The first round of matches of Tier 1 of the AC World Team Championship, for the MacRobertson Shield, was played at Christchurch, capital of the South Island of New Zealand. England played Australia and New Zealand the USA. Club members James Death (England) and Paddy Chapman (New Zealand) are playing at number two for their respective teams, so are scheduled to meet on the final day of the series.
Each team has six players, and a test match is the best of 21 rubbers, each consisting of a best of 3 match played under the standard (not super-advanced) laws of advanced play. The teams can choose who partners each other in the doubles, and each pair plays the opposing ones to give 9 rubbers. The other 12 are singles: 1v2, 2v1, 3v4, 4v3, 5v6 and 6v5, then 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 and 6v6.
Results and some commentary are available at http://www.croquetscores.com/2013/ac/macrobertson-shield/
Both matches are now decided: England beat Australia 16-5 and NZ beat USA 20-1. Paddy beat the USA no 1 Ben Rothman, and James notched up his first singles win by beating Stephen Forster.
At lunch, Nottingham led Hurlingham 3-0 in the Mary-Rose, but trailed 1-2 against Southport in the Longman.
After an excellent beef casserole, Ian lost to Tom Coles, but Omied pegged out moments later to take a winning lead in the Mary Rose. Peter Death also won to give us a 5-2 victory.
In the Longman Ian Dovey won to level the match at 2-2, but Southport won the remaining games.
On Sunday, in the 3rd place play-off, Enfield beat Nottingham 4-3, with one win on each side by +1.
Peter Death waits while Omied Hallam pegs out to win the Mary Rose.
Mary Rose Results:
Ian Vincent & Richard Huxley bt Tom Coles and Alan Chance +10
Peter Death bt Richard Hoskyns +19
Omied Hallam bt Veronica Carlisle +20
Ian Vincent lost to Tom Coles -23
Richard Huxley lost to Alan Chance -16
Omied Hallam bt Richard Hoskyns +23
Peter Death bt Veronica Carlisle +23
Longman Cup Semi-final Results:
Carol Lewis & Brian Lewis lost to Bob Thompson & Sue Wileman -3
Tony Thomas bt Ian Dovey +1(t)
Alan Farrell bt Nigel Hames-Keward +20
Carol Lewis bt Bob Thompson +2
Brian Lewis lost to Ian Dovey -24
Tony Thomas bt Nigel Hames-Keward +14
Alan Farrell bt Sue Wileman +4(t)
Longman Cup 3rd place play-off against Enfield:
Brian Havill & John Street bt Nigel Hames-Keward & Sue Wileman +4(t)
Tony Elliott bt Bob Thompson +13
David Frost lost to Ian Dovey -3(t)
David Frost bt Nigel Hames-Keward +16
Brian Havill bt Bob Thompson +1
Tony Elliott lost to Ian Dovey -8
John Street lost to Sue Wileman -1(t)
