[<<] [>>] by Phil Cordingley
11th July 2001 (International)

Current Match Score: GB 8 - USA 0
First to 11 matches wins the trophy

Today's Results

GB1 C. Clarke beat US2 D. Bent +26tp, +26tp, +26tp
GB2 C. Irwin beat US1 K. Rosenberry +20, +20, +17tp
GB3 P. Cordingley beat US4 B. Ruby +26tp, +26, +23
GB4 D. Harrison-Wood ties US3 B. Cherry +26, +3, +22, -17
GB5 S. Tudor beat US6 P. Bennett +17, +16tp, +23
GB6 D. Foulser beat US5 R. Kelley -12, -26, +24tp, +24, +12

Lawns freshly cut, and easy paced. Weather overcast with a freshening wind and heavy showers.

Another highly satisfactory day at the office for the GB team, winning five of the six singles (four in straight games) with one unfinished. This brings the current match score to GB 8 - USA 0, giving rise to the possibility of GB clinching tomorrow.

Chris Clarke completed his first ever 78 - 0 victory by seeing off Dave Bent with a hat trick of +26tps. This outcome was briefly threatened when Dave hit a lift, but then fell foul of an angled hoop shot and rabbit run at hoop 1.

Next to finish was Phil Cordingley with as easy, though not so impressive, a victory over Brit Ruby. Brit's shooting deserted him, and then when he had a couple of chances in game three, hoop running became equally elusive. Phil has now conceded a grand total of just four points in five games.

New boy Sam Tudor continued to show a degree of maturity beyond his experience in defeating Paul Bennett in straight games.

Colin Irwin on the other hand is nothing if not experience personified, and also won in straight games over Kenster Rosenberry.

In the final two matches the Americans found the odd glimmer of hope. Rory Kelley had a two game lead until a gritty fight back saw Dave Foulser triumph in a sweaty fifth.

Finally, David Harrison-Wood and Bob Cherry ground out a marathon four and a half hour second game, which ended in David pegging out Bob with his other ball for 4b, Bob for penult. I then witnessed a period of some thirty minutes play where David retained the innings without at any stage playing the backward ball. Not surprisingly, the match was pegged down upon completion of the fourth game.

Tomorrow sees the second series of best-of-three doubles.