18th WCF Association Croquet World Championship
Saturday - Semi-Finals by Andrew Gregory
Good morning from Hurlingham.
22 Jul 2023 8:28AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
It is overcast. There were a few spots of rain as I walked in. The forecast is not great.
22 Jul 2023 8:30AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
Today we have:
Robert Fletcher v Matthew Essick
Thomas Balding v Robert Fulford
The former is on lawn 2, the latter on lawn 3.
22 Jul 2023 8:32AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
They're warming up on lawn 2.
22 Jul 2023 8:33AM (Tournament); 12 Readers
I've done the traditional research.
Fletcher and Essick have played two matches.
Eight months ago in the MacRobertson Shield, Fletcher won 2-0.
At the last Worlds (Feb. 2020, also at Cairnlea): In the semi-final Essick won 3-1.
Balding and Fulford have never played each other.
22 Jul 2023 8:36AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
All four players are warming up.
22 Jul 2023 8:39AM (Tournament); 11 Readers
G3T1 Balding Black 12y N of 4th corner
T2 Fulford Yellow into 2nd corner
G2T1 Essick supershot 3y SW peg
22 Jul 2023 8:51AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
G3T3 Balding Blue hits Black from A-baulk.
22 Jul 2023 8:51AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
G3T2 Essick Red to max distance east bdry
G3T3 Fletcher Black misses Red from A-baulk
22 Jul 2023 8:52AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Sorry forgot my notation.
Please replace all Gs with Ls.
22 Jul 2023 8:53AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
L3T3 Balding takes off to Yellow, rolls it South wards, lags back to partner.
22 Jul 2023 8:54AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
L2T4 Essick hits target from B-baulk.
22 Jul 2023 8:54AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
L3T4 Fulford Red from A-baulk. Hits Blue (the in-lawn ball).
22 Jul 2023 8:55AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
L2T4 Essick makes 1, good croquet stroke, and he has first break.
22 Jul 2023 8:56AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
L3T4 Fulford plays good 5y take-off to get rush on Black to Yellow.
22 Jul 2023 8:57AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
L3T4 Fulford doesn't play a perfect rush to 1, but a good approach and he has first break.
22 Jul 2023 8:59AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Essick has reached 1-back; Fulford 4. Fulford is looking to POP.
22 Jul 2023 9:05AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L3T4 Fulford has not run 4 cleanly. Calls ref on, I think it's just a courtesy.
I am wrong, Fuford misses hampered shot.
22 Jul 2023 9:09AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L3T4 Fulford has not run 4 cleanly. Calls ref on, I think it's just a courtesy.
I am wrong, Fulford misses hampered shot.
22 Jul 2023 9:09AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Because Fulford was looking to POP, there is a ball at 1.
So Balding has the easiest start imaginable.
22 Jul 2023 9:11AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
L2T4 Essick has made 9. NSL.
22 Jul 2023 9:12AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L2T5 Fletcher lifts Black from by 2 to A-baulk.
Hits!
22 Jul 2023 9:13AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L3T5 Balding has 4-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 9:14AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L2T5 Fletcher has rush to hoop 1. Pretty good. He has break.
Will we be seeing a 1-back leave? Seems to be his preferred tactic.
22 Jul 2023 9:17AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L2T5 Balding has reached 6 in full control.
22 Jul 2023 9:20AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
We're within a stroke of knowing whether Fletcher will be stopping at 1-back...
He will!
Balding has made 9.
Diagonal spread with Yellow at the peg.
As Red is for 5, that's possibly not the best idea.
22 Jul 2023 9:27AM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Balding's spread is not far from horizontal.
L3T6 Fulford lifts Yellow to B-baulk.
The crowd was expecting him to play Red.
Yellow hits Blue!
22 Jul 2023 9:32AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L2T5 Fletcher has made 6, 1-back leave.
22 Jul 2023 9:33AM (Tournament); 14 Readers
L2T6 Essick Red jumps over hoop 1, hits Yellow!!
22 Jul 2023 9:34AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
Not many strokes deserve two exclamation marks.
22 Jul 2023 9:34AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L2T6 Fulford doesn't get good rush to hoop 1.
Six yard take-off approach.
Angled hoop, runs it too well.
Declines 9-yard return roquet.
Misses Black (6y).
22 Jul 2023 9:38AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L2T7 Black hits Yellow (5y).
Black is for 1-back.
22 Jul 2023 9:38AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Oh dear, more errors by commentator.
Last two comments were L3.
On L2, Essick has standard TP ahead of him.
22 Jul 2023 9:39AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L3T7 Balding leaves Yellow 3y N of hoop 3, Red 2y SW of hoop 1.
He's looking for spot on east bdry wires from Red (by hoop 4).
Leaves 4' rush pointing west.
22 Jul 2023 9:42AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
L3T8 Red is not wired from Blue / Black.
Fulford Red hits Blue (20y).
22 Jul 2023 9:43AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L2T6 Essick has peeled partner thru 4-back after 3.
His hoop 6 pioneer is 4y N of hoop, I know not why.
It's not a problem, he is lining up penult peel after 6.
I think he was trying to jaws it, but it's gone 6" thru, I think.
22 Jul 2023 9:47AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L3T8 Fulford is making progress with Red.
22 Jul 2023 9:48AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L2 Essick's 3-back pioneer is deep, maybe 2y in from the yardline.
I'm not absolutely sure he got the penult peel.
L3 Fulford Red blobs 6.
That's three errors now.
22 Jul 2023 9:50AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L3T9 Balding Blue hits Yellow (6y).
22 Jul 2023 9:50AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Essick has not peeled penult.
He is now taking off from penult to his deep 3-back pioneer.
Gets rush on it!
22 Jul 2023 9:52AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L3T9 Balding's first croquet stroke wasn't great.
He misses whatever ha could see of Red.
Big let-off for Fulford.
22 Jul 2023 9:52AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Essick goes for penult peel before 4-back.
I think peelee is now in middle of hoop, but it's already established that I'm not in the best spot to judge.
22 Jul 2023 9:54AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L3T10 Fulford Red runs 6, middles 6-yarder.
A few strokes later he plays an excellent rush to 1- back for the break.
22 Jul 2023 9:56AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L2 Essick just needs straight rover peel to win the first game.
22 Jul 2023 9:56AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L3T10 Fulford Red leaves Black by hoop 2, where the yellow clip is.
22 Jul 2023 9:57AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Essick wins game 1 +20tp v Fletcher.
Sixth turn if I'm not mistaken.
22 Jul 2023 9:59AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L2 clips: Balding Blue 1, Black 4-back; Fulford Red 4-back Yellow 2.
22 Jul 2023 10:02AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L3T10 Fulford leaves Blue 7y NNE of 4.
He's rushing to west bdry, I presume to leave a dolly rush to 2 which Black can't hit.
Black is an inch SW of western wire of 2.
22 Jul 2023 10:04AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
I mean there is an inch gap between wire and ball.
22 Jul 2023 10:04AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Fulford wanders over to the end of B-baulk before his last stroke. Red is 1y NE of Yellow, Yellow 11y S of 2nd corner.
22 Jul 2023 10:06AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L3T11 Balding unhesitatingly lifts Blue to B-baulk.
I haven't got time to see what he can see.
Blue hits Red!
22 Jul 2023 10:07AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Sorry I missed the opening of T2G2.
Fletcher has chance for first break.
22 Jul 2023 10:08AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L3T11 Blading Blue is thru 1 with a break.
22 Jul 2023 10:09AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
OK this is guesswork, but the opening on L2 might have been:
T1 Essick short supershot
T2 Fletcher max distance east bdry.
T3 Essick misses from B-baulk to 4th corner.
T4 Fletcher finesses to 3rd corner.
T5 Essick misses from 4th corner to 3rd corner.
And now Fletcher has first break.
22 Jul 2023 10:13AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L3T11 Balding Blue jawses Black in 4-back after 3.
22 Jul 2023 10:17AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L3T11 Balding Blue rushes Red North after 4. To about 3y E of 6. Takes off to Black, rushes it thru 4-back.
Take-off to Yellow at 5 is OK.
22 Jul 2023 10:20AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L2 Fletcher is thru 6. He will be making 9.
22 Jul 2023 10:21AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L3T11 Balding approaches 6 form 2 yards west. Underhits approach. Fails angled hoop.
22 Jul 2023 10:23AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L3T12 Fulford has 1-yarder with Red, but prefers to play Yellow obviously.
Hits 6-yarder.
22 Jul 2023 10:24AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Fulford should pick up standard TP from here.
He knocks Blue thru 6 as he establishes the break,
22 Jul 2023 10:26AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
L2 Fletcher has made 9. MSL.
22 Jul 2023 10:28AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L3 Fulford Yellow tries to peel Red thru 4-back after 3. Straight peel so no pull. Even so Red rattles both wires and is spat out.
It's now hampering Yellow. Ref is on. Fulford copes.
22 Jul 2023 10:31AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L2 Essick has lifted Yellow from by 2 to A-baulk.
Yellow hits Blue (16y).
22 Jul 2023 10:31AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Or maybe 17 or 18y.
All my distances are estimates.
And I can't go on after each hoop approach with ruler and protractor.
22 Jul 2023 10:33AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L2 Essick is thru 1, and has break.
Is it time for a TPO?
22 Jul 2023 10:34AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Essick made hoop 2 off the 4-back ball, so no real opportunity for a TPO.
L3 Fulford Yellow peels Red thru 4-back before 6.
His approach to 6 leaves an angled hoop which he runs to the boundary.
He hits 6y return roquet.
22 Jul 2023 10:38AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L2 Red is the 2-back pioneer.
22 Jul 2023 10:38AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Sorry, L3 not L2.
22 Jul 2023 10:41AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L2 Essick is thru 1-back.
22 Jul 2023 10:41AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L2 Essick leaves Blue near the west bdry.
22 Jul 2023 10:42AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
It could be an optical illusion, btu Fulford's 3-back pioneer appears to be in the hoop.
Perhaps that is why Fulford chose to rush Off south boundary rather than do a take-off.
Also he's quite good at croquet strokes.
22 Jul 2023 10:44AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L2 Essick has made 9. NSL.
22 Jul 2023 10:45AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L3 Fulford Yellow jawses Red in penult before 4-back.
22 Jul 2023 10:46AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L2 Fletcher lifts Blue to A-baulk.
Shooting at Yellow / Red (19y)....
22 Jul 2023 10:48AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L2 Fletcher hits Yellow!
22 Jul 2023 10:48AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
L3 Fulford Yellow rushed Red thru oenult before going to Black.
Croqueted it nicely to rover.
22 Jul 2023 10:49AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L2 Fletcher's rush too hoop 1 is undercut.
He's approaching from a few yards to the side.
Looks like he's a yard dead in front.
Through with a lot of wire.
Has an eight- or nine-yarder, not sure how hampered.
Ref is on.
Backswing is affected.
In fact he's taking on 15-yarder, which is les hampered.
Misses.
L3 Fulford roquets peelee after rover.
22 Jul 2023 10:56AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L3 Fulford fails to peg out Red from eight yards.
Red is 3y south of 6.
22 Jul 2023 10:57AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L2 Essick Red hits Yellow (~16y).
22 Jul 2023 10:57AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L2 Essick doesn't get rush to 1, take-off approach. Makes hoop, hits 7-yarder.
22 Jul 2023 10:59AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L3 Fulford croquets blue near east bdry.
Rushes Black west of hoop 2.
Will he be having one ball off?
22 Jul 2023 11:01AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L3 Fulford Yellow plays thick take-off.
He does peg out Yellow.
22 Jul 2023 11:02AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L3T13 Balding lifts Black to B-baulk. Hits Red (12y), rushing it off south bdry.
22 Jul 2023 11:03AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L2 Essick Red peels Yellow thru 4-back after 3.
22 Jul 2023 11:04AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L3 Balding Black takes off to Blue but doesn't get rush.
Not sure why Balding played Black not Blue.
Normally when you're 1-back and penult, you do play th penult ball so as not to concede a lift.
But Fulford has pegged a ball out so no lifts.
22 Jul 2023 11:06AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L3 Balding tried to roll to penult.
Leaves Black and Blue 4y north of 6.
22 Jul 2023 11:07AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
If Fulford shoots and misses, Balding will have a 6-yard shot to get a 3-ball break with Blue.
L3T14 Fulford shooting at Blue and/or peg.
Misses.
22 Jul 2023 11:09AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L3T15 Balding Blue his Red (6y)
L2 I think Essick has had penult peel after 6, but I was wrong last game.
22 Jul 2023 11:10AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L2 Yellow is going to rover so Essick must have had two peels of his triple.
22 Jul 2023 11:12AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L3T15 Balding Blue has 3-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 11:12AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L2 Essick fails rover peel before 3-back.
22 Jul 2023 11:13AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L2 Essick Red rushes Yellow thru rover before 4-back.
Good take-off.
22 Jul 2023 11:15AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L3 Balding approaching 4-back from ten feet. Good approach.
22 Jul 2023 11:16AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Balding has walked to 4th corner, I presume to find a spot wired from the peg.
No 3-ball straight double peel then!
Essick wins game 2 +16tp, leads Fletcher 2-0.
22 Jul 2023 11:18AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
We're still in the first game on lawn 3.
What's happened?!
22 Jul 2023 11:19AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Balding has croqueted Black off the south boundary!
22 Jul 2023 11:20AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Fulford Red hits 2-yarder, takes off to the peg.
22 Jul 2023 11:20AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Fulford wins game 1 +3 v Balding.
22 Jul 2023 11:20AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L3G2T1 Fulford Yellow 3y WNW of 5.
T2 Balding Blue max distance east bdry.
T3 Fulford Red at Blue from B-baulk...
22 Jul 2023 11:22AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L2G3T1 Fletcher Blue 3y SW of peg.
T2 Essick Yellow 2y SE of peg.
22 Jul 2023 11:23AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L2T3 Fletcher Black at Yellow, misses into B-baulk.
L3T3 Fulford misses to 7y S of Blue.
22 Jul 2023 11:25AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L3T4 Balding makes target fromB-baulk. Hits Blue.
22 Jul 2023 11:25AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L2G3T4 Essick has 4-ball break.
L3G2T4 Balding has 4-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 11:29AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Based on the last two days' play, Matthew Essick will be World Champion tomorrow.
22 Jul 2023 11:31AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L2 Essick has reached 1-back.
L3 Balding has reached 4.
22 Jul 2023 11:34AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
L2 Essick has made 9. NSL.
L3 Balding has just run 6.
22 Jul 2023 11:39AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L2T5 Fletcher lifts Blue from by hoop 2 to A-baulk.
Shooting at Red or Yellow (16y)...
22 Jul 2023 11:43AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
... Fletcher misses.
That could be his last stroke.
22 Jul 2023 11:44AM (Tournament); 36 Readers
L3T4 Balding has made 9.
Diagonal spread with Red at the peg.
22 Jul 2023 11:45AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
The rain has started.
The Mangler has graciously allowed me the corner of his table.
I can't see lawn 2 too well, but Essick hasn't yet started his turn.
L3 Fulford lifts Yellow to B-baulk. Hits Blue.
22 Jul 2023 11:49AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L2T6 Essick Yellow rushes Blue north, sends it south of 6.
L3T5 Fulford doesn't get good rush to 1. Approaching from 4y ENE of hoop. Makes it.
TPO? Though he'll be making 2 off Black (the 4-back ball).
22 Jul 2023 11:52AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Sorry, can't see lawn 2, but my best guess is:
L2T6 Essick ran hoop 1 by miles, roqueted Blue off east bdry, thick take-off to red by peg, rush to black, rush black to 2.
22 Jul 2023 11:56AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L3 Fulford pauses to put on his raincoat.
He's manoeuvred the balls to give opportunity for standard TPO.
22 Jul 2023 11:58AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L2 Essick Yellow peels Red thru 4-back after 3.
22 Jul 2023 11:58AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L3 Fulford Yellow peels Black thru 4-back after 3.
22 Jul 2023 12:01PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
L2 Essick in full control. Peels penult after 6, by about a yard.
22 Jul 2023 12:03PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L3 Fulford yellow tries to peel Black thru penult after 6. It's in the hoop, may have scores the point.
L2 Essick doesn't get rover peel before 3-back.
22 Jul 2023 12:08PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L2 Essick is thru penult.
Needs trivial straight rover peel.
22 Jul 2023 12:09PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L3 Black is now definitely thru penult.
Essick wins game 3 +26tp, and the match 3-0.
22 Jul 2023 12:11PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L3 summary:
Fulford won an error-strewn first game.
In game 2, Balding went round to 4-back 4th turn.
Fulford hit the lift and embarked on a TPO.
He has now reached 2-back with two peels done.
22 Jul 2023 12:14PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Fulford has misapproached 2-back. It was a little 4' take-off and he didn't hit it. The clip is on the hoop.
22 Jul 2023 12:15PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Blue (for 1) is by hoop 1.
Black (for rover) is by rover.
Red (for 1) is by 4.
Yellow (for 2-back) goes off east bdry, defending Blue at Black.
22 Jul 2023 12:18PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
T6 Balding Blue hits Black (6y).
22 Jul 2023 12:18PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
T6 Balding has 2y rush of Red to 1. Excellent rush.
22 Jul 2023 12:19PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Balding has made 1. The nearest ball to 2 is 1y W of the peg.
22 Jul 2023 12:20PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Balding is thru 2. Needs all-round break with single peel to equalize the match.
22 Jul 2023 12:23PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
USA has had a tremendous tournament.
Eight players qualified for the knock-out.
At least one will be in tomorrow's final.
22 Jul 2023 12:25PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
G2T6 Balding Blue peels Black thru rover after 5.
22 Jul 2023 12:29PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
The rain is heavy.
22 Jul 2023 12:33PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Balding is thru 2-back.
22 Jul 2023 12:36PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Balding is making rover off partner. Not ideal but shouldn't be a problem.
22 Jul 2023 12:41PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Balding wins game 1 +19. 1-1 v Fulford.
Best-of-5 match.
22 Jul 2023 12:43PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Sorry,
Balding wins game 2 +19, 1-1 v Fulford.
22 Jul 2023 12:43PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Lunch.
22 Jul 2023 12:47PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
G3T1 Balding Black 3y NW of 5.
T2 Fulford Red 1' south of 2nd corner.
T3 Balding Blue at Red (13y). Hits.
22 Jul 2023 1:14PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
T3 Balding rolls out of 2nd corner. Presumably Red should have hit hoop 2, but it didn't.
Blue is short of rush on Black. Now approaching 1 from end of A-baulk. Sticks in hoop.
22 Jul 2023 1:16PM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Fulford moves along A-baulk trying to find the best shot.
Shooting at Blue with Black in background.
Hits Blue.
22 Jul 2023 1:20PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
From here (I'm 10y N of 2nd corner) it looked like Blue was in the hoop.
But Fulford hasn't picked up the Blue clip, so it can't have been.
22 Jul 2023 1:21PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Fulford approaches 1 from 3y. Slight overhit, angled hoop, nicely run.
22 Jul 2023 1:22PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
It's still raining.
22 Jul 2023 1:23PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
G3T4 Fulford Yellow has 4-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 1:24PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
Again Fulford is contemplating POPping. This time (unlike game 1) he runs 4 cleanly.
22 Jul 2023 1:29PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
T4 Fulford Yellow fails to POP Black thru 1 before 5.
22 Jul 2023 1:31PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Fulford appears to have given up on POPping.
And he's in a little bit of trouble at 1-back.
He's approaching from 5' south of hoop.
Not due south fortunately.
The ball appears to find a hill.
2' angled hoop. The way he's looking, it's almost 45 degrees.
22 Jul 2023 1:38PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Fulford Yellow scatters Red.
22 Jul 2023 1:39PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
The hoop must have been unrunnable.
22 Jul 2023 1:39PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
T5 Balding Black hits Yellow (13y).
Again Fulford has broken down with a ball at 1.
22 Jul 2023 1:40PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
T5 Balding's first croquet stroke is underhit.
Perhaps the lawn is slowing down owing to the rain.
22 Jul 2023 1:42PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
T5 Balding is thru 1.
Has 3-ball break.
Red is still on the west bdry where it was scattered.
22 Jul 2023 1:43PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Balding is thru 3, no rush. Pretty good roll and he continues.
22 Jul 2023 1:46PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Balding is thru 5. Red is still on west bdry.
22 Jul 2023 1:48PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Balding is thru 1-back, and at last uses Red.
22 Jul 2023 1:51PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
T5 Balding has made 9.
Diagonal spread with Yellow at the peg.
Clips: Balding Blue 1, Black 4-back; Fulford Red 1, Yellow 1-back.
22 Jul 2023 1:56PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
T6 Fulford Red to B-baulk. Misses Blue to 4th corner.
22 Jul 2023 2:00PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
T7 Balding Blue doesn't get good rush to 1.
Approaching hoop from 5y SW of hoop.
Overhit by a good yard, no chance of hoop.
Blue to north bdry to defend Yellow at Black.
22 Jul 2023 2:03PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
T7 Fulford Yellow at Black (10y).
Re-stalks.
Misses.
22 Jul 2023 2:04PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Yellow comes on inches west of Blue.
Balding Blue now rushing black to 1.
Right line but 5 yards past.
Better approach and he's thru.
Red still in 4th corner.
22 Jul 2023 2:07PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Sorry Fulford's last shot was T8 not T7.
T9 Balding Blue is thru 4.
Black is waiting at 4-back.
22 Jul 2023 2:12PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
T9 Balding Blue is lining up to peel Black thru 4-back before 6.
Peel goes thru, nice rush to 6.
22 Jul 2023 2:16PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Misapproach to 6, angled hoop, makes it.
Ref is on for hampered stroke.
No problem.
22 Jul 2023 2:18PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
T9 Balding sends Black to 2-back.
22 Jul 2023 2:19PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
T9 Balding is hoping to try penult peel before 4-back.
Now taking off to 3-back.
22 Jul 2023 2:23PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Take-off is short so Balding is approaching 3-back from a few yards in front. Copes.
22 Jul 2023 2:24PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
T9 You couldn't call this tight control, but he's still going.
Balding Blue has 5' peel of penult before 4-back.
Black stops in front of hoop.
Good rush to 4-back.
22 Jul 2023 2:27PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T9 Balding Blue plays irish peel of penult from just in front.
Black goes about 4y NNE of rover.
22 Jul 2023 2:29PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T9 Here comes the crucial rush to rover. It's a bit of a cut. Not bad, 4 or 5 foot in front, not far off straight.
22 Jul 2023 2:31PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
T9 Balding needs a straight rover peel to finish this turn.
Plays it irish, as is the fashion these days.
Black goes thru, Blue bounces off wire to the west.
22 Jul 2023 2:32PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Blue retires to second corner.
22 Jul 2023 2:33PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
T10 Fulford has choice of 5-yarders.
Fulford chooses to play Red at Black.
My expert is confused.
If he's contemplating sextuple, wouldn't he hit Yellow first?
Most players would have tried to make three hoops with Yellow, then TP.
22 Jul 2023 2:36PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
T10 Fulford playing stop-shot approach from a few yards in front of 1, sending Yellow well north.
Fails hoop 1.
22 Jul 2023 2:37PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T11 Balding Black hits Yellow (4y).
22 Jul 2023 2:38PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
T11 Balding rolls Yellow 1y east of 4 going to Red.
Rushes Red toward 1st corner.
Takes off 8 or 9y short of Blue.
Lags for 4' rush to rover.
Clips: Balding Blue rover, Black peg; Fulford Red 1, Yellow 1-back.
22 Jul 2023 2:40PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
T12 Fulford Yellow at Black / Blue. There is a hole in the middle.
He misses the peg, he's heading for Blue, he hits Black!
22 Jul 2023 2:42PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
T12 Fulford Yellow has second corner cannon.
Pretty good, approaching 1-back from two yards or so.
Thru, no rush.
Rolls Blue to 3-back going to Red near first corner.
Hits 4-yarder.
22 Jul 2023 2:46PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
What is the leave going to be?
My experts are unsure.
NSL?
22 Jul 2023 2:49PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
T12 Fulford Yellow makes 3-back, then rushes Red to 4th corner.
Blue is at 3-back, Black 3y NNW of rover.
Take-off to Blue, rushes Blue near hoop 5.
Croquets Blue toward west boundary, maybe 9y west of peg.
Rushes Black off west bdry level with hoop 2.
Croquets Black 2y S of second corner.
Yellow goes 10y north of Red.
22 Jul 2023 2:54PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
T13 Balding lifts Blue to A-baulk.
Shooting at Red (13y).
Misses on the right.
That vindicates Fulford's leave!
22 Jul 2023 2:56PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Well, if Fulford gest the break it does!
T14 Fulford Red taps Blue, takes off just shy of Yellow, overcuts it to 4y south of Black.
22 Jul 2023 2:58PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
gets
22 Jul 2023 2:58PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
T14 Fulford plays thick take-off, short with Red, rushes Black eastward.
Takes off back to Yellow, Red is off the west bdry.
Blue is wired from yellow by hoop 4.
Black is wired from Yellow not Red.
22 Jul 2023 3:02PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
T15 Balding Blue misses Black (31y).
22 Jul 2023 3:03PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T16 Fulford Red knocks Yellow near hoop 2, takes off to five yards short of Blue.
Red hits Blue, will be rushing Black to 1.
22 Jul 2023 3:05PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
I can't see third corner from here.
Here comes Black.
It is 3y NW of 1.
22 Jul 2023 3:06PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Good take-off, and Red is thru 1.
22 Jul 2023 3:07PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
After 1, Fulford plays OK roll, Red is not bad on Yellow but Black is 4y SW of 3. Blue still in vicinity of 3rd corner.
22 Jul 2023 3:08PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Fulford is looking to see the position if Red runs 2 to the boundary.
Red runs 2 more gently than that, but still further than ideal.
22 Jul 2023 3:10PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
After 2 Fulford Red rushes Yellow 1y E of hoop 6.
He's playing a take-off to Blue, so the prospective TP will be delayed, not standard.
22 Jul 2023 3:11PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fulford plays good croquet stroke to give himself 4-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 3:12PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Fulford Red peels Yellow thru 4-back before 6.
22 Jul 2023 3:17PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Yellow is the 2-back pioneer.
22 Jul 2023 3:20PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Fulford Red rushes Yellow near penult after 2-back.
For reasons unknown, Black is in front of penult, so Yellow can't be placed in the ideal position.
Take-off to 3-back.
22 Jul 2023 3:25PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
T16 Fulford Red peels Yellow thru penult before 4-back.
22 Jul 2023 3:29PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Fulford Red is taking off from Yellow at rover to Blue at penult.
22 Jul 2023 3:32PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fulford Red is peeling Yellow from a short distance (9"?) in front of rover.
22 Jul 2023 3:34PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
Fulford wins game 3 +3tp, leads Balding 2-1.
Best-of-5.
22 Jul 2023 3:35PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
G4T1 Fulford Yellow supershot 3y NW of 5.
T2 Balding Blue to max distance east bdry.
T3 Fulford Red at Blue from B-baulk. Hits!
22 Jul 2023 3:38PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
T3 Fulford is thru 1, without a rush.
Blue is at 2.
22 Jul 2023 3:40PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fulford plays good roll to establish 3-ball break.
22 Jul 2023 3:41PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
Got a lot of wire at hoop 2, but he's OK.
22 Jul 2023 3:41PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
The rain is still raining.
Fulford is still going round.
22 Jul 2023 3:45PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T3 Fulford Red has made 9.
After 3-back, Yellow is left 11y N of 4th corner, with one yard rush on Blue to Red on the west boundary, 11y south of 2nd corner.
22 Jul 2023 3:52PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
T4 Balding Black at Yellow from A-baulk.
Misses.
22 Jul 2023 3:53PM (Tournament); 14 Readers
T5 Fulford Yellow taps Black, croquets it in-lawn, rushes Blue 3y N of Red.
Croquets Blue in-lawn, rushes Red to 3y in front of 1.
22 Jul 2023 3:57PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Fulford is thru 1 and should get position for standard TP.
22 Jul 2023 3:57PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
T5 Fulford Yellow tries to peel Red thru 4-back after 3.
But Red bounces off to the side.
22 Jul 2023 4:03PM (Tournament); 16 Readers
T5 Fulford Yellow fails to get forward rush after 5.
Happily he's quite good at croquet strokes.
22 Jul 2023 4:07PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Fulford Yellow peels Red thru 4-back before 6.
22 Jul 2023 4:08PM (Tournament); 15 Readers
Red is the 2-back pioneer, but it's 6 or 7y N of the hoop.
22 Jul 2023 4:11PM (Tournament); 17 Readers
Fulford's first 3-back pioneer is a bit deep so he sends out another one.
An indifferent rush to 2-back, but he copes, just.
22 Jul 2023 4:15PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Fulford needs a few good strokes to set up the penult peel before 4-back.
From the south bdry he croquets Red 2y SSW of penult going to Black.
Black is sent 2y east of penult as Yellow gets rush on Blue to 3-back.
Yellow is thru 3-back, and can cut Blue 1y north of peg.
22 Jul 2023 4:17PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
T5 Fulford Yellow peels Red thru penult before 4-back.
22 Jul 2023 4:19PM (Tournament); 18 Readers
This time Fulford chooses to place Red at rover with a croquet stroke rather than a rush.
22 Jul 2023 4:21PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Red hilled a bit to the west, it's maybe 1y NW of rover.
Yellow makes penult.
22 Jul 2023 4:22PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Irish peel sends Red almost to the south boundary.
22 Jul 2023 4:24PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Fulford needs to rush red to the peg from near the end of A-baulk.
22 Jul 2023 4:25PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
Four yard peg-out...
22 Jul 2023 4:26PM (Tournament); 20 Readers
Fulford wins game 4 +26tp, and the match 3-1.
22 Jul 2023 4:27PM (Tournament); 22 Readers
It's still raining.
22 Jul 2023 4:27PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
If Fulford plays like he did in the last game and a half, we may well have a good final tomorrow.
If it takes him as long to wake up as it did today, he'll have lost by lunchtime.
22 Jul 2023 4:31PM (Tournament); 21 Readers
Join me at 9:30 tomorrow to find out!
Cheers for now, Andrew
22 Jul 2023 4:32PM (Tournament); 19 Readers
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