The Open Championships
Saturday - Doubles final resumed by Andrew Gregory
Mark Avery & Sam Murray v James Death & Samir Patel
Death and Patel lead 1-0
Best-of-3, Alternate Stroke Doubles, SuperAdvanced
Second corner opening, A&M hit 3rd turn, D&P hit 4th turn.
06 Jul 2019 4:34PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Looks like D & P failed 2, and Avery has hit a 15-yarder.
06 Jul 2019 4:38PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
A & M fail 2.
Death hits 6-yarder.
06 Jul 2019 4:43PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
D & P have 4 ball break.
06 Jul 2019 4:46PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
D & P Red has reached hoop 5, making it off Yellow. All options open.
06 Jul 2019 4:52PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
D & P conceding contact.
06 Jul 2019 4:55PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
The last shot of D & P seems to be going off in 1st corner.
Why they were doing this from near 3rd corner I have no idea.
Anyway the red clip is on 4-back.
06 Jul 2019 5:02PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
A & M had leave from contact.
D & P corner.
06 Jul 2019 5:08PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
I've has elicited some info. The ball was near 3rd corner 'cos that's where they ran 3-back to.
Clips A & M: Blue 1, Black 2; D & P Red 4-back, Yellow 1
06 Jul 2019 5:12PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
A & M are now approaching 2 with a take-off from the N bdry. Not in front. Back to mother near 3.
06 Jul 2019 5:15PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Alison bravely approaching Reg for an interview.
Yes, see the livestream for Reg's post-match reaction.
06 Jul 2019 5:15PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Death shoots Yellow at Red (33y), missing.
06 Jul 2019 5:16PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
A & M playing Blue.
Yellow and Red in contact in 1st corner.
Blue taking off of Black from 5y S of 3rd corner.
Good take-off.
06 Jul 2019 5:18PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Reg conditions "tricky" but "far more fun".
"Four-ball break here as difficult as sextuple at Hurlingham."
06 Jul 2019 5:19PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
A & M Blue has 1st corner cannon.
Not great, Yellow short of 2, Red wide of 1. Wrong angle of attack.
Blue has 5' hoop, Murray makes it.
06 Jul 2019 5:21PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Reg re-living his hoop 5 from the last game.
"Ridiculous."
06 Jul 2019 5:22PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Reg: "These are not Christchurch hoops. Smack them in the jaws and they'll go through. [For the even hoops] I prefer a longer approach, then smash through to the boundary."
06 Jul 2019 5:25PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
A & M Blue has 4-ball break.
06 Jul 2019 5:26PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
The word is that tomorrow's Singles final will be best-of-3.
06 Jul 2019 5:27PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
A & M Blue has made hoop 5.
06 Jul 2019 5:32PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Plate news: Joel Taylor has won the Draw, Harry Fisher is playing Robin Brown in the final of the Process.
06 Jul 2019 5:35PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
A & M Blue has made 1-back, Black has been left near 2nd corner.
06 Jul 2019 5:38PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Mark Suter has politely declined Alison's interview request.
Red and Yellow are across 4th corner, Blue in 3rd corner.
Clips: Avery & Murray Blue 4-back, Black 2; Death & Patel Red 4-back, Yellow 1.
06 Jul 2019 5:43PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Patel lifts Yellow to Red, rolling straight to 1, not in front, leaves rush from near 1st corner.
06 Jul 2019 5:45PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Murray finesses Black to 2y N of 4th corner.
06 Jul 2019 5:47PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
D & P Yellow makes 1, rush to 4y W of 4th corner. Overplays croquet stroke, so rush to 2 rather than Blue. Rolling up to 2 from 5 yards. 4' hoop. Death fails hoop, rejecting past him.
06 Jul 2019 5:50PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Yellow and Red randomly cross-pegged.
Avery Black misses Blue.
06 Jul 2019 5:51PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Patel strides on intending to shoot Yellow at Red, and is disappointed.
Patel Yellow into 1st corner.
06 Jul 2019 5:53PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
A & M Blue is playing as it has the rush. After some discussion they have decided to make some hoops.
06 Jul 2019 5:58PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Yellow is still in 1st corner as Blue grovels thru penult. Murray needs to hit 6-yarder, slightly hampered....
06 Jul 2019 6:01PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Referee is called.
"Can we have a ref?"
"Is it a Z game?"
"No it's the Doubles final."
"No, then."
Ian Vincent is roused.
Blue snicks Black.
06 Jul 2019 6:03PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Blue takes off to Yellow., rolls it out going to Red at rover.
Now attempting some sort of cross-peg.
Clips: D & P Red 4-back, yellow 2; A & M Blue peg, Black 2.
06 Jul 2019 6:08PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
A &M leave diagonal spread with Red at the peg.
06 Jul 2019 6:11PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
D & P in collective thought.
06 Jul 2019 6:12PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Death lifts Yellow to B-baulk, shoots at Red. Misses to 5y E of 1st corner.
06 Jul 2019 6:14PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
I had to do the audio commentary there let me catch up.
06 Jul 2019 6:20PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Murray rushed Blue into lawn, Avery overhit croquet stroke. Instead of rush to 2 it's a rush to Yellow. Yellow is rushes 5y beyond 2, take-off back for a 5' hoop, rejected.
06 Jul 2019 6:21PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Patel either missed or was wired from Black. Yellow and Red now joined up.
06 Jul 2019 6:22PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Avery refuses 15-yarder in favour of retiring to 4th corner (or a few inches West).
D & P play Red (for 4-back). Blue is 2y N of 4-back. There may not be as many balls on the lawn at the end of this turn.
But Death's rush to Black doesn't work out, so they're having a leave.
06 Jul 2019 6:26PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Murray Blue into 1st corner.
06 Jul 2019 6:27PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Death(& Patel) Yellow plays good rush to 2. Makes hoop, rushes well to 1' N of Black.
Next stroke not so good. It was meant to be a rush to 3. It would have been a rush to Blue, but Red is in the way.
06 Jul 2019 6:30PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
D & P Yellow has rushed Black near end of A-baulk.
Black is croqueted 2y WSW of 2, Yellow hits Blue.
Big roll sends Blue 4y E of 3, Yellow off lawn 8' N of 4th corner.
06 Jul 2019 6:31PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Blue and Black are wired. Blue back to 1st corner.
06 Jul 2019 6:33PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
D & P Yellow hits Red. Take-off to Blue. Blue rolled 4y SSW of 3, Yellow rushes Black off N bdry.
Big split from Death sends Black near 1, leaves 3y straight hoop if Patel fancies it.
He does not. goes off S bdry near (tho 5y away from) Red.
06 Jul 2019 6:37PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
A & M Blue to 2nd corner, as crowd predicted.
06 Jul 2019 6:38PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Death Yellow rushes Red to 3, nearly gets rush-peel! Red bounces off 1y to the West.
06 Jul 2019 6:39PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Yellow runs 3, then tries to peel Red thru 4-back. Red finishes in front of hoop, so Yellow...
06 Jul 2019 6:41PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Yellow goes S of Red for rush-peel next time.
06 Jul 2019 6:42PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Crowd votes for Black at Yellow, if the peg isn't in the way.
Avery Black misses Yellow (25y).
06 Jul 2019 6:44PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Rush-peel fails. Yellow goes to Black, Red is in the jaws now. Yellow croquets Black to within 6" of the S bdry, while going SW of Red. Finally Red is knocked thru, leaving rush to penult.
06 Jul 2019 6:48PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Clips: A & M Blue peg, Black 2; D & P Red penult Yellow 4.
06 Jul 2019 6:49PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Murray Black shoots at Yellow, misses (26y).
06 Jul 2019 6:51PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
D & P Red rushes Yellow to penult. Red fails penult (Death).
06 Jul 2019 6:53PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Avery Black misses Red.
We're not sure exactly where Red is.
06 Jul 2019 6:55PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
D & P Yellow rushes Red to 6y S of Blue in 2nd corner.
Black is 4y N of 1st corner.
Yellow takes off to Blue, Christs it off.
06 Jul 2019 6:57PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Yellow croquets Blue to 3y N of 4. Yellow is sent off 5' NNW of Red.
Blue corners.
Farthing's comment:
"Did you see the face on the dog when they cornered again? Disgusted!"
06 Jul 2019 7:01PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
D & P Yellow rushes Red 10y N of Black. Red is croqueted 3y SE of 4. Black is croqueted 2y WSW of 2. Yellow is 2y SSW of Red.
06 Jul 2019 7:04PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
A & M Black to end of B-baulk.
06 Jul 2019 7:04PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Yellow grovels thru 4, but can see Red. Approaching 5 from 3y in front. Red is stopped 3y S of 6, Yellow runs 5 off N bdry 2'W of Black!
06 Jul 2019 7:07PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
D & P tries to rush Black into 3rd corner (for cannon with Blue), but goes off 3y W of Blue.
Yellow stops Black back behind 6, hits Blue.
Expert spots potential for Wylie peel.
06 Jul 2019 7:09PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Another expert thinks that peeling unnecessary when you can just go round and peg out Blue.
06 Jul 2019 7:11PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
D & P runs 6 to boundary, sends Black to (2y S of) 2-back. They are thinking of peeling. Red hits both wires, is in front of penult.
Death has 6-yard return after 1-back, copes.
Where is Red? Is it rush-peelable?
06 Jul 2019 7:14PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Not from there!
Take-off to Black.
D & P Yellow making 2-back with break.
How many balls will be pegged off?
06 Jul 2019 7:16PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
D & P Yellow has reached penult.
06 Jul 2019 7:23PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Crowd is divided on number of balls to be pegged off.
Maybe the two players have different ideas.
Could depend on who's playing the relevant shot!
06 Jul 2019 7:26PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Good attempt at grievous, but Blue is still on lawn.
Some barracking from crowd.
"Get 'em both off!"
06 Jul 2019 7:27PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Blue is off the lawn.
06 Jul 2019 7:28PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Yellow is off the lawn!
06 Jul 2019 7:29PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Clips: A & M Black 2, Blue box; D & P Red penult, Yellow box.
06 Jul 2019 7:30PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Red ball is 6y NNE of 4.
Black is 5y E of 6, with a lift if he wants it.
06 Jul 2019 7:31PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Murray plays Black as it lies, misses Red.
06 Jul 2019 7:32PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Red has 7-yarder at Black, if he likes.
Death back from the hedge.
Death Red tries to take posi at penult. 7 or 8' in front.
06 Jul 2019 7:35PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Avery Black misses Red.
06 Jul 2019 7:35PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Do you turn round and hit 7-yarder?
06 Jul 2019 7:36PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Patel does not.
Attempting hoop...
06 Jul 2019 7:36PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Rejected to East boundary!
06 Jul 2019 7:37PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Murray Black tries to take posi at 2. Good weight, but hits near wire. Doesn't look to be in good shape.
06 Jul 2019 7:38PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Red to near 2nd corner, wired from Black.
06 Jul 2019 7:39PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Avery feathers Black into posi, Red can't see much of that.
06 Jul 2019 7:40PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Red misses sliver of Black.
Black wasn't in posi.
It is now.
06 Jul 2019 7:41PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
D & P Red is on E bdry, 5y N of 4th corner.
We have a 1-ball expert with us.
Correctly predicts 3rd corner.
06 Jul 2019 7:43PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Avery runs 2, Murray hits Red (20y)!
06 Jul 2019 7:44PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Avery overhits approach to 3. Red is halfway between 3 and 4.
06 Jul 2019 7:44PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Looking for unwired posi.
Red to 5y E of 2nd corner.
Black to better posi at 3.
06 Jul 2019 7:45PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Red is tapped.
Black runs 3, almost to S bdry.
Black overhit, 3y posi.
06 Jul 2019 7:47PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Red fails to take posi at penult.
06 Jul 2019 7:47PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Black runs hoop (Murray, maybe 8').
Black takes 1y posi at 5.
Is it wired from Red?
06 Jul 2019 7:49PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Red takes posi at penult. In chess that would get a ?!. (Interesting blunder)
Though Black is more angled than I thought.
06 Jul 2019 7:50PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Murray declines hoop, but can see Red, and hits it (15y).
06 Jul 2019 7:51PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Avery's take-off is well short - hidden dew, perhaps.
Black fails to take posi.
06 Jul 2019 7:52PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Mangler is still Mangling. Plate play-off (Taylor v Fisher) will be best-of-3, starting at 9.30.
06 Jul 2019 7:53PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Red takes 4' posi at penult.
Can Black see it?
06 Jul 2019 7:54PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
It is wired.
06 Jul 2019 7:54PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Do you gamble on Red failing hoop? Might be best shot here.
Black to 10y E of peg.
06 Jul 2019 7:55PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Death Red runs penult to S bdry.
06 Jul 2019 7:56PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Clips: A & M: Blue box, Black 5; D & P Red rover, Yellow box.
06 Jul 2019 7:58PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Red adjusted along S bdry, presumably wired from Black by hoop 4.
06 Jul 2019 7:58PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Black tapped nr E bdry, level with 5 ish
06 Jul 2019 7:59PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Death Red misses Black (14y).
06 Jul 2019 8:00PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
A & M Black hits Red. Rolls Red nr 6, is Black in front of 5?
No, just too far.
06 Jul 2019 8:01PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Black retreats to 5y S of 5.
06 Jul 2019 8:02PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Expert votes for Red to side boundary.
D & P agree.
Red to E bdry 10y N of 4th corner.
06 Jul 2019 8:03PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
D & P were aiming for wired position, they may have it.
06 Jul 2019 8:04PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Black takes 4' posi.
Death Red at Black (13y). Just misses.
06 Jul 2019 8:05PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Murray Black fails 5.
Black is now 2y ESE of 5.
06 Jul 2019 8:06PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Expert wants to shoot, but D & P trying for wired posi nr W bdry.
It's not wired, but Black can't shoot.
06 Jul 2019 8:07PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Black is shooting.
06 Jul 2019 8:08PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Poor shot (Avery).
06 Jul 2019 8:08PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
D & P Red taps Black. Black is croqueted nr 3rd corner. Red takes posi at rover.
06 Jul 2019 8:09PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Murray has last shot (24-yarder). Misses
06 Jul 2019 8:10PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Patel Red has 18" hoop. Runs it to boundary.
Death hits 6-yarder at Black.
06 Jul 2019 8:11PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Patel taking off to peg from 1st corner.
Death pegs out.
James Death and Samir Patel are Open Doubles Champions
06 Jul 2019 8:12PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
SIngles final will be starting at 10:30
Plate final will be at 9:30
Z knock-out at 10am, by which time the Mangler will have worked out who's in it.
And don't forget the Y Doubles!
See you tomorrow, cheers, Andrew
06 Jul 2019 8:15PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
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