Forster B an K
Clarke R an Y

B to EB
R s of c2
K misses B
Y hits EB from c3, makes h1

Good pickup, going round approaching 1b

Round to 4b, tight looking MSL

Forster lifts the ball at h4, misses into c4. Clarke makes h1 but is hampered, reception ball 4-5y n of 1...

Middles it, will we see an attempt at the delayed TP?

Clarke still going, looks like the delayed TP isn't set up??

He's really going for it, seems like 2 seconds ago he was making H2. Now its a STP. Would suspect it will be peg an penult with a defensive leave

Its a vertical spread, looks like a good leave, Laid up on EB max distance with a rush to penult

We correcton, its not max distance, he looks 1y S of the peg. Forster onto the lawn to have a look

Forster lifts the ball at rover an heads to c3, misses down to c4

Clarke sticks in rover from 8 inches straight? has Forster go an inlawn cannon?

Went inside to get a cuppa, not sure if he didnt get going or if Clarke hit a leave, but he is back on the lawn.

Forsters hit something else, I think has made a couple of hoops, will be able to tell shortly...

Has made 3 hoops, going to 4 from c4.. croquet croquet stroke 18inch hoop, fails it

Clarke misses 7 yarder

Forster misses 7 yarder

Clarke hits, making a leave with the peg ball

Forster misses, Clarke rushing ro 5yN of rover

2ft straight hoop..

plays it with controlled pace, but bounces back to 3 inches.. is it straight??

Must be dead wired as he's gone to c4 with it

After Forser joined with partner that is

Forster fails to get going an has a leave. Clarke misses 20 yarder and Forster is on a 3ball break

Forster goes round, was it a spread? Clarke hits? He's back in play with his rover ball

Thats the second Clarke to take the first game:
26-9 Clarke

G2
Clarke playing K goes to EB
R duffer 1yNE of 6
Clarke to c4?
Forster hit an has a leave? I missed a few shots but I think that's what might have happened

Forster makes 1 an 2 an is away

Still going round, currently up to h6

Clarke misses the lift to c4 (NSL) giving Forster the standard triple, Fails h3 with it all set up.
Clarke going round now so it should be 4b an 1 (Clarke) vs 4b an 3 (Forster) if he completes the turn

Commentators curse (why do i keep doing it!!) Clarke is sitting down now an Forster in play, did he miss the return after h1?

Clarke on second break now

Clarke failed hoop 1, so Forster is joined on the east boundary with Chris's blue (for 1) at the peg and black (for 4b) in corner 1. Red is on 5 and yellow looks like it might be on 5.
Players now breaking for lunch as Jenny takes over commentary on this game. Stay with this stream though folks.

And they've back - that was a very quick lunch break.
Chris has shot from near the peg, hitting yellow on the west boundary (argh - sorry for earlier error - lawns in opposite orientations!) Stephen was joined on the west boundary, which means Chris's black is sitting in corner three.)

Chris has now run hoop 1 with blue, yellow is about peg-high and is in the lawn, and he will be taking croquet from red just north of the hoop

Now approaching hoop 2 from about 3.5 yards south of it. Has a one-yard 5degree hoop. Everything there if he runs it.... Gave that some, and he now has all the balls. Given the soggy conditions, we might be about to see the first TP at Marewa.

Bit of a delay as a kind soul returns Chris's ball to him from the other side of the hedge. Tim O had a lot of trouble with that on day 1 of this test - the fence ends a bit above ball height, and the wires below it aren't up to stopping balls hit at nuclear pace.

Hits his return roquet, rushing it to about 7y SW of hoop 3 and that'll be the TP off the table

Chris now has a tidy 4ball break. I'd expect him to have a go at peeling yellow through rover either on the way to 2b or 3b.

Yellow is the pivot, making six off red, and black is up short of 1back.
It has been awesome to have John Prince and Roger Murfitt present each day providing support and encouragement to the team. Really inspirational and great that they are sharing their passion and experiences with us.

Ok, things getting a little untidy now. Red is closer to rover than 2back, and yellow is off to 3back as a pioneer - not sure if this was deliberate or just a consequence of the lawns being about 8.5 sec today after 12.5 yesterday. Either way, he has coped with 2back, although without a rush back up the lawn.

Runs 3back and has a 3 yarder back at yellow... which he snicks! That's off up to penult, and it's just going to be a ball around.

Haven't seen Coutts near the computer for a bit, so a quick update on Robbie and Paddy... Robbie won the first. Paddy went round first in the second, but put partner off setting up an NSL. Robbie is now going around, and coped ok with a very very long approach to hoop 4 followed by a very long hoop 4.

Tim's back to continue his game with Aaron who is still lunching. I must say these Aussies have been good fun. Good sports, applauding good shots and generally really nice chaps.

It looks like Chris is setting up for another defensive leave. He has croqueted black to the middle of the east boundary after penult. Putting yellow deep towards the south boundary to run rover to, and is making rover off red.

On lawn 2 Greg's having first break against Ken, and I think has managed at the second attempt to peel his partner ball to hoop 2.

Couttsie is coming back to continue the Paddy v Robbie commentary. Robbie is setting a leave with Paddy's 4b ball on hoop 4.

Chris has now run rover, rushed yellow up to a few yards in lawn from the west boundary and about peg high. Doesn't seem to like that and he is croqueting it to the east boundary going to red. It's a few yards in from the east boundary and about 3 yards north of the line of the peg.
Red has been rushed off the east boundary, but that's going back west - about 7 yards north-west of the peg. And he's rolling the balls off in corner 4 about 2 yards apart, with black in corner 4.

So now we have:
Chris: blue (peg), black (4b)
Stephen: yellow (rover), red (hoop 5)

Stephen lifts yellow and shoots from B baulk, hitting red pretty much in the middle. He has rushed it to a few yards north of hoop 1. Good takeoff - will be looking to peg out blue.

Will be making rover off Blue.

Nope - croquets black about 9y up the east boundary, and has rushed blue to north of penult. Taking off back to partner, blue is now about 10y east and 6y south of corner 2.

Lags himself a rush to rover for yellow.

This has given Chris a free shot for the game, as it doesn't look like Stephen can turn around and rush yellow into corner 1.
Chris shoots with blue.... misses.

Stephen is indeed playing his red (hoop 5) ball. Rushes yellow off the east boundary level with hoop 1.

Takes off to blue and resets level with hoop 1. Seems to have put blue at 4back and given Chris a target from the east boundary. Hits it!!!

Chris is through 4back, rushing to penult, will be making rover off partner.

Puts red between 1 and 4, smashes through rover... but misses red up to the west boundary level with hoop 2. Now peg and peg.

Stephen has a lift with a 6 yarder on the rover ball, and blue at hoop 5 - this could be a finish for him. Makes a confident-looking roquet.

Stephen has made hoop 5, will have a longish approach to 6, but is in a good position.

Through 6.

Bit of concern for Stephen has he has almost put his 3b pioneer off into corner 4!! Puts black down there also, but rather short, and has a backward take-off to 2back. Makes the hoop ok.

Almost puts yellow of the east boundary this time!! It's a bit north of level with rover. Taking croquet from blue in corner 4 - he needs to get north of black in this stroke...

Gets well north.

Long approach to 3b - nice position, and sails through with very little wire, to leave himself a 5 yarder, which he hits.

Croquets black to penult going to yellow. Has a rover peel for the game.

This take-off sends yellow towards, but well south of, rover. Rushes to 4b.

Taking off to penult, but yellow is still well south of rover. Chris will be hoping to get another shot here.

Stephen has chosen not to have a deep ball - very surprising. Is peeling yellow from about 3 feet out, with blue, unused, next to the hoop.

Lovely stroke - yellow sticks and crawls through by about 8 inches, striker's ball into the jaws. regarding that hoop "It's an exceptionally narrow one as well" (Ian Vincent). A reset was offered for that hoop before the start of game 2, but both players opted to have it left as was.
Stephen has managed to run the hoop past yellow, and will be looking to use blue to bombard it out of the line of rover.

Moves yellow a bit, and will now be rushing to the peg to equalise the match. Stephen Forster wins game 2: 26-24

Chris now sitting in the lawn 5 shelter contemplating the incredible conditions we had yesterday, while Lester checks the hoops.

It looks like Ian has had enough of hoop 5, and is waiting on the resetting team to reset that hoop on lawn 5.

Enormous sound of crunching on lawn 4, as Paddy sticks in 4back. Robbie has a 1yard lift with his hoop 2 ball.

Game three starts with Stephen playing blue to the east boundary.

2. Chris plays red as a shortish duffer. about 2 feet north of hoop 6.

3. Stephen shoots black down from corner 3, misses into corner 4.

4. Chris shoots yellow at the duffer ... misses.

5. Stephen is shooting up from corner 4. Hits partner with black.

croquets blue to hoop 2, rushing red down to yellow.

Distracted by Tim's game with Aaron, I have just been informed by Mr Murfitt that Stephen has stuck in hoop 1 off yellow.

6. Not sure how much of black Chris could see, but he hit it. approaching the hop from 3 yards - 18 inch hoop... through with a rush back towards corner 4 where red it waiting. Pioneer at 2 is partner which is a bit north-east of the hoop.

Distracted by Tim's game, but Chris is going round now with a tight break. Has put blue into hoop 4 which won't please him, but he has good control and is about to make hoop 3.

Chris is through 1back, has a good 3back pioneer, and a rather short 2back pioneer which shouldn't cause too many problems.

Through 2back, I'm expecting something defensive here from Chris, but unclear given the changed conditions.

Yup, blue and red are waiting near the middle of the east boundary as Chris makes 3b off black...restalking a 18 inch hoop as there is a little breeze. No problems

Blue is peg high on the east boundary. Black is in NSL position south-west of hoop 2, and Chris has again rolled off into corner 4.

The south boundary here is an "in lawn" boundary (i.e. is in the middle of the croquet club, rather than against a fence or hedge), so is probably pretty flat.

7. Stephen lifts black from the western side of the lawn and hits red in corner 4.

Rushes yellow up to blue, rushes blue to 6y south of hoop 1, and runs hoop 1 by a foot (the ball hesitated en route).

distracted by Greg taking off into hoop 1 from corner 3 (!!) and another heroic take-off from Tim O'Leary... Stephen seems to have tried to approach 2 off partner and has had a leave with a rush pointing towards hoop 3.

8. Chris misses partner down into corner 4.

Paddy facing down a critical shot with Robbie 4b and peg, Paddy 4b and 4b. Reverse spread from Robbie.
Ken bounced out of hoop 2 and Greg is contemplating some sort of clever wiring I think.

9. Stephen hits partner, playing his hoop 1 ball (Blue), takes off to corner 4, and has made 1 with a rush back towards corner 4

Paddy has missed the shot through partner at the peg, and Robbie has three hoops to go.

Back to the current match and Stephen has left yellow well south of hoop 4, rushed red up to a bit north of the peg, but on the hoop 3-4 line, and black is nearer corner 2 than hoop 2. taking off...

Distracted by action with Tim again - looks like Stephen didn't get a rush to 2, but runs a very long hoop and has hit his roquet. Now taking croquet on the north boundary with a ball 5y south of hoop 4, and red about level with hoop 6 and a couple of yards in-lawn from the east boundary. Good take-off to get a rush to 3.

Runs hoop 3, rushes to east boundary next to hoop 3, takes off to get a longish rush on black... which he has cut almost into corner 3! - this is going to be challenging!!

Stephen has opted for a leave and has rolled over to level with hoop 2 on the west boundary.

10. Chris corners with yellow - into corner 1.

11. Blue (for hoop 4) rushes black to well north of hoop 4, and is rolling down to position putting black almost into corner 4. Looks like he has over down it.

sorry - "over done" it - was adjacent to hoop 4. Shoots off into corner 4 and gives Robbie the thumbs up for his win.

12. Chris shoots red at blue and black in corner 4. Misses.

13. Stephen continues where he left off, and has just run 5. I'm off for a minute to check out the afternoon tea options and grab a cuppa.

Stephen stuck in 1back off partner.
14. Chris was left in front of hoop1 for 1, so he ran 1, just. Missed partner in corner 1.
15. Stephen is continuing his break and has just run 2b with blue.

Recap.. black is on hoop 2, Chris is now 2 and 4back.

Stephen has an NSL with Chris's hoop 1 ball at hoop 4.
16. Chris lifts the 4back ball (????) and hits the lift (it looked like he might have had a bit of a target too).

Looks like he's having a ball to rover! He has smashed through 4back, has a 5 yard return on partner and blue at penult. Hits about quarter ball.

Runs penult. Black (for 2) is still near corner 4, taking croquet from blue with red and blue near the peg.

Croquets blue south-east of the peg, and has rushed partner towards corner 2.

Lays up level with hoop 2.

17 Stephen has lifted black and misses blue by about 6 inches.

18. Chris played red (for hoop 2, remember he ran 1 earlier and missed the return), rushes partner off the middle of south boundary, will be able to croquet that towards hoop 3 going to the two balls near corner 4.

Rushes blue to hoop2 - has a backwards takeoff for position and now has a 2 foot hoop.
Great shot!!! - runs the hoop powerfully and cuts blue to the middle of the north boundary in the stroke. Has a perfect hoop 3 pioneer.
Roger Murfitt off to the other side of the hedge to retrieve red.

Hoop 4 pioneer went miles east, and a little messy there now. Makes three, rushes to a couple of yards north of C4, takes off, hits black ... plays a good stopshot getting a hoop 5 pioneer out, but has to approach 4 from a bit of distance and to the east. Takes off to slightly angled position.. smashes through - all good. (phew!) Unbiased commentary not really available today sorry.

Doesn't like his approach to hoop 5 - short and angled ... runs it nicely. Will have his first go at peeling yellow now.

Not sure if he can rush-peel yellow - it's back and little from the hoop, but might be ok. Through 6 and sending 2b pioneer out - and has got close to yellow... rush-peels it easily. Now just has to keep the break together for the match.

Nice - puts out a deep ball for running 2back. Through that.

Approaches 3b from the side to about 3 inches !!! - nicely in front (phew!). Three more hoops to go. Has a nice 4b pioneer.

Hammers the croquet stroke sending out a penult pioneer - black crunches off hoop 6 to stop about 8 inches in front. Lucky bum.

Puts out a deep ball to run 4b to. Through to get a one-yarder on partner. Keeping it super safe here. Nice play.

Has a very good rover pioneer, and has rushed a foot in front of penult. Excuse the detail... nervous/excited fingers!

Through penult. Has left black mid east boundary, so don't be having a deep ball this time. Partner to the peg. Rushes to rover. Approaching from a foot and a half. 8 inch hoop. Through under control... Rushes blue to black.

Rushes black back towards hoop 1, and taking off ... yellow is 4 yards from the peg... rushes it to about 8 inches from the peg. NZ lead the series 6-1!!! I'll be back soon to continue Aaron's game.

Awesome - will pay attention to lawn 6...Aaron still checking out that join spot

Plays yellow level with hoop 3 on the east boundary.