Croquet England AC Open Championships
Friday - quarter-finals by Andrew Gregory
Good morning from Cheltenham.
12 Jul 2024 8:25AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
It's overcast, a few spots of rain on my walk here.
The four quarter-finals will be on lawns 7,8,1,2. (in draw order)
Best-of-5.
12 Jul 2024 8:32AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
The lawns were timed at 11.5 a week ago.
But there's been a lot of rain since then.
Maybe 10, 10.5 now?
But they are rolling nicely.
"Best grass texture for years."
12 Jul 2024 8:34AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
The quadway hoops on the 4 front lawns were in new holes yesterday.
Still not too challenging.
12 Jul 2024 8:35AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Here we are playing with new Sunshiny balls.
I played with similar at Nottingham 2 weeks ago.
If I may plagiarise my own report:
Opinions varied as to how they compared with Dawsons. "Do you think the back ball goes further?" "Well I thought so on Friday, but now I'm not so sure."
"They pull more." "Especially on take-offs."
I also heard them described as pingier and soggy. Both cannot be true.
I guess when more confident players do not get the desired outcome they blame the balls, whereas I blame myself.
12 Jul 2024 8:36AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Quiz for you:
When was the last time there were two women in the Open quarter-finals?
12 Jul 2024 8:39AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
My usual stat attack:
Robert Fulford v Robert Wilkinson:(lawn 7)
They have played 3 games, all won by Fulford, including one from Tuesday (+26sxp).
12 Jul 2024 8:42AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Stephen Mulliner v Samir Patel (lawn 8)
They have played 59 games of which Mulliner has won 30.
At the Opens (knock-out phase):
2009 (Round 1) Mulliner won -14 +17sxp +12tpo
2013 semi-final: Patel won +14otp +14otp -13tpo -25sxp +26tp
2017 quarter-final: Mulliner won +26qp +17 +13tpo
Re 2013: you've got to admire Mulliner's persistence: 2 OTPs and still he does a TPO n game 3!
12 Jul 2024 8:45AM (Tournament); 10 Readers
James Death v Jenny Clarke (lawn 1)
They have played 17 games of which Death has won 8.
They have played 2 matches: Australian Open 2017 (Clarke won 2-1), MacRobertson Shield 2022 (Clarke won 2-0).
Death won their game on Tuesday +12tpo.
12 Jul 2024 8:46AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Gabrielle Higgins v Reg Bamford (lawn 2):
They have played 4 games, of which Bamford has won 3.
Higgins won +6 on Tuesday.
12 Jul 2024 8:47AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Three of eight players now warming up.
12 Jul 2024 8:52AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Sometimes I write down the banter I overhear, and it might not always be appropriate.
Yesterday I described Collin Southern as the "worst" player to reach an Open quarter-final (1997)
Of course I mean lowest grade, so going so far in the tournament is an achievement.
And to the probable surprise of the banterers, I note that Collin Southern also reached the quarterfinals in 1998.
12 Jul 2024 8:54AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
All eight players are here.
Plus of course the Platers.
The Plate is a Draw and Process.
In recent times, players who reached the knockout had only one life in the Plate.
But with so few entries, it has been decided that everyone has 2.
Draw today (at least as far as the final)
Process tomorrow.
Finish on Sunday.
12 Jul 2024 9:00AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
This isn't really the forum to comment on numbers.
I merely observe that 22 is the lowest entry since 1958.
12 Jul 2024 9:00AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Death won the toss.
L1G1T1 Death Blue 10yN| of IV.
T2 Clarke Red 2' NE of 6 (ie Duffer tice)
T3 Death Black misses Blue from A-baulk.
12 Jul 2024 9:02AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T4 Clarke Yellow misses Red into A-baulk.
12 Jul 2024 9:03AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T5 Death picks up break.
12 Jul 2024 9:04AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L8G1T1 Mulliner Blue 3y SSW of peg (supershot).
Not superAdvanced then!
12 Jul 2024 9:05AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
T2 Patel Yellow 12y N of IV
T3 Mulliner Black at Yellow from B-baulk. Misses to 4' S of Yellow.
12 Jul 2024 9:06AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
T4 Patel Red makes target from B-baulk.....
12 Jul 2024 9:07AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
... Patel hits Black!
12 Jul 2024 9:08AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
On the farther lawns, it looks like both Higgins and Wilkinson laid duffer tices 2nd turn.
12 Jul 2024 9:08AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L2G1T4 Higgins Yellow hits her duffer tice.
Bamford's balls are in IV and 9y N thereof.
12 Jul 2024 9:10AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L8G1T4 Patel fails hoop 1.
12 Jul 2024 9:11AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L2G1T4 Higgins has a leave.
12 Jul 2024 9:13AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L8G1T5 Mulliner has break.
12 Jul 2024 9:13AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L1G1T5 Death Black has made 9.
NSL.
12 Jul 2024 9:14AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Death has left Yellow by 4.
It will not rush to hoop 1.
"It does rush to 2" says Death hopefully.
12 Jul 2024 9:15AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
L1G1T6 Clarke Red hits Yellow from A-baulk, probably a target.
12 Jul 2024 9:17AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L2G1T5 Bamford hits 20+-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 9:18AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Already lost count of turns on lawn 7.
Fulford has first break.
12 Jul 2024 9:19AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L1G1T6 Clarke Red picks up break.
12 Jul 2024 9:21AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L8G1T5 Mulliner has made 9.
Diagonal spread.
12 Jul 2024 9:26AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L2 Bamford has first break.
12 Jul 2024 9:26AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fulford will be having a 1-back leave.
12 Jul 2024 9:28AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L8G1T6 Patel is playing Red as it lies. Presumably some sort of target.
Misses everything.
12 Jul 2024 9:30AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L2 Bamford will be having a 1-back leave.
12 Jul 2024 9:31AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L8G1T7 Mulliner Black is thru 1.
12 Jul 2024 9:37AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Mulliner fails hoop 2.
12 Jul 2024 9:37AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Both Higgins and Wilkinson missed their 30+-yarders..(Against 1-back leaves)
12 Jul 2024 9:38AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L1G1T6 Clarke made 9.
NSL with Black (for 1) at 4.
L1G1T7 Death lifts Black to B-baulk, misses to just W of IV.
12 Jul 2024 9:40AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Experts think that Clarke should have left Black and Blue t'other way round.
12 Jul 2024 9:42AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Sextuples update:
Bamford failed 1-back peel before 1.
Fulford got 1-back peel before 2.
Lot of pull with thewse balls.
12 Jul 2024 9:43AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
these
12 Jul 2024 9:43AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L8G1T8 Patel Red embarks on a TPO of Blue.
12 Jul 2024 9:45AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L1G1T8 Clarke extracts the ball from 4th corner before hoop 4.
The sun has put in an appearance. Shadows and everything.
12 Jul 2024 9:47AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Fulford peels 2-back before 4.
12 Jul 2024 9:48AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Bamford peels 1-back after 2.
12 Jul 2024 9:48AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Clarke eyeing a delayed triple.
12 Jul 2024 9:49AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Sun's gone in.
12 Jul 2024 9:49AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Fulford fails 3-back peel before 5.
12 Jul 2024 9:50AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
To sum up:
Bamford and Fulford on sextuples.
Clarke on delayed TP.
Patel on standard TPO.
12 Jul 2024 9:51AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Patel jawses the penult peel after 6.
But then after 1-back he ends up south of peelee!
Does the penult peel with a death roll to 2-back.
12 Jul 2024 9:54AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Bamford peels 2-back before 5.
12 Jul 2024 9:55AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Patel fails 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 9:56AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Fulford peels 3-back before 6.
12 Jul 2024 9:57AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Fulford allows himself the luxury of a 3-back pioneer.
12 Jul 2024 9:58AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Mulliner decides not to risk an 8-yarder with his backward ball.
Patel had kindly left Blue a rush to rover, which he takes.
12 Jul 2024 9:59AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Fulford peels 4-back before 2-back.
12 Jul 2024 10:00AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L8 Clips: Mulliner Blue peg, Black 2; Patel Red 3-back, Yellow 1.
12 Jul 2024 10:01AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Mulliner hasn't touched Red, so presumably it can't run hoop.
12 Jul 2024 10:02AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1 Clarke has ref on. She has just jawsed the penult peel before 4-back, and is slightly hampered on her rush.
Copes.
12 Jul 2024 10:03AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L8 Mulliner has laid up between hoop 2 and 2nd corner. Yellow is 2y E of hoop 3.
Patel is looking at Red, looks very angled.
12 Jul 2024 10:04AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Bamford peels 3-back before 1-back.
12 Jul 2024 10:05AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Patel Yellow hits Blue (17y).
12 Jul 2024 10:06AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Clarke plays good rush to yield attempt at straight rover peel.
12 Jul 2024 10:07AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Clarke plays irish peel. Peelee stays on lawn by a foot. Striker's ball stops nicely in jaws.
12 Jul 2024 10:09AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Patel fails 1.
12 Jul 2024 10:09AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Mulliner dribbles to join up at 2.
Both Patel's balls are parked.
12 Jul 2024 10:10AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Clarke has 10' peg-out...
12 Jul 2024 10:10AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Clarke misses peg-out.
She elects to peg out one ball.
I think a chess annotator would give that a ?!.
12 Jul 2024 10:12AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Fulford's straight rover peel also ends up in yard-line area!
12 Jul 2024 10:12AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Fulford wins game 1 +26sxp
12 Jul 2024 10:13AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L8 Patel had little option but to attempt 3-back.
It finished in middle of hoop, whence Mulliner has just rushed it to hoop 3.
12 Jul 2024 10:15AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L1G1T9 Death makes 3 hoops with forward ball.
But he does not get useful rush on Red after rover.
I presume he was sending it near 3rd corner wired from the peg.
But now it will have to be Red near 1st corner, Blue / Black near 3rd corner.
12 Jul 2024 10:18AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L8 Mulliner should finish.
12 Jul 2024 10:19AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
It looks like Bamford needs a straight double peel to finish.
12 Jul 2024 10:19AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1 Clarke misses.
12 Jul 2024 10:20AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L8 Mulliner fails hoop 5.
12 Jul 2024 10:20AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Death Black croquets Red near 3, rushes Blue to 1, fails 1.
12 Jul 2024 10:22AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L1 Clarke calls for umpire at the peg. Hubby obliges!
Smacks the middle of the peg!
12 Jul 2024 10:23AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Clarke wins game 1 +14
12 Jul 2024 10:23AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Patel and Mulliner having a chat on lawn 8.
We think a wrong ball from Patel.
He started off with Red, he made 4-back (though the clip is still on 4-back).
Now he's played Yellow after penult.
12 Jul 2024 10:26AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Bamford wins game 1 +26sxp
12 Jul 2024 10:27AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Mulliner has many options.
He elects to lift Black to B-baulk, making a double target of Red / Yellow.
Mulliner hits!
12 Jul 2024 10:28AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Mulliner is taking the opportunity for a Wylie wire of Red and Yellow, just in case he fails 5.
12 Jul 2024 10:30AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Mulliner fails a short angled hoop 5.
Hoops are winning today, at least on this lawn.
12 Jul 2024 10:31AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L1G2T1 Clarke blue deep supershot.
T2 Death Red to E bdry.
T3 Clarke Black hits Red from A-baulk.
12 Jul 2024 10:32AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Patel Yellow hits Blue (8y). He rushes Blue into Black, knocking it out of hoop 5!
Yet another finishing turn in this game!
12 Jul 2024 10:34AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
T3 Clarke picks up 3-ball break.
12 Jul 2024 10:36AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L2G2 Bamford hits 4th turn, having put a ball near 2nd corner on T2.
12 Jul 2024 10:36AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L7 Fulford has first break.
We think Wilkinson may have played a wrong ball 4th turn.
Fulford has done a POP on Blue.
Another 1-back leave coming up.
12 Jul 2024 10:40AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L8 Patel Yellow is trying the rover peel of Red after 5.
My expert doesn't like this, prefers to wait till 2- or 3-back.
Peel fails, break continues.
12 Jul 2024 10:42AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
T3 Clarke still going round. She has just made 1-back, but only just so a ref is on. A reluctant husband is only ref available.
12 Jul 2024 10:44AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1G2T3 Clarke misses hampered 4- or 5-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 10:45AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1G2T4 Death hits 7-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 10:46AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L8 Patel has peeled partner thru rover before 2-back.
12 Jul 2024 10:47AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L7 Wilkinson missed the tea-lady.
12 Jul 2024 10:49AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
If you don't know what a tea-lady is, or other strange terms I use:
https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/tech/jargon
12 Jul 2024 10:51AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L7 Fulford peels 1-back before 2.
12 Jul 2024 10:52AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Cheekily, Patel peels black thru 5 after rover, then pegs out 3 balls to get all 4 clips!
12 Jul 2024 10:53AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Patel wins game 1 +8
12 Jul 2024 10:53AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1G2T4 Death eschews the QNPO!
He makes 9, failing a POP en route.
12 Jul 2024 10:55AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L2G2T4 Bamford is having another 1-back leave.
12 Jul 2024 10:56AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
So the game score between Mulliner and Patel is now a tennis score: 30-30.
12 Jul 2024 10:56AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1G2T4 Death lays diagonal spread, with Black (for 2-back) at the peg.
12 Jul 2024 10:58AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L8G2T1 Patel Blue to E bdry
T2 Mulliner Yellow near 2nd corner.
T3 Patel Black hits Blue from A-baulk. Takes off 8y shy of Yellow, snicks it.
12 Jul 2024 11:00AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L2G2T5 Higgins misses tea-lady.
12 Jul 2024 11:00AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L1G2T5 Clarke lifts Blue to B-baulk, misses to just west of IV.
12 Jul 2024 11:01AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
T3 Patel Black rolls Yellow just N of peg-high, lags back 4y shy of Blue.
T4 Muliiner Red misses Yellow to 3y S of II.
12 Jul 2024 11:03AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Sorry I've been left on my own,with no expert spectators to help me.
It looks to me like Fulford has just made 1-back with 3 peels of his sextuple done.
12 Jul 2024 11:04AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L8G2T5 Patel Blue picks up break.
12 Jul 2024 11:07AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
I've had confirmation that at the start of G2:
Fulford supershot.
Wilkinson just out of II.
Fulford misses to leave a double.
Wilkinson hits, then plays wrong ball.
12 Jul 2024 11:09AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L1G2T6 Death on delayed TP.
12 Jul 2024 11:09AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Bamford peels 1-back after 2.
12 Jul 2024 11:10AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
I've just learnt a new (and obvious when you think about it) nickname:
Doctor Who.
12 Jul 2024 11:11AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
OK that's long enough.
Matt Smith is Doctor Who.
Of course, as an American, he didn't understand
12 Jul 2024 11:13AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Death's TP has boiled down to a straight double.
Fulford's SXP now needs a straight rover peel.
12 Jul 2024 11:16AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Fulford wins game 2 +25sxp
12 Jul 2024 11:16AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Fulford leads 2-0 (best-of-5).
By the way, I did once suggest that the score should be +27sxp, as Wilkinson's point was a POP.
12 Jul 2024 11:17AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Death wins game 2 +19tp
Match tied at 1-1.
12 Jul 2024 11:18AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Bamford's sextuple not as tight as it might be.
Red, the putative 1-back pioneer, is just north of 5.
Two peels done.
12 Jul 2024 11:20AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Lawn 1 is breaking for lunch.
12 Jul 2024 11:20AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L7G3T1 Fulford supershot.
T2 Wilkinson 10y N of IV (bit south of max distance).
T3 Fulford hits, gets 3-ball break.
12 Jul 2024 11:21AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L8 Patel made 9, Mulliner hit the short shot.
12 Jul 2024 11:22AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L2 Bamford lining up 3-back peel before 1-back. You know where the 1-back pioneer is.
The peel is rejected. The rush is less than ideal. The 2-back pioneer is by 4-back, hoping that the peel had gone through.
In other words, he ain't finishing.
Expert suggests stopping at 4-back (so as not to give contact).
12 Jul 2024 11:24AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L2 Bamford Black taking off from Blue at 3-back, taking off to Yellow (NW of 4-back.)
Take-off is short, can only rush Yellow to middle of W bdry.
Rolls up, 6' hoop, not too angled, runs it to boundary.
Straight quadruple needed.
12 Jul 2024 11:30AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Fulford has made 9.
12 Jul 2024 11:31AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L2 Why has Bamford put Red a few yards south of 3-back.
My experts have no clue as to Bamford's thinking.
12 Jul 2024 11:34AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L8 Mulliner had a standard TPO, but failed the first peel.
He's now trying a delayed TPO.
12 Jul 2024 11:36AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Bamford has just missed a roquet.
His clips are 4-back and 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 11:37AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Lawn 7 is lunching.
12 Jul 2024 11:38AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L2 appears to be lunching.
12 Jul 2024 11:40AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
So lawn 8 has my full attention.
Mulliner has done 1 peel of his TPO, and has just run 2-back.
He'll be hoping to do the penult peel going to his 3-back pioneer.
Blue is very close to the hoop, is he looking at a rush-peel??
No, no attempt at the peel before 3-back.
The 4-back pioneer is nicely positioned for the penult peel before 4-back
12 Jul 2024 11:43AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
David Fuller tells me that the 2 points in his second game v Fulford were his own work, not POPs.
So the match score was +28tp +24tp, in my convention.
12 Jul 2024 11:45AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Mulliner Yellow gets the penult peel of Blue before 4-back.
But then after 4-back, looking to rush peelee north of penult, to croquet it to rover, he rushes it into hoop 6.
Peelee is now NW of 6!
12 Jul 2024 11:48AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Mulliner now needs to rush Blue to peeling posi at rover, from 16 yards away!
12 Jul 2024 11:49AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Pretty good rush to 5' more or less in front.
The Black ball has had to be abandoned near penult.
12 Jul 2024 11:51AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Mulliner's straight rover peel goes through, Yellow stops a few inches in front.
Wanting to get beyond red (to rush it to Black, to get a reasonable leave, he runs hoop too hard (or not enough wire) and roquets Blue.
Disaster!
12 Jul 2024 11:53AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Mulliner fails 11 yard peg-out.
He is conceding contact.
12 Jul 2024 11:54AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L8 clips: Mulliner Red 1, Yellow peg; Patel Blue peg, Black 1.
Leave: Yellow in IV, Red middle W bdry. Black near B-baulk, Blue 1y in front of penult.
Best he could do.
12 Jul 2024 11:56AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Patel Black takes croquet from Red. Rolls Red near 2, short on Blue, cuts it 5y north of Yellow.
Doesn't dare try for rush on Yellow.
Rolls to 1 from IV, but puts Yellow south of hoop.
The good news is that Black is 8' in front of hoop 1.
The bad news is that Yellow is between Black and the hoop.
The good news is that Red and Yellow are wired.
12 Jul 2024 12:03PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Lawn 7 has restarted.
Wilkinson is on the lawn, approaching 2.
I guess he hit the lift 4th turn.
12 Jul 2024 12:05PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L8 Mulliner Yellow shooting at Black and/or Blue. (18y)
Yellow hits Black!
12 Jul 2024 12:05PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Mulliner Yellow lining up to peg Blue out from 3 yards.
He is rolling to Red at 2.
Blue misses the peg!
12 Jul 2024 12:07PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Mulliner rolls to near 1st corner. A bit too near, Red is off the lawn.
12 Jul 2024 12:08PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Lawn 2 has resumed. Higgins is on the lawn.
12 Jul 2024 12:10PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Patel Blue hits a 30-yarder.
Now will Blue peg out Yellow?!
12 Jul 2024 12:11PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Wilkinson has failed hoop 5.
12 Jul 2024 12:13PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Finally a ball has been removed from lawn 8.
The Yellow is off.
12 Jul 2024 12:14PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Mulliner is 1 and box v Patel 1 and peg.
12 Jul 2024 12:15PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Mulliner misses 30-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 12:16PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Higgins' clip is on 4. Didn't see what went wrong.
12 Jul 2024 12:17PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L1G3T1 Death Blue supershot.
T2 Clarke Red 3y NE of Blue.
T3 Death Black makes target, hits Red.
12 Jul 2024 12:18PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel has leave.
12 Jul 2024 12:19PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L7G3, Fulford had to play with his forward ball when Wilkinson broke down, so he's had a powerful leave.
12 Jul 2024 12:20PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L8 Another 30-yard roquet attempt from Mulliner. Misses.
12 Jul 2024 12:20PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L1G3T3 Death going round.
12 Jul 2024 12:21PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L7 Wilkinson misses long roquet.
12 Jul 2024 12:21PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
There is a conference on lawn 2 between both players and a referee. Not another wrong ball? (there was one the Plate earlier, besides the two in the main event.)
12 Jul 2024 12:22PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L8 Patel is trying to dig out 3-ball break. Red is now a few yards from the peg, Black is approaching 2 off Blue.
12 Jul 2024 12:25PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L1G3T3 Death has made 9 (3rd turn).
12 Jul 2024 12:26PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Another ref is needed on lawn 2.
Looks like Bamford has a short angled 4-back.
L1 Clarke misses 4th turn.
12 Jul 2024 12:29PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Sorry, lost my runners again.
Patel is on a 3-ball break to win game 2.
Fulford is on a standard TP to win the match.
Death is picking up his break, possibly a 5th turn TP.
And I've lost track on lawn 2. I think Bamford was faulted?
12 Jul 2024 12:31PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Death needs a big roll out of IV to 3, to give him a standard TP.
Good enough.
12 Jul 2024 12:33PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Query from Nick Parish on my commentary re Mulliner failing TPO.
The penult pioneer was north of the hoop,maybe 2 yards.
Also I seem to remember that Blue stopped near the front of hoop 6, so he couldn't stop it as you suggest.
Thanks for the email tho, at least one person's following!
12 Jul 2024 12:36PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Patel wins game 2 +13
Patel leads 2-0.
12 Jul 2024 12:37PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Lawn 2: Bamford faulted himself at 4-back, the ball bouncing back on to his mallet.
Clips: Bamford 4-back and 4-back; Higgins 1 and in play with a ball for hoop 5.
12 Jul 2024 12:42PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Death has done two and a half peels of his TP before 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 12:42PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Higgins is now approaching 5 from near hoop 2.
My expert (and I) would be taking off, but Higgins plays a roll.
Short.
Bamford has 8-yarder, against which Higgins will guard.
12 Jul 2024 12:44PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Death wins game 3 +26tp
Death leads 2-1.
12 Jul 2024 12:44PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Fulford wins game 3 +21tp
Fulford is through to the semi-final, where he will meat Mulliner or Patel.
12 Jul 2024 12:46PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
meet.
D'oh!
12 Jul 2024 12:46PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L2 Higgins didn't guard, instead cornering.
Bamford joined up.
Higgins shot and missed.
12 Jul 2024 12:47PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L1G4 starts with 3 balls in the middle of the lawn.
Death misses target 4th turn.
12 Jul 2024 12:47PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
"Bit of a scythe." says Death.
12 Jul 2024 12:49PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Clarke is picking up break, but misses a 10' roquet before hoop 3.
12 Jul 2024 12:53PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Death fails to take off in front of 1 from two yards behind.
He hits a 14-yarder and now tries to take off in front from the east bdry.
Leaves himself 8' hoop, but it's too angled.
Back to mother.
12 Jul 2024 12:56PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L1G3T7 Clarke misses 19-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 12:57PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L8G3 yet to start.
12 Jul 2024 12:58PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L1G4T8 Death's rush to 1 is 4y short. This time he gets it. But he's not run it cleanly, and can't hit the intended ball.
Misses 25-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 1:00PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Clarke misses 17-yarder with Red.
Had she hit she would have had break.
But now Death has a 7-yarder to resume his break.
Which he hits.
12 Jul 2024 1:02PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L8G3T1 Mulliner Blue 7y N of IV.
T2 Patel Yellow just out of II
T3 Mulliner Black hits Blue, takes off 6y shy of Yellow, hits.
12 Jul 2024 1:04PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Death is doing something odd.
Aiming for a 1-back leave with a crosswire at 4, I think?
12 Jul 2024 1:06PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Patel misses short shot 4th turn.
12 Jul 2024 1:08PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Death has crosswired at 4, with Black near N bdry and Blue in front of 1-back (maybe just in jaws?)
Clarke misses 28-yarder.
12 Jul 2024 1:11PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Death Black taps Yellow, rush-peels Blue to peg-high, then a good take-off yields a rush of Red to 1.
12 Jul 2024 1:12PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L8 Mulliner has first break.
12 Jul 2024 1:13PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L2:
Bamford got to 4-back and peg.
Higgins hit the lift with her ball for hoop 5, got round to 4-back, and is having NSL.
12 Jul 2024 1:16PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L8 Mulliner clearly could not contemplate the shame of being the only match without an attempted sextuple, so is having a 1-back leave.
12 Jul 2024 1:17PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1 Death's had the second peel before 4 (probably).
Optimistic attempt of 3-back peel from south bdry before 5 misses the hoop.
12 Jul 2024 1:19PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L2 Bamford lifted Blue from near the west bdry to take the short shot at Red / Yellow.
Missed.
12 Jul 2024 1:22PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L1 Death didn't get chance to try 3-back peel before 6, so now going for it before 1-back.
That went well!
12 Jul 2024 1:23PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
After several minutes looking at Mulliner's crosswire, Patel decides he can see something, and proves himself right when Red snicks Yellow.
Patel makes hoop 1 before taking off to Mulliner's balls near 3rd corner.
12 Jul 2024 1:24PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Higgins is thru hoop 1 and has chance of standard TP.
12 Jul 2024 1:26PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Death failed to get position for 4-back peel before 3-back, now needs an STP to finish.
12 Jul 2024 1:27PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Death does straight 4-back peel OK.
Now is he a bombardier?
12 Jul 2024 1:29PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Yup, that bombard went pretty well.
Of course the snag is that a ball has been left behind at 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 1:30PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Death tries irish peel from some distance (5 or 6'?).
Peelee sails thru, but striker's ball bounces off hoop to the west.
Clips on penult and rover.
Not much he can do.
Scatter, but Yellow is still by hoop 3, which is Red's hoop.
12 Jul 2024 1:33PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Apparently Death's problems stemmed from a misplaced 3-back pioneer (at 4-back, natch) not affording himself to do the 4-back peel before 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 1:35PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L8 Patel has POPped Blue thru 1. He's on his way to 4-back.
L1 Clarke has break.
L2 Higgins has had one peel of her TP.
12 Jul 2024 1:39PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L2 Higgins lining up an angled peel of penult after 6.
Peelee bounces off a foot or two west.
12 Jul 2024 1:42PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L8 Patel having spread. Blue is at peg.
Clips: Mulliner Blue 2, Black 1-back; Patel Yellow 1, Red 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 1:44PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L8 Mulliner lifts Black to B-baulk.
(Managing to resist the lure of the sextuple.)
Missed to 4th corner.
12 Jul 2024 1:46PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L2 Higgins peels penult before 2-back.
12 Jul 2024 1:47PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1 Clarke is 1 and 4-back, Death penult and rover.
Diagonal spread.
12 Jul 2024 1:48PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L2 Higgins peels partner thru rover before 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 1:49PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1 Death lifts Black from near W bdry to shoot at Blue by the peg from A-baulk.
Rushes it to N bdry!
12 Jul 2024 1:51PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Death Black croquets Blue very near rover. He's looking to finish!
12 Jul 2024 1:52PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Death wins game 4 +17
Death is through to the semifinal to play Higgins or Bamford.
12 Jul 2024 1:54PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Patel is on a standard TP for the match.
Higgins has nearly finished.
12 Jul 2024 1:55PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Higgins wins game 2 +5tp
Match is 1-1 (best-of-5).
12 Jul 2024 1:58PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Looks like Patel has had the penult peel after 6.
12 Jul 2024 2:01PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Patel needs a straight rover peel to win the match.
12 Jul 2024 2:06PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
L2G3 yet to start for some reason.
12 Jul 2024 2:08PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Patel wins game 3 +19tp
Patel plays Fulford in tomorrow's semifinal.
12 Jul 2024 2:11PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Just one match left then.
L3G3T1 Bamford Black E bdry
T2 Higgins Red duffer tice.
T3 Bamford Blue misses Black from A-baulk.
12 Jul 2024 2:13PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
T4 Higgins Yellow hits Red (10y).
12 Jul 2024 2:14PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
T4 Higgins Yellows takes off to Black, rushes Blue to 1, makes it, rushes back to E bdry.
12 Jul 2024 2:18PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Higgins just needs a good rush to 2 for the break.
Not great, needs take-off, slightly overhit, makes it.
12 Jul 2024 2:19PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Oops, been working on my laptop up till now, turns out it wasn't plugged in. It has died.
So onto my phone.
Higgins still going round 4th turn. She has reached 1-back.
12 Jul 2024 2:28PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Higgins has made 9.
NSL.
12 Jul 2024 2:31PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Bamford lifts Blue from by hoop 4 to 3rd corner.
Hits Red (25y).
12 Jul 2024 2:37PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
L2G3T5 Bamford Blue makes 1.
Bamford rarely does TPOs.
Another 1-back leave?
12 Jul 2024 2:41PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Bamford is lining up a POP of Red thru 1 before 5. Red bounces off.
12 Jul 2024 2:54PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Bamford tries again for the POP before 6. Gets it.
12 Jul 2024 2:55PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Clips: Higgins Red 2 Yellow 4-back; Bamford Black 1, Blue 1-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:01PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Higgins thinks Red can hit Yellow.
Misses whatever she can see to the east boundary.
12 Jul 2024 3:05PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Bamford embarks on another sextuple.
12 Jul 2024 3:08PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Bamford Black peels Blue thru 1-back after 2. Blue goes about peg high.
12 Jul 2024 3:12PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Bamford doesn't get a rush after 3, so no 2-back peel before 4.
12 Jul 2024 3:18PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Bamford Black peels Blue thru 2-back before 5.
12 Jul 2024 3:21PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Bamford's 2-back peel went quite deep. Some big croquet strokes required.
12 Jul 2024 3:24PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
After 6 Black rushes Yellow off S bdry behind 4. Yellow will be the 2-back pioneer so of course it goes to 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:28PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Black peels Blue thru 3-back before 1-back.
Blue goes halfway to 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:31PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Red is the 3-back pioneer. It too is at 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:34PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
No peel before 2-back but good rush to the hoop.
12 Jul 2024 3:36PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Black jawses Blue in 4-back before 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:40PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Black rush-peels blue thru 4-back before 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 3:45PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Bamford now needs a straight double peel to complete his sextuple.
12 Jul 2024 3:47PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Looking good for Bamford.
12 Jul 2024 3:51PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Bamford wins game 3 +16sxp
Bamford leads 2-1 in a best of 5.
12 Jul 2024 3:55PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L2G4T1 Higgins Red to east boundary.
12 Jul 2024 4:06PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
T2 Bamford Black to near 2nd corner.
12 Jul 2024 4:08PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
T3 Higgins Yellow hits Red.
Takes off to Black.
Rolls black 10 yards or so toward 1.
Fires off behind Red.
12 Jul 2024 4:10PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
T4 Bamford shoots from 3rd corner.
Misses (23y)
12 Jul 2024 4:13PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
T5 Higgins has a 5- or 6-yard return roquet after 1. Doesn't exactly hit centre ball but that should be a ball to 4-back.
12 Jul 2024 4:17PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
On 1 and 8 we have the Plate Draw semifinals. David Fuller v Brian Cumming, David Goacher v Jack Good.
12 Jul 2024 4:19PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
T5 Higgins has now got all the balls.
12 Jul 2024 4:21PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
T5 Higgins has made 9.
Marches to end of A-baulk to check posi of NSL ball.
12 Jul 2024 4:31PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
T6 Bamford lifts Black from by hoop 4 to 3rd corner.
Misses.
Can't believe it.
12 Jul 2024 4:35PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
T7 Higgins is thru 1.
Delayed TP required to send match to a decider.
12 Jul 2024 4:39PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
The dreaded take off from 3 to 4th corner is good enough.
Red is making 4 off yellow so a rush to peeling posi now would really handy.
12 Jul 2024 4:44PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
That's really handy!
Higgins Red peels Yellow thru 4-back after 4.
12 Jul 2024 4:47PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
No forward rush after 5 so big roll needed now.
12 Jul 2024 4:49PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
After 5 red rushes black to east boundary.
Yellow is quite deep.
Good croquet stroke.
12 Jul 2024 4:51PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
And another one.
The TP is no longer delayed.
12 Jul 2024 4:52PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
T7 Higgins Red peels Yellow thru penult after 6.
12 Jul 2024 4:54PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
T7 Higgins fails to get the rover peel early, but you'd expect her to negotiate a straight rover peel.
12 Jul 2024 5:04PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Higgins wins game 4 +26tp
The match is 2 each.
We have a decider.
12 Jul 2024 5:10PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Cumming has beaten Fuller.
12 Jul 2024 5:13PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L2G5T1 Bamford Black 3y NW of 5.
Supershot!
12 Jul 2024 5:16PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
T2 Higgins Red 13y N of IV.
12 Jul 2024 5:17PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
T3 Bamford blue at Red from A-baulk...
12 Jul 2024 5:18PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
T3 Bamford misses.
12 Jul 2024 5:18PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
T4 Higgins Yellow makes target from B-baulk.
Misses.
12 Jul 2024 5:21PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
T5 Bamford picks up break.
12 Jul 2024 5:26PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Others have coaxed my laptop back to life.
So while Bamford is going round (presumably just the 6 hoops), let me go back to my quiz question this morning:
12 Jul 2024 5:30PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
When was the last time there were two women in the Open quarter-finals?
12 Jul 2024 5:31PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Chris Williams answered this question in about 25 minutes, but I see posted the message just to me.
Amazingly, not only do we agree on the answer, but he recalls the same incident from Cornelius v Bamford in 1995!
Here is Statto's email:
It looks like last time there were two women in the quarter finals was 1962. Hope Rotherham and Joan Warwick.
I think Debbie was last female semi finalist in 1995 - she should have won. Lost game 2 by one having missed peg out, which would have put he 2-0 up. Lined them up, spotted shoe lace was undone, did it up, did not recheck and missed. Reg was 1 and 1 and she had one more shot. Won game 3 but lost 4 and 5.
Last woman finalist was Hope Rotherham in 1966.
12 Jul 2024 5:36PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
T5 Bamford is having a 1-back leave.
12 Jul 2024 5:37PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
T6 Higgins misses tea-lady.
12 Jul 2024 5:41PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Here is my research (didn't sleep well last night!)
Women in Open quarter-finals: In recent years Jenny Clarke, Gabrielle Higgins and Miranda Chapman have each reached the quarter-finals, but in different years.
But before that you need to go back to 1995, when Debbie Lines (then Cornelius) reached the semifinal.
(she lost 2-3 to Reg Bamford, including losing a game by 1 when she failed a pegout after retying a shoelace.
And then electing to peg one ball out, a questionable tactic.)
Debbie also reached the QFs in 1991.
Before that, Susan Wiggins 1984
Mrs NR Dodd 1970
Hope Rotherham reached the final in 1966,
1962 Hope Rotherham and Joan Warwick reached the quarters.
1961 Miss EJ Warwick, Mrs VC Gasson, and Mrs W Longman reached the quarters. (Joan Warwick lost in the final.)
1960 W Longman lost to Hope Rotherham in the quarters, Mrs Rotherham went on to beat John Solomon in the final (the last year the Croquet Champion was a woman.)
12 Jul 2024 5:43PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
T7 Bamford Black peels Blue thru 1-back before 1.
12 Jul 2024 5:43PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
I'm sure Chris will find errors in my research. Once it gets back to the '70s and earlier there are names I don't recognise, initials are used and women not always labelled Miss or Mrs.
12 Jul 2024 5:45PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Bamford fails to rush Blue in front of 2-back after 2.
12 Jul 2024 5:48PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Catching up on emails, Nick Parish has been back in touch, about Bamford TPOs:
After 8 successive years with zero TPOs he's done 5 in the past two years. And no OTPs.
Although I’m sure I recall one, so perhaps that was in a doubles match.
12 Jul 2024 5:53PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
T7 Bamford Black jawses Blue in 2-back before 4.
12 Jul 2024 5:54PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
T7 Bamford rush-peels 2-back after 4.
12 Jul 2024 5:57PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
T7 Has Bamford overhit his little rush to 3-back?
Still going for peel before 6.
Goodness, that's gone well.
He may be able to try 4-back peel before 1-back.
12 Jul 2024 6:01PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
I now realise the 1-back pioneer isn't in the right place to try an "early" 4-back peel.
12 Jul 2024 6:04PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Bamford elects to rush Blue to Yellow and croquet Blue back to 4-back,
12 Jul 2024 6:05PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Bamford blobs 1-back from nowhere. 6" in front, slightly angled, wanted control to rush Yellow to 4-back
12 Jul 2024 6:07PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
T8 Higgins Red hits the short roquet on Blue.
My expert suggests that he'd rather Bamford be 2-back and 4-back than 1-back and 4-back.
Higgins doesn't agree.
Her rush to 1 is heavy, rolls up from 6y, runs 4 or 5' hoop.
12 Jul 2024 6:10PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
T8 Higgins has 4-ball break.
12 Jul 2024 6:12PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Nobody was expecting Bamford's error.
12 Jul 2024 6:13PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
What leave should Higgins make?
An expert suggests Spread with 4-back ball glued on peg.
12 Jul 2024 6:19PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Goacher beats Good +7tp
12 Jul 2024 6:19PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Another expert expects an NSL, which seems to be Higgins' leave of choice.
Clips: Higgins Red 4-back, Yellow 1; Bamford Blue 4-back, Black 1-back.
12 Jul 2024 6:25PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Black is some yards SW of 2.
Blue is just NE of 4.
Yellow ~10y N of IV, with rush on Red to Black.
(ie NSL)
12 Jul 2024 6:29PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Bamford lifts Blue to 3rd corner.
He was aiming at Yellow but was closer to Red.
Blue is 2' W of 4th corner.
12 Jul 2024 6:31PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
T10 Higgins' first rush is a bit short.
Next shot is poor, instead of a rush to 1 she has a rush to Blue.
Yellow rushes Black into hoop 5.
Take off to Blue....
Is it still on the lawn?
Just! (about an inch!)
Yellow has rush on Blue to 1.
Many swings.
We think Black has a wiring lift as things stand.
Good rush, good approach.
12 Jul 2024 6:36PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Higgins' misplay might lead her to a standard rather than delayed TP.
12 Jul 2024 6:37PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Higgins Yellow is making 2 off Red.
12 Jul 2024 6:38PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Expert is surprised Bamford took the long lift, into the setting sun.
12 Jul 2024 6:38PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
After 2, Higgins decides not to go for a standard TP. Red is the hoop 4 pioneer.
12 Jul 2024 6:40PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Stuart Lawrence has emailed.
Yes, Higgins really rushed Black into hoop 5 at the start of this break!
12 Jul 2024 6:41PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Higgins is not playing take-offs perfectly, but she's still going.
12 Jul 2024 6:43PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Will Higgins rush Red into peeling position this time?
Nope, Red hits hoop 4. It was a longer rush.
12 Jul 2024 6:45PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Next croquet stroke leaves a 10-footer on Blue at 5.
Copes.
12 Jul 2024 6:46PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Higgins has a delayed TP for the match.
12 Jul 2024 6:47PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Thanks to Malcolm O'Connell for messaging me.
12 Jul 2024 6:48PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Higgins Yellow's rush of Red to 4-back isn't great.
12 Jul 2024 6:49PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
8' angled peel is jawsed.
Needs a cut rush to 6.
Right direction but not hard enough.
Take off from 3 yards.
12 Jul 2024 6:51PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Overhit slightly.
4' hoop, 10 degrees.
12 Jul 2024 6:51PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Higgins makes hoop 6!
The break is back on track.
12 Jul 2024 6:52PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Bamford is skulking in the hut past the north boundary.
Some think he should be menacing the lawn more!
12 Jul 2024 6:52PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Maybe he's sulking not skulking!
12 Jul 2024 6:53PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Higgins playing big croquet stroke from N bdry behind 4-back.
Red is the 2-back pioneer.
It is overhit but hits 2-back.
Higgins has short angled 1-back, copes.
12 Jul 2024 6:55PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
We're 50 yards away, but one can almost sense Higgins' nerves.
Still going though!
12 Jul 2024 6:57PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Some intricacy at 2-back.
Higgins runs 2-back a shot sooner than she wanted, so no rush to penult.
Now plays an excellent croquet stroke after 2-back.
12 Jul 2024 6:59PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Higgins gets forward rush after 3-back.
12 Jul 2024 7:00PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
"Odds on to finish" opines an expert.
65%?
This would be Higgins' best ever match win.
Though she did beat Fulford 2-0 at the COWhorn last month.
12 Jul 2024 7:01PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
"Two decent strokes and it's on a plate."
(really??)
12 Jul 2024 7:02PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Higgins Yellow peels Red thru penult before 4-back.
Now the rush to 4-back.
Several swings, Goacher claims "I don't do that many."
12 Jul 2024 7:03PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Higgins is running 4-back with her back to us.
She drops her mallet.
Has she blobbed?
No, just no rush.
12 Jul 2024 7:04PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Blue is croqueted 2y east of peg.
Now croqueting Red to rover.
Looks good.
12 Jul 2024 7:05PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
We're discussing what the percentage of finishing from here is.
Normally in the 90s, but under this pressure...
12 Jul 2024 7:06PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Penult has been made.
12 Jul 2024 7:06PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
In case I've been too opaque, Higgins needs a straight rover peel to knock Bamford out of the Opens.
12 Jul 2024 7:07PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Higgins again feints disappointment.
But her little rush to rover is a little short.
Peeling from the line of 2nd corner.
Irish peel.
Peel is thru.
Is Yellow OK?
Yes, it hasn't quite run the hoop.
12 Jul 2024 7:09PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Higgins needs to rush to the peg from 15 yards.
12 Jul 2024 7:10PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
The rush has missed rover.
It is three yards from the peg.
12 Jul 2024 7:11PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
I imagine some care will go into this lining up.
12 Jul 2024 7:11PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
She's ready.
Checks they're in contact!
12 Jul 2024 7:12PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Centre peg!
12 Jul 2024 7:12PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
Higgins wins game 5 +11tp
12 Jul 2024 7:13PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Might be dashing off now.
See you for tomorrow's semis:
Fulford v Patel
Death v Higgins.
10am start, notionally.
Cheers, Andrew
12 Jul 2024 7:14PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
At 23 Nov 2024 10:05AM (Tournament) there are 11 people reading commentaries.