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CNZ AC Open Championship

Doubles Final Bryant and Chapman vs Christie and Morrow by Felix

Good afternoon from Hawera Croquet Club. We are just about to start game 2 of the doubles final. Bryant and Chapman currently hold a 1-0 lead over Christie and Morrow in the best of 3 match.

17 Feb 2022 3:55PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

This match has had to be played intermittently throughout the week, as a day was lost to rain earlier in the tournament.

17 Feb 2022 3:57PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

That being said it is currently full sunshine and the lawn looks rather slick. Will give an updated guess of the speed when I see someone hit a ball

17 Feb 2022 3:58PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Bryant and Chapman have the toss and choose to go in.

17 Feb 2022 4:01PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

1. Chapman (R) to 10y N of C4

17 Feb 2022 4:01PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

2. Morrow (U) to C2, doesn’t get S of it

17 Feb 2022 4:02PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

3. Bryant Y taking on partner from A baulk, slides past

17 Feb 2022 4:04PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

4. Christie (K) misses at R and Y from A baulk

17 Feb 2022 4:05PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Chapman and Bryant discussing who should play, decide on Chapman as Bryant has just tucked into a donut and coffee

17 Feb 2022 4:05PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

5. Chapman (R) rushes to U near C2, apologies U actually S of C2 so no cannon chances

17 Feb 2022 4:07PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Chapman’s rush to 1 goes off NB, lawn looks at least 10 seconds maybe 11.

17 Feb 2022 4:09PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Chapman has 1y 15 degree hoop, consulting partner. Returns back home to Y in C2

17 Feb 2022 4:10PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

6. Morrow plays U from h1 to C4

17 Feb 2022 4:11PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

7. Chapman (R) cut rushes Y to near K on mid EB, excellent shot

17 Feb 2022 4:12PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Plays take off a bit hard so now has cut rush to 1 instead of to C4

17 Feb 2022 4:13PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Another beautiful cut rush to 1y straight position. Lawns definitely 11 seconds

17 Feb 2022 4:13PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Makes 1 with rush back to Y on EB

17 Feb 2022 4:14PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

This time over cuts so playing croquet stroke from at h4. Needs one more good cut rush to h2

17 Feb 2022 4:15PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Hits it in the middle to peg high WB

17 Feb 2022 4:16PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Approaches short to 2y straight. Fails to 2ft straight position

17 Feb 2022 4:17PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

K is at h3 so will be moving

17 Feb 2022 4:18PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Despite the quickness of the lawn, I don’t know if Christie and Morrow will want to do much more cornering

17 Feb 2022 4:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Well it’s not a corner, it’s a 8y join on SB

17 Feb 2022 4:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Bryant plays as Paddy could’ve made 2 but was unlikely to get rush south after. Bryant snicks 4 yarder to mid WB and takes off to U in C4…short. Hits K instead and will be setting a leave

17 Feb 2022 4:22PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Some chatter between Morrow and Bryant, discussing the weather possibly?

17 Feb 2022 4:23PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Who knows

17 Feb 2022 4:25PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Anyways leave is K on SB between 4 and 5, U at 3. Y with rush to h1 peg high WB

17 Feb 2022 4:27PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Morrow (U), misses by not much at R and Y

17 Feb 2022 4:28PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Bryant will be playing…

17 Feb 2022 4:29PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Send R to h2 but doesn’t get great rush to 1, cuts to SB reasonably straight

17 Feb 2022 4:30PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Tentative approach hills a bit… 1.5y 15 degree hoop. About same that Chapman turned down earlier

17 Feb 2022 4:31PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Back to partner WB level with 5. U has shot of R through to C2

17 Feb 2022 4:32PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Morrow takes this and hits

17 Feb 2022 4:32PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Rushes short to 1, taking off from 2 yards ish.

17 Feb 2022 4:34PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Plays it well, 3ft hoop

17 Feb 2022 4:34PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Runs it with no sides. 7y return

17 Feb 2022 4:34PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Hits this well. Good chance to take the first ball around now

17 Feb 2022 4:35PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Approaching 2 from 2y W

17 Feb 2022 4:36PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Another excellent approach. Runs 2ft hoop

17 Feb 2022 4:36PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Has now made 4 with all the balls

17 Feb 2022 4:40PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Fails 1b off R (which is for h2). Break got a bit untidy and approached from 3y NE.

17 Feb 2022 4:48PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Chapman hits U hard, one good rush required for a break

17 Feb 2022 4:49PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Or one lucky rush! Was going at least 2y past but direction was good and it finishes in jaws. Should be a ball to 4b now

17 Feb 2022 4:51PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Looking like a spread coming up from Chapman.

17 Feb 2022 5:06PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Ooooh, croquets oppo ball to peg and it finishes on top of Y. They’re 2y S of the peg so that’ll make the leave a touch trickier

17 Feb 2022 5:08PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Will be an OSL now.

17 Feb 2022 5:09PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Clip update:
Chapman 4b (R)
Bryant 1 (Y)

Morrow 1b (U)
Christie 1 (K)

17 Feb 2022 5:10PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Rush on partner to C4 hampered by peg so just hits it and will roll both off

17 Feb 2022 5:11PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

U is 7y S of 2, K is 8y SSE of 3. R and Y with 3y join

17 Feb 2022 5:12PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Could make a double from b baulk with K and either R or Y

17 Feb 2022 5:13PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Morrow Turns down double and takes on partner from C3, misses to middle of SB

17 Feb 2022 5:15PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Bryant Y, hits partner, croquets it to h2 but doesn’t get a useful rush on K

17 Feb 2022 5:18PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Will be keeping the innings here no doubt

17 Feb 2022 5:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Although they will now have to lay of at Morrow’s hoop

17 Feb 2022 5:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Lay up

17 Feb 2022 5:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Looking at rushing black to a spot wired from R and Y (near h2) through h6

17 Feb 2022 5:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

That is what they get

17 Feb 2022 5:22PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

K to 4y N of C1… not sure I would’ve put it there

17 Feb 2022 5:25PM (Tournament); 3 Readers

Y has a potential cut rush to C4… could then get R in lawn and rush U to K

17 Feb 2022 5:25PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Does even better with the cut rush than C4… 3ft E of U on SB so will likely make at least h1 now and a chance for more

17 Feb 2022 5:26PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Greg opted to try and get a bit of distance on U… now has no rush to h1

17 Feb 2022 5:28PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Will be sending K to somewhere S of h3 and laying up on SB level with h4

17 Feb 2022 5:29PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

No hoops but does leave the lawn under control

17 Feb 2022 5:29PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Well what do I know. Does approach and takes on 1.5y straight hoop

17 Feb 2022 5:30PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Runs and has 5y return

17 Feb 2022 5:30PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Hits well.

17 Feb 2022 5:31PM (Tournament); 4 Readers

Big shot coming up here. Sending partner to h3 getting a rush on K to h2. k is 4y SE of peg

17 Feb 2022 5:32PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Playing it from C4

17 Feb 2022 5:32PM (Tournament); 5 Readers

Great partner ball but 3y rush

17 Feb 2022 5:33PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Snicks it to 3y W of peg

17 Feb 2022 5:34PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Rolling up…

17 Feb 2022 5:34PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

1y 20 degree hoop

17 Feb 2022 5:35PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Through to the line!!! Huge shot

17 Feb 2022 5:35PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

And now has perfect rush to h3 and all the balls for a standard tp

17 Feb 2022 5:36PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Underapproaches from 1ft E… jumping

17 Feb 2022 5:39PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Nails it!

17 Feb 2022 5:39PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Will be no peel after 3 though

17 Feb 2022 5:40PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Through 5 with rush vaguely NE

17 Feb 2022 5:46PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Balls well placed for delayed Tp

17 Feb 2022 5:47PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Peeling from 1yard 10 degrees

17 Feb 2022 5:48PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

It’s through. 1y rush to 6

17 Feb 2022 5:49PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Perfect. Approaching from 2ft straight

17 Feb 2022 5:50PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Some Justin Bieber tunes are blasting from the tennis club next door. Seems to be really getting Greg locked in as every shot seems perfectly place right now

17 Feb 2022 5:52PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Commentators curse there as 2b pioneer is short

17 Feb 2022 5:53PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Perhaps it is due to the music change, Greg not so much of a fan of Party Rock Anthem

17 Feb 2022 5:54PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

4y return after 1b

17 Feb 2022 5:55PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

In the middle mid pace

17 Feb 2022 5:55PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

3b pioneer takes off down a hill and curls 90 degrees… 3y SW of 3b

17 Feb 2022 5:59PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Consults partner “we can’t trust that take off can we” referring to a take off from penult to 3b

17 Feb 2022 6:00PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

And no they probably can’t

17 Feb 2022 6:00PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Has good rush on partner after 2b…

17 Feb 2022 6:00PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Takes the conservative approach and just croquets partner to penult, finishes 3y N of penult

17 Feb 2022 6:02PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Approaches 3b from 1.5y. Runs with 2y northwards rush

17 Feb 2022 6:05PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Not hit that centrally and end near corner 3

17 Feb 2022 6:05PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Has an unideal 2.5 yarder at peelee

17 Feb 2022 6:06PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Peeling from 1.5y 25 degrees, escape ball 7y in front of 4b

17 Feb 2022 6:07PM (Tournament); 6 Readers

Hold on to your hats sports fans

17 Feb 2022 6:07PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

% chance to win in this turn depends a lot on outcome of this shot

17 Feb 2022 6:08PM (Tournament); 7 Readers

Peels through to peg and ideal rush on escape ball. Had his head down and had to ask spectators if it did in fact go through

17 Feb 2022 6:08PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Great chance to finish now

17 Feb 2022 6:09PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Rushes R into the back of penult!!! Should be fine though…

17 Feb 2022 6:12PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Just pretend it was a straight double all along.

17 Feb 2022 6:13PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Concerned about the line down to rover.

17 Feb 2022 6:13PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

To clarify he will be running penult with this croquet stroke and sending peelee to rover

17 Feb 2022 6:13PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Gets Chapman out to consult… mood is merry, will not remain as such if this doesn’t go well

17 Feb 2022 6:14PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

The ball he will be roquet if after this is 2y SSW so does need to go through cleanly

17 Feb 2022 6:15PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Roquet-ing*

17 Feb 2022 6:15PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Gets referee out.

17 Feb 2022 6:15PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

All very theatrical

17 Feb 2022 6:16PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Peelee goes too far. 1y W and 1ft S of rover.

17 Feb 2022 6:17PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Y through cleanly

17 Feb 2022 6:17PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Croquets black onto the yard line… good to have a deep ball

17 Feb 2022 6:18PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Should get dolly rush on peelee

17 Feb 2022 6:18PM (Tournament); 10 Readers

Rush incoming… it’s good. 18 inches straight

17 Feb 2022 6:19PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Actually may be slightly angled, hard to tell from my vantage point

17 Feb 2022 6:20PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Yes angled, 15 degrees

17 Feb 2022 6:20PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

John Christie trying the old trick of packing his bags

17 Feb 2022 6:21PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Front ball sails through… back ball might be perfect or might be dead

17 Feb 2022 6:22PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Despite a really good side ball if this is through he won’t be able to hit it

17 Feb 2022 6:22PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

He’s lucky… it’s not through

17 Feb 2022 6:23PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Sigh of relief

17 Feb 2022 6:23PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Deciding whether to remove blue from vague direction of rush to peg

17 Feb 2022 6:24PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

He does decide to do this

17 Feb 2022 6:24PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

Rushing to peg… just needs to avoid rover

17 Feb 2022 6:25PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

1y peg out

17 Feb 2022 6:25PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

chapman and Bryant claim the NZ open doubles title

17 Feb 2022 6:26PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

26tp-6

17 Feb 2022 6:26PM (Tournament); 9 Readers

Or +20tp if you prefer

17 Feb 2022 6:26PM (Tournament); 8 Readers

At 04 Apr 2025 7:50AM (Tournament) there is 1 person reading commentaries.