Croquet England AC Open Championships
Saturday - semifinals by Andrew Gregory
Good morning from Cheltenham.
13 Jul 2024 8:48AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
It is overcast with a faint drizzle.
13 Jul 2024 8:49AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
All 4 semifinalists are here.
The rain is discouraging their warm-up.
13 Jul 2024 8:50AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Today we have:
Robert Fulford v Samir Patel (lawn 1)
James Death v Gabrielle Higgins (lawn 7)
Best-of-5.
Higgins has vetoed superAdvanced.
Fulford and Patel "haven't discussed it yet".
13 Jul 2024 8:52AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Robert Fulford v Samir Patel
They have played 55 games.
Fulford has won 40.
Hang on...
Dedicated readers will know that after game 1 of yesterday's match, Patel and Mulliner were 30-30 on ranked games.
And now Fulford leads 40-15.
Another tennis score!
I cannot tell you how happy that.makes me.
They have played twice in the Open knock-out.
2008: Final: Fulford beat Patel +16qp +17 +26tp
2013: quarterfinal: Patel beat Fulford -12sxp +19tp +3otp +2otp
Let's hope for a match as exciting as that last!
13 Jul 2024 8:54AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
James Death v Gabrielle Higgins
They have played 16 games, Death has won 11.
Death has won all 3 best-of-3 matches, with 4 SXPs and 2 QPs
Higgins won their Swiss game on Tuesday
13 Jul 2024 8:55AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Players are warming up.
13 Jul 2024 8:57AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
I think I'll adopt Jenny Clarke's convention today.
When describing Death v Higgins, I shall use italics.
I shall of ciourse get it wrong at some point.
Why not set up a sweepstake for first commentary error?
I wouldn't bet on more than half an hour!
13 Jul 2024 8:59AM (Tournament); 12 Readers
Lawn 1 will be superAdvanced.
L1G1T1 Patel Blue 10y N of IV
T2 Fulford Red 1y SW of 6.
13 Jul 2024 9:03AM (Tournament); 15 Readers
L7G1T1 Death Black 3y SW of peg.
13 Jul 2024 9:03AM (Tournament); 13 Readers
L1T3 Patel Black hits Blue from A-baulk.
13 Jul 2024 9:04AM (Tournament); 16 Readers
L7T2 Higgins Red E bdry nr max distance point.
L7T3 Death Blue misses Red from B-baulk, comes on 6y S of Red.
13 Jul 2024 9:05AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L1T3 Patel must have played some good shots and he's thru 1
Another good shot and he has 3-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 9:06AM (Tournament); 17 Readers
L7T4 Higgins Yellow makes target from B-baulk, hits Blue.
13 Jul 2024 9:08AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L7T4 Higgins Yellow is rolling to 1 from 4y east. Not bad. She makes hoop.
The Red ball is surprisingly near 2nd corner.
13 Jul 2024 9:10AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L1T3 Patel Black has sent out a 1-back pioneer, so will be conceding contact.
13 Jul 2024 9:11AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L7T4 Higgins Yellow needs a rush to 3 to establish 4-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 9:13AM (Tournament); 18 Readers
L1T3 Patel Black has made 2-back off Blue.
Red is waiting at 3-back.
13 Jul 2024 9:16AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
Patel Black has made 9.
Red is in or very near 4th corner.
Blue is on west bdry, 11y S of 2nd corner.
Black shoots off to 3rd corner.
L7T4 Higgins has grovelled thru 4, ref is on for hampered stroke. Not too difficult, the break continues.
13 Jul 2024 9:19AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L1G1T4 Fulford Yellow taps Black just S of 3rd corner.
Oppo says that Blue and Red are wired.
So Fulford plays small croquet stroke wiring Blue and Black.
Then fires Yellow off 3y W of Red.
13 Jul 2024 9:24AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L1G1T5 Patel Blue is shooting at Red.
They are wired!
But Patel reckons the southward slope will take it round hoop 4.
Blue hits hoop 4, stays close in a place where it won't rush to hoop 1.
13 Jul 2024 9:26AM (Tournament); 19 Readers
L7G1T4 Higgins has made 9.
13 Jul 2024 9:27AM (Tournament); 20 Readers
L1G1T6 Fulford Red taps yellow, croquets it near peg.
Red rushes Blue near Black, then Black to 1 (just missing Yellow).
He's less than 3y in front of 1.
13 Jul 2024 9:29AM (Tournament); 21 Readers
L7G1T4 Higgins has diagonal spread.
13 Jul 2024 9:29AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L1T4 Fulford picks up break.
TPO?
1-back leave?
Or just a ball round?
13 Jul 2024 9:32AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L7G1T5 Death lifts Blue from near west bdry to A-baulk.
Misses Red or Yellow.
13 Jul 2024 9:33AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L7G1T6 Higgins Red is a bit short for her rush to 1, but an excellent cut and she's away.
13 Jul 2024 9:35AM (Tournament); 22 Readers
L1T6 Fulford Red attempts long (2 or 3y) peel of Black thru 4-back after 3.
Peel doesn't go thru, looks like Black is parked on eastern wire.
13 Jul 2024 9:37AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L1T6 Afer 4, Fulford Red rushes Blue 3y SW of 3
Itseems he is persisitong with the TPO attempt.
13 Jul 2024 9:39AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Higgins needs a standard TP to win the first game.
13 Jul 2024 9:41AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
L1T6 Fulford Red peels Black thru 4-back before 6.
13 Jul 2024 9:41AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L1T6 Fulford has a severely angled hoop 6. (40 degrees?)
Tries little jumpy thing.
Fails hoop.
13 Jul 2024 9:43AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
The opponent appears to be refereeing Higgins for two slightly hampered strokes near 3.
Higgins 4-back peel is just thru, still in the jaws I guess.
13 Jul 2024 9:45AM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L1T7 Patel is thru 1 with a 4-ball break.
He needs a double peel to win the first game.
13 Jul 2024 9:47AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1T7 Patel Blue peels Black thru penult before 3.
13 Jul 2024 9:50AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L7T6 Higgins Red peels Yellow thru penult after 6.
13 Jul 2024 9:53AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1T7 Patel Blue jawses Black in rover after 5.
13 Jul 2024 9:54AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Yesterday's expert thought such peels unnecessarily early.
13 Jul 2024 9:55AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
That expert is somewhat vindicated as Patel doesn't get rush after1-back, has a big croquet stroke, and leaves himself 8' north of ball in hoop.
No problem though, Black is rush-peeled.
13 Jul 2024 9:58AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
It would appear Higgins has peeled thru rover before 2-back.
3-back pioneer isn't great but I'm sure she'll cope.
13 Jul 2024 9:59AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Opponent reports that Higgins' rover peel (before 2-back) was from near penult!
13 Jul 2024 10:00AM (Tournament); 24 Readers
It looks like Patel will win the race to finish the first game, being a hoop and a half ahead.
13 Jul 2024 10:01AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Patel wins game 1 +21.
13 Jul 2024 10:05AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
###Higgins wins game 1 +26tp.###
13 Jul 2024 10:07AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Higgins wins game 1 +26tp.
13 Jul 2024 10:07AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
That doesn't count as a mistake, I just guessed wrong how to do bold italics.
13 Jul 2024 10:08AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1G2T1 Fulford Yellow 10y N of IV.
T2 Patel Blue 1' W of 6.
13 Jul 2024 10:09AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
L1G2T3 Fulford Red at Blue from end of B-baulk.
Hits it, not softly.
13 Jul 2024 10:10AM (Tournament); 26 Readers
Oppo wants me to write that he hits 4th turn, so that it will magically come to pass.
I do not have such powers.
13 Jul 2024 10:11AM (Tournament); 25 Readers
Usual leave, Red on east bdry with rush on Blue to Yellow 10y east of peg (and a bit north probably).
13 Jul 2024 10:13AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L1G2T4 Patel Black at Red from B-baulk (~20y)....
13 Jul 2024 10:14AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
... Patel misses.
13 Jul 2024 10:15AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L1G2T7 Fulford misapproaches 1 from close..
Another jump attempt fails.
That's two errors.
13 Jul 2024 10:19AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
sorry that was T%.
13 Jul 2024 10:19AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
T5, D'oh
13 Jul 2024 10:19AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Who had 11:19am in the sweepstake?
13 Jul 2024 10:20AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
T6 Patel Blue misses 15-yarder.
13 Jul 2024 10:20AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
G2T3 Higgins Black has hit partner and is taking off to Red near 2nd corner.
Goes off lawn in 2nd corner.
13 Jul 2024 10:21AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
T7 Fulford plays a curious turn, which again ends up with a failed angled jump.
He's not settled yet.
13 Jul 2024 10:23AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
This time Patel has a 13-yarder.
Misses.
L7G2T4 Death Yellow hits Red, rushes Black south, fails to approach 1.
He retires to south bdry.
13 Jul 2024 10:24AM (Tournament); 28 Readers
T9 Fulford misses 5-yarder.
13 Jul 2024 10:25AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
T10 Patel hits 6-yarder.
13 Jul 2024 10:26AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L7G2T5 Higgins hits! (Maybe 15-yarder?)
13 Jul 2024 10:27AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
T5 Higgins undercuts rush to 1, is approaching from 2y E of 1st corner.
Not great, 4 or 5', 15 degrees.
Through, and with a useful rush!
13 Jul 2024 10:30AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1G2T10 Patel has 4-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 10:31AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L7 higgins had longer than you'd want hoop 2.
She's thru and has 4-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 10:33AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L1 Patel Blue has made 1-back, and then rushed Black into 2nd corner ready for the contact leave.
In case you haven't been reading from the start, Lawn 1 is playing superAdvanced, and lawn 7 is not.
13 Jul 2024 10:38AM (Tournament); 27 Readers
L1G2T10 Patel Blue has made 9.
Black is in 2nd corner, Yellow 1' W of 4th corner, Red 1' N of 4th corner,
Blue fires off to 3rd corner.
13 Jul 2024 10:42AM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L1T11 Fulford plays balls as they lie.
Red rushes Yellow to end of A-baulk.
13 Jul 2024 10:44AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L7G2T5 Higgins has reached 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 10:44AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Fulford having some sort of leave near 1st corner, ignoring Blue and Black.
13 Jul 2024 10:46AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L7 Higgins has made 9.
Diagonal spread.
13 Jul 2024 10:49AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
L1T12 Patel Black at Blue (26y)...
13 Jul 2024 10:50AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
... Patel misses.
Looked close.
13 Jul 2024 10:51AM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L1T13 Fulford Red makes 1 off Yellow.
L7G2T6 Death lifts Red from by the peg to B-baulk.
Misses.
13 Jul 2024 10:52AM (Tournament); 36 Readers
L1T13 Fulford has a cannon in 3rd corner.
Pretty well played.
He's thru 2.
13 Jul 2024 10:54AM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Fulford Red has made 2 off Blue (the 4-back ball).
So no chance for standard TPO.
13 Jul 2024 10:56AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Did Fulford think Black was for 4-back?
13 Jul 2024 10:57AM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Fulford has left Black near 4-back, so delayed TPO in the offing.
13 Jul 2024 10:59AM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Higgins has her mallet in the air.
She's at hoop 3.
Hampered shot I guess.
13 Jul 2024 11:00AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Patel is the only Championship Referee left standing.
That wasn't too tricky.
She'll be taking off to the ball near 4th corner.
13 Jul 2024 11:02AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
George Noble is here,and has bought me a drink.
Thank you George!
13 Jul 2024 11:03AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L1 Fulford Red jawses Blue in 4-back before 6.
Can Higgins repeat yesterday's trick of rushng partner into peeling posi after 4?
Er... no.
13 Jul 2024 11:05AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
L1 Fulford Red makes 6 off Black, takes off to rush Blue thru 4-back.
Blue is sent to 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 11:06AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L7 Higgins gets forward rush after 5.
13 Jul 2024 11:07AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1 Fulford has misapproached 1-back.
This looks near 45 degrees
This time he gets the jump.
Mallet in the air.
Perhaps the hoop carrot needs bashing in?
13 Jul 2024 11:09AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Pete Trimmer is on with mallet basher.
Sensibly marks Red in case his bashing moves it.
Higgins peeled 4-back before 6.
13 Jul 2024 11:11AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Fulford manages to hit Yellow and the break continues.
Fulford on delayed TPO.
Higgins on delayed TP.
13 Jul 2024 11:12AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Plate: Joel Taylor beat Mark Suter +14otp.
13 Jul 2024 11:15AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Fulford Red peels Blue thru penult before 4-back.
Blue goes 2y W of rover.
13 Jul 2024 11:17AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Fulford's straight rover peel is thru.
13 Jul 2024 11:24AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Higgins' delayed TP still on schedule.
13 Jul 2024 11:24AM (Tournament); 30 Readers
After rover, Fulford Red rushes yellow off east bdry, about peg-high.
Takes off back to Black behind rover.
13 Jul 2024 11:25AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Fulford Red pegs out Blue.
Red off in 2nd corner.
13 Jul 2024 11:27AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Higgins wins game 2 +26tp
Higgins leads 2-0 (best-of-5).
13 Jul 2024 11:29AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L1G2T14 Patel Black takes croquet off Yellow.
Rolls Yellow 5y N of hoop 1 going to Red.
Thick take off from second corner to 1.
He's 10 or 11' in front of 1.
13 Jul 2024 11:32AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel makes the hoop!
And he has forward rush!
13 Jul 2024 11:33AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Patel Black rushes Yellow 3y south of 2nd corner.
Yellow is sent to 3.
Black needs to take off to 2 from north bdry.
13 Jul 2024 11:34AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L7 is lunching. Sadly lunch not ready yet.
13 Jul 2024 11:35AM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Patel's take-off to 2 is short by 6 inches.
13 Jul 2024 11:35AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel taps in front of 2, wired from Red.
13 Jul 2024 11:37AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Expert recommends Red to 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 11:38AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L1G2T15 Fulford Red to 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 11:38AM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L1G2T16 Patel Black runs hoop 2.
Shooting at Yellow (13y).
Hits!
13 Jul 2024 11:39AM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Yellow is 5' SE of 3.
Patel makes 3 but no rush.
13 Jul 2024 11:40AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Patel rolls to hoop 4.
Not bad, 7' hoop.
Makes it!
Has rush to 5.
13 Jul 2024 11:41AM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Patel makes 5.
Now approaching 6 from near peg.
Red still in 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 11:42AM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel is thru 6 with a rush to 1-back.
13 Jul 2024 11:43AM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel is thru 1-back, with rush toward 1st corner.
Black rushes Red.into Yellow.
He has a cannon!
13 Jul 2024 11:45AM (Tournament); 41 Readers
My runner was mistaken, no cannon.
13 Jul 2024 11:45AM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Patel stops Red halfway to 3-back, runs 2-back.
Has 6-yarder at Yellow, hits centre ball.
13 Jul 2024 11:46AM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Pretty good croquet stroke out of 1st corner.
Favourite to finish now.
13 Jul 2024 11:48AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Patel fails 3-back.
13 Jul 2024 11:48AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Not sure if Black can run hoop.
We guess he might be able to run it, but only by a foot or so.
13 Jul 2024 11:49AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Red is 3y away, but roqueting Black ain't easy.
13 Jul 2024 11:50AM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Fulford still thinking.
13 Jul 2024 11:50AM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Patel's 3-back was far from his trickiest hoop of the turn.
Maybe he was trying for a forward rush he didn't really need.
13 Jul 2024 11:52AM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Fulford elects to shoot Yellow at Red (14y).
So either Black doesn't run, or it can run hard.
L1G2T17 Fulford Yellow hits Red.
13 Jul 2024 11:53AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Red didn't move very far.
Fulford takes off to rush Black to 1.
He's thru the hoop.
13 Jul 2024 11:55AM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Excellent croquet stroke after 1.
Rush to 2 is 5 yards shy.
Rolls up.
It's angled, but not so severe that he has to jump.
Thru 2, has 3-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 11:57AM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Plate:
Pete Trimmer beat Doug Grimsley +16
David Wise beat Jack Good +4
13 Jul 2024 11:59AM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Fulford has reached hoop 5 without alarm.
13 Jul 2024 12:00PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Marcus Evans has been in touch:
Since you asked, I'm claiming a commentary error at 1032:
"L1T4 Fulford picks up break.
TPO?
1-back leave?
Or just a ball round?"
In super advanced, I'd argue there's no such thing as "just a ball round". But if you meant a ball to 1-back laying up for the 1-back ball to continue (as distinct from a 1-back leave laying for a sextuple), fair enough. Fulford would hardly ever play for that though!
13 Jul 2024 12:03PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Fulford tidy thru 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 12:04PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Fulford unable to get pioneer all the way to 4-back.
He gets a forward rush out of 3-back so should be OK.
13 Jul 2024 12:06PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Fulford wins game 2 +5tpo.
Match tied at 1-1 (best of 5)
13 Jul 2024 12:10PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Lunch.
13 Jul 2024 12:10PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Neither match has resumed.
13 Jul 2024 12:35PM (Tournament); 27 Readers
Plate:
David Fuller beat Matt Smith +10
Ed Duckworth beat David Goacher +3
13 Jul 2024 12:37PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
Richard Hilditch asks:
Is "'expert" = Mr Cruncher? He is often bad at spotting what Rob is doing.[smiley face]
Mr Cruncher is Chris Clarke. I have certainly relied on his expertise yesterday, but today he has gone to Nottingham to spectate a Golf croquet tournament.
He is Chairman of GC Selectors.
A certain Keith Aiton is playing in the event. 2/3 so far I understand.
13 Jul 2024 12:42PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
I am sat beside the bar.
There is a barrel of beer. (Butcombe Original, since you ask.)
It is supported by an ingenious device which, as the beer goes down, automatically raises the bottom of the barrel so that the beer can still be dispensed by gravity.
13 Jul 2024 12:47PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
L7G3T1 Death Blue 5y E of hoop 4.
13 Jul 2024 12:48PM (Tournament); 26 Readers
T2 Higgins Red somewhere near 6.
T3 Death Black hits Blue
13 Jul 2024 12:50PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Death sends Blue 5y SW of 2.
Rushes Red 12y S of 2nd corner.
Take off to 1.
Not in front.
Retires to bdry near Red.
13 Jul 2024 12:51PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L7G3T4 Higgins Yellow to B-baulk. Shooting at Black (15y).
Hits!
13 Jul 2024 12:53PM (Tournament); 24 Readers
Only snicked it. That counts!
Higgins has missed nothing.
13 Jul 2024 12:54PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L1G3T1 Patel tries to lay supershot by bouncing off hoop 5.
He misses the hoop.
Fulford insists it's put in baulk. (This match is superAdvanced.)
Patel puts it in 3rd corner.
13 Jul 2024 12:55PM (Tournament); 23 Readers
L7G3T4 Higgins has break.
13 Jul 2024 12:56PM (Tournament); 25 Readers
L1G3T2 Fulford puts Yellow in 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 12:57PM (Tournament); 28 Readers
L1G3T3 Patel approaches 1, putting Yellow halfway to 2.
Fails hoop.
13 Jul 2024 12:58PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L1G3T4 Fulford Red plays good roll out of 3rd corner, Blue to 2 going to Yellow.
Has 4-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 1:00PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Fulford has already POPped Black thru 1 and 2.
13 Jul 2024 1:05PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Maybe a POP or 2 of Blue is in order.
13 Jul 2024 1:07PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
L7G3T4 Higgins has made 9.
NSL.
13 Jul 2024 1:08PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
No POPping Blue.
Presumably 6 hoops and a leave.
Something cunning, no doubt.
13 Jul 2024 1:10PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Wrong again, Black's gone to 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 1:11PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L7G3T5 Death lifts Black from hoop 4 to B-baulk
"Last shot."
Hits!
13 Jul 2024 1:13PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Death makes his first hoop of the day.
13 Jul 2024 1:14PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
L1 Fulford Red has made 9.
After 3-back tries to cut Yellow into 4th corner but he's a foot or so shy.
Yellow now 18" north of 4th corner.
Rushes Black not quite to east bdry, it's maybe 5y east of 3.
Leaves himself 5y short of Blue, hits.
Stops Blue 7y N of 1st corner, maybe inlawn a bit.
Red to 2nd corner.
Clips: Fulford Red 4-back, Yellow 1; Patel Blue 1, Black 3.
Death attempting standard TPO.
13 Jul 2024 1:23PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L7G3T5 Death Black peels Yellow thru rover before 3-back.
13 Jul 2024 1:25PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1G3T5 Patel picks up Blue.
13 Jul 2024 1:26PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel Blue is taking croquet off Red.
Squarish split sends Red nr middle of w bdry.
Blue hits Black.
Takes off to Yellow.
Yellow now 2y W of 4th corner.
Blue leaves Black rush to 3.
Yellow and Red not quite wired by 5.
13 Jul 2024 1:31PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
L1G3T6 Fulford yellow misses Blue (28y).
Not close.
13 Jul 2024 1:32PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L7G3T5 Death completes TPO.
He also POPped Red to 2 while I wasn't looking.
Blue is left near 4th corner, Black in 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:34PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
L1G3T7 Patel Black taps Blue, takes off to Yellow.
Stop shot approach goes well.
Patel has 3-ball break.
13 Jul 2024 1:35PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
L7G3T6 Higgins Red takes croquet from Blue, sending Blue 5y short of 3 going to Red.
Tries to roll to 2.
Both balls short.
Optimistic hoop attempt fails.
13 Jul 2024 1:37PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
_L7G3T7 Death Black hits Red (5y).
Red is near end of B-baulk.
Black rushes Blue to 3y east of 1st corner.
Leaves Black at hoop 1, wired from Red.
13 Jul 2024 1:39PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Rats, first italic error.
13 Jul 2024 1:39PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L7G3T7 Death Black hits Red (5y).
Red is near end of B-baulk.
Black rushes Blue to 3y east of 1st corner.
Leaves Black at hoop 1, wired from Red.
13 Jul 2024 1:40PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L7G3T8 Higgins finesses to 4th corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:40PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1G3T7 Patel's Black clip will be on 1-back.
He has diagonal spread with Yellow at the peg.
He's left the rush for Blue.
13 Jul 2024 1:43PM (Tournament); 29 Readers
Oh dear, it's a B-spread.
L1G3T8 Fulford Yellow at Red (10y).
Misses.
13 Jul 2024 1:43PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Sorry, missed a turn or two on L7.
Red is now in 1st corner.
Death has made hoop 3.
13 Jul 2024 1:45PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L1G3T9 Patel Blue rushes Black in front of 1-back!!
Peels Black thru 1-back going to Yellow.
I was assuming Patel would be TPOing rather than SXPing, but after that start...
13 Jul 2024 1:47PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
L1G3T9 Black was peeled to 7y north of 2-back.
Blue runs 1 to north of Black.
Now trying 2-back peel after 1.
Gets it!
13 Jul 2024 1:48PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Maybe I should hold a straw poll.
Do you want me to concentrate on L7's 3-ball ending, or Patel's sextuple attempt?
L7 Death has reached hoop 6.
Red still near 1st corner.
Blue / Black near 3rd corner.
Don't think Higgins has taken a shot since the contact turn.
13 Jul 2024 1:50PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Higgins to 4th corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:51PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Death rushes Black to S bdry behind 4.
Take off to try to get rush on Red.
Bit shy, cuts it 4y ESE of peg.
Rolls to 6 putting Red deep.
Not close enough to hoop.
Fires off to 4thcorner.
13 Jul 2024 1:54PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Higgins to 3rd corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:55PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel's Black is just in front of 3-back.
Presume failed peel after 4.
Yellow is sent to hoop 6.
Makes 5 off Red.
13 Jul 2024 1:56PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Death wires Blue / Black from Red by 4.
13 Jul 2024 1:56PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Higgins to near 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:57PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Death Blue cuts Black 4y NE of 6.
Not good enough, so off near 3rd corner.
13 Jul 2024 1:58PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Patel is peeling 3-back going to Yellow.
Not sure he can get especially near Yellow, as peelee is slightly east of dead in front.
Black sails thru to about 2y from the N bdry.
Five-yarder at Yellow, no probelm.
13 Jul 2024 2:00PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
problem
13 Jul 2024 2:00PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Higgins' Red is now near 4th corner.
Death ends his turn scattering himself to 6y apart across 2nd corner.
His clip is on 1-back.
13 Jul 2024 2:01PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel's 2-back pioneer is by 4-back.
13 Jul 2024 2:02PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
Higgins shoots Red at Black.(35-yarder).
Misses.
13 Jul 2024 2:03PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
_Death Black rushes Red north,
He tries to rush Blue so he can peel it (thus avoiding the lift).
Peels it by a few yards.
Retires to 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:05PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Death Black rushes Red north,
He tries to rush Blue so he can peel it (thus avoiding the lift).
Peels it by a few yards.
Retires to 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:06PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Higgins Red hits Blue (11y).
Approaches 2.
Longish hoop, just runs it.
Hits Blue (6y).
13 Jul 2024 2:08PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Higgins rolls to 3 from 12y..
Not bad.
Again doesn't run cleanly.
Hits 7-yarder.
13 Jul 2024 2:09PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Higgins now rolling to 4 from 7 yards.
4 or 5' hoop
Run to the boundary.
13 Jul 2024 2:10PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Patel has just made 4-back.
Five peels done, I reckon.
13 Jul 2024 2:11PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Higgins fails an angled hoop 5.
13 Jul 2024 2:12PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Death Blue to near 4th corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:14PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Higgins calls a ref on to watch her hoop 5.
Runs it to east of 6.
Taps in front.
13 Jul 2024 2:14PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel is in ideal posi for straight rover peel.
13 Jul 2024 2:15PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Death Black hits Blue (25y).
Takes off to Red.
13 Jul 2024 2:16PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Patel wins game 3 +17sxp.
Patel leads 2-1 (best of 5).
13 Jul 2024 2:16PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Left another 30+-yarder, Higgins finesses to 2nd corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:18PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Death leaving wired rush near 4th corner.
Death 2-back and peg v 6 and box.
13 Jul 2024 2:18PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Death makes 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 2:19PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
another wired rush.
13 Jul 2024 2:19PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Higgins to middle of A-baulk.
13 Jul 2024 2:21PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
L1G4T1 Fulford Yellow 9y N of IV
T2 Patel Blue to (just out of) 2nd corner
13 Jul 2024 2:22PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
T3 Fulford Red hits Yellow from A-baulk.
13 Jul 2024 2:22PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
I guess Death didn't have a rush to 3-back.
Red is sent halfway between hoop 2 and 2nd corner.
Gets someone to umpire where Blue goes off (near Black) in case of double target.
13 Jul 2024 2:25PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Higgins to 3y east of 1st corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:25PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
L1G4T3 Fulford takes off 7y short of Blue, hits.
13 Jul 2024 2:26PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Death fails 3-back.
13 Jul 2024 2:26PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Higgins misses 18-yarder.
13 Jul 2024 2:27PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Death makes 3-back, rushes Red to 4-back, makes it with rush to penult.
13 Jul 2024 2:29PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Death Blue makes penult off Red, rushes Red to rover.
Black is nr east boundary east of 4,.
13 Jul 2024 2:30PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Death makes rover, rushes Red off S bdry behind 4.
Take off does not yield rush to peg.
He's 2y east of 4.
Umpire at peg.
It hits!
13 Jul 2024 2:32PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Death wins game 3 +8tpo.
Higgins leads 2-1 (best of 5).
13 Jul 2024 2:32PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
L1G4T4 Patel Black misses Blue from B-baulk.
13 Jul 2024 2:33PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
L1G4T5 Fulford picks up break.
13 Jul 2024 2:34PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
We've drunk all the Butcombe Original.
On to some bottled stuff.
13 Jul 2024 2:36PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
After 3 Fulford sends a ball near 1,for POPping purposes.
13 Jul 2024 2:38PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
No POPs yet, and Fulford will be making 1-back.
13 Jul 2024 2:43PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
L7G4T1 Higgins Blue to east bdry.
T2 Death Red near 2nd corner.
T3 Higgins Black misses Blue.
13 Jul 2024 2:44PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Fulford grovels thru 1-back, ref is on.
Sweep shot.
He hits, but the leave may be compromised.
13 Jul 2024 2:46PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
_T4 Death Yellow misses from A-baulk.
T5 Higgins Blue makes 1 off Black.)
13 Jul 2024 2:47PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
T4 Death Yellow misses from A-baulk.
T5 Higgins Blue makes 1 off Black.
13 Jul 2024 2:47PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L1G4T5 Fulford Yellow croquets Red a few feet S of 2nd corner.
L7G4T5 Higgins Blue has Black at 3, Yellow at 4, takes off to Red in 2nd corner.
Can she approach 2 from 2nd corner?
13 Jul 2024 2:50PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Difficult to judge distance from here but Higgins has a chance of 2.
Rejection!
13 Jul 2024 2:52PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Blue is 4y N of 4th corner.
Black is 2y West of 4th corner.
Red is adjusted into 2nd corner.
Yellow into 3rd corner.
Yellow clip on 3-back (by choice)
Other clips on 1.
13 Jul 2024 2:54PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Death Red wired from Blue, so shoots at Yellow, missing.
13 Jul 2024 2:55PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Higgins Blue to 2nd corner.
13 Jul 2024 2:55PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Death Yellow hits Red (6y)
Good take off to Black.
13 Jul 2024 2:56PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
L1G4T6 Patel Blue takes croquet from Red, thick take-off to Yellow, brilliant take-off to get rush on Black.
13 Jul 2024 2:57PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Death runs 1, possibly hoping for hoop and rush, but misses Black to 9y East of Blue.
Hits Blue, thick take-off back to Black near 1.
Death has made 2 and should pick up break.
13 Jul 2024 2:59PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Patel has made 1, not the best croquet stroke, but still he's now thru 2.
One or two more good strokes required for break.
13 Jul 2024 3:00PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Patel looks disappointed.
He is approaching 3 from 1yW of 3rd corner, with a stop shot.
Runs 3 and now needs to hit 10-yarder back at partner.
Does so and he has the break.
13 Jul 2024 3:03PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Death has reached 1-back.
13 Jul 2024 3:04PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
More disappointment from Patel.
I think he is (or was) contemplating the QPO.
13 Jul 2024 3:05PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
No QPO, but Patel is trying POP of Red thru 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:06PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Death has made 9, spread with Black at the peg so it won't rush to 2.
(Blue is for 2.)
13 Jul 2024 3:08PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Patel's POP failed, Red is just in front of 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:09PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
L7G4T9 Higgins lifts Blue to A-baulk, shoots at Black (near peg).
Misses to 9y West of 3rd corner.
13 Jul 2024 3:10PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Patel has given up on POPs.
Think it'll be make hoop 6 and have a leave again.
13 Jul 2024 3:13PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Death has break. Not sure if partner is in the right spot for a peel attempt after 3.
13 Jul 2024 3:13PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Death's having a go at 2y angled peel.
It bounces off 5y to the west.
13 Jul 2024 3:14PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel has again failed to get the cross-peg on his spread.
This time he decides to scatter balls.
Yellow has 6-yarder.
Clips: Fulford Red 1, Yellow 3-back; Patel Blue 1-back , Black 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:19PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Might have been 7-yarder.
Anyway Fulford has missed it to near Black
13 Jul 2024 3:20PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Death has got the first peel of his TP before 6 (probably).
13 Jul 2024 3:21PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Death peels penult before 2-back (a Death roll!)
13 Jul 2024 3:22PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
Plate:
Ed Duckworth beat David Wise +16
Pete Trimmer beat Sarah Hayes +24qnp
13 Jul 2024 3:25PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
After a bit of Mangling, Patel is back on the lawn.
Thinks.
13 Jul 2024 3:25PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Death needs a straight rover peel.
13 Jul 2024 3:27PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Patel could play Black or Blue.
He elects Black.
Death's peel is OK, bit of bombardment.
13 Jul 2024 3:28PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Death wins game 4 +255tp
Match tied at 2-2 (best of 5)
13 Jul 2024 3:29PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Death wins game 4 +25tp
13 Jul 2024 3:29PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Teatime for lawn 7
13 Jul 2024 3:31PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Rather than try to make hoops, Patel makes leave for Blue.
13 Jul 2024 3:33PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Yellow is 3y W of 1-back, Red is 2y east of 3.
Blue is on south bdry behind 1, with a rush on Black to Red.
13 Jul 2024 3:34PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
After a deal of thought, Fulford takes on Yellow at Blue or Black.
Neither of which I can see from here!
13 Jul 2024 3:37PM (Tournament); 44 Readers
Fulford missed (26y).
13 Jul 2024 3:37PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Patel's plan must be 3 hoops with Blue then a leave.
13 Jul 2024 3:38PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Patel's croquet stroke after 1-back hits hoop 6, leaving a 5-yarder.
No problem.
13 Jul 2024 3:39PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Patel looked to have played a good 25-yard take-off to Yellow just S of 2-back, but he just brushed it.
So backward take-off approach needed.
Copes, then tonks the 4-yard return well north.
13 Jul 2024 3:42PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
Another (attempted) spread.
Patel seems unhappy with the position of Yellow at the peg.
I've just been out for a squint, not sure if Yellow can see Red.
Red can see most of Yellow.
Patel rolls Blue and Black off near 4th corner.
Clips: Fulford Red 1, Yellow 3-back; Patel Blue 4-back , Black 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:47PM (Tournament); 30 Readers
Fulford lifts Red to end of A-baulk.
He's shooting at Blue (13y)....
13 Jul 2024 3:48PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
He's waiting for Joel to play from 1st corner of lawn 8...
13 Jul 2024 3:48PM (Tournament); 31 Readers
And now Brian Cumming is playing from 1st corner of lawn 8!
13 Jul 2024 3:49PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Taylor missed.
Cumming missed.
Fulford...
13 Jul 2024 3:50PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
...missed.
13 Jul 2024 3:50PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
That could prove to be his last stroke.
Not sure if Yellow will rush to 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:51PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
It will rush to 2.
13 Jul 2024 3:53PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
There is some technicality with the precise position of the balls.
13 Jul 2024 3:54PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
Patel is looking at Yellow now.
13 Jul 2024 3:55PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Blue is 18" west of 4th corner.
Red is 4" North of 4th corner.
Black is 2y north of Red.
13 Jul 2024 3:56PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Patel wants an umpire.
To see if it's a cannon.
It's not, Red is 1" east of Blue.
More thinking.
A little croquet stroke then Black rushes Blue to 2y east of 1.
13 Jul 2024 3:58PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
Patel makes 1.
He'd have liked a rush to 4th corner but he hasn't got one.
13 Jul 2024 4:00PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Patel overhits his croquet stroke getting a rush on Yellow.
Rushes Yellow into peg (deliberately), it is 10y SW of 2.
Approaches to 18" in front!
13 Jul 2024 4:02PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
L7G5T1 Death Black to E bdry.
T2 Higgins duffer
T3 Death shoots at duffer from near 3rd corner, hits hoop 6, ends up 8y W of 6.
T4 Higgins Yellow misses duffer.
T5 Death hits, has made 1, should have break.
13 Jul 2024 4:04PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
On lawn 1 Red is still near 4th corner, so the TP will be delayed.
13 Jul 2024 4:05PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Patel's hoop 6 pioneer is further south than one would like, given he's hoping to do the 4-back peel before 6.
I'd say it's 8' ENE of hoop 6.
13 Jul 2024 4:10PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
Patel is happy to play the peel straight, then trusting he gets a nice 4 or 5y tonk on Yellow to 6.
The peel is jawsed, the Yellow is tonked.
13 Jul 2024 4:12PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
L7G5T5 Death has made 9.
Spread.
13 Jul 2024 4:13PM (Tournament); 33 Readers
After 6 Patel Black rushes Yellow eastwards,then sends it 3y NW of 5.
He rush-peels Blue thru 4-back.
Yellow is judged a good enough pioneer, so Blue is croqueted near penult. Actually nearer the peg than penult.
13 Jul 2024 4:15PM (Tournament); 34 Readers
L7G5T6 Higgins lifts Yellow from near w bdry to B-baulk.
Misses to near 4th corner.
13 Jul 2024 4:16PM (Tournament); 41 Readers
L7G5T7 Death has picked up break.
Needs a delayed TP for the match.
This morning one of my experts opined that Death is a good front-runner, but not so good when behind.
I may have to downgrade him from expert to spectator.
13 Jul 2024 4:20PM (Tournament); 46 Readers
Patel Black jawses Blue in penult before 4-back.
13 Jul 2024 4:22PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Death Black fails to get forward rush after 5,and then roquets Blue in the croquet stroke.
It's all a bit untidy.
13 Jul 2024 4:24PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Patel elects to visit the other two balls after 4-back, before roqueting Blue gently.
Peel from the jaws sends Blue 2y N of rover.
13 Jul 2024 4:25PM (Tournament); 39 Readers
Death's 2-back pioneer is at 4-back.
13 Jul 2024 4:26PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Patel Black sends Red as a deep ball, Yellow as a side ball.
Here's the little rush to peeling posi...
13 Jul 2024 4:27PM (Tournament); 36 Readers
Not bad, 18", ten degrees?
13 Jul 2024 4:27PM (Tournament); 37 Readers
Death rush-peeled Blue after 1-back, then sends it to penult getting rush to 2-back.
13 Jul 2024 4:29PM (Tournament); 38 Readers
Here's Patel's peel...
13 Jul 2024 4:29PM (Tournament); 40 Readers
Irish peel, goes well.
13 Jul 2024 4:30PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Patel wins game 4 +18tp.
Samir Patel is in the 2024 Open final.
13 Jul 2024 4:31PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Plate;
David Fuller beat Doug Grimsley +25
13 Jul 2024 4:32PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Death has a 7y rush to penult.
Peelee is waiting at rover.
13 Jul 2024 4:33PM (Tournament); 42 Readers
Death wins game 5 +26tp
13 Jul 2024 4:35PM (Tournament); 43 Readers
Fuller v Grimsley was a Z game.
I wouldn't normally mention Zs.
13 Jul 2024 4:38PM (Tournament); 35 Readers
I briefly panic as Death and Higgins are still on lawn 7, but they're just practising something.
Join me at 10 o'clock tomorrow for the 2024 Open Final:
Samir Patel v James Death
Cheers, Andrew
13 Jul 2024 4:42PM (Tournament); 32 Readers
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