Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:25.
Welcome to the 2013 AC worlds. I will be providing a brief overview of some of the games at Roehampton today.
It is a cool overcast morning and the players are waiting to start their 5 minute practice. For those of you who don’t know the layout at Roehampton, there are 3 lawns in front of the clubhouse (renovated 2 years ago) and a fourth lawn about 200 yards away in a walled garden. All 4 lawns are in the best condition that I have ever seen them. Roehampton is historically verdant green and whilst all 4 lawns are still green, it is a light green and the grass quality is the closest to Sonoma-Cutrer that I have ever seen in the UK. Jenny and myself measured the lawns at 13.5 seconds yesterday afternoon. Whilst this is quick, they are so even paced and soft underfoot that I don’t expect any problems once the players have overcome initial nerves during the first 2 hours. Hoops here tend to be very easy.
The players are now being allowed onto the lawns.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:36.
I'll focus on the two games on lawn 2 to start with. Here, we have David Openshaw v Brian Bullen and Alan Walsh v Jenny Clarke
Perhaps the most interesting game this morning at Roehampton is new Dad Paddy Chapman against Danny Johnston. James Death (late start) might be able to text me soem info from lawn 4 if I'm lucky
The lawns at Roehampton are the opposite way round to "usual", with hoop 1 being on the far part of the lawn, so hopefully I won't make any errors - or at least less than the players!
There are no time limits for the block games.
The practice has ended and play is about to start
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:41.
Jenny has just informed me that the hoops all have 3" 3/4" imprinted across the crossbar. Perhaps this is another venue that would benefit from the wonderful Atkins hoops.
Bullen v Openshaw
1. Bullen (UK) K to 8y N of C4
2. Openshaw (RY) Y in C2
3. U shoots at K from A-Baulk, missing, but leaving no target.
4. R shoots at K from A-Baulk, missing
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:50.
Bullen v Openshaw
5. Bullen plays U and rushes R to get a cannon. Plays it really badly and R finishes 3y SE of hoop 6. His rush on partner finishes 8y E of h1. Rolls up well and runs his hoop, but has a 7 yarder on partner which is almost on the W boundary..............hits. Takes off to R and rushes to 4 yards SW of h2. Stops R towards 3 and gets in front of 2 which he runs to the boundary and picks off Y in C2. That should be a confidence building start. He still hasn't got a full break, but has good chances.
Walsh v Clarke still hasn't started
Meanwhile, my spy on lawn 4 tells me that Danny Johnston had a DL turn 3 and Paddy Chapman missed the long shot turn 4. Danny should get round off that.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:03.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont.) Brian has made 3, but has sent his hoop 4 pioneer almost onto the E boundary. The additional pace of these lawns will cause the odd problem to start with, particularly for the weaker players. Brian rolls R just S of hoop 4 going to Y and will now need a half roll approach to 4 sending Y to 5 - not easy. Played it with his hands well down the shaft and has a 40 degree hoop with Y 3y short of 5. This would be 10% at United.............Brian strokes it through to the boundary!! Now has a 5 yard return........hits. Plays a thick take-off sending R to 6 going to K on the W boundary - overhits it and gets a rush. 4 ball break now
Walsh v Clarke
1. Walsh (PW) P 9y N of C4
2. Clarke (BG) B 6" S of C2
3. W hits P from A-Baulk. Takes off to B well. Hits B and rolls it a couple of feet in from max distance spot on the E boundary and hist off behind partner leaving a rush pointing towards C2
4. Clarke has a nice targetb from the end fo B-Baulk at Walsjh's balls, but is taking the single ball target from C3 ..................... hilled off centre ball.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:10.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont.) Plenty of hoops being run by 7 yards leaving 5 yard returns here, but the break is still intact.
Walsh v Clarke
5. Alan sets up his break nicely and then fails hoop 1........I had looked away - it looked pretty straightforward.
6. Jenny has made the first couple of hoops and looks comfortable immediately with the speed.
On lawn 1, Andrew Johnston seems to have good chances of the first break against Luc Berthouze whilst Steve Jones and Charlotte Morgan don't seem to have made much progress
On lawn 3, Avery is starting his second break against Kibble and Bent is finishing his first break against Usbeck who strikes the ball very nicely.
On lawn 4, Alain Giraud is round to 4-b against Pete Trimmer whilst Danny is on 2-b on his first break against Paddy.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:33.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont) This turn from Brian isn't scoring highly on the artistic impression front. He's underapproached 3-b off partner to leave a 45 degree hoop and has the other 2 balls in B spread position...........clangs hoop.
6. Openshaw is turning down an 8 yard lift from A-Baulk in favour of a 10 yarder with his ball at the peg..........hits. Makes 1 and should be round.
Walsh v Clarke
6 (cont.) Jenny is round to 4-b, but lost control at 3-b and is struggling for a good leave. Opts for an OSL.
7. Alan lifts P (the ball on the E side fo the lawn) and shoots from A -Baulk at G in C4............Misses - may have hilled off - it's a poor boundary.
On lawn 3, Avery completes his tp against Kibble....bad start for my fantasy team :-(
Wolfgang has a break against Bent. I think he has the potential to become a good player.
On lawn 4, Danny didn't get a good leave and Paddy hit. Pete missed the long lift and Alain played a poor rush and approach to 1 and returned to partner. Pete cornered.
On lawn 1, Andrew is round to 4-b against Luc and Jones v Morgan is still dire.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:52.
Death v Parish will now replace the Avery game on lawn 3. Will this be the next game to finish???
Openshaw v Bullen
6. Openshaw is round to 4-b and has made a defensive NSL. He has laid up just 18y S of C3............he is a member here and will know that the long lifts are pretty hilly.
7. Brian lifts his h1 ball which was left on the W boundary and is taking his 18 yarder from C3.............hits quarter ball on the left, so probably started centre ball. Fails to get a rush to 1 and now needs to appraoch from 9y E of the hoop................rolls up just keeping partner on the W boundary and gets a 35 degree 2 yard hoop..............no problem. He now has a 12 yard return on partner...........snicks it. He now has a break, but partner is at 3, so I don't think we'll see any attempt at a quadruple.
Walsh v Clarke
8. Jenny runs hoop 1 by 17 yards and has a 2 yarder on her hoop 2 pioneer or a 6 yarder for a break on the ball she made 1 off.........hits the 6 yarder. Fails to get the balls ready for standard tp, so it will have to be delayed.
On lawn 3, Parish had a decent chance, but failed to get going. Death has hit.
On lawn 1, Morgan is round to 4-b with a poor leave. Jones takes a 23 yard double from B-Baulk into C4..............hits
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 11:06.
Walsh v Clarke
8 (cont.) Jenny runs 5 by 10 yards, turns down 3 yarder at hoop 6 pioneer and takes on 6 yarder............misses.
9. Alan has a 5 yarder with P at B......hits. Rools B to 2 and gets a rush South on his partner W. Needs to appraoch h1 from 7y E............perfect. Grovels through 1 .......can he hit W?? It's hampered and looks tricky. He plays it fairly quickly without a referee and misses.
10. Jenny has a 12 yarder with her 4-b ball which points towards C1.........hits. She's doing the most important part of the game well ..........being lucky :-) Looks like she's going to try and makes some hoops. Rushes 4y E of 4-b
Openshaw v Bullen
7 (cont.) Brian is just playing a 4 ball break, very sensibly. Sends partner to 2-b after h5, so this should reach 3-b and peg.
On lawn 1, Jones did nothing from hitting the lift and Morgan has the innings.
On lawn 3, the Usbeck v Bent game is very interactive.
Death is still my favourite for next to finish
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 11:20.
Walsh v Clarke
10(cont.) Jenny decides not to approach 4-b and has made a leave with P+W 2 yards in from the E and W boundaries near 2 and 3 and herself near C4 with a rush for G (H6) at W near 3.
11. Alan takes a 32 yarder with P at BG which has a 3 ball gap. Goes through the gap.
12. Jenny has played a dreadfull croquet stroke which has put B 4 inches in front of 6 (her hoop) and failed to get a rush on W. She is now sending W to h1 and has left an over 45 degress hoop which she has failed to almost in contact with B. As random leaves go, this isn't too bad!!
13. Alan wanders on and hasn't got anything very attractive. Takes W at P which is about 16 yards...................hits. It isn't clear that either B or G rushes to h1. Takes off from P near C4 (I would have rolled it to h2). Hits G, moving B a bit away from 6 and now has a 5 yard take-off to try and get a rush to 1. W finishes on the wire of 6- can it see B? Yes - it has finished as a perfect rush to h1. He should be away now.
On lawn 3, Death reaches 4-b with a diagonal spread. Parish takes the long lift..........misses
Bent looks like he might be making rover with partner on 3-b.
On lawn 1 Andrew is on tp against Luc. Morgan is on a second break against Jones
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 11:30.
Walsh v Clarke
13 (cont.) Alan clubs his h2 stroke into the far wire but it sails through to the boundary. He then grovels through 3 by 3 inches, but has an easy roquet through the hoop and now has a 4 ball break
Bullen v Openshaw
7 (cont.) Brian has reached 3-b and peg, but all 4 ball are S of rover, so I don't expect a good leave.
Y (H1) is 10y N of C4 and a foot off the boundary. R (4-B) is 3y W of the peg. U (3-B) is 5y S of C2 and K(peg) is 1y S of U.
On lawn 3, Wolfgang has missed what should be his last shot against David Bent.
As predicted, Death is the next game to finish +26tp against Parish.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 11:41.
Bullen v Openshaw
8. Openshaw plays R from where it lies at K..............misses
9. Brian has made 3-b, with 2 balls just North of it, so still has a bit work to finish. Didn't see how Brian broke down, but David is now in with his h1 ball with a chance for a standard tp.
Walsh v Clarke
13 (cont.) Alan grovels through 6, but has an open shot and is still on a break. Makes it to 4-b. He has made an NSL with Jenny's h6 ball at h4.
On lawn 3, Bent failed to finish and made a leave for 3-b.
On lawn 1, Morgan has reached 4-b and peg.
On lawn 1, Andrew is peeling rover going to 3-b.....jawsed.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:01.
Openshaw v Bullen
10. Openshaw takes oof too far to get a rush to h1 on partner for the win. His rush from 6y S of C2 is pointing at hoop 6 and UK are only 12 yards apart. He needs a good cut-rush and a good approach. Very thin rush leaves David a 10 yard backward take-off from directly N of hoop1..................good shot gives him a 4 foot 30 degree hoop...........clang.
11. Brian plays his peg ball and takes his 12 yarder..........misses.
12. Openshaw runs 1 and now the question is will he go all out for his delayed tp or just settle for an Openshawic ball to the peg with a Riggall? Surprisingly, Openshaw faisl hoop 3 off partner.
13. Bullen now has a 10 yard potential double with his 4-b ball for a laid finish..........hits. That should be that. Misses 3-yarder after rover.
Walsh v Clarke
14. Jenny lifts B and takes the long lift. Alan's P is for hoop 2, so he'll have a long rush for a break and potential standard tp. Rushes G 5 yards W of 2 and rolls up..........short........might be runnable.........quite rightly retires to partner behind h4.
15. But Jenny has been left a double. It's 32 yards away, but she's taking it. She starts walking after it in a confident manner.............it snicks...... moving P about an inch. Should be an easy ball to the peg from here. No, she's rushed short to hoop 6. Plays a stop-approach and now has a 6 yard return.........snicks it. Plays a bad rush to 1-b finishing 6 yards away. Backward take-off is good and she runs the hoop with a bit of wire to mean she only has a 6 yarder..........hits. Fails 2-b because she was at the top her backswing when Brian missed his 3-yarder.
16. Alan now has a 1 yard lift with his hoop 2 ball and a good chance.
News from lawn 4
Paddy is starting a tp against Danny
Pete is on a very delayed tp against Alain
On lawn 1, Andrew finishes his tp against Luc.
Jones is on a first break against Morgan on 4-b and peg.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:08.
Walsh v Clarke
16 cont. Alan plays a very poor stroke on his 1-yarder meaning he's had to leave it near h1. Rushes G 2y NW of H2. Good take-off, but still no ball near H3. Oops - fails h2 from straight in front leaving Jenny a laid 4-ball break with her 2-b ball. Recap
Jenny 2-b and 4-b
Alan 2 and 4-b
Openshaw v Bullen
14. Openshaw is just playing a 4-ball break without looking at his delayed tp. It is the additional pace of this lawn that is causing these errors from this mid-level group of players. 3 or 4 yard return roquets are turning into 5 and 6 yarders.
On lawn 1, it appears that Jones broke down at 3-b and Morgan is approaching 4-b with an easy finishing turn ahead of her. That will be one of the first upsets in the event.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:20.
I should have mentioned that Bent beat Usbeck +18 about 15 minutes ago, so lawn 3 is empty
Morgan beats Jones +18
So, we've just got these 2 feasts on the show lawn
Openshaw v Bullen
14 (cont.) Openshaw has a postumous 4-b peel after 4-b, so should be penult and peg v peg and peg
Walsh v Clarke
17. Jenny has made it to the peg at last. P (2) is 22y N of C1, W (4-B) is 17y S and 2feet W of C3. BG are near C4 with rush north and Jenny is 4-b and peg
Alan lifts P and is shooting down the dodgy boundary at the variety of balls...................hits G in the middle, 32 yards away.
On lawn 4, Paddy beats Danny +7tp
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:33.
Openshaw v Bullen
14 (cont.) Openshaw has made the following leave pen+peg v peg+peg
K almost in C4, U is being placed hopefully on the wire of 6 from 5 feet..............finishes short and completely open from B-Baulk. Lays up on the maximum distance spot on the W boundary with both balls off the lawn and his "rush" pointing south.
15. All sorts of playable shots here for Brian. He's got an 11 yarder at the ball at 6 which should win, but will lose if misssed or a long 20 yard double at RY from near C1 which should give him another shot if he misses. Brian is taking his long double from near C1..............but with the ball in C4, so it's a completely win or lose shot.....................misses
Walsh v Clarke
18. Alan grovels through 5 and has a tricky hampered shot.......hits fairly comfortably.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:42.
Walsh v Clarke
18. After hoop 6, Alan sends out his 2-b pioneer from N of 6 and his own ball goes just through penult!!!! He's got another hampered shot - lucky not to be in the jaws...........hits.
Alan seems to be struggling with the pace, but he's still going and a Riggall would leave him 4-b and peg v 4-b - a strong position
Openshaw beats Bullen +2
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:52.
Walsh v Clarke
18. This has been a slow scrappy nervy break, but he's made all the hoops. However, the balls are in an awful position to make a leave after pegging out G.
Alan has croqueted Brown (4-b) 4yNE of h4. He has croqueted White (4-b) 3y W of the peg and is about to peg Green out. Pegs out 2 balls - this should be fun!!
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:08.
19. Jenny lifts Brown and goes to C1 for her "rush" on White towards 4-B.................misses to 4y W of C3
20. Alan plays White 12y S of Brown
21. Jenny shoots...........hits White to middle of E boundary. Croquets White 3y W of peg, failing to get in front of 4-b. Goes 7y S of C3
22. Alan goes 6y E of the peg leaving Jenny about an 11 yarder
23. Jenny shoots......hits fairly gently in the middle rushing it 2Y E of rover. Takes off to get very shoort position at 4-b and runs the hoop. Goes to C2 - that's not good imho.
24. Alan goes past position at 4-b by 3 yards
25. Jenny goes to end of B-Baulk - she must have forgotten she wasn't giving a lift last turn.
26. Alan has a 9 to 10 yarder.........turns it down and takes position at 4-b
27. Jenny takes her 9 yarder...............hits in the middle. Croquets White SW of hoop 1 and finishes 2 feet WSE of penult. Takes 1 foot 20 degree position.
28. Big shot for Alan. If he hits, he will have a good chance to finish................hits hoop 6 finishing 4 feet E.
29. Jenny turns down her 4 footer and runs her hoop with Murray control. Rushes White near C3 and takes off to rover........just a fraction too far........looks like a 2 foot 45+ degree hoop. Takes 6" straight position - very sensible
30. Alan shoots...........hits to applause!!
On lawn 4, Trimmer is peg alone against Giraud on 1-B and Penult
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:22.
Walsh v Clarke
30.(cont) That was certainly an aggressive choice. He takes off to 4-b leaving Brown near hoop 1, but over-runs by a yard. Takes good 18" straight position at 4-b.
31. Jenny takes position at rover......... a bit short 2 foot 40 degree hoop.
32. Alan blobs 4-b
33. Jenny runs rover and plays 8y W of the peg
34. Alan runs 4-b to 12y W of C3. Runs penult by 4 yards and now has an 8 yarder at Brown!!!! Shoots.............hits it to middle of W boundary. Will he roll up to rover? No, he's croqueted Brown towards C3 and finishes 5 yards in front of rover. Will he run this as well??? Brown is 2Y NNE of h3. Turns down the hoop and takes 4 foot straight position at rover
35. Jenny remembers her lift (phew). Goes to A-Baulk and is shooting at white from 9y E of C1...................gentle stroke............misses.........finishes just E of H3
36. Alan blobs rover
37. Jenny shoots at the peg..............dribbles and finishes 3 feet SSSE of the peg.
38. Alan is turning down his hoop and taking on his 5 yarder..............no...........he's running the hoop..........I think he can get a 7 yard perfect double and is massive favourite to win..............still thinking....................he's looking at the 5 yarder again, so maybe he can't guarantee coming out at the right angle..............opts to run rover by 2 inch and is now playing back through the hoop. Dribbles through the hoop and finishes 6" W of the peg.
39 Jenny wins +1
I'm not sure I can bear any more commentary today
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:18.
Pete Trimmer vs Paddy Chapman
Both players have won 2/2 today. They are about to start on lawn 3
1. Pete plays White as a 13 yard narrow supershot
2. Paddy dribbles Brown 4 yards E of White
3. Pete dribbles at Brown from C1, snicks. Easy opportunity to get to 4-b here.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:25.
Trimmer v Chapman
3 (cont.) Pete gets hampered after hoop 5 and needs a referee..........copes.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:35.
Trimmer v Chapman
3 (cont.) Pete makes it to 4-b popping Paddy to hoop 2 after 2-b and has a 3 ducks leave.
4. Paddy shoots from the end of A-Baulk..................must have some sort of target....................raises a finger to claim it.
Nick Parish has just beaten Charlotte Morgan +16
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:49.
Trimmer v Chapman
4. (cont.) Paddy is setting up for a tpo. Peels 4-b after h3. Peels penult after 6
Alain Giraud beats David Bent with a tp.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:57.
Trimmer v Chapman
4. (cont.) Paddy peels rover before 2-b then fails to pop Pete through hoop 1 after 2-b. Misapproaches 3-b so badly that he can't even try it and retires to c2.
Pete 1 and peg with lift
Paddy 2 and 3-b
5. Pete lifts his hoop 1 ball at hoop 1 and takes a less than 6 yarder at partner past 4-b.................hits in the middle rushing it to Brown. Just needs to pick up a break with 2 decent rushes and it's all over.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:05.
5 (cont.) Pete has made hoop 1 and rushed fairly near hoop 2, but fails to make an angled hoop and Paddy has a lifeline.
6. Paddy hits a 7 yarder with his 3-b ball and it looks like we will be getting a pegged out ending.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:23.
6. (cont.) Paddy has pegged out Pete and left his h2 ball in C4 and his peg ball in C1. Pete is for h2. Interesting to see that Paddy is prepared to give Pete contact rather than leave a ball anywhere near 2 or have a wide join on the E boundary
7. Pete takes his lift and hits the ball in C1. He opts to ignore the ball in C4 and roll straight to h2. He's got a 7foot 45 degree hoop. Turns down hoop and lags 3y E of the peg.
8. Paddy is looking at whether C1 is wired from Petes ball. I think it is open. The wired spot seems to be 1 foot N of the corner. Paddy plays his peg ball from behind hoop 2 to C1
9. Pete should go to the end of A-Baulk here in my opinion.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:35.
9. (cont.) After 5 minutes thinking, Pete does go to the end of A-Baulk
10. I think Paddy should move the ball in C1 to 2y W of C3 - or as close to that spot as he can get without risking hitting any furniture. Maybe Brown was a few inches out of C4 - Paddy plays Brwon into C4
11. Pete shoots at Brown..........hits. Now he needs to split Brown to h3 going to Green in C1 - just goes off the lawn north of Green.
12. Paddy should be able to make a good leave here. Leaving Green near C1 and laying up with Brown near C3 wired from White looks ok. Let's see what he does. Paddy rushes white to the north boundary and so will be opting to lay up at Pete's hoop I think. Sends white very close to C4, finishing inside the E yard line with the strikers ball. Rushes over to C2 and is making a leave.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:52.
13. Pete plays to 8y E of C1.
14. Paddy plays well to pick up a break, but overappraoches 2-b. It's runnable, but is it worth taking? Takes it on.........runs it by 3 inches and has a slightky hampered 5 yarder at Petes ball. If he misses, Pete will have a lift and a good chance. He's taking it on..................centre ball
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:56.
14 (cont.) Having done the hard work, Paddy fails 3-b.
15. Pete has an 8 yard lift for a good chance..............hits.
Submitted by Chris Clarke on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 18:12.
15 (cont.) Pete wins +6. Good start 3/3.
That's all from me today. I'll be at Roehampton again tomorrow.
Comments
Welcome to the 2013 AC worlds. I will be providing a brief overview of some of the games at Roehampton today.
It is a cool overcast morning and the players are waiting to start their 5 minute practice. For those of you who don’t know the layout at Roehampton, there are 3 lawns in front of the clubhouse (renovated 2 years ago) and a fourth lawn about 200 yards away in a walled garden. All 4 lawns are in the best condition that I have ever seen them. Roehampton is historically verdant green and whilst all 4 lawns are still green, it is a light green and the grass quality is the closest to Sonoma-Cutrer that I have ever seen in the UK. Jenny and myself measured the lawns at 13.5 seconds yesterday afternoon. Whilst this is quick, they are so even paced and soft underfoot that I don’t expect any problems once the players have overcome initial nerves during the first 2 hours. Hoops here tend to be very easy.
The players are now being allowed onto the lawns.
I'll focus on the two games on lawn 2 to start with. Here, we have David Openshaw v Brian Bullen and Alan Walsh v Jenny Clarke
Perhaps the most interesting game this morning at Roehampton is new Dad Paddy Chapman against Danny Johnston. James Death (late start) might be able to text me soem info from lawn 4 if I'm lucky
The lawns at Roehampton are the opposite way round to "usual", with hoop 1 being on the far part of the lawn, so hopefully I won't make any errors - or at least less than the players!
There are no time limits for the block games.
The practice has ended and play is about to start
Jenny has just informed me that the hoops all have 3" 3/4" imprinted across the crossbar. Perhaps this is another venue that would benefit from the wonderful Atkins hoops.
Bullen v Openshaw
1. Bullen (UK) K to 8y N of C4
2. Openshaw (RY) Y in C2
3. U shoots at K from A-Baulk, missing, but leaving no target.
4. R shoots at K from A-Baulk, missing
Bullen v Openshaw
5. Bullen plays U and rushes R to get a cannon. Plays it really badly and R finishes 3y SE of hoop 6. His rush on partner finishes 8y E of h1. Rolls up well and runs his hoop, but has a 7 yarder on partner which is almost on the W boundary..............hits. Takes off to R and rushes to 4 yards SW of h2. Stops R towards 3 and gets in front of 2 which he runs to the boundary and picks off Y in C2. That should be a confidence building start. He still hasn't got a full break, but has good chances.
Walsh v Clarke still hasn't started
Meanwhile, my spy on lawn 4 tells me that Danny Johnston had a DL turn 3 and Paddy Chapman missed the long shot turn 4. Danny should get round off that.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont.) Brian has made 3, but has sent his hoop 4 pioneer almost onto the E boundary. The additional pace of these lawns will cause the odd problem to start with, particularly for the weaker players. Brian rolls R just S of hoop 4 going to Y and will now need a half roll approach to 4 sending Y to 5 - not easy. Played it with his hands well down the shaft and has a 40 degree hoop with Y 3y short of 5. This would be 10% at United.............Brian strokes it through to the boundary!! Now has a 5 yard return........hits. Plays a thick take-off sending R to 6 going to K on the W boundary - overhits it and gets a rush. 4 ball break now
Walsh v Clarke
1. Walsh (PW) P 9y N of C4
2. Clarke (BG) B 6" S of C2
3. W hits P from A-Baulk. Takes off to B well. Hits B and rolls it a couple of feet in from max distance spot on the E boundary and hist off behind partner leaving a rush pointing towards C2
4. Clarke has a nice targetb from the end fo B-Baulk at Walsjh's balls, but is taking the single ball target from C3 ..................... hilled off centre ball.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont.) Plenty of hoops being run by 7 yards leaving 5 yard returns here, but the break is still intact.
Walsh v Clarke
5. Alan sets up his break nicely and then fails hoop 1........I had looked away - it looked pretty straightforward.
6. Jenny has made the first couple of hoops and looks comfortable immediately with the speed.
On lawn 1, Andrew Johnston seems to have good chances of the first break against Luc Berthouze whilst Steve Jones and Charlotte Morgan don't seem to have made much progress
On lawn 3, Avery is starting his second break against Kibble and Bent is finishing his first break against Usbeck who strikes the ball very nicely.
On lawn 4, Alain Giraud is round to 4-b against Pete Trimmer whilst Danny is on 2-b on his first break against Paddy.
Bullen v Openshaw
5 (cont) This turn from Brian isn't scoring highly on the artistic impression front. He's underapproached 3-b off partner to leave a 45 degree hoop and has the other 2 balls in B spread position...........clangs hoop.
6. Openshaw is turning down an 8 yard lift from A-Baulk in favour of a 10 yarder with his ball at the peg..........hits. Makes 1 and should be round.
Walsh v Clarke
6 (cont.) Jenny is round to 4-b, but lost control at 3-b and is struggling for a good leave. Opts for an OSL.
7. Alan lifts P (the ball on the E side fo the lawn) and shoots from A -Baulk at G in C4............Misses - may have hilled off - it's a poor boundary.
On lawn 3, Avery completes his tp against Kibble....bad start for my fantasy team :-(
Wolfgang has a break against Bent. I think he has the potential to become a good player.
On lawn 4, Danny didn't get a good leave and Paddy hit. Pete missed the long lift and Alain played a poor rush and approach to 1 and returned to partner. Pete cornered.
On lawn 1, Andrew is round to 4-b against Luc and Jones v Morgan is still dire.
Death v Parish will now replace the Avery game on lawn 3. Will this be the next game to finish???
Openshaw v Bullen
6. Openshaw is round to 4-b and has made a defensive NSL. He has laid up just 18y S of C3............he is a member here and will know that the long lifts are pretty hilly.
7. Brian lifts his h1 ball which was left on the W boundary and is taking his 18 yarder from C3.............hits quarter ball on the left, so probably started centre ball. Fails to get a rush to 1 and now needs to appraoch from 9y E of the hoop................rolls up just keeping partner on the W boundary and gets a 35 degree 2 yard hoop..............no problem. He now has a 12 yard return on partner...........snicks it. He now has a break, but partner is at 3, so I don't think we'll see any attempt at a quadruple.
Walsh v Clarke
8. Jenny runs hoop 1 by 17 yards and has a 2 yarder on her hoop 2 pioneer or a 6 yarder for a break on the ball she made 1 off.........hits the 6 yarder. Fails to get the balls ready for standard tp, so it will have to be delayed.
On lawn 3, Parish had a decent chance, but failed to get going. Death has hit.
On lawn 1, Morgan is round to 4-b with a poor leave. Jones takes a 23 yard double from B-Baulk into C4..............hits
Walsh v Clarke
8 (cont.) Jenny runs 5 by 10 yards, turns down 3 yarder at hoop 6 pioneer and takes on 6 yarder............misses.
9. Alan has a 5 yarder with P at B......hits. Rools B to 2 and gets a rush South on his partner W. Needs to appraoch h1 from 7y E............perfect. Grovels through 1 .......can he hit W?? It's hampered and looks tricky. He plays it fairly quickly without a referee and misses.
10. Jenny has a 12 yarder with her 4-b ball which points towards C1.........hits. She's doing the most important part of the game well ..........being lucky :-) Looks like she's going to try and makes some hoops. Rushes 4y E of 4-b
Openshaw v Bullen
7 (cont.) Brian is just playing a 4 ball break, very sensibly. Sends partner to 2-b after h5, so this should reach 3-b and peg.
On lawn 1, Jones did nothing from hitting the lift and Morgan has the innings.
On lawn 3, the Usbeck v Bent game is very interactive.
Death is still my favourite for next to finish
Walsh v Clarke
10(cont.) Jenny decides not to approach 4-b and has made a leave with P+W 2 yards in from the E and W boundaries near 2 and 3 and herself near C4 with a rush for G (H6) at W near 3.
11. Alan takes a 32 yarder with P at BG which has a 3 ball gap. Goes through the gap.
12. Jenny has played a dreadfull croquet stroke which has put B 4 inches in front of 6 (her hoop) and failed to get a rush on W. She is now sending W to h1 and has left an over 45 degress hoop which she has failed to almost in contact with B. As random leaves go, this isn't too bad!!
13. Alan wanders on and hasn't got anything very attractive. Takes W at P which is about 16 yards...................hits. It isn't clear that either B or G rushes to h1. Takes off from P near C4 (I would have rolled it to h2). Hits G, moving B a bit away from 6 and now has a 5 yard take-off to try and get a rush to 1. W finishes on the wire of 6- can it see B? Yes - it has finished as a perfect rush to h1. He should be away now.
On lawn 3, Death reaches 4-b with a diagonal spread. Parish takes the long lift..........misses
Bent looks like he might be making rover with partner on 3-b.
On lawn 1 Andrew is on tp against Luc. Morgan is on a second break against Jones
Walsh v Clarke
13 (cont.) Alan clubs his h2 stroke into the far wire but it sails through to the boundary. He then grovels through 3 by 3 inches, but has an easy roquet through the hoop and now has a 4 ball break
Bullen v Openshaw
7 (cont.) Brian has reached 3-b and peg, but all 4 ball are S of rover, so I don't expect a good leave.
Y (H1) is 10y N of C4 and a foot off the boundary. R (4-B) is 3y W of the peg. U (3-B) is 5y S of C2 and K(peg) is 1y S of U.
On lawn 3, Wolfgang has missed what should be his last shot against David Bent.
As predicted, Death is the next game to finish +26tp against Parish.
Bullen v Openshaw
8. Openshaw plays R from where it lies at K..............misses
9. Brian has made 3-b, with 2 balls just North of it, so still has a bit work to finish. Didn't see how Brian broke down, but David is now in with his h1 ball with a chance for a standard tp.
Walsh v Clarke
13 (cont.) Alan grovels through 6, but has an open shot and is still on a break. Makes it to 4-b. He has made an NSL with Jenny's h6 ball at h4.
On lawn 3, Bent failed to finish and made a leave for 3-b.
On lawn 1, Morgan has reached 4-b and peg.
On lawn 1, Andrew is peeling rover going to 3-b.....jawsed.
Openshaw v Bullen
10. Openshaw takes oof too far to get a rush to h1 on partner for the win. His rush from 6y S of C2 is pointing at hoop 6 and UK are only 12 yards apart. He needs a good cut-rush and a good approach. Very thin rush leaves David a 10 yard backward take-off from directly N of hoop1..................good shot gives him a 4 foot 30 degree hoop...........clang.
11. Brian plays his peg ball and takes his 12 yarder..........misses.
12. Openshaw runs 1 and now the question is will he go all out for his delayed tp or just settle for an Openshawic ball to the peg with a Riggall? Surprisingly, Openshaw faisl hoop 3 off partner.
13. Bullen now has a 10 yard potential double with his 4-b ball for a laid finish..........hits. That should be that. Misses 3-yarder after rover.
Walsh v Clarke
14. Jenny lifts B and takes the long lift. Alan's P is for hoop 2, so he'll have a long rush for a break and potential standard tp. Rushes G 5 yards W of 2 and rolls up..........short........might be runnable.........quite rightly retires to partner behind h4.
15. But Jenny has been left a double. It's 32 yards away, but she's taking it. She starts walking after it in a confident manner.............it snicks...... moving P about an inch. Should be an easy ball to the peg from here. No, she's rushed short to hoop 6. Plays a stop-approach and now has a 6 yard return.........snicks it. Plays a bad rush to 1-b finishing 6 yards away. Backward take-off is good and she runs the hoop with a bit of wire to mean she only has a 6 yarder..........hits. Fails 2-b because she was at the top her backswing when Brian missed his 3-yarder.
16. Alan now has a 1 yard lift with his hoop 2 ball and a good chance.
News from lawn 4
Paddy is starting a tp against Danny
Pete is on a very delayed tp against Alain
On lawn 1, Andrew finishes his tp against Luc.
Jones is on a first break against Morgan on 4-b and peg.
Walsh v Clarke
16 cont. Alan plays a very poor stroke on his 1-yarder meaning he's had to leave it near h1. Rushes G 2y NW of H2. Good take-off, but still no ball near H3. Oops - fails h2 from straight in front leaving Jenny a laid 4-ball break with her 2-b ball. Recap
Jenny 2-b and 4-b
Alan 2 and 4-b
Openshaw v Bullen
14. Openshaw is just playing a 4-ball break without looking at his delayed tp. It is the additional pace of this lawn that is causing these errors from this mid-level group of players. 3 or 4 yard return roquets are turning into 5 and 6 yarders.
On lawn 1, it appears that Jones broke down at 3-b and Morgan is approaching 4-b with an easy finishing turn ahead of her. That will be one of the first upsets in the event.
I should have mentioned that Bent beat Usbeck +18 about 15 minutes ago, so lawn 3 is empty
Morgan beats Jones +18
So, we've just got these 2 feasts on the show lawn
Openshaw v Bullen
14 (cont.) Openshaw has a postumous 4-b peel after 4-b, so should be penult and peg v peg and peg
Walsh v Clarke
17. Jenny has made it to the peg at last. P (2) is 22y N of C1, W (4-B) is 17y S and 2feet W of C3. BG are near C4 with rush north and Jenny is 4-b and peg
Alan lifts P and is shooting down the dodgy boundary at the variety of balls...................hits G in the middle, 32 yards away.
On lawn 4, Paddy beats Danny +7tp
Openshaw v Bullen
14 (cont.) Openshaw has made the following leave pen+peg v peg+peg
K almost in C4, U is being placed hopefully on the wire of 6 from 5 feet..............finishes short and completely open from B-Baulk. Lays up on the maximum distance spot on the W boundary with both balls off the lawn and his "rush" pointing south.
15. All sorts of playable shots here for Brian. He's got an 11 yarder at the ball at 6 which should win, but will lose if misssed or a long 20 yard double at RY from near C1 which should give him another shot if he misses. Brian is taking his long double from near C1..............but with the ball in C4, so it's a completely win or lose shot.....................misses
Walsh v Clarke
18. Alan grovels through 5 and has a tricky hampered shot.......hits fairly comfortably.
Walsh v Clarke
18. After hoop 6, Alan sends out his 2-b pioneer from N of 6 and his own ball goes just through penult!!!! He's got another hampered shot - lucky not to be in the jaws...........hits.
Alan seems to be struggling with the pace, but he's still going and a Riggall would leave him 4-b and peg v 4-b - a strong position
Openshaw beats Bullen +2
Walsh v Clarke
18. This has been a slow scrappy nervy break, but he's made all the hoops. However, the balls are in an awful position to make a leave after pegging out G.
Alan has croqueted Brown (4-b) 4yNE of h4. He has croqueted White (4-b) 3y W of the peg and is about to peg Green out. Pegs out 2 balls - this should be fun!!
19. Jenny lifts Brown and goes to C1 for her "rush" on White towards 4-B.................misses to 4y W of C3
20. Alan plays White 12y S of Brown
21. Jenny shoots...........hits White to middle of E boundary. Croquets White 3y W of peg, failing to get in front of 4-b. Goes 7y S of C3
22. Alan goes 6y E of the peg leaving Jenny about an 11 yarder
23. Jenny shoots......hits fairly gently in the middle rushing it 2Y E of rover. Takes off to get very shoort position at 4-b and runs the hoop. Goes to C2 - that's not good imho.
24. Alan goes past position at 4-b by 3 yards
25. Jenny goes to end of B-Baulk - she must have forgotten she wasn't giving a lift last turn.
26. Alan has a 9 to 10 yarder.........turns it down and takes position at 4-b
27. Jenny takes her 9 yarder...............hits in the middle. Croquets White SW of hoop 1 and finishes 2 feet WSE of penult. Takes 1 foot 20 degree position.
28. Big shot for Alan. If he hits, he will have a good chance to finish................hits hoop 6 finishing 4 feet E.
29. Jenny turns down her 4 footer and runs her hoop with Murray control. Rushes White near C3 and takes off to rover........just a fraction too far........looks like a 2 foot 45+ degree hoop. Takes 6" straight position - very sensible
30. Alan shoots...........hits to applause!!
On lawn 4, Trimmer is peg alone against Giraud on 1-B and Penult
Walsh v Clarke
30.(cont) That was certainly an aggressive choice. He takes off to 4-b leaving Brown near hoop 1, but over-runs by a yard. Takes good 18" straight position at 4-b.
31. Jenny takes position at rover......... a bit short 2 foot 40 degree hoop.
32. Alan blobs 4-b
33. Jenny runs rover and plays 8y W of the peg
34. Alan runs 4-b to 12y W of C3. Runs penult by 4 yards and now has an 8 yarder at Brown!!!! Shoots.............hits it to middle of W boundary. Will he roll up to rover? No, he's croqueted Brown towards C3 and finishes 5 yards in front of rover. Will he run this as well??? Brown is 2Y NNE of h3. Turns down the hoop and takes 4 foot straight position at rover
35. Jenny remembers her lift (phew). Goes to A-Baulk and is shooting at white from 9y E of C1...................gentle stroke............misses.........finishes just E of H3
36. Alan blobs rover
37. Jenny shoots at the peg..............dribbles and finishes 3 feet SSSE of the peg.
38. Alan is turning down his hoop and taking on his 5 yarder..............no...........he's running the hoop..........I think he can get a 7 yard perfect double and is massive favourite to win..............still thinking....................he's looking at the 5 yarder again, so maybe he can't guarantee coming out at the right angle..............opts to run rover by 2 inch and is now playing back through the hoop. Dribbles through the hoop and finishes 6" W of the peg.
39 Jenny wins +1
I'm not sure I can bear any more commentary today
Pete Trimmer vs Paddy Chapman
Both players have won 2/2 today. They are about to start on lawn 3
1. Pete plays White as a 13 yard narrow supershot
2. Paddy dribbles Brown 4 yards E of White
3. Pete dribbles at Brown from C1, snicks. Easy opportunity to get to 4-b here.
Trimmer v Chapman
3 (cont.) Pete gets hampered after hoop 5 and needs a referee..........copes.
Trimmer v Chapman
3 (cont.) Pete makes it to 4-b popping Paddy to hoop 2 after 2-b and has a 3 ducks leave.
4. Paddy shoots from the end of A-Baulk..................must have some sort of target....................raises a finger to claim it.
Nick Parish has just beaten Charlotte Morgan +16
Trimmer v Chapman
4. (cont.) Paddy is setting up for a tpo. Peels 4-b after h3. Peels penult after 6
Alain Giraud beats David Bent with a tp.
Trimmer v Chapman
4. (cont.) Paddy peels rover before 2-b then fails to pop Pete through hoop 1 after 2-b. Misapproaches 3-b so badly that he can't even try it and retires to c2.
Pete 1 and peg with lift
Paddy 2 and 3-b
5. Pete lifts his hoop 1 ball at hoop 1 and takes a less than 6 yarder at partner past 4-b.................hits in the middle rushing it to Brown. Just needs to pick up a break with 2 decent rushes and it's all over.
5 (cont.) Pete has made hoop 1 and rushed fairly near hoop 2, but fails to make an angled hoop and Paddy has a lifeline.
6. Paddy hits a 7 yarder with his 3-b ball and it looks like we will be getting a pegged out ending.
6. (cont.) Paddy has pegged out Pete and left his h2 ball in C4 and his peg ball in C1. Pete is for h2. Interesting to see that Paddy is prepared to give Pete contact rather than leave a ball anywhere near 2 or have a wide join on the E boundary
7. Pete takes his lift and hits the ball in C1. He opts to ignore the ball in C4 and roll straight to h2. He's got a 7foot 45 degree hoop. Turns down hoop and lags 3y E of the peg.
8. Paddy is looking at whether C1 is wired from Petes ball. I think it is open. The wired spot seems to be 1 foot N of the corner. Paddy plays his peg ball from behind hoop 2 to C1
9. Pete should go to the end of A-Baulk here in my opinion.
9. (cont.) After 5 minutes thinking, Pete does go to the end of A-Baulk
10. I think Paddy should move the ball in C1 to 2y W of C3 - or as close to that spot as he can get without risking hitting any furniture. Maybe Brown was a few inches out of C4 - Paddy plays Brwon into C4
11. Pete shoots at Brown..........hits. Now he needs to split Brown to h3 going to Green in C1 - just goes off the lawn north of Green.
12. Paddy should be able to make a good leave here. Leaving Green near C1 and laying up with Brown near C3 wired from White looks ok. Let's see what he does. Paddy rushes white to the north boundary and so will be opting to lay up at Pete's hoop I think. Sends white very close to C4, finishing inside the E yard line with the strikers ball. Rushes over to C2 and is making a leave.
13. Pete plays to 8y E of C1.
14. Paddy plays well to pick up a break, but overappraoches 2-b. It's runnable, but is it worth taking? Takes it on.........runs it by 3 inches and has a slightky hampered 5 yarder at Petes ball. If he misses, Pete will have a lift and a good chance. He's taking it on..................centre ball
14 (cont.) Having done the hard work, Paddy fails 3-b.
15. Pete has an 8 yard lift for a good chance..............hits.
15 (cont.) Pete wins +6. Good start 3/3.
That's all from me today. I'll be at Roehampton again tomorrow.
Chris