Sussex AC Advanced Weekend
Some of the Final... by Chris
It turns out I'm rubbish at croquet, so I have nothing better to do than commentate. Duncan has been favourite from the moment he entered, by JP's obvious strengths have got him pretty comfortably to the final.
24 Sep 2017 10:31AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
The first game is already over, which is a shame as it was outstanding. JP supershotted himself to 4B third turn, and Duncan missed. A pretty poor roll after 5 going to the jawsed peelee was incredibly short, and hence missed. Duncan set up a sextuple (3 attempts yesterday, closest was all 6 peels but on the rover wire with the striker's ball), and JP's shot seemed to swerve off, although I only heard that from him so it might've been lies, of course. Duncan ended up on a straight TP, but jawsed it and the half jump went awry. It ended up with JP managing his first TPO, but it became an OTP as Duncan finished. Bloody great game!
24 Sep 2017 10:37AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
We're now into the second, and a slightly bizarre opening, with JP aiming at Duncan's W ball, and missing. I've heard rumour that it's the first shot JP has missed since he first picked up a mallet! Duncan hit from B, made one, but not in a great position from there he left a dream leave. JP nailed it from B, and is now going round in a tidy fashion.
24 Sep 2017 10:40AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Lawns are pretty easy (says the guy who's lost every game), being fairly slow (some plummers, probably), but the hoops are tight and firm enough to make it a bit silly to try to run them very gently with control.
24 Sep 2017 10:42AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
It's normal advanced, btw
24 Sep 2017 10:44AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
JP's on 1B, with both oppo balls, which'd suggest an NSL I guess. Seems all the rage with the young people these days, even with oppo on 1&1
24 Sep 2017 10:45AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Okay, it's an MSL, in the jaws of 2, with Duncan's H1 ball. Not a good 3B pioneer, but a great rush out of 2B.
24 Sep 2017 10:47AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Partner a yard or so N of 3B, but should be okay after a good approach shot
24 Sep 2017 10:48AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Even if I were nice, which I'm not, I couldn't suggest that the 3B is where he wants it. Probably okay, but he's not looking overly happy. Solid turn, though.
24 Sep 2017 10:51AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Duncan has lifted the 3B ball, and is shooting from B...
24 Sep 2017 10:52AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
I'm right next to him, so trying not to move...
24 Sep 2017 10:52AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Boom! Easy stuff. Hits the back ball.
24 Sep 2017 10:52AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
So Duncan now has everything, including a ball in the jaws of 2, which is the hoop he's on.
24 Sep 2017 10:53AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
But I think he's forgotten that...
24 Sep 2017 10:53AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Now he's realised. He'd rushed over to 1. Big roll, pretty much fine.
24 Sep 2017 10:54AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Poor roll after 2, leaving a 7 yarder, but centre balled it
24 Sep 2017 10:55AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
He's all about the TPO. That could be fun against JP's shooting...
24 Sep 2017 10:56AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
But left both peelee and escape ball next to each other, and couldn't see peelee after running the hoop. Peelee sent to 5. He ain't hanging about...
24 Sep 2017 10:57AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Another poor croquet stroke, although nothing fatal, but he's opting for a sextuple leave instead
24 Sep 2017 10:58AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
All going to plan for the standard leave, smacking it to C3...
24 Sep 2017 11:01AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Was a bit short, but fine after a good roll
24 Sep 2017 11:02AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Last game JP took this shot, and he said it veered off. This time he's double checking the wiring...
24 Sep 2017 11:03AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
He's aiming for the balls at 3 with his H1 ball
24 Sep 2017 11:04AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Loads of people sat in C3, which I'd hate personally.
24 Sep 2017 11:04AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Misses
24 Sep 2017 11:04AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Great rush from Duncan, gonna make the first peel tempting before 1...
24 Sep 2017 11:05AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Went wrong. Very wrong...
24 Sep 2017 11:06AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Peel didn't happen, and H1 ball midway up E boundary, has to shoot at H1 pioneer, but misses, leaving JP a 7ish yarder with half a hoop in the way
24 Sep 2017 11:07AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
So he's playing he 4B ball, 8 yarder...
24 Sep 2017 11:07AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
It's JP, so he creams it
24 Sep 2017 11:08AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
What a horrible phrase that is
24 Sep 2017 11:08AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Now trying to work out a leave
24 Sep 2017 11:09AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Not a good shot. Red (Duncan's H1 ball) to West boundary, with a very obstructed shot at Duncan's other ball next to H2. Runs the hoop from 8 yards to hit it. I'm not entirely sure he meant that.
24 Sep 2017 11:10AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
And he's approaching 4B, 3 yarder straight. Interesting tactic.
24 Sep 2017 11:11AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
But fails the hoop, leaving Duncan a 7 yarder which he's turning down for a 9 yarder which he hits
24 Sep 2017 11:12AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
JP's saying the hoop was horribly loose. Seen a fair bit of that on other lawns as well today. But...
24 Sep 2017 11:13AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Duncan misses a 5 yarder from nowhere!
24 Sep 2017 11:13AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
JP was right in front of 4B still, so runs it to the boundary where Duncan's ball ended up. Not sure what his plan is from here. I'm not sure he knows either...
24 Sep 2017 11:16AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Really aggressive approach to penult from 4B, not exactly dead in front...
24 Sep 2017 11:18AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
30ish degrees, 2 yards, but gives everything if he misses
24 Sep 2017 11:19AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
So goes C2
24 Sep 2017 11:19AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
And then goes to lunch
24 Sep 2017 11:20AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Nope, no lunch. But there are no readers so I don't care if I'm lying to you.
24 Sep 2017 11:22AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Duncan aims with peg ball at W boundary ball, misses. JP aiming for a 12 yarder at his ball in C2. Superb shot. Got some work to do to dig out a break, but only 2 peels to do...
24 Sep 2017 11:24AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Nicely over to H1
24 Sep 2017 11:25AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Struggling a bit getting the break sorted out, as he works on getting to 2
24 Sep 2017 11:28AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
his break is slowly getting under control, not trying anything flashy
24 Sep 2017 11:31AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
He might get tempted to peel penult after 4, which wouldn't be the most sensible thing he's ever done..
24 Sep 2017 11:33AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
And it's gone wrong. Striker's ball has landed on the peg - finding a ref to see if he's allowed to straighten the peg...
24 Sep 2017 11:35AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Decision made, no peg movement allowed, pretty hampered with a 5 yarder
24 Sep 2017 11:40AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
But it's JP, so he makes it look easy. The peel went perfectly as well.
24 Sep 2017 11:41AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Peel going on after 6
24 Sep 2017 11:43AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Really nicely controlled
24 Sep 2017 11:44AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
4 ball break to finish
24 Sep 2017 11:45AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
Ah, the basic 4 ball break that is so easy with the first ball every game, but you have to make so much more complicated when it's to finish
24 Sep 2017 11:47AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
He's picking up speed a bit, as he realises it's completely in hand and nothing could possibly go wrong...
24 Sep 2017 11:48AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
A bit casual around 2B, so gonna struggle a bit with a 4B pioneer
24 Sep 2017 11:49AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
4B pioneer is about 8 yards away
24 Sep 2017 11:50AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
I'm rubbish with distances btw, so don't take them very seriously
24 Sep 2017 11:50AM (Tournament); 1 Readers
I have nothing interesting to say now. It's all very usual and good.
24 Sep 2017 11:52AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
There's a seagull on the lawn next to his. Maybe it'll ATTACK!!!
24 Sep 2017 11:53AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Doesn't take the 7 yard take off to his rover pioneer, in an entirely wimpy way. Takes off 3 yards to peg ball, and then another 3 from there.
24 Sep 2017 11:55AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Runs Rover pretty hard for no reason, to leave a 5 yarder, but, y'know, JP. Pegging out...
24 Sep 2017 11:55AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Seagull did not attack, 1-1 in this Bo3.
24 Sep 2017 11:56AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lunch. I'd advise you have some too, you're looking a little thin.
24 Sep 2017 11:56AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
They're back, but not sure how much I will be - I'll have another game to lose momentarily, but until then...
24 Sep 2017 12:37PM (Tournament); 1 Readers
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