MacRobertson Shield
NZ vs ENG Day 1: Chapman and Hakes vs Mulliner and Patel by Jarrod Coutts
Welcome to test 3 of the MacRobertson Shield. Australia are the only team unbeaten after two tests and are playing the winless USA in the final round, while on paper, NZ is fighting it out against England for the silver medal. However, teams on paper don't always go to plan and anything can happen. Players are currently completing their warm up. It's another lovely day in Palm Springs and I can't see a cloud in the sky. The weather is expected to get even hotter this week and could reach close to 40 degrees, so it will be a real test for the players.
Chapman/Hakes vs Mulliner/Patel are on the top lawns.
Hogan/Shilling vs Maugham/Hopgood are on the top lawns on the feature lawn for those who want to watch online.
Clarke/Tahurangi vs Death/Burch are on the bottom lawns so there will be less commentary for this match, but I'll try and provide updates.
Giddy up!
30 Apr 2017 8:27AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
The three lions vs the mighty Kiwi is about to begin.
Patel, Y, short supershot
Chapman, K, S of c2
Mulliner, R, heads to c2...
Having a discussion with Patel.. are they doing something different?
Nope.. he's shooting
MIsses.. should be a double for Hakes
30 Apr 2017 8:39AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Hakes misses..
30 Apr 2017 8:39AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Mulliner goes round, has a spread with Chapman at the peg
30 Apr 2017 9:01AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Chapman shoots down the line.. is it going to stay straight..?
30 Apr 2017 9:04AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Straight enough.. cuts the boundary ball to 3yNE of h4 and should be round. I'm guessing 2 pops and an NSL again
30 Apr 2017 9:05AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Will have to play a reasonable shot now, he's just hit his rush to h1/ball near 2 to bang smack in the middle
30 Apr 2017 9:05AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
of the two*
30 Apr 2017 9:05AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Plays a very good recovery stroke and has a nice rush to h1 which goes within a ft so that'll be him round
30 Apr 2017 9:07AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
I'm interested in hearing any fun facts about the hoover dam from our thousands of reader. Flick me an email to jarrod.coutts@gmail.com if you've got any good ones
30 Apr 2017 9:07AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Chapman pops Patel's Y though h1 going to h4.. his h6 pioneer is further north than usual, so he may be going for the second pop going to h6
30 Apr 2017 9:17AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Some Geese have just run onto Gletchers lawn as he's taking his lift. Not only are they being rude and not standing still, they are honking and one of them left a treat on the lawn "it's a big one as well" I heard Fletcher saying
30 Apr 2017 9:20AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Hmm.. what is Chapman up to? Maybe it's not 2 pops and will be a different leave to last time
30 Apr 2017 9:21AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Oppo balls around h2 with partner at 2b. One pop completed so far
30 Apr 2017 9:22AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
It is two pops.. but will it be a reverse NSL this time?
30 Apr 2017 9:23AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Chapman is making it hard on himself.. rushed to within 3y of an average 2b pioneer and he won't be getting a ball to 3b
30 Apr 2017 9:24AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Doesn't get the rush out of 2b that he wants..
30 Apr 2017 9:25AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Grovels through 3b and calls the baconator onto the lawn
30 Apr 2017 9:26AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
It will be a reverse NSL.. Mulliners 4b ball a few yards inlawn from EB level with 5.. Patels h3 ball SW of h2 and they are deciding where to leave the rush
30 Apr 2017 9:32AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
First considering leaving a rush towards c2.. but then aborts and lags bag to partner leaving a rush to the ball on EB
30 Apr 2017 9:33AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
After a lengthy discussion.. Patel heads to c1
30 Apr 2017 9:38AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Misses to somewhere on the WB.. I don't think that's in C2
30 Apr 2017 9:39AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
2.5yS of c2
30 Apr 2017 9:39AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Baconator onto the lawn now.. a few good shots needed
30 Apr 2017 9:40AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Good cut.. will be interesting to see if he rushes the first shot to h1 or to c2
30 Apr 2017 9:41AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
It's a rush pointing at h3 so will need to be a good cut now
30 Apr 2017 9:42AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Big thrash and snicks the rush moving it by 3 yards. Now in the middle of nowhere
30 Apr 2017 9:42AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Croquets the ball towards h1 as his reception ball going to the ball near c2.. has a big takeoff now to h1
30 Apr 2017 9:44AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Pretty good shot.. has a 2.5y h1
30 Apr 2017 9:44AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Runs it and has a 6y return..
30 Apr 2017 9:46AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
1/2 balls it and still requires a few good shots for the break
30 Apr 2017 9:46AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Plays a good croquet stroke after h1 and has a rush towards h2.. overhits again snicks it. Plays the agressive line and croquets partner to 4b going to c2.. if he rolls out of c2 he has a standard TP
30 Apr 2017 9:49AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
It hasn't been a precision pick up, but it's worked. Rolls out of c2.. hit's another 5yarder and now has a standard TP. Though his h4 pioneer is N of h5..
30 Apr 2017 9:53AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
4b peel completed after h3.. I'll update if anything exciting happens
30 Apr 2017 9:55AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Finishes the turn. NZ game up 15TP
30 Apr 2017 10:30AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Game 2
Hake B deep, narrow supershot
30 Apr 2017 10:30AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Patel, Y, 10E of it
30 Apr 2017 10:33AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Chapman misses Y from A baulk, finishes 12yS of c3
30 Apr 2017 10:33AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Mulliner misses the original supershot to slightly W of B baulk
30 Apr 2017 10:34AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Chapman plays from EB and hits the 12 yarder.. should be a clip on 4b now
30 Apr 2017 10:35AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Instead.. all the clips are on h1
30 Apr 2017 10:46AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Rush to 1 went short and backwards takeoff also fell short followed by a failed jump at h1
30 Apr 2017 10:47AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Patel hit his 9 yarder and is having first break
30 Apr 2017 10:47AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
It will be a spread, with Hakes at the peg
30 Apr 2017 10:56AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Hakes goes to c3..
30 Apr 2017 11:01AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Misses into c4 and Mulliner has a chance to equalise
30 Apr 2017 11:02AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
4b peel completed going to h6.. but has hampered his rush to h6
30 Apr 2017 11:13AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Plays the shot pretty well, then has a backwards takeoff to h6
30 Apr 2017 11:15AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Next thing I know, he's failed h6
30 Apr 2017 11:15AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Chapman goes to 4b
30 Apr 2017 11:59AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Patel hits, goes to peg
30 Apr 2017 12:00PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Hakes misses
30 Apr 2017 12:00PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Mulliner has a 4ball break from 6 to peg to level the match
30 Apr 2017 12:00PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Completes it and we will be having a 3rd
30 Apr 2017 12:09PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
+17
30 Apr 2017 12:09PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
G3
Mulliner supershot
30 Apr 2017 12:55PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Hakes s of c2
30 Apr 2017 12:56PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Patel misses into c2 leaving a double
30 Apr 2017 12:56PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Chapman misses the double.. didn't think we would see that happen twice for the Kiwi's
30 Apr 2017 12:56PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Patel going round, has an MSL with Hakes' B at h4
30 Apr 2017 12:56PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Patel nearly had an MSL..
30 Apr 2017 12:59PM (Tournament); 11 Readers
Failed 3b from nowhere
30 Apr 2017 12:59PM (Tournament); 10 Readers
Hakes makes h1 but has yet another 7+ yard return
30 Apr 2017 1:04PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
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