Commentary of final at United Sunday 10 February
Commentary by David Maugham
Morning all (or maybe evening, depending on where you are)
This is Dave signing on, for my view of the final...
I think I'm going to have some more "colour" commentary from over my shoulder, so Ill try to include that as much as possible.
Looks like Chris is going for the second POP straight away, and has rushed into the jaws.
Well, the DDPO has ground to a halt, after Y hit U running hoop 2
I expect that Chris wil now be working on K to get it to 3 as well.
Yep, K goes over to 1 after Y makes 3.
Hmmm... U is very tight at 5, maybe 9" right in front.
The rest of the commentary team has lost control, and I've got to tell him where the black clip is <sigh>
And we get the first rays of sun, in what I've been told is going to be the hottest day so far.
Didn't get the peel before 5, but has just played a big roll going to 6, peeling K well down the lawn.
Partner now nicely at 2-b and K goes into peeling position behind 1-b
Second peel smoothed through, and 2-b made with a rush back to II
I expect we'll be seeing Chris's standard tight OSL, but reversed this game.
Oops. Made 3-b with too much control, and didn't get a rush back to IV, so he's croqueting it there from 8 yards up.
Under hit that one a bit too. U is about 2 yards out of the corner and Chris has to thrash his cut rush across to the WB.
He's rolled it nicely to peg high, though, getting his rush to II.
Stephen's pacing already.
R's about a foot out of the coner and Y is a foot or so S of that.
Stephen's lifted K to take the short lift from B-baulk at R&Y.
Cuts R into the corner.
The "crowd" behind me are singing "Cruncher, Cruncher, give us a wave", but very sotto voce.
Meanwhile Stephen's rushed Y to about 2-3 yards W of corner IV.
He's rushed U to behind the hoop, near the boundary, and plays a defensive roll, putting partner towards the corner. He's short on the hoop approach though, and guards the corner.
Y goes to I.
Stephen grovels through 3, and I think he's got a fairly easy roquet through the hoop.
Yep. Didn't really need a referee.
He's rolled down to guard IV.
R goes to III.
Stephen's rush not good enough for him, so he's rolling back to guard the corner again.
Impasse looming...
Chris moves Y 6" out of I on the WB.
Stephen happier with his rush this time, and goes for the hoop. Just grovels through again.
Spawnily gets a rush to I though.
Which he takes to about 6 yards out.
Plays a good shot to take off into the corner, and is now thinking about where to take it.
Decides to go to 5, rushing about a yard to the side.
Slightly angled, so has a bit of pressing up..
Well, ran this one by a bit more this time, but not much, about 6" this time.
Y is far enough to the side for an easy short roquet, but not so far that he can't have a go at rushing to 6.
Didn't play it well enough, so takes off back to partner, leaving Y by 1-b.
Stays near I, guarding the corner.
Odd looks from the commentary team, as Clarke puts Y 10 yards up the EB from IV.
K rushes U to the end of B-baulk.
Keith say's we're like the commentary team at the World Chess Championships, unable to understand the finer details of the top class game...
Keith's now worried that I'm not painting him in a very good light, he's so mature sometimes...
Waxy:"Dave's lethal once he gets on that computer".
Anyhow, Stephen took off to R, rolled it to 1, going to Y, but left himself a 6 yarder so retired to partner.
R to IV.
I think we're up to the 15th turn so far, plenty of time to go before we reach the dizzying heights of their 58 turn game in the 1997 Opens final.
Right, back to the game. Stephen has laid up between 6 & 1-b, Y about 5 yards out of IV. Chris has put R about a yard out of III.
Stephen not happy with his rush, so he rolls back towards II, a bit short for a proper guard.
Chris shoots! R at Y, but misses.
Blimey, apparently James has just won the first game of the plate final 26sxp.
Stpehen's bashed U over to the EB, then put it to between 5 & 2-b trying to get a rush on Y to R.
He has to take off into the corner from about 4 yards, but is short this time. Plays the big roll approaching 6 from IV.
Short again, leaving K only about a yard or 2 past the peg.
R has gone 3 yards past the hoop.
Stephen cuddles Y, going off the SB about 3 yards E of the end of A-baulk.
Chris shoots at Y with R, looks at it for a while, but misses.
Stephen centre balls his 10 yarder at R.
He might be able to dig a break out now on the 21st turn, since he has a ball in the middle of the lawn.
Y is about 10 yards short of 1-b, but the rush to 6 is fine.
He's finally made a hoop without a bucket-load of wire.
Rushes to a yard in front of 1-b.
and makes it with a rush pointing at III, cuts it a bit probably fancying a big roll down to 3-b.
Standing around with his hand on his hip at the moment.
Finally, gets around to playing it, badly.
Y isn't a particularly good 3-b pioneer and he doen't get a rush on red.
Is a bit short on his take-off, but hits it and approaches the hoop without any trouble.
Catches a load of wire but goes through comfortably.
U goes to near the peg, K goes to R.
R goes to near the peg, so no effort being made to encourage the 4-b ball to play. It's looking like a dour old spread.
Dour old reverse spread, sorry.
Not a great take off, and has a 3 yarder at R, but hits it to a position where he can play a take off putting it on the wired spot, and getting a rus on U to the WB.
Y looks quite well South, so Chris may be feeling like he can take the short shot.
Yep, R to the end of B-baulk.
Doesn't like it at all. So lets see whether Stephen can do anything with this deayed TP.
Actually, if he plays well, he may be able to make it standard. I think thats the idea, as R goes to behind 2. However, he's not rushing partner to 3, so not any more.
A poor rush to Y means another roll, and another cut rush goes wrong as Y goes 10 yards short of the hoop.
The take-off is short as well, and now Chris is out of his seat, and pacing about.
U goes off the SB behind 4
Chris takes Y at R, and misses by very little.
Stephen bonks his 5 yarder into the lawn, about peg high, and doesn't really try to do anything with it, whilst taking off to Y.
Stephen joins Y up with K in the middle, and gets another longish cut rush.
He's played this a bit better, and has a 5 foot backward take-off.
A little short, and a press up is called for, for the angled hoop.
Smooths it through.
He now just has to rush Y to 4 for his break.
The hoop is made easily and Y goes up to the escape position by 4-b.
K joins it, although its still about 3 yards in front of the hoop.
I think he's going to have to be lucky to get a forward rush out of 5.
Didn't get it, but plays a competent roll to get a rush on K.
About a 1 yard peel attempt, just played to get K in the jaws.
Looks like it's slightly in the front of the hoop. The rush to 6 is good.
Makes 6 with a rush to III.
Y goes well to 2-b and U has an easy rush peel on K.
A little roll puts K near 6, getting a rush on R to 1-b.
Underhits U whilst putting R to 3-b, so can't rush it into position for the death roll.
Manouvering the balls now for his delayed double.
Y is about level with the hoop and about 3 yards to the side.
He's rushed K into the western wire of 6. But can still take off to the 3-b ball, moving K a couple of feet to the side.
Approaching 3-b from a yard straight, so might get a forward rush.
Has a load of Murray control to go through the hoop by 6" and get the rush.
Rushes the peelee to about a foot in front at a slight angle.
Plays the peel attempt as a thick take off, and gets it in the jaws.
R is level with the hoop, so I doubt he'll be rush peeling before hitting it.
Makes 4-b with hoop & roquet, and then christs off R putting Y down to rover.
A pretty good irish peel gets K down to level with the hoop, and a couple of feet to the side.
R is the shallow ball, and Y goes to about 3 yards off the SB.
Rushes to a foot straight in front, and irishes it through.
Gets a tight rush to the peg, which goes a couple of yards from it.
1-0 Mulliner +17tp (26tp-9).
Theyre starting the second straight away, with no fiddling with the hoops.
Chris puts out K 10 yards N of IV.
Stephen marches down to b-baulk with Y.
to put out a duffer, level with 6 a yard to the east.
Chris is shooting at partner down the EB, and hit it.
Short on the roll trying to get a rush to 1 off Y.
Has a thrash and hits it in the middle.
He's now taking off from about peg high on the WB to hoop 1.
Short, so joins up with Y.
I think Stephen will have a double at K & Y from somewhere near III, but he's choosing to take the short single ball at K from the end of B-baulk.
Missing to a couple of yards out of I on the side boundary.
Chris puts Y to 2, and rushes K to a yard N of R.
He makes 1 with a rush back to K.
Gets R out 6 yards, and goes to 2.
Makes 2 with a rush back, but doesn't hit it off the boundary, so can only get it in the lawn another couple of yards.
He chose not to put it in front of 1 either, so maybe no POPs this time.
Makes 3 without a forward rush, so is rolling partner down to 5 going to Y near hoop 1.
Rushes Y into , but only moves it a couple of feet or so. Y is croqueted towards the middle going to R.
Just a straight 4bb here, nothing too exciting.
K is the early 2-b pioneer.
The caffeine seems to be kicking in for Digger, as he's now using upper case at the start of sentences and for proper nouns.
Chris was going for an MSL, but managed to rush R on top of Y. So it's still hanging around 2, but might not be wired from the end of baulk at the moment.
Well, he's made 2-b with a rush over to 3-b so maybe it is.
Stephen is pacing...
Chris has a slightly angled hoop which he has to force through, but it's not a problem as he placed Y on the wired spot in the approach.
He hits partner and rolls up to level with 5, giving himself a rush that can be cut to 1
Stephen lifts Y with no hesitation, and takes it to B-baulk for he long shot.
Misses.
K rushes very well to hoop 1. 8" straight in front.
I think he wanted the rush to IV, but got too much wire. I'm surprised he wanted it, given that Y isn't in the corner.
Rushes up the lawn, partner goes to 5 feet S of 4-b, and makes 2.
A little too much control at the hoop, and then over-cuts his rush.
He's put R to 4 and is rolling up to 3 from IV.
Not a bad effort. A little short on the striker's ball, but makes the hoop well. Y is a bit deep for an easy peel.
U isn't in the jaws, so we'll have to see if it's rush peelable in a minute.
Y has gone of 5 so I guess that Chris won't be doing the rush peel before 5.
Hoop & roquet at 4 guarantees this.
R goes to 6 but is a bit short. I guess Chris must be confident of the rush peel.
Grovels through 5 and needs a referee to watch the hampered stroke.
Owen's wandered off the lawn, so I guess the hoop needs to be banged in a bit.
He's come back with one of the comedy giant mallets they use for the job.
Chris is lining up to play a sweep through the hoop, and now having a look at the one outside the hoop.
Jonathan reports that the wire is right on the line, and the ball is only a couple of inches through so this must be really difficult.
We've got a second referee on, and Chris plays a good stroke to just shave the yellow.
But it's followed by a ropey old roll that doesn't get much of a 1-b pioneer and isn't close to the ball at 4-b.
The blue stays more or less in the hoop, but Chris doesn't have the angle to peel it going to R.
He settles for getting close to R and making it with enough control for a rush to near III.
He's put R down a poor line, so it's 2-3 yards to the side of 2-b.
The rush peel goes through.
The roll puts Y a couple of yards past the hoop, but gets a good rush.
He makes 1-b and puts Y down to 3-b, getting a rush on the peelee back to penult, but he's a little short with the rush.
Takes of putting the peelee right in front of the hoop, and makes 2-b with a rush back. So we're all wondering whether he'll go for the rush peel.
He didn't give himself a straight rush, so has Waltered it off in favour of just taking off down to 3-b
He decided to put R as a good pioneer to 4-b, so needs to do the rush peel before that hoop if he wants to finish.
Rushes it into the jaws, and can play a take off peeling U by a couple of feet.
U is now a foot from rover, and Chris is about to make penult.
Lots of balls close to rover, so I think Chris will be playing for the irish as he has nothing deep.
1 foot very slightly angled.
Peeled by 8 yards.
Just needs to rush to the peg now.
And deals with it.
26tp to Chris, 1-1
Starting straight away again.
Stephen going in with a 12 yard supershot with Y.
Chris responds with a ball out of corner II.
Stpehn hits it, and plays the roll putting K to near hoop 1, getting a good rush on Y.
He's a little short with the rush, but approaches OK.
But he's stuck in it again. This is a repeat of the first game, but Chris can't make a double out of Y & K this time.
Just takes his 7 yarder at Y, missing it to a couple of yards out of II.
Stephen chooses to play R, and not have a hoop 2 pioneer.
Makes 1 with a rush back to the SB, and pokes it into the lawn getting a rush to U.
Doesn' play it particularly well, though, and rushes off the side boundary about 8 yards down from the corner.
He's putting partner behind 2, going to U. I guess to have a go at approaching putting U somewhere.
U has gone towards the end of A-baulk. Odd, since it was short and will leave Chris a 10 yarder if Stpehen fails the hoop.
However, he ran it pretty well, and has now hit partner towards II.
He took off to U but was short, and now has to play a squarish split to put U to 4 getting a rush on K by the peg.
Short again, so we get a bit of pinting for the threee yard rush.
He plays it down an OK line, but is short again, so has a 2 yard sidey take off.
Plays it OK, and runs the hoop with a rush pointing back towards Y.
The rush goes off the NB behind 2, so has a 7 yard take off to get behind Y.
Plays it well, to get a rush back into the lawn.
He's now got a 3bb, and has made hoop 4 to the boundary.
Hmmm... I go to the toilet and get a hot dog and suddenly there's all sorts of interactivity going on...
Chris hit the ball in the jaws of 6, and rushed Y to 1. He now has an easy 4bb. I wnder if he'll try some popping of Y.
R has gone to 4, and U is about 4 yards S of 3, as Chris makes it off Y. Y looks like it's going to 5, so probably no POPs.
U has gone behind 4, so I'm sure there's some tactical thinking going on.
Chris's made 4 and put U level with 5, about 4 yards east of it.
Chris stabs his way through 5, and shakes his head.
Y goes up to 1-b, K getting a rush on U.
U goes behind 6. Chris doesn't seem to want to use it as a pivot.
I think Patmore's just won the 2nd in the plate final +1tp.
Meanwhile, Chris has rushed R to near II after 6, and now has partner at 2-b.
Jimbo has just walked past wearing shorts, and I have to say that those are the whitest legs I've ever seen. I doubt that they've ever seen the sun before...
Chris didn't get a rush out of 1-b so had to play a roll, leaving the 3-b pioneer a bit short.
He's made 2-b, though and got a rush on Y to 3-b.
He made sure of the "rock-like" 3-b hoop, and had to hit partner first after the hoop.
The croquet stroke putting U to IV was a couple of yards short, and Chris has got a rush to II.
So Y is now in II, and R has been rushed to peg high on the EB.
Either U is on the boundary, or it must be a foot or so in lawn, as Chris as just gone off the boundary about 4 feet N of it.
Stephen is fingering his lift with R down the yard line at these two balls.
And clips the in lawn edge of K.
He's rushed U to 4 or 5 feet S of Y, and has taken off to get a rush to 6.
He's rushed it into the back of the hoop, and may be in the worse than death position.
Took off down the side, OK, but failed the hoop.
Chris is shooting U at R&Y from near II, and crunches off Y centre ball.
Chris has rolled back to to red but is woefully short, despite this he rushes R of the SB.
He's approaching 1 from where he is, and has played a pretty good stroke.
Keith says he's playing the game "just like Dave" as Chris runs the hoop down to the hoop 2 pioneer.
He rushes Y across to the EB, and takes off behind K. One good stroke and he's got a standard TP.
The president of the WCF has just admitted to grooming one of the younger menmbers of the tournament!
Chris didn't get a great rush, and didn't play it particularly well, but approached the hoop very well.
However he thrashed at the hoop and stuck in it.
Behind me, the crowd are pencilling in me and Wixy as the next 2 presidents of the WCF...
Stephen may have just had a mishit, shooting at partner. Unclear. He's certainly joined up in the middle of the EB.
Chris missed with K at Y and is now in IV.
Stephen rushes to the end of A-baulk and rolls to IV. He hits K and stops it to hoop 1, and guards IV.
Chris is shooting K at U.
and just clips it, knocking it out of the hoop. The crowd loves it...
Owen Edwards does a Billy Bowden impression and gives Chris two thumbs up.
Chris takes off to IV, hit Y and stops it out a few yards, so its now about three yards off the SB, a yard W of the hoop.
Red is rushed up to a couple of yards off the boundary near 3, possibly wired from Y. Chris lays up near the WB with a rush to 2. Apparently R & Y are wired, R at U is wired and Y at K may be wired...
Marcus has just made a comment implying that Phllip Drew looks like a gopher.
Marcus is taking a dim view of my reporting his comments, and thinks there's too much "bullshit & politics" in the sport already before I add any more...
Stpehen put R in II, Chris made 2, and rushed back to Y.
It's a poor shot, and doesn't get a rush to 3, but can take it to R.
He rushes it right into the corner to get a cannon.
He's played it backward to just get his dolly rush, only moving Y a foot or so.
Makes 3 with a forward rush.
Makes the difficult hoop 4 from 2 inches.
Has a wave of his hand appoaching 5, wanted to get closer than the 1 foot straight that he achieved. Bashes through up to the hoop 6 pioneer, obviously treating the hoop withn full respect.
Makes 6, and gets a longish rush on R to the NB in front of 1-b. He's trying to take off behind Y on the side boundary, but doesn't manage it.
Approaches well out of the corner though.
Slaps it through, and is hitting his pioneer again. And approaching 2-b straight away, ignoring the other balls for the moment.
Get those points on the board while they're there for you...
He's rushed back to corner II, so can put the 4-b ball out going to R.
Got a cut rush on R to Y, and is taking off from 3 yards to get his rushto 3-b.
A pretty good rush, lets see how close he feel he needs to approach this to.
Makes it with no wire, and has a 3 yard return.
Only just misses the peg rolling Y up to penult, and is a bit short with both balls.
Puts R to penult, getting a rush to 4-b.
Gets plenty of wire going through the hoop, and is now putting partner to the middle of the EB going pat Y.
Y is about 3 yards short going to rover.
And Chris gets a bit of roll appoaching the hoop, so get a little closer and more angled than he wants.
Makes it though, and rushes over to the middle of the EB.
K is going towards II, whilst U gets a rush on Y to rover.
Makes it easily with a rush back to corner II.
Chris calls Owen out, as heis rolling both balls off, neither in corner IV.
K is about a foot out, and U is about 3 yards out of the corner.
Stephen has lifted Y, and is looking at the shot down the line from B-baulk, now he's looking at the short one from A-baulk.
Yep he's taking the short one.
Hits it centre ball.
Pokes K out a few yards and rushes U to near R.
Goes a little far and has a cut rush back to 1, rushing it to about 3 yards behind the hoop.
Plays a little roll to guard the corner, I don't think he made any attempt to approach the hoop.
Chris is shooting U at K. Misses.
Stephen is making 1 straight away.
And gets a rush that can be taken to a spot on the SB that will go to 3 allowing him to get to the balls near IV.
He's gone to U first, and can stop it out into the lawn a fair way.
Umm.. OK, has chosen to play a little roll, leaving U 3 yards behind 4.
A pretty good rush to 2 gives him a 2 yard slightly angled approach.
He's put K deep, and has run the hoop down to it.
Cuts K back down to hoop 4, and he now has his break.
He makes 3, and R now goes to 6, I don't know if he wants to peel partner, whilst going for the riggall.
Squeezes it through hoop 5, but can hit the escape ball easily.
Red doesn't look like it's going into a position for a peel. I guess he's just going to settle for the break. Will he still go for pegging Chris out?
R is now going to 2-b after hoop 6.
Makes 1-b without issue, and puts U a little deep as the pioneer for 3-b.
R goes up the lawn as a pretty rubbish attempt at a 4-b pioneer, about 6 yards short.
He can't really put K up there, either with U being so deep at 3-b.
Makes 3-b from a foot away. Both the oppo balls are within a couple of yards.
K goes up the lawn a few yards, and Y rushes U to a good spot near R.
Makes sure of getting a good rush to 4-b. But just overhits it by a couple of feet.
Approaches the hoop to a foot or so, but at a bit of an angles. Hits it firmly this time and runs it no problem.
A rush down the lawn means that the rover pioneer is OK, although it is going to be made off partner.
Well, maybe not. He's put K down there as well, but it's not as good a pioneer as R.
A riggall is a term used for pegging out the opponent ball. Named for Leslie Riggall a South African player who had some correspondence on the matter in the gazette in the early 80s.
Stephen has decided to make rover off K, so now has R near the peg.
Makes it easily and has a bit of fist, I think.
Avoids the grievous, but feels the need for a referee on his 4 foot peg out. Very antipodean.
Rushes R to about 6" out of II, and takes off down to I. Which is where Y ends up.
Chris rushes Y up the lawn a yard.
and rolls Y to level with 4-b going to about 6 yards short of R.
Hits it.
He's rolling it behind the hoop, and has got about 2 yards straight in front.
Pulls out his wild thrash and bounces off the left hand wire.
Stephen hits his 6 yarder with R at Y and rolls down to guard corner I.
Chris shot, and was looking at it for a long time, as it just misses the R which Stephen claimed was wired. Chris could apparenty see most of it.
Stephen puts K to 2-b, and thumps his rush 3 yards past 6.
Rolls Y over a few yards, and goes off the boundary, trying to be wired again.
Chris goes in II, tempting Stephen to take his 7 yarder...
But he turns it down, and slaps partner over to the EB, trying to find the wired area behind 2, I think.
Found it, and Chris wants to play his golf style jump shot.
He's looking at it all the way, and it has apparently bounced off centre ball. The crowd really appreciating the effort. I'm not sure what they would have done if he'd actually hit it...
Stpehen's approached 6 to about a yard at a bit of an angle, with Y deep, but he's not happy with it, and is looking for the wired spot on the NB behind 6.
Chris goes to 3 yards out of II, and Stephen starts feeling the pressure and misses his 4 yarder.
Chris hits Y, rushing it to the NB behind 4-b.
He takes off to R and will approach 4-b from the boundary by the side of it.
Gets a 2-3 yard slightly angled hoop which he smooths at, rather than smashing at, and runs it ths time.
An "easy" 3bb to finish.
Gets a bit angled at penult, and gets a bit of grippage to come through the hoop hampered.
Chris wants the ACME comedy hammer out again to humble the proud carrots...
Playing it stood up, through the hoop. And hits it firmly, making the roquet.
Puts out a deep ball for rover, and is approaching from a foot away.
Slaps it through to the boundary, +9 (26-17) to Chris.
Chris 2-1 up.
A break for a bit of hoop setting, and maybe some food for the players.
According to Graeme, there's a bit of variation in the size of the balls, but not very much, and the hoops are all set to a snug 1/32" on the largest axis they could find.
Chis isn't worried about the width so much as the firmness in the ground.
They're back. And Chris has gone in. Stephen has chosen U&K.
Chris has a 10 yard ball on the EB. Stpehen has a duffer that goes 3 or 4 yards too long. Chris misses partner from A-baulk.
The duffer is so long that Stephen feels that his shot at the double down the boundary is better. He misses into the corner.
Chris rushes to the ball in the corner and gets a rush out to the ball in the middle
A good hoop 2 pioneer, and only a slightly overhit rush to 1.
Approaches it well, and runs it.
Got his 3bb break out, and gets a rush out of 2 to the SB to bring the 4th ball in out of IV.
Hasn't got much of a hoop 4 pioneer, but makes 3 with no trouble.
Has rushed to the ball behind 4 so should get a rush easily enough
Oops commentators blight. He's rushed to 4 feet behind.
Takes off well, and slaps through to the deep ball.
Jimbo's just won the plate.
I'm sure Rob Edlin-White will be pleased that a Nottingham player has brought back some silverware...
Meanwhile, Chris's break is round to 1-b, which he will be making off partner.
Bit of Goacher thigh slapping as Chris approaches the hoop to a foot straight...
K goes to 3-b
Let's see how he's going to put ogether his favourite defensive OSL again.
U is going to near II after 2-b.
I think Chris'll have a bit of trouble getting a rush to it though, he's very close to 3-b.
Maybe it'll be a some sort of NSL, oh well, we won't know know. He's just faild the hoop from 6" trying to run it gently.
Stephen's made sure or roqueting Y, and now has a 5 yard take off to get a rush on R to U.
He's left it a bit short, maybe a touch slower in the shadow under the tree.
He's played his cut and his little roll well, to get his rush to 1 off partner.
Overhit it by about 5 yards.
Approaches to 18" at a bi of an angle, does a couple of press-ups.
Grovels through, and gets a referee on straight away. Looks like he can just play it through the hoop.
Yep, pretty easy.
Shouldn't have too much trouble picking up this break now.
Makes 2, but cuts R over to the EB, and is ignoring Y for the moment, just taking off to U at 3.
But it's short, and his cut leaves him with a 3 yard approach.
Looks like he's played it well, to get a 1 foot straight hoop.
Rushes to Y behind 4, put R out into the lawn and tries to rush peel Y from near the boundary.
It bounces out to the side and he walters off the QPO...
He's got to rush to 5 from about 4 yards, an ends up with an 18" straight hoop, which he fails.
Chris knocks the ball out of the hoop and just gets a rush on U to hoop 1
Approaches 1 to a foot at a bit of an angle, and runs it smoothly.
Puts out his hoop 3 pioneer getting a rush on K to Y.
We nearly lost our tent there, as the wind picks up a little bit.
I think there trying to find some pegs to nail the tent down, but the ground is very hard and difficult to stick stuff in.
Chris has made 2 and 3 and has all the balls in front of him for his quad, but I will be shocked if he goes for it.
Well, maybe I was wrong. he did run hoop 4 a little hard but has rushed partner into the hoop maybe going for a rush peel. Looks at the peel in the croquet stroke, but turns it down, puting Y to 6 instead.
He's made 5 and appears to be doing some ball swapping as he has put K behind 6 as the escape ball, whilst approaching off Y.
4bb looking pretty solid at the momnt.
Runs 1-b a little firmly and has to turn down his 3 yard return in favour of a 1 yarder up the lawn at partner.
Has left U back at 1-b, so is going to it after 2-b.
Gets a rush over to the middle of the EB and has all the balls in front of his break again.
Partner goes to penult and Chris looks very solid with this break.
Makes 4-b, and hits the return, and has a think about the leave.
K goes perfectly to rover.
Y is floating about near the peg, after penult. Looks like Chris will be having a spread.
Yep, U is next to the peg as well.
K goes over towads the EB, a bit short to be a nice spread ball. Stephen may only have a 15 yarder from the end of a-baulk at it.
Chris seems happy enough with it though, as he is laying up with a rush into the lawn.
Smattering of applause from the crowd.
Stephen has lifted K and is shooting at Y from corner I.
Twists the mallet a little, and looks at it all the way, but still misses.
Chris clubs R into the lawn, only a yard or so from U. Makes sure of getting a good rush to 3-b though.
He's overhit this rush too, going 3 yards past the hoop.
Gets a slightly longer hoop than he wanted and fails it.
Stephen has about a 4 yarder with U at R in the middle of the lawn. Cuts it a foot or so behind hoop 2.
He's played a pretty good effort at getting a rush on the ball in the corner. But way overcuts it, so is about 4 yards west of hoop 5.
He's now rolling towards IV trying to get a rush on Y which is just in front of 3-b
Cuts it slightly into the wire and bounces off to the end of A-baulk.
Clubs the approach, and must retire to partner.
Chris is shooting Y at R but misses.
Stephen rushes K into the lawn, but hits hoop 4, so has to take off from peg high near the EB.
Hits the roquet and plays his little roll getting a rush well.
Plays the rush pretty well as well.
Approaches from 2 yards to the side with a tkake off, slightly overhit, but runs his angled hoop.
Rushes R to near IV, and puts it to 3 getting a rush on partner to the hoop 2 ball.
Now has his 4bb under control, lets see if he fancies another riggall.
Not a good shot to get a rush on the hoop 3 pioneer, and will have to approach from a couple of yards. Does so well, though.
Needs a refusal and a press-up before running it.
Squeezes through the pressure hoop, 4 off the 3-b ball.
Makes 5 and puts R up the lawn. No early 2-b pioneers here.
The cloud cover's come down, and ther's no direct sun anymore. There's some pretty dark stuff to the north west as well, let's hope it stays away.
Stephen's up to 1-b, and has had to put a second 2-b pioneer down, after the first was a bit short.
K goes adequately to 3-b but he doesn't like it and wants another ball over there as well.
Decision time, and R goes to 4-b for this riggall.
K goes out to the middle, and he is making 3-b off Y again. Plenty of balls to run the hoop too, though.
Well, he's got Y as the penult pioneer here, so I guess he'll have to make rover off partner.
Plenty of wire coming through 4-b, and R goes to the middle as U goes S of K.
He's underhit the rover pioneer, and not really got a rush on the penult pioneer.
Gets a sweaty angled hoop that he feels he needs to jump. Fails it though...
Chris is taking his contact from K, putting it to 4-b but has overhit it slightly, getting a cut rush to 3-b
Rushes to about a yard to the side of the hoop and approaches with a split.
Runs the hoop this time, no forward rush though.
He's taking off to K which is about 3 yards in front of 4-b.
Cuts it nicely in front.
Approaches with a stop shot, going very close to the hoop.
Runs it to the boundary.
Rushes K to about 14 yards up the EB from III.
Rolls it to abou 2 yards Ne of the hoop getting a rush on R back to the peg. U is still in the jaws of penult.
Takes off to 18" away.
Just one more hoop to go...
U goes deep, about 4 yards from the boundary.
gets a tight rush on K to the hoop. Approaching from 6" from the side.
Runs it with hoop and roquet. Rushes U back to R, and pegs out from 4 feet away, to become World Champion again.
+12 in the 4th (26-14). Forecast for today is fine with fresh northeasterlies and a maximum temperature of 22C.
Forecast tomorrow is often cloudy with northeasterlies and max 24C.
We may have a damp final
Todays matches in the quarter final are best-of-five.
7:55 a.m. 8/02/2008
I am in Lincoln, 20km SE of Christchurch, and there is a brisk northeasterly that could affect some.
Viewer's questions very welcome. Email them today to: physjcw@gmail.com
8:58 a.m. 8/02/2008
Lawn6
Early start for Chris Clarke and James Death. James won the toss, chose to start, Chris chose R/Y
James with a supershot just south of hoop5. Chris to mid East boundary, James misses to corner 4, and Chris misses partner from the end of A baulk.
James shot at Chris with his supershot ball which was partly wired, hits hoop5 ending up a yard south of Chris's 2 balls.
On other lawns warmups going on for David Maugham v Aaron Westerby (Lawn2), Robert Fulford v Keith Aiton (lawn1), Shane Davis v Stephen Mulliner (Lawn 4).
James has wandered over to declare "I'm rough", seems to be drawing parallels with the batting of the NZ tail yesterday.
Chris rushes James' ball down to C4 and has a cannon which sends black near the peg and gives him a longish approach to hoop1 which puts blue towards 2, but ends up unrunnable. Retires to 6 y s of partner on EB.
James misses from hoop2 to partner, about a 10 yarder - actually a perfect double with Chris in he background.
Meanwhile keith opens with a deep supershot.
Chris is picking up a break. He'll be having a go at hoop 1 off an enemy ball - hoops could be exciting today.
Chris rushes poorly to a few yards N of 1.
Rob misses dribble at supershot ball.
Stephen with deep supershot. Shane has joined up with it. Stephen hits 3rd turn.
Chris: "They're miles faster than they were yesterday, this is going to be a real day"
Chris has established a break.
Keith has hit partner and starting on a 3rd turn break.
Stephen rushes nicely to 1.
Cool so far, light breeze.
Dave starts with an anti-duffer.
James: "oops"
Aaron has a duffer against Dave anyway, just south of 6.
Dave taking the long shot at partner towards C4 ... misses.
Keith with a difficult approach to 2, gives himself slightly angled 2 yarder. Grovels through - don't see him hitting anything after that shot. Ref coming ...
Aaron hits his duffer rushing it most of the way to corner 4.
Good shot by Keith to hit deep reception ball, 3rd turn break continues.
Stephen's lawn currently in full shade, others in sunlight apart from C3 of Chris's.
All these matches are best-of-5 with no time limits. If darkness comes the matches will adjourn and continue tomorrow morning.
Keith has grovelled through 4, but has an easy shot on partner to continue.
Chris putting together a defensive leave with James's black a yard south of C2.
Aaron with a slightly angled hoop2 to get his break going, smashes through and comes out at a wide angle. Still a bit of work to do with a rough hoop3 pioneer.
Chris now on 4back, constructing his leave with James a yard south of C2 and half-way up EB, laying up tight in C4.
Stephen on 4back, Having a dream leave with partner a few yards in from west boundary.
Keith approaching 1back on his 3rd turn break.
Aaron has now run hoop3 and has a 4ball break established.
James has hit from mid EB at Chris's balls. No cannon, but he has a nice rush towards the C2 ball.. Rushes it just south of partner and gets nice rush to hoop1 which come up short.
Shane has hit the long shot down from north boundary.
James sticks in 1 off partner having approached the hoop off partner sending it SE of the hoop to get a rush to C4.
Chris shooting from C4 at a ball and a bit with his 4back ball - hits.
Quality dropping a bit:
Shane failed 1 off partner.
Keith stuck in 3back.
Chris left black at 1, peels blue rushing it up to 2 probably wired from partner.
Stephen misses narrowly.
Chris rolls off south of C3 about 2 balls apart.
Keith having 3back (hoop4) checked... and reset. Apparently only about 1/64 clearance, so not jammed, but hoop was reset.
James misses long double from near hoop1.
Chris rushes well to 1, let's see if he copes with a standard triple with these hoops. Probably still early enough that the lawns are slow enough for it to be comfortable.
Rob with his 4th turn shot from Abaulk - hits partner.
Aaron having a 4th turn diagonal spread with west boundary ball on the boundary.
Rob is through hoop1. But a bit hampered. Misses blue but hits red up near hoop2, rushing it towards 6. Who says Rob is lucky!
Chris's first peel misses badly ending up east and a bit north of the hoop.
Chris getting the balls sorted out for a delayed TP attempt.
Aaron's leave finally finished. Dave lifted the ball from west boundary, taking the defensive lift. Hits.
Breeze getting up and Robert has a long hoop2 which he runs.
Chris doesn't get the peel, but the break is ok. TP is now abandoned.
General update: Chris on break to the peg, Rob, Shane and Dave on equalising breaks.
9:47 a.m. 8/02/2008
Shane has an MSL. Not happy with his ball at hoop4 (last ball to be placed) and jumps over it going into the corner.
Chris made rover off partner, has blue (hoop2 ball in the jaws of 3back, puts black to about 12 y s of C3, looking at where to lay up.
Stephen missed 8 yarder from hoop4 at Shanes 4back ball in C4. Shane playing 4back ball and resetting.
Chris's balls across C4 leaving no doubles. 4back and peg plays 1 and 1.
James lifted ball from in hoop4, taking short shot at Chris. Hits.
James rushes yellow to black, takes off off lawn next to partner giving Chris's peg ball a 4 footer.
Stephen has missed Shane's leave shooting from hoop1 to hoop2. MSL ball still in place and Shane mid EB with a rush to mid WB.
Shane rushes to WB level with H2.
Dave needed a sweep after being hampered out of 2back and seems to have another sweep after 3back to finish his MSL.
Rob has K's hoop1 ball about rover high north of 1, 3back ball just off EB peg high, and is laying up just N of C4 on the boundary.
Chris has put James's hoop1 ball E of hoop3, his hoop 2 ball NE of 4, and laid up tight in C4. James jumps over hoop4, hitting both balls, rushing both into the corner.
Dave has made his roquet and has an MSL black at hoop 2, blue up the lawn E of the hoop3/4 line, and is in C4 with a rush at blue.
Shane has just run 1 needing a decent roll for a break and a potential standard TP.
James got a corner 4 cannon, but then ended up rolling up to hoop2 off partner getting a long angled hoop, and has laid up with partner.
Aaron has missed the short lift.
Shane has taken off to yellow which is a few yards off the end of B baulk. Lucky to still be on the lawn.
Chris has shot with red from near h1 through yellow, ending up near C3.
10:07 a.m. 8/02/2008
Shane now on a fairly rough-looking break, Dave has just made hoop1 and has some work to do. Lost track of Rob's game in the far corner, but he is playing his 4back ball, so we think Keith must have hit and done something. Currently there they're break all.
Bit of sideline chatter - conditions here easier than 2003 British Open at Cheltenham. Cheltenham had some interest with hills and alternating green and brown patches. Lawns here really pretty good and consistent. Sun warming us up a bit now.
Shane with a long hoop3 off partner.
Dave having a delayed TP.
Shane has scrabbled through hoop3, looks to have a shot.
Reporter sent to lawn 1 to get an update. Rob just having another leave - Keith had hit and failed hoop1.
Shane has missed his hampered shot and Stephen spotted his clip going onto H3. All rectified now and Stephen has a 10 yarder at partner.
James's leave in trouble - tried to put Chris's peg ball into h4, but managed to peel it cleanly. Red looks to be in H2.
Rob had Keith at 1 and 2 (wired) and laid up north of h3, Keith missed at Rob.
Stephen hits, has a longish approach to hoop1.
James split wide across west boundary. Chris shooting at his peg ball from end of A baulk and hits it. James's long approach to 2 due to playing his cannon forgetting he was for 2!
Long takeoff is successful, another leave coming up.
Dave's having a ball to the peg.
Stephen made hoop 1 and then missed everything to north boundary north of hoop2.
New battery. James didn't hit in, Chris just rushed partner to just north of 4back, took off to a ball near hoop1, and then to a ball midlawn and rushed that to 4back, made 4back.
Stephen and Shane doing some missing. Stephen now in contact north of hoop3, Shane in contact in corner 3. Stephen in play.
Stephen has made hoop1, will have to do some work to get a standard TP.
Rob is having a standard TP, seems to have jawsed the first peel.
Toby has joined the commentary gallery, Phillip, Samir, Paul Stuart and Graeme Roberts here. Commentary box needs moving higher up to follow all the games, could do with some airconditioning and a bar!
Chris has run penult short, but hits 3-4 yarder to continue.
Stephen has stuck in 2 off partner, leaving Shane a 7 yarder... misses.
Chris has just run rover and hit a longish return.
10:29 a.m. 8/02/2008
Chris takes game 1: 26-9.
Dave around to the peg, having a diagonal spread/cross-pegging sort of leave.
Chris starts game 2 with a deepish east boundary ball.
James just out of C2.
Chris has lagged out to partner leaving a rush pointing at rover. James is taking the shot into C4... miss.
Stephen about to make hoop5 with balls set for a delayed TP.
Chris has missed his rush.
James has missed partner into C2 from C4.
Robert has a dribble back at penult peelee. Doesn't get the peel, but looks like a rushpeel is on after 1back.
Chris hit from WB to corner 2.
Aaron shot from where the balls lay and hit partner in the spread.
Welcome to the commentary scaffolding to 16 year-old Jarrod Coutts from Nelson, current South Island Doubles champion and newest member of NZ's youth squad.
Stephen has just rush-peeled partner thru 4back and put it to 2back.
Chris has grovelled through 1 and hit his easy roquet. Bizarre reaction after hoop2, but he's under way with a break. Apparently he got blown almost off his feet with a huge gust, and ran hoop2 while slightly balanced on one foot.
Stephen has just peeled penult on the way to 4back.
Rob has just peeled penult on the way to 3back.
Aaron has just rolled off hoop2 from somewhere nearish to the peg.
Stephen with a horrible 4back - about 45deg, good shot to run it.
Rob has a 4yarder at his penult ball, clearly not enjoying the breeze. Centre-balls it to not too far away.
Aaron has just misapproached h3, but hits 15 yarder shooting towards c4 at unused ball.
Stephen with a straight rover peel to win. Nice rover peel. Still about half the lawn in full shade.
Aaron has a long angled hoop3 from the takeoff, retires to C1.
10:51 a.m. 8/02/2008
Stephen pegs out to win game 1 26TP-12.
Dave has hit partner with his 4back ball.
10:52 a.m. 8/02/2008
Rob has won 26TP-8 (18TP for UK viewers). Break time while the hoops are checked and hoop1 gets some attention.
Chris with is usual defensive leave. This time red a couple of yards south of C2, yellow just north of peg on EB, Chris tight in C4. James takes short lift with ball from near C2.
James hits.
Dave with a big cut rush which goes nowhere near penult, takes off for long angled hoop position. Fails decent attempt.
James' rush to hoop 1 gets to south of hoop4, long roll takes off in a huge gust of wind. Lays up near WB north of 1 with rush to 1.
Chris misses with his 4back ball into C1.
Aaron takes contact with 4back ball with partner in C1.
James has just run1 leaving black in C1, and rushed to north of hoop3, needs another long roll downwind. Decides to have a leave with blue down north of h4 and James NE of hoop3 with cut towards h2.
11:01 a.m. 8/02/2008
Game 2 starts in Rob v Keith. Keith to East Boundary with Red. Rob going to south of C2.
Chris to C4 with blue, now in C1 and C4.
Aaron's taking his 4back ball around. Suspect he'll peg Dave out.
James rushes partner onto hoop3, bounces off harmlessly. Roll to hoop2 gets nowhere, lays up north of the hoop.
Keith misses partner from A baulk leaving no double from A baulk.
Disaster - Aaron has failed penult from pretty close off Dave's peg ball, leaving a bit showing.
11:05 a.m. 8/02/2008
Shane has put an east boundary ball out.
Dave takes lift with penult ball with a ball a bit out of C1 and two balls at penult. Should be all over.
Stephen with an 11 yard duffer.
Rob has shot from B baulk missing the double.
Chris has just missed C4 to C1.
Shane is shooting down towards C4 with black 3rd turn. An excellent assistant commentary team keeping up with action in 4 games which are all pretty lively at the moment.
Shane missed into C4.
James playing his hoop1 ball takes off down to C's balls.
Samir: "Oh dear Stephen". Stephen has missed is duffer hoop4, bounced off hoop5, leaving red by hoop4 in NSL position.
Dave has just run rover, looks to have been unlucky to miss oppo ball near rover.
Keith has made 1 with a rush to the East boundary ball and has rushed well into C2.
James made 1, rushed to C1 to get a cannon.
Shane missed from C4 at partner. stephen missed from h4 at his duffer.
11:10 a.m. 8/02/2008
Dave has just won game 1 26-12.
Shane has hit partner.
Big crowd here, generously spread around all the lawns. About 100 spectators. Mostly watching the NZ competitors.
Hoops being checked on lawn 2 while Dave and Aaron college their thoughts.
Keith has just failed to get position at hoop2, partner is just out of C2.
James has misapproached h3 leaving Chris a 7 yarder, retires to C3 (corner 2 not available)
Shane has just failed a difficult hoop1 (about 2.5 yards angled, 20-30deg) giving Stephen a break. Associate commentators didn't think it was a good option.
David Openshaw has just arrived and mentioned the cricket. Tsk.
Chris has hit his 7 yarder and rolled to guard C1.
Keith laid up, looks like Rob shot at partner near C4, and Keith is back on the lawn playing his hoop1 ball.
James shooting from E of hoop4 trying to jump hoop4, hits hoop deflecting to WB a couple of yards N of hoop1.
Stephen has failed hoop2, Shane missed from h3 at balls near h2.
11:18 a.m. 8/02/2008
Dave with a deep east boundary ball, Aaron to just north of hoop2.
Keith seems to have made 1 and missed his return roquet. Rob's thinking about taking the 8 yarder at Keith on the boundary, decides to shoot at partner in C4... hits.
Chris has overapproached hoop2, retires to C1 (other ball is SW of h3 with James in C3 and north of h2).
James snicks red from 3 to 2.
Dave seems to have missed partner on EB, and Aaron has hit from north boundary.
Stephen's now on first break of game 2.
Aaron's having a leave with Dave's balls at 1 and near EB near 3 and joining up near C2 with rush pointing along north boundary.
Sausage sizzle is getting up, sun lovely now, and spectators trickling in.
Rob's going around.
Dave's shooting from near c1 at Aaron in C2... gets the gap.
Stephen almost puts a ball out setting his diagonal spread. Ooohs from the crowd.
sausages are ready!
James has a NSL
Chris has hit from hoop 2 ish at the double from where the balls lie and hit!
Shane has hit lifting the ball at the peg and shooting down to C4.
Chris: Long backward takeoff to hoop2 and runs a longish hoop to give himself a standard TP.
11:41 a.m. 8/02/2008
Time for an update:
Aaron still going round on first break of game 2. Shane it taking off to a bad hoop3 pioneer.
Chris has the first peel, but failed to rush it back through the hoop down the lawn so took off leaving it there. Looked like setting for a Wylie peel, but has instead put partner to 1back and to try to peel after 1back rather than before rushing there.
Chris put out a poor 2back pioneer very long (along the wind direction, and the lawns are quickening up), and has put out a friend for it after 1back. Death roll peel fails the peel, but excellent blue getting to the badly placed ball.
Rob is now approaching hoop1 on his second break.
Shane has just broken down at 1back with lots of balls up there giving the world to Stephen.
James has now joined the commentary team as an expert analyst, and we have Samir and Phillip Drew.
Chris: Delayed penult peel (square split from 4 yards) missed the hoop.
Lots of pull here - grass not really holding so the balls staying together a bit more.
Aaron is hampered after 3back, but has hit, diagonal spread coming up.
Rob's now for hoop3 and looks like he's on a standard TP.
Stephen has jawsed his 4back peel.
Chris having a diagonal spread at penult and peg with James's hoop2 ball near the peg. Nope - Chris off to tight in corner 4.
Aaron having a similar leave to Chris, but his balls about 4 yards apart.
welcome to Pete Landrebe of Australia and Timaru in the commentary scaffolding.
James takes the short shot with his hoop2 ball and misses.
Stephen now has the peelee in the jaws of penult and has made 1back.
Rob has misapproached 1back, plays a big scatter, but Keith has hit the peelee.
Dave has hit the short shot with the ball from near WB, puts oppo to 2 getting a rush on partner towards c4, which he taps and plays the big roll to hoop1 and lays up.
Chris has just failed penult.
James hit with his 4back ball... took off to near hoop 4 and missed a 3ish yarder at partner.
Rob's off the lawn...
Chris smashes through penult to south boundary seems to have a double from end of A baulk at James's balls... hits the inlawn ball.
Aaron has joined wide on east boundary and in C4.
Slightly sweaty 4back for Stephen with probably all the peels done.
Chris has just rushed partner nicely to a few feet from rover. Sticks in rover.
Dave misapproached 1, has a big scatter.
James hits with his hoop2 ball.
Keith seems to have missed Rob's ball on the boundary, Rob back taking croquet.
James with a nice long backward takeoff to hoop2 having rushed there from Chris's ball 80% the way through rover, runs it to the boundary. Rushes to south boundary near C's other ball which is a few yards south of hoop4 - nice pickup.
Stephen does still have a final peel to do, peeling rover from just over a foot away. Nice peel - partner through, jawses peelee.
12:15 p.m. 8/02/2008
Stephen takes the second 26TP-6. Playing pretty well today.
James having a standard TP with a very northerly escape ball, very good shot to get the peel and the rush.
Might have to go sit near Rob's lawn - lots of action there as we now have Keith taking croquet again.
Pretty average approach to hoop2 by Keith, longish, straightish hoop2... runs it well.
After Dave's scatter, Aaron shot blue at black down the boundary, missing, Dave shot from near hoop2 at his balls and missed, Aaron hits partner, rushes red to 1, makes 1, rushes back to partner, rushes partner to a few hards N of C1 and is short on his roll to hoop2. Dave's balls both on EB, one about level with hoop4, other a few yards south of level with hoop3.. aaron lays up.
James hampered after 5 and ball flops to the side. Dribble at reception ball does similar. Chris has a leave: James no EB near hoop3, near C2, Chris wired from EB ball on SB with rush to rover. James needs to hit something.
Rob v Keith:
After Rob's scatter, Keith hit peelee, took off to Rob's other ball, went off lawn. Rob made 1back, left a backward rush which he hit off the boundary, and took off off the lawn to Keith's ball on south boundary. Keith going round off that. Thanks Wixy!!
Rob is now on 2back and penult, Keith just made 5, and his yellow is on 2, seems to be looking at a DPO. Nope - just a ball around.
James missed partner and Chris has rushed nicely to rover, made sure of the hoop
12:26 p.m. 8/02/2008
Chris just won. 26-15.
Stephen and Shane have wandered off for lunch, James and Chris having a break too. stephen up 2-0 against Shane, Chris up 2-0 against James. Lovely atmosphere with lots of spectators lunching on the sidelines and in the stands, lots of sun, and the gardens around the lawns looking great.
Aaron has laid up for 3 and 4back with Dave shooting from EB about level with hoop4 to near WB north of hoop1. Safety officer Mulliner has cleared the spectators and Dave hoiks the shot off missing badly to his right.
Keith still going, looks to be heading for an MSL with Rob's penult ball on hoop2.
Keith has just stuck in 3back with Rob's 2back ball and partner nearby.
Rob has just rushed nicely to 4back, and Aaron to 4 on their breaks.
Angled hoop 4 for Aaron with the trees moving around a lot in the wind - doesn't look too difficult, but the hoops are firm, and he's being sensibly careful. Hammers through to the boundary. Rob's off ok though.
Rob has now dug out partner to have a go at a delayed double to finish.
Fairly poor approach to hoop5 from next to it by Aaron and he sticks in 5 giving Dave a 5 harder from north of hoop1.
Rob has his first peel getting a longish slightly cut rush to 4back which he hits well.
Dave hits (he's still 1&1)
12:44 p.m. 8/02/2008
Stephen and Shane have started. Looks like a corner 2 opening where Shane has missed at Stephen 4th turn.
Nice rush by Dave to hoop1 to get his break started.
Rob has managed to rush after 4back to directly north of, and in contact with his penult pioneer. Played a wee sort of promotion cannon sending penult pioneer a bit further south, puts out a nice rover pioneer.
Stephen seems to have laid up in corner 1 (?), Shane misses from C2 at Stephen.
Rob in control of his rover peel. Slightly angled rover peel goes through nicely.
Chris and James have returned. James has given up on the OJ and has a beer in hand.
Dave declines a standard TPO with Aaron's other ball on hoop6. Seems a good choice as the wind gets up.
12:52 p.m. 8/02/2008
Rob pegs out to win 26-9. Takes a 2-0 lead.
Chris v James game 3:
James antiduffer, Chris 11 yard duffer, James shot to boundary to leave rush to hoop1. Chris missed duffer by nothing into C1.
James has failed to get a rush on the ball in c1, good approach to the hoop though. Fails 1.
Chris has missed to EB
James hits partner near 2.
Disaster - Stephen has just put his 3back pioneer off the lawn on a 4-ball-break.
Samir and I have just finished the last sausage of the sizzle - many many thanks to John Yarrall for his great culinary efforts this week!!
Dave to 4back with a spread.
Shane has just grovelled through an angled 1 with a rush, should be off on his break now.
Aaron has missed down into C4. Dave currently 1 and 4back v 6 and 4back.
Rob's having a drinks break while Keith adjourns for lunch. Rob on the hoops: "There aren't any absolute rocks, but they're all very good. They're all firm and tight. ... They're ideal..."
Dave started his second break, but has just bounced out of hoop2 and Aaron has hit from 3 with his 4back ball.
James has had a ball around, and a diagonal spread. Chris picked up the ball from near WB and missed down into C4.
1:16 p.m. 8/02/2008
Game 3 has just started on lawn 1. Keith with a deep supershot. Rob dribbled past it from C1. Keith has hit from somewhere near C3.
Meanwhile James has disappeared with his second break to play.
Aaron laid up in C4 with Dave near Corners 1 and 2. Dave has hit across the diagonal of the court with his 4back ball (other ball still for 2).
Keith just bounced out of hoop1 from nowhere.
Rob's missed his 6 yarder to mid west boundary.
James has misapproached hoop1.. joining with partner near hoop2 hits it and completely cross-wires himself around hoop2.
Chris joins in C4.
Keith makes 1 and misses the roquet on partner. Paul S "that's three unbelievable shots I've seen!"
Rob hits partner.
Dave lays up in C2 with Aaron a bit out of C4 and south of C3.
James to corner 3. Chris approaches hoop1 putting partner very deep. Wind gets up as Chris contemplates a long hoop1. Smashes through to north boundary where blue is waiting.
Rob approaching hoop1 with a break in front of him.
Aaron into C1 from south of h3.
Chris runs a longish 2, not looks in a bit more control with a good hoop3 pioneer and a ball in C3.
Dave ran 2 then rushed down near C1, but didn't manage to get a rush on the ball in the corner. Lawns looking pretty quick, and a blustery wind to create some troubles.
A quick check of the rankings sees rapid-improver Mr Bob Jackson having streaked up to number 25 from a fairly lowly position last year and needing a wildcard to get into the tournament. Well played this tournament Bob!
Dave's having a leave with Aaron a few yards out of corners 3 and 4 and tight in C1.
1:31 p.m. 8/02/2008
Shane has had an OSL which Stephen has just missed the short shot at.
Aaron has missed from near Corner 4 at Dave.
Rob's still going around, and Chris has nice control at 2back.
James has just joined us with a cool third in hand.
Shane with a longish difficult hoop1 - fails into the front of the jaws - probably runnable and probably not hittable by Stephen.
Dave's had another leave in corner 1 and Aaron has cornered from near 3 to corner 2.
Chris to 4back and another defensive OSL. James lifted the ball between 1 and 2 and shooting down from C3.
James has missed.
Stephen must have been able to see Shane's ball as he's hit and had a leave.
Dave's still on hoop3, now on east boundary just north of hoop4, and Aaron seems to be in C2 and is shooting at partner a few yards north of C1. Miss.
Openshaw and Patel currently chatting about alcohol and beta blockers. James is back on the bleachers.
Shane misses from 1 to 2 with Stephen joined up on EB.
Chris has just stuck in hoop1 giving James a 5ish harder with a bit of angle.
Stephen's playing his hoop1 ball, rushes partner to the peg, Shane is next to hoop2 and on the boundary north of it.
James has missed partner to now have two balls about a yard north of C4 and a couple of feet apart. Chris is in the jaws of 1 and mid-way up EB.
Dave's puttng an oppo ball to NW of hoop 3 and joining up with partner guarding the shot at his partner.
Chris has just run hoop1 and hit James.
Stephen has a really really ugly angled hoop1. Seems to be on a line to about 2 yards E of C1. Quick pressup and he's still interested. Very nice hoop.
Aaron has finally hit partner near C1 from near hoop3.
Chris had a jump stroke at 2 off partner. It jumped back a fair way and then looks to have spun back into the jaws. DKO "he had to avoid it from where he was standing"
James about to shoot from south of h3 towards ball a bit s of hoop4 when a spectator springs up from behind the shot to move. Has another stalk and hits the long shot.
Meanwhile Rob went around with an NSL with a pretty loose ball at 2. Keith missed from 3rd corner missing into just out of C4 and Rob's on a standard pickup.
Dave: "the hoops have put up less resistance than I was expecting". Possibly that bit of rain earlier in the week has taken the bite out of the ground, as the hoops seem easier than they were much earlier.
James stuck in 1, and Chris not looks to be setting up for a delayed TP attempt.
Stephen's presumably having his hoop1 ball to the peg with his other ball on 2back.
Rob seems to be planning to have a go at a peel after running 6. got a nice-looking position for the rush across. Didn't get the rush right - looking like being a ball to the peg.
Aaron still having his ball around to the peg. It'll be peg and 4back v 3 and 4back there.
Chris with a rushpeel after making hoop6 - and he's got the first peel.
2:03 p.m. 8/02/2008
Aaron's making 4back, Rob has just made 1back, Stephen's making penult and Chris has just put his 2back pioneer a bit deep, but it looks like everyone in play has things under control.
Commentator's jinx! - Stephen jas just stuck in penult!
Referee having a look at penult with the ball in it.
Meanwhile chris has a rush to his misplaced 2back pioneer and is coping well.
Ref and both players have penult surrounded. James querying "How many referees does it take to change a hoop?"
Unlucky for Stephen - blue won't fit through penult, but it's not actually jammed. Under the laws revision that would have been a replay.
Chris now standing next to his dropped mallet looking decidedly unhappy. Has a backwards takeoff for 3back. Seems to have coped, but won't get a forward rush. Runs hoop into reception ball. Penult peelee is in good position so he should be ok to continue.
Aaron's just hit a hampered shot after penult, and looks to be heading for a vertical spread - first of those i've seen here this tournament.
Shane now taking croquet with his 4back ball.
Chris with the penult peel jawsed before 4back.
Shane's in bad nick having croqueted black to the middle of the lawn not that far from red, and having only a bit of the ball in penult to shoot at. Hits it to keep going.
Looks like Chris's peelee might have been next to the hoop rather than in it rushes it north of the hoop, decides not to do the straight peel. Having a posthumous long penult peel.
Rob's having a spread, no peels done, so 4back and peg with Keith still on 1 and 2.
Aaron has just misapproached rover and run away to corner 2. Red south of 5, black by 4, yellow 3-4 yards south of 3. Red (hoop3 ball) takes 7 yarder at black and hits, has a reasonable pioneer south of 3.
Shane had a leave, and Stephen has just hit in.
Chris got to the peg safely and last rush on partner is a rushpeel to near the south boundary.
James pretty much on east and west boundaries. EB ball just south of peg high. Chris rolls off to C4 (ball for rover) and a few yards north of it.
James taking the short shot - centre balls with his hoop1 ball. (other is for 4back).
Keith misses shooting from peg to west boundary at partner in open spread.
Dave fails hoop 3. Aaron pacing around a bit deciding what to do.
James flirts with the boundary getting a rush on partner from EB to a few yards south of 1.
Aaron hits from 4 to 2.
Stephen makes 2back and gets a decent rush to 3back, has another ball near north boundary north of 2, and has put other oppo ball NE of the peg looking like a difficult rush to 4back. Probably won't need it as he has a horrible angled jump stroke having overapproached 3back. Calls a ref.
Looks worse than 45deg. Declares a double tap as his ball ends up in the front of the jaws of the hoop. That one will be going back. Didn't give the ref the chance to make a ruling. Ball is replaced.
Meanwhile Rob's going to be first to finish having just made penult off partner.
James has just overapproached hoop2 from near the East boundary. Off to corner 3 which gives him about a 9 yarder at partner (his hoop3 poineer) and guards all shots at his balls.
Chris to corner 1 from hoop2
Shane has just missed whatever he could see of Stephen's ball at 3back.
Rob now pegging out. 26-1
2:26 p.m. 8/02/2008
Rob the first to finish, beating Keith Aiton 3-0. 3back needed resetting a couple of times and cost Keith dearly.
James has rushed to C4, rushed to hoop2, rushed down to SB directly south of hoop1. Lots of work to do to pick up his break.
Dave's in again, and has just failed hoop3 from right in front probably hitting the outside wire.
Meanwhile before Rob pegged out Stephen missed shooting at Shane's ball at the peg, then Shane joined up and Stephen hit and is presently taking croquet. Rushes to 3back, has a ball north of 4back. Should get to the peg here.
James is having a leave rolling towards the north boundary from south boundary - is now joined up in C2, he's still for 3.
Chris has just missed from 3 to Corner 2. James has hit is 3 yarder.
James has got Chris's ball out to hoop2, but hasn't got a rush to hoop3, lovely big roll from near corner 2.
Dave seems to have failed hoop3 yet again, this time off Aaron's ball, and Aaron has a 7 yarder.
James coped with hoop3, and has now run 4 off partner and rushed it to hoop5 continuing his 2ball break.
Aaron misses.
James has now rolled nicely to the ball near hoop2 getting a straight rush to hoop6 which he has underhit but keeps control nicely.
Dave has hit Aaron, Rolled him down to 4 and failed to get a rush on partner to 3, will be having a leave.
Stephen now penult and peg and having a spread.
Aaron misses from hoop4 to boundary near hoop1.
James peels partner after 1back getting a rush towards his 2back pioneer.
Rushes yellow somewhere horrible and fails an angled 2back.
Chris has a lift with a ball a few yards north of hoop3 and two balls very close around 2back. He'll need some sort of bombarding to get a rush to rover. Good start as he hits his lift and puts black down as a deep ball.
Shane shoots from where the balls lie in a spread and hits Stephen from the western ball.
Chris doesn't get a cannon, but gets a decent rush on partner to rover anyway (looked like 2b was more in the way).
Runs hoop hard to down to black.
2:44 p.m. 8/02/2008
Chris pegs out to win 26-17.
Random spectator quote: "I've been watching Fulford and the other man." Fame for Keith?!
Chris wins his quarter final 3-0 and will play Robert tomorrow in one semi-final
Shane got hampered after 1 and missed. Stephen probably doesn't have a double from hoop2, but it's quite short anyway. Was a target - hits the back ball with his penult ball - should be all over now. Cut it at a nice angle to stay on the rushline.
Dave's now for hoop5 on a break. No sign of any peeling there.
Stephen runs a slightly angled penult with a big fist.
Stephen has now just run rover very hampered. Got some balls marked. Hits the deeper ball.
Needs to rush to partner on EB to finish.
2 yard takeoff goes a bit far, and he has a rush pointing a bit north of c1, needs a bit of a cut. Overcuts it... now has about an 8 yard pegout. Might have got red and yellow cross wired.
Rob "if they are cross-wired you go for it gently, if not, go for it hard". Samir reckons they are cross-wired.
Rob fancies rolling them up and pegging one out on these lawns as there'll be lots of shots.
Rolls them up, pegs one off leaving himself a 4 yarder.
Dave's now about to make 3back on his break.
Shane now has a very long rush to hoop2 shooting at black. Snicks it and now a bit higher than the peg and looking at rolling off 2.
Rob: today presently 10-0 to the higher seeds.
Shane stops oppo towards corner 2 and joins with partner behind the shot at the peg. Not Seems to have left a legitimate shot at the peg and the umpire comes out.
Stephen hits! Wins 26-10. Nicely played Stephen.
Stephen wins 3-0 over Shane Davis.
The crowd moves to lawn 2 where Maugham v Westerby is still in game 2.
Maugham v Westerby
Only game left is Maugham v Westerby. Maugham game up, Westerby on penult and rover, Dave on 4back and about to make rover.
Welcome to the expert commentary pair of Fulford and Clarke (C). Shame to have the groom and the best man playing each other tomorrow.
Chris reckons hoop1 was firmest on his lawn, but they'd hammered at hoop2 which had given up by the end of their match.
Dave's having a diagonal spread with the western ball fairly infield.
Aaron shooting from there they lay with the western ball...
... hits partner at the peg (about a 9 yarder). Seems he had a bit of partner plus a ball in the background. Now a chance to finish - plays a lovely shot sending partner (for rover) to rover going to Dave's balls.
Declines 3 yarder to shoot at in-lawn ball, and will now be taking Dave's 4back ball to penult.
Decent rush to about 2.5 yards north of penult. Approach turns out to be a decent stopshot leaving a long hoop.
Still about 100 spectators, all watching in silence as Aaron runs penult well.
Aaron puts oppo ball a few yards directly south of rover and rushes partner to slightly angled but ok position.
Going to play his rover peel with a roll... peelee goes through well and flops to the side a bit. Peelee in front of jaws and calls a referee for a slightly angled shot.
Runs rover and it trickles on... into peelee. Best option seems to be pegging out red, but that's still very near the east boundary. Hard to get the leave out though, as yellow is directly south of black.
After a bit of thought and lining up partner looking at the peg, Aaron changes his mind, stops partner towards hoop1 and gets a rush on yellow towards red which he cuts a bit, but functional.
Seems to have decided not to peg Maugham out and have peg v 4back. takes off leaving yellow near EB a couple of yards north of hoop4, and rushes red to middle of north boundary. Takes off back to partner to leave rush at the peg. Seems to have left the 4back ball a big target with red on north boundary a couple of yards east of hoop1-2 line. Rob reckons about 2 balls in the middle of the target.
Dave misses by very little, possibly hilled off.
Aaron cuts his rush a bit, but gives himself about a 3 yard pegout. Rob "unmissable" pegout. Reckon he's trying for the commentator's jinx.
3:25 p.m. 8/02/2008
Aaron pegs out to win 26-21. 1-1 now, let's hope for a quick resumption. Nope - they're on a sandwich break.
Westerby v Maugham. 1-1. Game 3.
Just a reminder we're on lawn 2. It's on the back fence in the middle. It's the quickest lawn, and this was the most predictably competitive match so we'll be here for a bit longer.
Plate standings about to be updated soon. Quite a few people have dropped out for various reasons - suspect the format will be under scrutiny for next year.
Speculation about next year. National centre has 12 lawns, PGA (?) has 5, interesting to see how many players will be in the event. Always a pleasure to chat with Jerry Stark.
3:51 p.m. 8/02/2008
Very defensive stuff to start. Dave nearly peg high on east boundary, Aaron to just sout of corner 2. Dave misses into C4 from C3.
Aaron misses 13yarder at Dave in C4 ending up a whisker north of Red.
Interesting that Aaron didn't shoot at partner, but Chris has explained to the commentary team that on a quick lawn like this shooting at partner isn't a good option as you have the danger of a Skinley error (taking off short and missing) and won't get going anyway, while risking giving Dave a fair bit.
Dave has played a very good rush to get a cannon midway up the east boundary. Takes his wafer cannon rushing partner up into corner 2.
We now have Chris and Chris's doubles partner on the sidelines, cicadas singing and a slight breeze to take the heat off the sun a bit. Huge wall of spectators along the west boundary, and several on the south boundary in a couple of rows. Mostly croquet players lounging on the scaffolding.
Dave rushes short of 1, plays an ok backward takeoff, but only crawls through. Reception ball is quite angled, so doesn't look like he'll be shooting at that. Looking at how close to partner in corner 2 he can get. Punts it fairly straight off north boundary.
Aaron misses partner to mid east boundary, and Dave is off again, this time playing his hoop1 ball.
Takes off from mid east boundary ball getting a rush to 1 - bit surprising he chose the take off rather than stopping it out.
Ok rush to hoop1 and approach, runs it well getting a rush towards hoops3. Seems to have the break nicely under control now, and Rob has mastered the sunscreen bottle.
Lovely view from here near corner 4 - blazing sun, the west boundary crowd, the huge tree in the middle of United and a row of country flags erected above the fence along north boundary.
A rough croquet stroke after 2 and Dave then snicked his hoop3 pioneer to have a long takeoff to it from south west to get a 45 degree shortish hoop, which he runs well to leave an 8 yarder at black with his yellow ball. Another horrible swing and he misses a short shot. Seems to have lost his swing a bit now.
Aaron shooting at partner near hoop5. Snicks it. Now taking off for hoop1 and gets about a 2 yard hoop. Runs it well to get a 8 yarder back at partner which he hits fairly firmly.
Takes off getting a rush to hoop2 which he cuts to about 5 yards west of yellow which is on the north boundary near the end of A baulk.
Another takeoff and now he has a rush pointing at hoop4. Rushes this down to east boundary, takes off putting yellow to basically middle of east boundary and lays up with partner south of 1.
Dave misses partner from 2 to EB.
Hoop1 is by far the most difficult hoop on this lawn, so Aaron takes his rush to 1 and approaches the hoop as another big gust comes leaving a very difficult hoop which he's looking at jumping. Big rejection off far wire, and Dave has the innings again.
Dave rushes partner to 3 and takes off to Aaron's balls. Long approach to 2 comes up very short, but straight. Fails hoop into front of hoop, not sure how much blue can see.
Aaron can see enough and hits with his hoop 1 ball and has another go at picking up a break.
Goes a bit far approaching 1, but manages that, and then sends partner to north boundary north of 3. Ball stays on, but the break is still interesting. Rushes yellow to a couple of yards south of corner 3. Great takeoff to get a rush to 3, other ball is a good hoop5 pioneer. Runs 3, snicks return when trying to rush it into corner 3.
I've just spotted a cluster of referees in corner 2 - looks like a herd of 5 of them.
No rush to hoop4, but approaches and runs it well.
The commentary supported by John Yarrall who has just brought over a beer. Thank you!!!
DKO has just disappeared to watch the Developing Nations plate final at Cashmere CC. Vincent Commarieu (France) v David Hajn (Czech Republic).
Meanwhile Aaron has now approached hoop5 with plenty of control. Dave's still on 2 and 4, and Aaron's other ball is on 2.
16 strong crowd of tournament folks now built up on the north boundary of lawn 3. Some of the spectators are starting to drift away, but players are returning from distant plate venues. Aah - the coach has left.
Aaron now on 4back. Has rushed Dave into corner 4, taking off to two balls in the middle of the lawn.
Lots of talk about plate game scheduling on the north boundary of lawn 3 - lots of people finding it hard to get the 9 required games in to qualify. Meanwhile AJ is currently practising with his new Puckett mallet.
Aaron has rushed yellow to the middle of West boundary. Puts this to the peg rushing partner north and rolls off in North boundary.
Robert Fulford has just joined us, and a gust of wind means the leaves part as Rob walks by. Lots of American's here now - Doug, Jerry, Stewart and Josie. Chris Shilling also a welcome spectator in the CP stand.
Dave taking the short lift with his hoop4 ball. Bonk. Polite applause from the partisan crowd. Silence from the lazy tournament mob.
Rushes oppo to south boundary, takeoff doesn't get a rush to hoop4, so is sending partner to 5 approaching 4. Crowd gently thinning. Croquet stroke is well short. Partner is now short of hoop5.
Anyone who has seen my black CroquetNZ jacket that I left at Fendalton - there's a drink in it for you if you return it!!
Dave retires to soutn boundary between 1 and 5. Aaron has a shot through red joining with black. Smashes it off mid north boundary.
5:06 p.m. 8/02/2008
Not sure this is finishing before dark.
James predicting in 40 years from now he'll be 17-time world champion. He's a nice guy though- offering Jerry Stark two titles and 5 runner-up positions. Nothing much for Doug though. I love these Americans!
Aaron has a leave near WB north of hoop2, Dave south boundary and south of 3. Dave misses from 3. Hmm. heckling from the Americans.
WCF time limits for best-of-5 were 4,6,8,9,10 hours (combined times). Managerial decree was for unlimited though - good job Kevin!
Aaron has just rushed into the back of hoop2 with Dave joined on south boundary. Looks like Aaron is going to try to bounce it back.
Shocker! Aaron plays an airshot! Dave now for hoops2 and 4 with two balls in the jaws of hoop2. Should be able to get started. Joe Hogan "Aaron has now created a new definition for double-loading". Dave has a backward rush though, and James is concerned the two balls are a bit tight to the hoop. Dave playing his hoop 2 ball (shock).
Dave plays a nice roll. Claims it's a Hogan Roll, it's actually easier, but Joe doesn't fancy it.
Hits his roquet and wanders off to ask Aaron if it will be a peel if he puts it through. Shouldn't be as the airshot left black partly in the jaws for the bounce. Plays the peel and gets his own clip. Courts will start getting easier in 30 mins.
More Americans coming - Ron Lloyd is great! Two hands - two beers - good man.
Dave puts out a short hoop4 ball, but gets a nice rush to hoop3. Over 8 hours on this match now, a good test of concentration on a very difficult lawn. Oops - Dave's just failed hoop3. Rowdy crowd recommend double-loading everything.
Aaron hits from north of hoop4 with his hoop2 ball. Nice hoop approach and he's back in business. Roasting here in the evening sun. Getting a bit breezy, and Aaron is re-stalking his hoop 3. No problem there.
Big news - the Wimbledon Cup has just arrived!!.
Aaron has just run 2back. Had a sweaty 4 yarder after 6.
Jerry has gone for beer. Good man.
A quick check of the rankings suggests Robert should overtake Reg by the end of the tournament.
Stewart Jackson diary: game 1 at 9.15am yesterday. Odd number of people. Stewart's next game at 2pm. - that's his two games for the day. Turns out there's another round tomorrow to get the 9 through. Bit of a shambles, but with the quarter final losers going through to the 8-player KO, hard to see a plate person winning. My money is on James.
Dave's taking a quick injection of PowerAde. Ron's got a more traditional approach for a spectator.
Aaron's now on peg and 4back. Thinking about a leave.
There goes the neighbourhood - the Aussies have arrived. Trev on 6/8 in the plate. Tim's not telling.
It's... a reverse OSL.
5:51 p.m. 8/02/2008
Dave narrowly misses the short lift and Aaron has a chance to go 2-1 up.
Argh - lost a dollar to Hogan - Aaron runs an excellent long 4back. Hits the return. Joe thinks he played a couple of good shots under the conditions. He should do with that dollar in his mitt.
Very good takeoff to get a rush to penult. Lovely rush.
Grovels through penult, but looks like he's got an easy shot on partner. Yellow a bit south-west of rover. Good takeoff, bit long, but perfect direction.
Good rush, but bit of a long and angled hoop approach. Should be ok. Runs it well to the boundary. got a 5 yard return. Gusty wind interrupts his swing. He has missed!!
Dave's now lifted his hoop3 ball. We reckon the lawns have started to slow down a little. Dave hits, not particularly centrally. Nice thick take-off getting a rush pointing at corner 3 - should be able to cut this to hoop3. Does so nicely. This game is back alive!
Runs hoop3 this time. No rush, but a nice croquet stroke.
Courts slowing a bit now, and the sun is now gone. Joe reckons he'll take his 3 ball break around.
Dave sticks in 3!
Aaron is shooting from 5 at Dave. He has shot really well today. Smacks the middle of that. Can't see him finishing - red is in the jaws of 4, and blue is on the west boundary next to hoop1.
Turns out the hangi isn't to be cooked under ground. Josie: "they're flavouring it with earth tones". Hope it starts soon.
Best steaks in town: Jerry Stark - absolutely delicious.
Aaron having a leave. Dave has at least 20 yards at anything. Hits Aaron!!
Anton Varnas arrives with a big tray of Speights Gold Medal Ale. Generous fellow. Good folks those Scandinavians. Great win for Anton in the blocks - beat Mac playing Englishman/Kiwi/Aussie Steve Jones. Well done Anton. Took Marcus to 17-19 too.
Dave has rushed well, and approached and run 4 - don't expect to see him be sticking in any more hoops. Couple of nice shots to get a ball to 6 and a rush to 5. Dave has a big match temperament, but Aaron is shooting well.
The Spit Roast company has arrive - hurrah! (is anyone out there reading this??)
Dave has made hoop6 well, and now has a controlled 4bb under way.
Aussies on the outside of the fence. Can't find the gate...
Ok, there's people out there - thank you for your replies :-)
Dave has just run 3back, black is in the middle of EB, blue looks like it's going into hoop4 (that's Dave's hoop), and he's going to lay up on EB. He has bounced blue a bit into the front of hoop4, but it looks ok.
Marcus has just come back from Arthurs Pass. Think they've seen a bird out of the corner of JK's eye, and they saw lots of sheep. Seem to have enjoyed their day off though (Marcus, IanB, Jonathan).
Meanwhile Dave has had an NSL. Don't see Aaron finishing from this, but he's lifted the ball from in hoop4 and is taking a defensive lift. Needs to snick yellow to finish.
Aaron misses. Couple of dollars change hands in corner of lawn 3.
Interesting pickup for Dave now - He has a rush to WB though.
All this time Stephen has been practising up on lawn 6 - I wonder if he's on that tomorrow - had a couple of hours practice. Surprising Rob hasn't been out on the practise lawn.
Rushes across to WB, back to south of hoop4. Take off to near C4 snicks oppo. Approach to 4 putting oppo level with 6, south of 3.
Dave shoots over to WB to partner. Less than two balls target for Blue - nothing short.
James and Jerry reckon take the shot. James "solid two balls". Aaron's taking this on. Gonna have to dig out a dollar. Hits the back ball - good shot Aaron - should finish from here. Sideline quote: "Reg wouldn't have taken that shot". Jerry "Hit is you win, miss it and he's not going to triple.".
Rushes red 2 yards west of black - must finish. Battery gone...sorry!
Gets rush directly along south boundary. Pegs one out. Dave misses. 2-1.
6:46 p.m. 8/02/2008
Aaron wins game 3 26-12 to take a 2-1 lead.
6:59 p.m. 8/02/2008
Game 4 starting. Great atmosphere. Some excellent shooting. That last break got Dave back into the game and got him back going. Aaron should be having a sign of relief getting that 3rd game.
Dave to mid East boundary. Aaron a yard south of C2
Dave misses to C4. Aaron attacks and hits the short shot into C4. Lays up in corner 2.
Dave misses from 1 to 3 and Aaron rushes across.
Aaron has rushed to well south of hoop1. Approaches to a long hoop1 and runs it well, hits his short hoop2 pioneer.
Aaron has a big rejection out of hoop2 back to WB somewhere just north of the peg. Big chance for Dave to get back into the match.
Dave hit half the length of the lawn and is currently going around nicely, on 2back, nice ball at the peg for a spread - this is huge in match terms.
Conditions becoming a lot easier - "slowed right down" (Skinley).
Meanwhile the Maori concert party has started the entertainment in the tent - lovely voices - absolutely torn on what to watch. Will stay here and report a bit.
Now sitting in the evening sun with Paul Skinley and Nelson Morrow. Horrible sunburn in a laptop mark - ugh!
Dave's croquet stroke to put out the west boundary ball deep means he's going to need a good croquet stroke to get this wired. Clearly hates the ball at the peg as he's gone about 9 yards apart on east boundary.
Aaron taking the long shot - hits the back ball. He has shot well today! Got a rush to 2.
Looks like he's on a break pretty well now. Lawns fairly easy.
Reg arriving with a tray of beer. Thank you Reg - current World Champion - you're a gentleman - from the first moment he stopped mid-break to smile and say hi in the British Open Semis in about 2000 when I was an unknown 5 handicapper come to watch. Good chap that Reg.
Gallery now dominated by kiwis - not surprising with the visitors enjoying a cultural experience and a kiwi on the lawns.
Bit sweaty - Aaron has run 5 and needs to hit a 5 yarder on yellow after cross-pegging himself from partner. Gets enough of that.
News from the developing nations: David Hajn is the new Developing Nations Champion - well done to the tall guy.
Aaron's gonna have a diagonal spread.
Charles Jones is here, demonstrating his two words of Maori. I know at least 5. No - he has a few more words - not bad.
Jenny's gone, and the new reporter here is Paddy Chapman. Howdy. Right then:
Westerby has just run 3-back, and has no forward rush
Setting up for a diagonal spread
Aaron has played a thocking croquet shot and has ended up 5 yards from ball at peg. Shoots gently, and hits, but sends it a yard past the peg. Reverting to an Old Standard Leave
Gains rush to Corner 4
Rushes to Corner 4
Greg burps loudly, and startles the spectators
Then contributes to global warming
Aaron has set his leave. Wixy is waddling this way, here comes trouble.
Maugham is taking the short lift. Swinging wildly and crookedly:
Hits it somehow - I think he was aiming at the other ball
Maugham rushes partner ball on west boundary to hoop 1. Very short, and is taking off for position.
Short on his take-off
That's just bad
He's swanning backwards and forwards like a frustrated spaniel - Maugham walks off in disgust after leaving Aaron a double target from C4
Hmmm, had a bit of computer trouble just then - hope it's still working. Aaron missed from hoop 2. Maugham is doing the load and hold stroke, loading hoop 2. A Mike McClure lookalike has just walked past.
The load and approach to 1 is good, but a slightly angled hoop. Swinging:
Runs hoop to mild applause
I'm off to get some food from the Hangi. Back in 5
Right - JC is back! Dave is just approaching hoop6. C'mon Dave! No sign of peels - keeping it tight.
Paul Skinley: "David Maugham would kill me if I said he looked divine out there."
Chapman back from his dinner fetching. Looked like a spanked spaniel after being battered by Maugham if you ask me. Fancy seeing those two in the cage together!
Dave's round, Paddy's concentrating on his hangi - looking at bit disappointed at the Beast's dominance. I think he's a closet hero-worshipper - wonder if Dave has a spare playing shirt to autograph for him.
OSL - laid up in corner 4. Aaron with his last shot - hits from A baulk - the crowd goes wild!
He's hit with his 4back ball - bit unexpected. Rushes to 4back, but seems to be thinking about maybe not making 4b. Sun gone now - my gosh it's cold.
Old fella Joe is struggling to keep track of the balls in the fading light. it's getting too cold to type.
Hats off to the Kiwi Spit Roast Company - their food is very yummy. Many people raving about the Maori concert also - it really was very impressive.
JC "what's he doing?". Claire G: "he's looking and thinking. That's about it right now."
8:39 p.m. 8/02/2008
then plays a little scatter leaving both balls open.
Not a target - unless he really shanks it. Referee has given up - taking his toys and he's off.
Dave shoots from 4 to 3 - yuk. Big miss. Noone here likes the body language. Joe wants to stop for light. I want to be warm again. I have a spa pool - yeehah!
Aaron picks off Dave with his hoop2 ball. Plays a wee roll to get a rush to 1 ... with red in the way. Cut rush to on top of yellow on WB - great shot!
Paddy being sad with his camera again - get a life son!
Skinley's spelling is sooo appalling, but at least he knows my surname. He's doing ok so far - has a lovely smile - he's off the hook.
Aaron rushes short to 1, then really misjudges the slow pace to come up well short of hoop1.
Name withheld to protect the innocent: "Paul, I dunno why you're trying to educate an Australian - you'll be here for years". Something about Claire and thongs. I don't approve - Claire's a top girl - best wishes to her and Trev for April - congratulations guys!
Aaron retires to partner at 2, Dave misses from 1 to 2.
Skinley wants to stop cos it's "dangerous" - we're not playing cricket here sunshine!!
Jackson (S) and Mulliner in trouble for standing in front of the crowd - lucky we're too polite to throw our bottles!
Aaron is playing his 4back ball (why?) - seems to have picked up a break - off to the peg. Dave's peg and 4back.
Aaron Westerby just ran a controlled 4-back - to the middle of Hagley Park.
stephen: "I'm keeping myself pure for tomorrow.". Suspect he was talking about alcohol. Mulliner risking trouble from Jackson (J) for wandering in front again.
Optimistic kiwis reckon Dave's swing has gone. C'mon Beastie!
Can you believe we're still here?!
Paul Stuart: "If Aaron pegs a ball out, it'll be like cat and mouse, so they'll have to peg it down." Joe Hogan: "But cats like working in the dark." He's a legend - welcome back Joe!
Ok, it's dark, it's cold, Aaron's pegging out Dave. Pegs him out from 6 inches - who on earth is applauding a 6inch pegout???. Hits a scary and rather unnecessary 5 yarder. Has an 8 yard join with peg ball south of hoop2 and hoop1 ball in C2. C'mon Dave.
oooo - thought he had that. Misses by nothing.
Manager and refs march on and we're pegging down. Spa pool here I come...
G'night all. 2-1 to Aaron. Aaron is peg and 1 and has the innings with Dave on 4back alone.