WCF GCWC Main Event
GCWC SemiFinal 2: Reg Bamford (South Africa) v Hamy Erian (Egypt). Game 3 onwards by Jenny Clarke
George Coulter into the plate final - bring home the silverware kiwi!!!
04 Mar 2017 2:13PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Game 3 will start shortly. It's 1-1 - Hamy came back solidly there and traded hoops with Reg until taking over at hoop 12.
04 Mar 2017 2:14PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
The crowd seems to be thinning out a bit - it has been quite a long day, and this match isn't quite as exciting, though no less close, as the first semi final
04 Mar 2017 2:14PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
That comment might sound a bit harsh, as Reg is world number 1, and Hamy a very worthy world number 2, and they're playing at a perfectly reasonable pace. Just not the dynamic all out power on display as in semi final 1
04 Mar 2017 2:15PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Game 3 - Reg Bamford v Hamy Erian - the match is tied at 1-1
04 Mar 2017 2:16PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
And they're back. Reg plays blue on - and it's 4 feet dead in front. Good start
04 Mar 2017 2:16PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Red plays in, and so does black. Black looks like it might have a decent blocking position there
04 Mar 2017 2:17PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Yellow shoots - hits black!
04 Mar 2017 2:18PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Blue runs the hoop - off the north boundary - just skims past hoop 2 from the crowd reaction Reg leads 1-0
04 Mar 2017 2:19PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Red plays up nicely. Black comes up - to tight blocking position - good shot!
04 Mar 2017 2:19PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Yellow's in, and Reg is shooting. Clears red onto the south boundary near corner 1
04 Mar 2017 2:20PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy has a ball and a hoop to the left - misses on the right.
04 Mar 2017 2:20PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
James Death - are you still up???
04 Mar 2017 2:20PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Nick - are you working hard or watching croquet scores??
04 Mar 2017 2:20PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Reg runs hoop 2 with black Reg leads game 3 2-0
04 Mar 2017 2:21PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Yellow takes good position. Blue plays up, shooting through yellow - misses
04 Mar 2017 2:21PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Red's dead in front
04 Mar 2017 2:22PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Correction for the scorers in the SHIELD - JP won 7-2 7-4 - please can his second score be corrected (prima donna...)
04 Mar 2017 2:22PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Black clears yellow to the wide boundary - yellow comes back in
04 Mar 2017 2:22PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
blue might have the hoop here - will take it on...
04 Mar 2017 2:22PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
A lot of body movement at the top of that backswing, and blue is rejected. Reg is usually a lot more still
04 Mar 2017 2:23PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Hamy runs a good hoop 3 - controlled power, and he's off the south boundary. Reg leads 2-1
04 Mar 2017 2:23PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
I did feel rather guilty not playing for 5-8 today, but would have been gutted to miss Felix's semi final, and have enjoyed doing commentaries
04 Mar 2017 2:26PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Black, yellow, blue play in. Red clears blue. black clears yellow... yellow misses! - that was a great gentle clearance on yellow
04 Mar 2017 2:26PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Reg leads 3-1
04 Mar 2017 2:27PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy playing in from the middle of the east boundary. Across the quick patch, and he has gone too far
04 Mar 2017 2:27PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Black plays in
04 Mar 2017 2:27PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
I think the main interest from many spectators here is to have a final between players from two different nations. Reg is always popular with the crowd, but Ahmed is a very exciting player to watch
04 Mar 2017 2:28PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Yellow is in tight. Blue clears yellow - nearly gets blue into the jaws, might have blocked red at black... no - he's clearing black to corner 4 - easy stuff
04 Mar 2017 2:29PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Black's back. It's the only ball really in front of 5
04 Mar 2017 2:29PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
yellow clears black. Blue is adjacent to the hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:29PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Blue plays deep, red goes in tight and blocking
04 Mar 2017 2:30PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Black is coming back from mid east boundary
04 Mar 2017 2:30PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
after some thought, dribbles in
04 Mar 2017 2:31PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Yellow clearing this
04 Mar 2017 2:31PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Good shot - yellow should be runnable. Now, can blue see the hoop - he'll be taking it on if he can - and I think he can...
04 Mar 2017 2:32PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
No - clears red - red 6 yards south of corner 2, blue a yard in from corner 3
04 Mar 2017 2:32PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Hamy is coming back from distance - refs and Reg applauding - trickles past to in front of hoop 5
04 Mar 2017 2:33PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Black is on the west boundary - might be looking for an in-off here - not easy!
04 Mar 2017 2:33PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Clears yellow - yellow still fairly close, black a couple of yards north of corner 4
04 Mar 2017 2:34PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
I think JD has fallen asleep - I knew he had no stamina!
04 Mar 2017 2:34PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Blue shooting - needs to hit this red!
04 Mar 2017 2:34PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Shoots - misses!
04 Mar 2017 2:35PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Hamy runs an angled short (easy) hoop 5, Reg leads 3-2. Crowd a little fidgety
04 Mar 2017 2:36PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
I don't think red is runnable, but it's nicely up near hoop 6. Reg is 2 yards north of corner and on the south boundary level with hoop 1
04 Mar 2017 2:36PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Black plays up into longish position. Yellow plays in
04 Mar 2017 2:37PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Nice shot - he was near the peg, so it was an easy dribble
04 Mar 2017 2:37PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
3.37pm here, That was a muffin too far. I hopefully will have recovered by dinner time
04 Mar 2017 2:37PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
blue shooting - at a ball? the hoop?? - misses everything. Hamy can equalise here- clearing black with red..
04 Mar 2017 2:38PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Centre balls black back to a few yards along from corner 4
04 Mar 2017 2:38PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Black shooting - it might have a double. Misses everything. Reg wipes that one away from his mind with a flick of his hand
04 Mar 2017 2:39PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Hamy running 6 - game 3 is tied at 3-3
04 Mar 2017 2:39PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
lack is offside, and will be retiring to the east penalty spot
04 Mar 2017 2:39PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Blue plays in front
04 Mar 2017 2:39PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
another few balls in, yellow shoots - misses, and Reg runs hoop 7 to halfway down Reg Bamford leads 4-3
04 Mar 2017 2:41PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Applause as red plays down - looks a bit angled, but the applause suggests it can run the hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:42PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Black plays in, and yellow - that looked to try to block blue clearing, but fails
04 Mar 2017 2:42PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Blue clearing...
04 Mar 2017 2:42PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Reg gets a thick nick on red and bounces off into the jaws of hoop 8 - but then bounces and spins away to SE of the hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:43PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Red didn't go that far, and Hamy clears black
04 Mar 2017 2:43PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Black to level with hoop 1 on the west boundary, red about halfway up that west boundary
04 Mar 2017 2:43PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
If the 5-8 playoff, Pete Landrebe is game all vs Mo Karem. Wins the second 7-3 after a tight 6-7 loss in the first
04 Mar 2017 2:44PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
black is back, yellow misses a clearance, and blue will pop in front, blocking red from the hoop, and maybe also black
04 Mar 2017 2:45PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
It looks a good shot - red probably has most of black, but nothing of the hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:45PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Clears black to the south boundary
04 Mar 2017 2:45PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
black back in, but it's short!! unrunnable
04 Mar 2017 2:46PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
yellow from the west bounadry at blue...
04 Mar 2017 2:46PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hits it very firmly, and yellow is of the south boundary past the centre line. Blue is 14 yards away from the hoop too
04 Mar 2017 2:46PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Blue plays in - angled - probably too angled
04 Mar 2017 2:47PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Hamy shooting at black - hits. No thrashing here - just measured power
04 Mar 2017 2:47PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
black comes back. yellow dribbles in - that blue was clearly not good enough
04 Mar 2017 2:48PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Blue clears, but doesn't get in front again
04 Mar 2017 2:48PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
red clears black
04 Mar 2017 2:49PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
black coming back in
04 Mar 2017 2:49PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
short!!
04 Mar 2017 2:49PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Wipes his hand on the ground again.
04 Mar 2017 2:49PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
There seems to be a pattern here - poor positional shot is a hand wipe on the ground. Poor clearing shot is a wipe of the forehand and shaking that memory off
04 Mar 2017 2:49PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Red clears black, again. Both on boundaries.
04 Mar 2017 2:50PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Blue's tight in front, and if black is wired from red, I'd expect Hamy to take on this long hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:51PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
yup - shakes hoop 1, hoop one wiggles, and the ref is on
04 Mar 2017 2:51PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
The referees are finding the day a bit long, and have gently slouched into their chairs.
04 Mar 2017 2:51PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Yellow shoots - from about 6 -7 yards straight - really nice hoop shot. 4-4
04 Mar 2017 2:52PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Shocking email from somewhere in Australia - is it Kate??! https://www.tofindcroquet.com/single-post/2017/03/03/Golf-Is-Dying-Can-Croquet-Replace-It Golf is NOT dying - honest
04 Mar 2017 2:54PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
ok... all play in to hoop 9. Hamy clearing - misses
04 Mar 2017 2:54PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Reg has another large backswing, and only runs hoop 9 by 7 yards. Reg Bamford leads 5-4
04 Mar 2017 2:55PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Hamy plays yellow up well to hoop 10
04 Mar 2017 2:55PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Really nice photo of the young kiwis who did some coaching recently at St Kilda Park croquet club on that link. Good work on the publicity Kate.
04 Mar 2017 2:56PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
blue and black must have had a couple of shots, as red and yellow are nicely in front and blue in corner 3, black on north boundary - looks like Reg hit the hoop both ties
04 Mar 2017 2:57PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy has a free go at hoop 10... bounces off!!
04 Mar 2017 2:57PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Taht wasn't expected
04 Mar 2017 2:57PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Blue rolls in - the hoop is still open for red
04 Mar 2017 2:57PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Ref tapping it back down
04 Mar 2017 2:57PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Bounces back again! Atkins hoops to the fore again!
04 Mar 2017 2:58PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Reg shooting from the north boundary at yellow...
04 Mar 2017 2:58PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Smashes it to the middle of the east boundary
04 Mar 2017 2:58PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Yellow shooting - he has had two chances to equalise this match
04 Mar 2017 2:59PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Centre balls blue!! - but yellow is now 6 y NNW of hoop 10
04 Mar 2017 2:59PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
red is too far west to take on the hoop
04 Mar 2017 2:59PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Blue comes back to wired from yellow. Red rolls in front. Black is taking on teh hoop??
04 Mar 2017 3:00PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Big rejection to the middle of the north boundary
04 Mar 2017 3:00PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
I reckno golf will continue living for some time yet in NZ - Lydia Ko is worth $22million - a woman, and a fantastic role model - completely independent of any prize money - she's a lovely character who is very popular.
04 Mar 2017 3:01PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
And our Canterbury champs were recently won by a 10 year old!!! A cute wee thing who is now playing off about 0 and isn't big enough to reach some of the greens in regulation - definitely on to be the next Lydia!
04 Mar 2017 3:02PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Meanwhile - lots of clearing, and black comes back in front. Yellow's on the south boundary south of hoop 9
04 Mar 2017 3:03PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Blue is on the east boundary level 10 yards up from corner 4, and red on the east boundary level with hoop 10
04 Mar 2017 3:03PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Red clears black, blue in front, yellow is all over that. Black will roll back into hoop 10 position
04 Mar 2017 3:04PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
just after 4pm here, thing should start to slow down a little. There has been very little wind here.
04 Mar 2017 3:05PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Pretty aggressive from Reg - shoots at yellow from miles away on the west boundary - nicks yellow in front of the hoop - it's longish adn can clear blue, probably staying wired from black. Lots of applause (slightly tired applause, to be honest) for that shot
04 Mar 2017 3:06PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Reg shooting at yellow with blue.. bonk! Blue heading down to level with hoop 4, yellow to the east boundary
04 Mar 2017 3:06PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy rolls in from the west boundary - not a very good shot, but at least it's too far east rather than west - will protect against anything coming in
04 Mar 2017 3:07PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Reg plays black between red and corner 4!
04 Mar 2017 3:07PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
That'll confuse the crowds!
Yellow plays in front, and blue will play back up
04 Mar 2017 3:07PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Decent blue - it's deep, but straightish
04 Mar 2017 3:08PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
The Dixon Advisory chaps did ask about commentaries a while back - if you can cover my costs - I'll be there!!
04 Mar 2017 3:08PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Red clears blue - good central shot
04 Mar 2017 3:08PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Reg stalking - needs to hit yellow gentle/mid pace in the middle here
04 Mar 2017 3:09PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Hits it quite hard, halfball - poor shot now has black in corner 1, and yellow returning from north of hoop 2
04 Mar 2017 3:10PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
Red's the only ball in the same quarter of hte lawn as the hoop!
04 Mar 2017 3:10PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
Plays yellow in - it's good - about 2.5 yards south of hoop 10 . Still Reg up 5-4 here
04 Mar 2017 3:10PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Blue shooting from the middle of west boundary. Tony Hall doing a sudoku - which is quite interesting
04 Mar 2017 3:11PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
Reg shoots - misses.
04 Mar 2017 3:11PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
We've had 16 minutes on this hoop now. Feels like longer.
04 Mar 2017 3:11PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
Red plays in - to halfway between hoop 10 and 11!!! - cocky!!
04 Mar 2017 3:12PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
aha - Reg just tried to jump over hoop 1 to clear that yellow!
04 Mar 2017 3:12PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Needs a lot of power, and loses accuracy with that shot. Hamy needs a long hoop though
04 Mar 2017 3:12PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
5-5 in game 3
04 Mar 2017 3:12PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Love the scoreboard, but it needs adjusting in angle please folks - the sun is sparkling off it and it's really hard to read from over here
04 Mar 2017 3:13PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Reg takes position, Hamy clears, but not very centrally - red's now on the west boundary near corner 2
04 Mar 2017 3:14PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
Black takes position - Hamy will shoot again
04 Mar 2017 3:14PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
Couldn't resist - leaned over Tony and told him where a "1" goes in his puzzle. He very graciously considers it and then writes it in.
04 Mar 2017 3:15PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Yellow plays in. Blue is back. Red is shooting...
04 Mar 2017 3:15PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Yellow is long and angly
04 Mar 2017 3:15PM (Tournament); 47 Readers
Red shooting - centre balls black. The quality here is really ramping up
04 Mar 2017 3:15PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
Black shooting from the middle of east boundary. Ned fetching beer.
04 Mar 2017 3:16PM (Tournament); 45 Readers
Nails yellow!. Blue is still in front
04 Mar 2017 3:16PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
yellow shooting. No - he's considering what went wrong, as yellow is lined on on the East boundary!
04 Mar 2017 3:16PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Reg for 6-5... straight 5 foot hoop - runs it really really well - it trickles to just SSE of hoop 12. Reg Bamford leads 6-5
04 Mar 2017 3:17PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Red comes in, and black and yellow - blue clears red. Tony announces he has finished his sudoku in the time it took them to play 1 hoop!
04 Mar 2017 3:18PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Black has a 3 yard hoop - red shooting from the west boundary next to hoop 2 - hits the middle of it!
04 Mar 2017 3:19PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Still appreciative crowd members here. I appreciate the beer - thanks Ned!
04 Mar 2017 3:19PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
black plays back - but yellow has a clearance and hits that very centrally
04 Mar 2017 3:20PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Yellow is in front, but long
04 Mar 2017 3:20PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Blue plays in to angled, but runnable
04 Mar 2017 3:20PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Red in front - black shooting... clears yellow!
04 Mar 2017 3:21PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Yellow on the west boundary - needs to hit this (or severely cross some digits and hope the angled shot misses)
04 Mar 2017 3:21PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Shoots - misses - needs some more digit crossing. Chris recknos he will stop red away. Yup...
04 Mar 2017 3:22PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Just to clarify, it was the "very easy" sudoku that Tony was all over
04 Mar 2017 3:22PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Blue stops red away. Red plays back in well.
04 Mar 2017 3:22PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Black coming back from teh boundary south of hoop 1, goo shot - and yellow will be shooting from the east boundary
04 Mar 2017 3:23PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Nails blue - blue to level with hoop 1 - a bit south of that - Chris reckons he might have hoop 1 in play of the clearance!
04 Mar 2017 3:23PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Shoots... nothing but air.
04 Mar 2017 3:24PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Hamy runs hoop 12 off the south boundary 6-6!!!
04 Mar 2017 3:24PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Blue has missed to offside, and Reg clarifies Hamy's intentions for it before playing black - off to the west penalty spot
04 Mar 2017 3:25PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Reg first to hoop 13 - it's awful! - goes south of the hoop and ends up a yard and a half east and a yard north - that's not running anything!
04 Mar 2017 3:25PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Yellow plays towards the north boundary - interesting to keep it on the lawn by a yard
04 Mar 2017 3:26PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Reg batters blue well north and well east of the hoop. That's very long and very angled
.
04 Mar 2017 3:26PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Red plays in - bad line again - drifts past the block on black at yellow, well east of the hoop
04 Mar 2017 3:27PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Reg wibbling black in - onto the jaws. Yellow needs to clear this - Ned is confident this is runnable
04 Mar 2017 3:28PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Yellow clears black a million miles away. Blue is all over red though, and should be able to clear it staying in front
04 Mar 2017 3:28PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Ned's tactical understanding getting a battering from JP in the second row
04 Mar 2017 3:29PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Red clears red to the middle of the west boundary - putting blue in front of the hoop!
04 Mar 2017 3:29PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy plays red in - hits the back of the hoop and bounces harmlessly away. Red might be blocking yellow at blue!!!
04 Mar 2017 3:29PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
36 hardy readers still with us live
04 Mar 2017 3:30PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Hamy shoots - misses on the left. Reg for game 3...
04 Mar 2017 3:30PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Someone in here has already credited him with the hoop.. it's 3 yards though... but yes, it's through!
04 Mar 2017 3:30PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Reg Bamford leads the second semi final 2-1, taking game 3 7-6
04 Mar 2017 3:31PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Huge fist pump from Reg - good spotting Ned - I was having a wee stretch
04 Mar 2017 3:31PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
The crowd are definitely thinning - they're out of here in droves!
04 Mar 2017 3:32PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Tony tells me in the 2002ish event in West Palm Beach, Salah v Khaled Younis? - there were up to 500 people watching the final. After game 3 only about 20 tough spectators stayed - and the match was won after 5 by the leader after 3 games.
04 Mar 2017 3:34PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
And Mo Karem takes the 5th place playoff 7-6 in the decider against Peter Landrebe
04 Mar 2017 3:35PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Time for a wander...
04 Mar 2017 3:35PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Ahmed Nasr has surprisingly soft hands for someone who hits a ball that hard. Nice chap.
04 Mar 2017 3:37PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Let's start a new commentary. New start, new enthusiasm. Don't anyone mention the cricket.
04 Mar 2017 3:37PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
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