11th WCF Golf Croquet World Championship
Quarter finals report 2... Stephen Mulliner v Ahmed Nasr (and a bit of Reg v Mahdi) by Jenny Clarke
On lawn 4 we join Stephen Mulliner as he has a game lead and is 5-4 down against Egyptian champ Ahmed Nasr
13 Feb 2015 1:46PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
My computer got too hot in the sun, so i've taken advantage of the drinks break the Egyptian spectators are having and have pinched one of their seats!
13 Feb 2015 1:46PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Stephen was 5-3 down, ran hoop 9 by an inch (oh goodness, this lawn is the other way around to 2!).
13 Feb 2015 1:47PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Ahmed has a solid thrash at hoop 10 - bounces out by about 5 yards.
13 Feb 2015 1:47PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Bit more interaction and Ahmed clears blue. Red is all over black.
13 Feb 2015 1:48PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Blue plays back in - these guys are pretty speedy too!
13 Feb 2015 1:48PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Behind me Phillip and Tony are warming up on lawn 2 to play a bowl or shield or somesuch match
13 Feb 2015 1:48PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
red plays in, black plays in - yellow plays in...
13 Feb 2015 1:48PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
we've had a bit of clearing while i was distracted with work emails. On task now... Stephen with black having a go at the hoop from an easy looking position..
13 Feb 2015 1:51PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Jared's back - with coke - lovely man!
13 Feb 2015 1:51PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Black is though 5-5
13 Feb 2015 1:51PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Three balls up to hoop 11, as Stephen banishes Ahmed to behind him. STephen's well-known for being sensitive about movement in his peripheral vision - don't blame him!
13 Feb 2015 1:52PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Hits yellow in the middle. Blue has lovely position
13 Feb 2015 1:52PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Yellow shooting.. little bit breezy. Stephen, for his part, is hiding amongst the crowd at the moment.
13 Feb 2015 1:53PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Yellow fires... misses to the right
13 Feb 2015 1:53PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Good comeback from Stephen Stephen Mulliner leads 6-5
13 Feb 2015 1:53PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Red takes good position wired from blue - we should get to a 13th hoop now, as the wind kicks up.
13 Feb 2015 1:54PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
We're definitely in the Egyptian shelter - good atmosphere here
13 Feb 2015 1:54PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Black clears red to some applause. Black's now in the middle of the south boundary. Might not get a 13th hoop afterall!
13 Feb 2015 1:54PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Yellow takes good position
13 Feb 2015 1:55PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Blue takes position - black can see yellow.
13 Feb 2015 1:55PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Jared spots the error here - red as a clearance to go up to hoop 13 - doesn't take it! Chris would have.
13 Feb 2015 1:55PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Stephen shooting...
13 Feb 2015 1:55PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Well, yellow was a bit far back
13 Feb 2015 1:56PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Misses by about a foot!
13 Feb 2015 1:56PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
I think he'll clear blue here - can cut it to get a decent way towards hoop 13. ... no - hits it in the middle
13 Feb 2015 1:57PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Stephen misses from the boundary... its 6-6
13 Feb 2015 1:57PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Black plays up very deep - we expect yellow to go off the boundary... no... takes position
13 Feb 2015 1:59PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Don't like this - it's an easy clearance.
13 Feb 2015 1:59PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
No - perfect spot! - blue plays up, hits yellow, ends up on the wire of hoop 13! (ok, not perfect spot,but turned out lucky)
13 Feb 2015 1:59PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Red is on the south boundary... plays up to teh hoop. Black is about 6 yards back and 3 yards offline of the middle.
13 Feb 2015 2:00PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Red is woeful - well short
13 Feb 2015 2:00PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Stephen going for the hoop.....
13 Feb 2015 2:00PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Stephen has won his quarter final - huge victorious fist and a roar - he's loving is - Stephen wins 7-5 7-6
13 Feb 2015 2:01PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Reg Bamford v Ahmed El Mahdi
13 Feb 2015 2:01PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
On the slightly less pacey lawn, we're still early in game 2, so let's have a bit of that...
13 Feb 2015 2:02PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
fantastic win for stephen. He hasn't been stunning the bits I've seen - until today where the wee bit I've seen has been excellent
13 Feb 2015 2:02PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Reg won game 1 7-4, Mahdi leads game 2 4-2*
13 Feb 2015 2:03PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
(The Egyptian corner is a little quiet at the moment)
13 Feb 2015 2:03PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Ahmed Nasr comes over - words of consolation from the Egyptians.
13 Feb 2015 2:04PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Red is in the jaws of 7 - not sure which directino it came from. Nothing has happened in ages. Blue plays short - - we're going to have to wait this out.
13 Feb 2015 2:07PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
My fantasy team is looking good now - I've got Hamy any Chris, so I get a finalist, Pete Landrebe is doing well in the consolation events.
13 Feb 2015 2:08PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Red must have been on the wrong side, as it has tapped back through. Mahdi clears yellow, black's near teh peg
13 Feb 2015 2:09PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
_Salah v Hamy... decider... 4-4 - Hamy played first to hoop 9, Salah rushed partner over, Hamy cleared, Salah cleared
13 Feb 2015 2:09PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
(sorry, that should have been in italics)
13 Feb 2015 2:10PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
5-4 to Salah - runs hoop 9 from the boundary. Thank goodness for Spotter Keeman
13 Feb 2015 2:10PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Blue clears red through the hoop, red plays back in - black needs to clear yellow..
13 Feb 2015 2:10PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
misses.
13 Feb 2015 2:10PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
blue takes position at 10, red shoots - nicks blue - nearly runs 10!
13 Feb 2015 2:11PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
(italics is Salah (red and yellow), v Hamy (other balls))
13 Feb 2015 2:11PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
yellow runs hoop 7 off teh boundary 4-3 to Mahdi
13 Feb 2015 2:12PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
*sorry - breakdown in comms there - Aaron Westerby came by for a chat. Mahdi wins game 2 7-4 or 7-5. I've relocated to get a full commentary on game 3 :) *
13 Feb 2015 2:26PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Players having a break. Mahdi having an in-depth chat with team coach Khaled Younis when I walked past earlier. I took the opportunity of a distracted audience to get a seat in the shade off the south boundary
13 Feb 2015 2:29PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Reg is back... and pacing... aah - Mahdi is here now
13 Feb 2015 2:37PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Game 3
13 Feb 2015 2:38PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Reg starts - yellow to 5 foot position pretty straight
13 Feb 2015 2:38PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
This lawn orientation is hard work after watcing Chris so carefully
13 Feb 2015 2:38PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Mahdi clears with blue - Blue ends up in the middle of the west boundary, yellow a few yards north of the corner.
13 Feb 2015 2:39PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Red plays in deep, and east - it's a good position there
13 Feb 2015 2:39PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Mahdi playing black..
13 Feb 2015 2:41PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
yellow into position, blue shoot - misses
13 Feb 2015 2:42PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
red has a 7 yarder if he fancies... dribbles into positino
13 Feb 2015 2:42PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
black is going to have a very angled go at hoop 1 - get teh hoop tapped down
13 Feb 2015 2:43PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
45 degree hoop... restalks as the breeze blow... clears yellow instead.
13 Feb 2015 2:43PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Blue clear clears red from miles away - the Egyptians finally have something to cheer about.
13 Feb 2015 2:45PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Red plays back - it's short! -poor shot
13 Feb 2015 2:45PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Black has a 7 yard straight go at hoop 1...
13 Feb 2015 2:45PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Doesn't touch the sides!!! Mahdi leads 1-0
13 Feb 2015 2:46PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Similar to when I played in Cairo, the Egyptians are loud and appreciative - then absolutely silent to let the opposition play
13 Feb 2015 2:47PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Yellow takes position - it's open!
13 Feb 2015 2:47PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Blue plays up, so does Red
13 Feb 2015 2:47PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
That man has so much power! Black effortlessly clears yellow.
13 Feb 2015 2:47PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Mahdi has an interesting split grip with the mallet between his second and third finger on each hand, and the top of the mallet built up into a big of a knob
13 Feb 2015 2:48PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Great clearance - yellow is hampered by hoop 5!
13 Feb 2015 2:48PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Referee in attendance - hits it anyway - knocks blue to the side, knocks red dead in front
13 Feb 2015 2:49PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Choice for Mahdi of attempted in-off or double clearance.
13 Feb 2015 2:49PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Plays it beautifully Mahdi leads 2-0
13 Feb 2015 2:50PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Mahdi is a really powerfully built player too - he has an enormous amount of absolutely effortless power. (yes, I'm envious!)
13 Feb 2015 2:50PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Reg approaches 3 - bit east and deep
13 Feb 2015 2:50PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Black goes deeper, but straight
13 Feb 2015 2:50PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
yellow plays in - might be blocking black - looks like a really good shot.
13 Feb 2015 2:51PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
No - the split in Mahdi's grip is between index finger and third finger.
13 Feb 2015 2:51PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Blue plays in - goes a bit far. Reg shooting at 3... bounces off to the middle of the north boundary. That hoop was firm we we played yesterday
13 Feb 2015 2:52PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Hey - I played Reg on here yesterday - what's he doing back on this lawn???????
13 Feb 2015 2:52PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Hoop 3 is one firm hoop on this lawn.
13 Feb 2015 2:53PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Mahdi has the hoop banged down - looks like he's going on the ground - runs it by a yard. The Egyptians are cheering. Mahdi leads 3-0
13 Feb 2015 2:53PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Definitely think there should be an enquiry into this lawn allocation.
13 Feb 2015 2:53PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Not sure where the semis will be, but Chris was on lawn 2, and his oppos were on lawn 1, so there's probably a problem there too!
13 Feb 2015 2:54PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Reg takes good position with yellow.
13 Feb 2015 2:54PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Mahdi clears
13 Feb 2015 2:54PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
At last - Croquetscores.com has been updated - turns out Chris's opponent will be Hamy Erian
13 Feb 2015 2:55PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Reg back into position, black plays in, blue clears red. He really hasn't missed anything in this game.
13 Feb 2015 2:55PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Hmm, I wonder what'll happen with lawn allocations for tomorrow - maybe they'll leave one of the top lawns for the final??
13 Feb 2015 2:56PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Reg shoots at black with red - misses. Black has an easy clearance on yellow - great shot - clears yellow and black is in front and is mostly wired from red. Bout an 8th of a ball showing
13 Feb 2015 2:57PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Yellow shooting...
13 Feb 2015 2:57PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Hits black in the middle!
13 Feb 2015 2:57PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Black plays back, red plays back - both other balls on the short boundary.
13 Feb 2015 2:58PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
sorry - was Blue plays back, red plays back.
13 Feb 2015 2:58PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Black clears red - again - deceptive power
13 Feb 2015 2:58PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
yellow shooting - misses!
13 Feb 2015 2:59PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
3 yarder for 4-0...
13 Feb 2015 2:59PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Ahmed El Mahdi leads 4-0
13 Feb 2015 3:00PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Remember Reg came back from 6-1 down to win the world championships last time
13 Feb 2015 3:01PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
red, black adn yellow play to hoop 5.
13 Feb 2015 3:01PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Mahdi is taking on the hoop with blue! - shoots from the boundary south of hoop 4 - good effort - bounces out towards the west boundary
13 Feb 2015 3:02PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Reg is on the board Mahdi leads 4-1
13 Feb 2015 3:02PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Plays black up to 6 - rolls on a bit and it's open - a 14 yarder
13 Feb 2015 3:03PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Yellow takes position - Reg lines everything up nicely on his shots - a great way to help consistency
13 Feb 2015 3:03PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Blue plays in
13 Feb 2015 3:03PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
This shot is critical...
13 Feb 2015 3:03PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
...misses right
13 Feb 2015 3:04PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Mahdi has a stop-shot clearance on yellow to take full control.
13 Feb 2015 3:04PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Has a look at the hoop - nope - stops yellow away - but black rolls on to beside the hoop - a poor shot
13 Feb 2015 3:04PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Yellow needs to hit though...
13 Feb 2015 3:04PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Misses right again.
13 Feb 2015 3:05PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Like in the video of the infamous jump stroke, when Reg wants a little more power the main sign is his right ankle turning out in the backswing.
13 Feb 2015 3:05PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Mahdi runs hoop 6 with blue off the boundary Mahdi leads 5-1 in the decider*
13 Feb 2015 3:06PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Red is off the south boundary, yellow is in the middle of the east boundary.
13 Feb 2015 3:06PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Red plays back to 6 yard position - we thought he'd go off the boundary here with Blue not far away.
13 Feb 2015 3:06PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Black shoots off the north boundary. Makes the red being in lawn look more of an error
13 Feb 2015 3:07PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Bit careless on Mahdi's part not getting black straight
13 Feb 2015 3:07PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Reg plays back - nice ball. Mahdi plays blue in - nice as it forces him to clear blue or try a 5.5-6 yard hoop - if he clears, black has a go at the hoop
13 Feb 2015 3:08PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Havinga good look. Chris fancies rushing yellow in front of blue
13 Feb 2015 3:08PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Hmm, not sure black is even open on the hoop due to blue!
13 Feb 2015 3:09PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Taking the hoop on...
13 Feb 2015 3:09PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Hits a bit of left-hand wire and bounces clear. Black can clear yellow and has a good chance for 6-1
13 Feb 2015 3:09PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Doesn't get a perfect cut, and yellow has a 13 yarder
13 Feb 2015 3:10PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Hits blue in the middle, but that's giving Mahdi an angled go at the hoop -about 1.5 yards offline.
13 Feb 2015 3:10PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Referee comes on to firm up the hoop - hard to see the wee tap doing much. He's the chap who wouldn't reset the lawn for Salah I think.
13 Feb 2015 3:11PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Mahdi has a gentle go at his 7 yarder. Runs the hoop by 8 yards. Mahdi leads 6-1
13 Feb 2015 3:12PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Reg takes good position, black plays down. Red plays down, red falls over down the slope at the last minute - might be blocking something
13 Feb 2015 3:13PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Blue shoots - hits red - almost peels it!! - red bounces off to 6 yards from black, blue is on the south boundary just in from corner 1
13 Feb 2015 3:13PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Easy clearance for Reg and yellow is about 3 yards back
13 Feb 2015 3:13PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
misses!! - might have snicked it - that ankle turned out again - I'm not sure if that's a usual feature of Reg's game.
13 Feb 2015 3:14PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Mahdi pleads with the referee to bang this hoop in more firmly. Has a 2 yarder. Chris describes the referee's effort as "Bernardic stroking" - pretty timid stuff
13 Feb 2015 3:15PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Mahdi wins game 3 7-1 and is into the semi finals!!!
13 Feb 2015 3:15PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Tomorrow we'll have Chris Clarke v Hamy Erian and Ahmed El Mahdi v Stephen Mulliner
13 Feb 2015 3:15PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Best of fives tomorrow
13 Feb 2015 3:16PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Evan told me Mahdi was too nice to win. But he also said Mahdi wouldnt' win game 1. He was half right
13 Feb 2015 3:16PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Fantasy update might not come from Chris for a wee while, but with two semi-finalists, Ian Burridge is doing rather well.
13 Feb 2015 3:17PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
I've found some more entertainment, and a seat next to legendary player Bob Jackson, so will follow this for a bit
13 Feb 2015 3:23PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
If you'd like to follow a Bowl quarter final, come to the new commentary I've set up. Drank too much coke today - can't sit still - excited at Chris being in the semis
13 Feb 2015 3:24PM (Tournament); 13 Readers
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