getting a rush to hoop 1.

Approaches hoop 1 as Stephen looks a little defeated in his hut. He can certainly brighten up if Paaddy shows any weakness.

Thanks for the email Graham Beale - lovely to hear from you. Most of the people here wishing Paddy good luck with this triple - including me!!!

He's through 1, puts red to 3 going to yellow, and takes off to partner at hoop 2. It's a good takeoff. I didn't see the shot, but he now has a very good hoop 4 pioneer - it'll be a standard TP!!!

Cuts blue across to a couple of yards north-west of hoop 6. He'll roll that across going to red.

Cuts blue across to a couple of yards north-west of hoop 6. He'll roll that across going to red.

Gets a great blue, rushes red well to hoop 3 - and runs hoop 3 past blue - he's playing really well!

Rushes blue back a little and will be peeling from right in front.

Gently rolls blue into the jaws of 4back - we thought he could have hit that with a little more conviction, but it's in the jaws and should be all ok.

Rushes red down, and croquets it tidily to hoop 5.

Approaches hoop 4 with a gentle roll... through with a rush north.

Rushes yellow 8 yards south of hoop 3, and croquets it to south of hoop 6 going to partner

Rush-peels blue by 4 feet, expert commentator says "Jose looks too happy"

Gets a big hug from his mum - they have been so wonderful supporting him, very sad to see the Spaniard out of the competition - we'll see him again deep in a world championship soon though.

Paddy through hoop 5 well, and he rushes towards corner 3 - croquets it to 1back and rushes blue to penult.

Through hoop 6, has a rush on partner to closer position... clubs it!!

The first poor stroke from Paddy leaves him with a death roll as an option instead - it's not peelable from there.

Rushes yellow off the north boundary - croquets it to 2back.

Yellow is a very good 2 back pioneer.
Through 1back, Red's a bit short for 3back, but we're ok.

Hmmm... nudge blue to an awkward position to do the deathroll. Taking off.

Takes off to yellow Paddy is on penult (one peel done on blue) and 2back (in play with his black ball)

Apparently that cheer from the Kelburn clubhouse yesterday led by Christian Carter when Jose hit his last lift led to a spectator complaint about noise - goodness!

Through 2back. Rushes back up with control, he'll have a crack at that peel going down to red.

Red's about 3 yards north and 1.5 yards west of 3back. Not a bad ball to roll down to.

Good thing he put out an escape ball for a penult peel going to 4back, and blue bounces straight back at him.

Gets a good rush to 3back that he doesn't hit that well, but he's through.

Has another good rush, and rushes red to blue. Red played to a yard south-west of penult, rushes blue back in front

Peeling from 18 inches - about the same place as last time.

Having a stern look at it.

8/10 - blue through by 5 feet, but needs to cut yellow to 4back

Hits that pretty well and will be approaching 4back from 2 yards.

Approaches to very close - it's a bit angled, but he's fine.

Runs it off the boundary, and has a 4 footer pointing in the right direction.

Just the rover peel to negotiate

Croquets yellow 3 yards north of rover.

Croquets peelee a yard in front of rover.

Rushes red.. a foot south of penult - oops. No drama though

Takes off to get a 1 foot hoop

Wee bit angled... Black bounces out of the hoop!!!

Paddy is on penult (black) and rover (blue)., Stephen 1 and 1

Not the hoop stroke that is to fault the most there - it's the rush to penult that was the false stroke. Bugger.

9. Stephen hits black up at penult, thick takeoff to blue and red - nearly wires himself at rover! (well, not that close)

Rushes to 1 - he has clubbed this!

Approaches to get a long and angled hoop 1.

He has put yellow very close to blue (Paddy's rover ball)

Stephen clangs in hoop 1. It can be really hard to get going with an unexpected chance, particularly this late in a match, however that was a pretty gifted chance!)

Paddy hits his 4 yarder.

sorry...

10. Paddy hits his 4 yarder

croquets yellow very deep going to red.

Rushes red a yard south-east of rover.

that deep ball will take a lot of pressure off.

Takes off well.

Through firmly off the south boundary and Paddy is now on penult and peg. No lifts to give away

Seems to have an easy rush for a crosswire at rover.

Phil fancies a ball over "somewhere near corner 2"

... "well... somewhere near corner 4"

... and then you're in corner 3 with a rush to penult.

Fair enough Phil - Paddy rushes up and is cross-wiring about rover.

To be fair, this does leave a 20 yard shot with a laid break.

Still, Stephen has just had a laid break...

Paddy rolling towards corner 3 - and Stephen is already on his feet! pacing the south boundary.

Paddy rolling towards corner 3 - and Stephen is already on his feet! pacing the south boundary.

Rolls black to 4 feet diagonally in from corner 4 and he's leaving a 4 foot rush to .. hoop 2 - he can cut that to penult, and really, Stephen will shoot at it.

Paddy penult and peg, Stephen 1 and 1

11. Shooting with red... not a great shot - gets the midpoint between black and blue.

12. Black taps red. Two hoops and a pegout for a world championship final..

Cmon Paddy!!

Stops red out - it might be useful later on.

Rushes blue to a yard NE of penult - that'll do.

Approaches to angled position at penult!! - he'll be right... and runs the hoop well to get a forward rush "Murray control for the rush" opines Phil.

Rushes blue to yellow, stops it back to the peg. Rushes yellow to rover... "anyone got a decibelometer on their phone for when this finishes?"

No, took off, rushes yellow in front of rover...

Approaches rover... through!!!

Rushes yellow to blue...

Cuts blue to 4 feet from the peg - avoids anything embarrassing

Paddy Chapman wins 26-0 and is into his second World Championship final!!!

That's the top two seeds through.

"What's Stephen going to practice now? ... it's the rush

Samir has bought John Prince's Escheric croquet artwork.

Well done Paddy. Well played Stephen - though that was a rush of blood rushing to hoop 1.

We'll be back tomorrow - a team commentary between me and Andrew. And maybe some input from JP

Signing off - Plate final ... Alain Giraud (England) v Stephen Morgan (USA)

Goodnight all