Good morning/afternoon/evening/night world, and thank you for tuning in to cloudy Cairnlea Victoria.

Format for the Knockout is Best of 3 for the round of 16 and Quaterfinals - both played today, and Best of 5 Semis and Finals, played over the next 2 days.
Losers of the respective rounds go into their own Best of 3 knockouts.

Clarke v. Hughes is the only Quarter Finals match to have started so far.
T1: Clarke won the toss and chose to go in - she hasn't necessarily been doing that this week - went standard
T2: Hughes went standard tice
T3: Clarke shot at partner down the line and missed.
T4: Hughes shot at partner up the line and missed.
T5: Clarke made 1 but didn't get position in front of 2 and set up south of 4.
T6: Hughes shot at partner up by H3 and missed.
T7: Clarke takes rush on partner to 2, and is now on a controlled 4 ball break.

They are playing on Lawn 9, which is one of the quicker lawns at the moment, but given the rain and the lush grass, is still only running at 10 seconds or so - give or take half a second or so depending upon where on the law you are.

Anyway, while we wait for something interesting, I'll give you an update on this morning's play.

Top of the draw was Jenny Clarke v. Gail Hopkins (Lawn 1).
Game 1 was pretty clean, Clarke and Hopkins both hitting well and making 9, at which point there seems to have been some interaction, but Clarke came out with a nice TP, including a straight double finish.
Game 2 was Clarke all the way, winning 26-0.H
Hopkins has been playing well - especially in the roquet and hoop department (playing quickly and confidently is a + too) - and her croquet strokes are constantly improving. Overall, she's not far off being a very tough opponent.
Clarke has been up and down, but is a good pointy-end-of-the-competition player, and is looking solid on her TPs.

Speaking of which... Clarke has just blobbed H9 against Hughes, and let him in with an excellent setup for a laid break.
Unfortunately, he misses a 3.5 yard rush, and has gone out 4y from Clarke's H1 ball.. Has 4 yarders with each ball.
Plays Black (H1) and has a "gimmie QP" according to Oppo.
We'll see.

Back to this morning, and Clarke's current opponent, we had Mike Hughes v. Alan Walsh.
Hughes is playing the best I have seen him - looking speedy and confident in his breaks, and rarely breaking down (although thankfully he did against me in the Swiss!)
Hughes took the match in 2 games, although Walsh put up a good fight.
Three Cheers for the speedy players :)

Next up (Lawn 5), we had Nick Chapman v. Murray Baum.
Chapman won in 2, though the first game at least looked competitive and went to time. Didn't see much of that one, but Chapman looked to be playing well in Game 2.
Baum's play has been up and down throughout the tournament, while Chapman has been quite consistent, so he should have a good chance of making the Semis if the form keeps up.

Clarke has done 1 peel, and had an attempt at an on-time peel of 4back, but it bounced out. Delayed final 3 peels coming up.

And raining now coming down.

The last match in the top half is (yes, still going - lawn 6), Trevor Bassett v. Kerri-Ann Organ.
Bassett too, the first game with a tidy TP, but Organ ran around in game 2, was then in a 2v1 (Organ the 1), which she managed to win, recording one of her biggest ever wins.
Organ started slowly in the Swiss, but has gained form as the tournament has progressed, and will certainly be a worry for Mr. Bassett in Game 3.
Bassett's form has been predominantly good (taking great advantage of the peeler's paradise lawn conditions), but with occasionally atrocities occurring unexpectedly - usually in quick succession. Basically, be afraid if he's on form, and confident of not.
Game 3 will resume after a spot of lunch.

Clarke is still going and has succeeded in 2 of her intended 4 peels.
However... an angled jump shot at 3 back puts a stop to that.
Hughes back on with a 5 yard roquet.

In the bottom half of the draw, we had Me v. David Wise.
Both of us played well in Game 1, hitting roquets and running clean breaks despite the wind, until the final stages, where a mistake each made things interesting. I just won.
Game 2, there was interaction at the start, where I made 1 and 2 but couldn't get things going, though I finally made 9 with the H2 ball, set a leave, which he missed, and got going on my on-time TP. Unfortunately, I had an angled H4 jump shot, which I self-faulted (double tap), but Wise made nothing. I hit a long one, and continued, doing my final 2 peels, the only imperfection being a blob in Rover with striker.. Wise made nothing. I hit a long one and finished.
Wise probably played as well as he has this tournament in Game 1, and could have a good tilt at the Y event if he keeps it up.
I'm playing quite well - both in terms of hitting roquets and holding breaks together - but making at least 1 error in most games. Hopefully I'll sort that out in the coming matches.

Over on Lawn 9 (which is where I played this morning), Hughes did nothing after Clarke's failure of 3back, but she then blobbed 4 back.
Hughes is now in again, but will have trouble getting to Hoop 1 given the lay of the lawn. Will probably be separating Clarke, and setting up near Corner 3, leaving Clarke's 4back ball 4 Yards East of 1, and her Penult ball 5y South of 2.

I'm waiting for the winner of David Johnston v. Alan Sands.
Johnston has been playing impressive croquet, and is tipped to win this match by many (Sands has only shown glimpses of his potential so far this event), but lost game 1 after time. He's now in play in game 2, but I'm not sure of the state of things. Looks like he's ahead at the moment.

Lawn 4 contains Sharpe v. Grant.
Grant played miserably during the early rounds of the Swiss, but seemed to gain confidence after a couple of wins, and is now playing good croquet.
Sharpe has played brilliant croquet on some days, and ordinary croquet on others. This morning seems to have been a bit of a mixture, as there's been a lot of interaction, and it's game all - with Sharpe tipped to take Game 3 (they appear to be stopping for a resetting of hoops, and potentially lunch).

Back on lawn 9...
Clarke missed the set up (playing her 4back ball at partner near H2), and Hughes has just failed 1 (angled jump shot) with Clarke's Penult ball sitting on the other side.
Clarke hits, and will be making it hard for the so far hoopless Hughes.

The final match in the Round of 16 (Lawn 2) was between Jeff Newcombe and Virginia Arney.
Newcombe played very solid croquet, and although Arney hit once in each game (I think), didn't make much of it.
On current form, Newcombe will be the favourite for the next round irrespective of who the opponent is (although he has had some less brilliant patches in games earlier this week)
.

Lawn 9: Clarke makes final 2 hoops with her Penult ball, setting up with a rush to 4back up on the North Boundary. putting Hughes mid East Boundary, and midish West Boundary.
Hughes plays the westerly ball at Clarke, misses, and this should be a finish for Clarke.

Clarke finishes and takes Game 1, 26-0, with quite a bit of interaction.

On Lawn 6 (round of 16, game 3), we have Bassett setting a 2/4 leave, and Organ has not yet scored.
Organ plays the 4 ball down the line and misses to just north of C4.
Basset takes his rush to the West Boundary, loads 2 with partner, and gets a rush to 1.
Should be away.

On Lawn 4 (round of 16, game 3)..
Sharpe goes standard (though quite low - close to 4).
Grant puts in a rather Easterly duffer by H6.
Sharpe fires at partner down the line, missing to C4,
Grand fires at duffer, hitting to 4y SW of peg, and has taken off to Sharpe in C4. Pulls up short, but hits. Tough. shot coming up, and partner is sitting mid-court. Takes off out, leaving Sharpe touching balls level with 4. Still, she plays a good split loading 2 and going to the peg ball, but doesn't get position at 1, and retreats to partner in C4.

Lawn 6.
Bassett fails 5, with Organ sitting on the other side, but she decides to take the more lucrative tap-on at Bassett's 4back ball sitting next to 4 back waiting to be peeled.
Puts Bassett at 2 and Peg, and plays a good take-off from partner to have a 1y hoop 1. The wind is blowing, but she's though, and has a good chance of a break.

Lawn 4.
Sharpe was making a break, but just too off out next to an oppo ball in C4 after H3. Bit unlucky really, as it was going to hit the ball in C4, but it looks like the wind took it at the last moment.

Lawn 10, we have the 2nd game of Johnston v. Sands.
Johnston is on 4back with both balls, Sands on 4back and 4 - just attempting to peel partner now. Jawses. Good chance of a finish if he's playing well...

Lawn 6.
Not sure where Organ got to, but Bassett has just hit with his H5 ball. Plays a big roll loading 6 going to what I assume are Organ's balls somewhere behind the shelter shed. Will update on the state of play when he and the clips are back in sight.
p.s. it's raining on and off. Not heavy, but diagonally, which is enough to be a nuisance. Supposed to be like this all day...

Update on lawn 6. (Interraction has occurred).
Organ is on 2 and 3. Bassett still on 5 and 4back (or 10, for those of you who count past 9)
Bassett is in with his H5 ball, but will struggle to get a break.

Over on Lawn 9, the Quaterfinal match between Clarke and Hughes has resumed.
T1 - Hughes Supershot
T2 - Clarke C2
T3 - Hughes C2 (misses by a 18 inches - possibly deliberately)
T4 - Clarke C2 - misses.
T5 - Hughes is through 2, but has now failed 3. Had some furniture trouble and both oppo balls are sitting by 2. Bummer.
T6 - Clarke rushes partner to near C3, stops it back to H2, and has rushed Hughes through 3. Will have a rush on his other ball to 1.

Lawn 10 (Round of 16), Sands broke down with clips on 7, and 11, and Johnston is on 10 and break (just rushed to rover).
Time must be close to running out (if it hasn't already), and where Johnston leaves the balls should tell us.

Lawn 4, Sharpe v. Grant.
Grant hasn't scored, and Sharpe is still on 4, but on a break with the second ball (currently at 7)

Lawn 6.
Bassett stops at 3back (missed in court roquet I think), and KO is back in.

Lawn 10.

Johnston sets up in C2, and Sands is taking a lift with his 1back ball at partner near 4.

Misses by something.

Lawn 10.
Johnston rushes to 4back, makes hoop with no rush, and does a magnificent roll loading Rover, going to Sands' balls near C4.
Gets a rush to Penultimate, and makes it. 1 hoop and two pegs-out to win Game 2.
If so, I might be waiting a while for my next match.

Lawn 9 (Quaterfinals).
Clarke Makes 9 with a 2/4 leave. Hughes takes short shot with the ball at 2 (his H1 ball). Misses.

Turns out he was aiming at a ball on the boundary and a fair chunk of the ball at 4, and somehow found the curve between them.
Clarke makes 1, and will be up for an on time TP

Lawn 10.
Johnston misses the front ball pegout, but takes off his second ball.
Sands takes the tap on from B-Baulk (with his 1 back ball), rushes it to 2 back, takes off to partner near rover, and will have to do a double peel with 3 balls to win (assuming time has gone)

Lawn 4.
Sharpe is on 4 and 4back, Grant is on 1 and 1, but in and will be rushing to 1 from miles away.... Or maybe not. He rushes something into something else, and nothing looks good
. He now has a ball at 3 (rather than 2), and is rolling to 1 from 2.. Gets a good position (4ft straight), and...

Runs away to partner near mid West Boundary.

Lawn 10.
Assuming time has gone.. Sands must do a 3 ball double peel to win.
He has partner at Penult, and is just making 4back.
Makes 4back and doesn't get a great rush across.
Puts red as an escape ball at penult, and will be in a good position for the straight double.

Disaster is imminent.
Peelee goes through and appears to be glued to the peg, and striker is just through and hampered.
Manages to hit the hamper with a kind of sweep, but misses the bombard off the peg. Taps partner off the peg, and into a sprinkler hole. Moves this with ref. supervision, but has a 7yard rover peel.

Fails the peel, makes it with striker and Pegs out with only 1 ball! (i.e. not even trying to rush partner back in front of rover, peeling it, and hitting the peg with the continuation)
Johnston wins 25-24.
Long wait for me ahead.

Lawn 9 (Quarter Final).
Clarke has done 1 peel, and will be attempting a second on the way to 4back.
Fails peel and will be up for a straight double soon.

Or not.
Overrolls 4back.
Hughes has a 2 yard lift to partner behind 3.
Clarke is next to Penult (penult ball), and in C4 (4back ball).
Hughes rushes partner near South Boundary, and takes off out near Clarke's ball in C4. It's just not his afternoon.

Lawn 4.
Sharpe is in play with her backward ball (forward ball still on 4back), and has just made 8. No TP attempted.
Grant still on 1 and 1

Lawn 6.
Bassett has made it to the peg with one ball, but is still on 4back with the second. Orgon on 3 and 4.
Bassett sets a leave - hiding in C4 - and Organ shoots at it from 3. Misses.

Lawn 9.
Clarke makes 4back, and is hampered...
Chapman out to watch. Hits. Tries to load rover, and get a rush behind partner which is SW of 2. Pull sup short by 5 yards with both balls. Hits partner, but Penult will be tough.

Tried to take position at penult with a takeoff, but retreated to partner.
Hughes took a lift with the ball at penult and missed.
Clarke makes Penult, and rushes back to WB to take Hughes's yellow to Rover. Makes Rover and will be setting up for her penult ball. Hughes will be roughly mid West and East boundaries.

Lawn 6.
Bassett takes Game 3 against Organ.

Still remaining in the Round of 16 we have Sharpe v. Grant on Lawn 4, and Johnston v. Sands on Lawn 10.
Both matches are in Game 3.
Sharpe is on Peg and Penult, and Grant is still hoopless. Sharpe currently setting another leave.
Sands and Johnston have just started Game 3, and the first 4 turns have been standard. All misses.
Johnston (who played first) has just croquetted out trying to load 2 while getting behind Sands' tice to rush to 1. Big misshit, so Sands still has a 10 yarder to get in.

Quaterfinals.
Clarke has just taken Game 2 and Match against Hughes (26-3), and Chapman and Bassett will soon begin their Quarters match on Lawn 1.

Since there's not much going on, I'm going off to buy lunch and a postcard - if I can find one (Australia Post could not supply yesterday - the did not sell them - and were unable to inform me of where I might buy such a thing... Same goes for the Newsagent in the shopping complex, the Cigarette Shop, or the Trinket Shop).
Back later.

Howdy folks,
I'm back, and I have a postcard! (after visiting another Post Office, Newsagency, Supermarket, 2$ shop, Reject Shop, Tobacconist, and another establishment which did not seem to sell anything in particular (with a grumpy and unhelpful owner). I also had lunch.

In the meantime, Johnston and Sands (last of the Round of 16) have been making quick progress, making 4 (Johnston) and 9 and break (Sands). We may well get the Quarters out of the way today after all.

In the Quaterfinals, Chapman v. Bassett is on Lawn 1.
Chapman made 1 and 1, but Bassett didn't get going. Chapman has now taken a ball to 4back and set loose a 2/4 leave (the ball at 2 being typically nowhere near 2). He's set his rush towards 4back (don't know why), so I'd guess Bassett will be aiming for a double from B-Baulk with the ball at H2.
Does so. Goes between them and ends up near C4.

Over on Lawn 9, we have Sharpe v. Newcombe.
Sharpe has made 8, and Newcombe on a break - approaching 1back.

Various Plate and Y events are going on around the place, but since I'll be off to play later, I'll stick with the Quarters.

Lawn 1.
Just twigged as to why Chapman had set a rush to 4back. His backward ball is on 2.
He has now loaded 4 with partner, put Oppo at 3 (although rather South), and has rushed to 10y S of 2.

Lawn 10.
Sands has donned a raincoat and has just made hoop 7 with the second ball. Johnston still on 1 and 5.

Lawn 9.
Newcombe finishing first break - approaching the venomous 3back which has today bitten both Clarke, and Sharpe.

When Wise and I played on it this morning, 3back wasn't a problem, though it has now added Newc to its collection of victims.

Lawn 1.
Chapman makes 2, with a rush back to H4 where partner awaits, and a standard TP should be on the cards.

When asked how the Wind on Lawn 9 was, Newcombe replied "It's blowing a gale out there, and the rain has started again. God it's cold."

Typical Western Australian.

Sharpe makes 1 with her backward ball, and should be away with a 3 ball break.

Lawn 1. Chapman has made 4 with no peels done as yet. Still trying though.

Lawn 10.
Sands making penult (partner has made 9).
Possibly only 1 hit left for the good Professor/Doctor Johnston. If he hits though...

Lawn 1.
Chapman has done 1 peel, and is up to hoop 9 with striker.

Lawn 9.
Sharpe is on break with 2nd ball, and will be rushing there from NW of peg (things went a bit awry just before).

Lawn 10. (last game of round of 16), Sands is on 4back and I assume Rover, as Johnston is now in and is heading for 5.

Lawn 10.
Sands defeats Johnston in a long, drawn out 3 gamer (I think it went to time), and I will now be looking for a court to have a hit up on, and a weary opponent to play.

So, final updates before that happens:

Lawn 9.
Sharpe is going to the peg with the second ball. Partner still on 3back.
Newcombe on 1 and 3back.

Lawn 1.
Chapman got 2 peels of his TP, but did an unsuccessful half jump at Rover - although he made the hoop with striker. Unlikely to peg out now, but we'll see..

I'm off to play.
Enjoy the rest of your day!