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THE BRITISH CONTINUE TO LOOK LIKE WORLD CHAMPIONS AS BLOCK LEADERS EMERGE IN DAY TWO

by Bob Alman

Halfway through block play, the strongest players are rising to the top, with only a few exceptions. If there is a clear leader at this point, it would have to be Stephen Mulliner of England, who has already won the tournament three times.

Stephen Mulliner has racked up his four block wins with characterisic flair, dispatching in the process two promising Americans, Jerry Stark and Wayne Rodoni - both of whom have been runners up in the tournament. Mulliner executed three of the wins with triple peels and has amassed a net point lead of +70. Rodoni, second in the block, has a chance to catch Mulliner if Mulliner falls to Shane Davis of New Zealand.

There have been no sextuples or other spectacular playing feats so far, though in the opinion of referee Richard Hilditch, Mulliner is setting the pace this year and at this point would be the favorite to win it all for the fourth time. "He's a hitter," Hilditch explains, gesturing to the smooth lawns where every ball hit truly should strike its target.

But every block - even Mulliner's - is still up for grabs by strong challengers at this halfway point, so no one can predict which players will win their block and thus win a place in the Medalist Round.

BLUE BLOCK - RESULTS AFTER TWO DAYS

Aaron Westerby of New Zealand (winner in 1996) leads the block with three out of four wins. Undefeated in the block with two games each are Jeff Dawson, Lewis Palmer, and Robert Rebuschatis.

Aaron Westerby
Robert Rebuschatis
Aaron Westerby
Simon Williams
Robert Rebuschatis
26 TP
26
26
26
22
v
v
v
v
v
Colin Pickering
Rhys Thomas
Rhys Thomas
Colin Pickering
Simon Williams
22
4
0
0
14
Jeff Dawson
Jeff Dawson
Lewis Palmer
Lewis Palmer
Rhys Thomas
Aaron Westerby
26
26 TP
26 TP
26
26
26 TP
v
v
v
v
v
v
Colin Pickering
Aaron Westerby
Colini Pickering
Rhys Thomas
Simon Williams
Simon Williams
0
9
0
9
9
0

RED BLOCK - RESULTS AFTER TWO DAYS

Steve Jones of New Zealand leads the block with three wins. Undefeated are world champion Chris Clarke and Debbie Cornelius.

Debbie Cornelius
Debbie Cornelius
Steve Jones
Steve Jones
Jeff Newcombe
26 TP
26 TP
26 TP
26
26 TP
v
v
v
v
v
Ren Kraft
Rod Williams
Jeff Newcombe
Rod Williams
Ren Kraft
0
1
9
1
10
Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke
Steve Jones
Ren Kraft
Jeff Newcombe
Rod Williams
26 TP
26 TP
26 TP
26
26
23
v
v
v
v
v
v
Steve Jones
Ren Kraft
Phil Arnold
Rod Williams
Phil Arnold
Jeff Newcombe
13
0
1
24
17
21

BLACK BLOCK - RESULTS AFTER TWO DAYS

Tony Stephens of New Zealand leads the block with three wins and one loss, edging out Harley Watts of Australia, who also has three wins and one loss.

Leo McBride
Mik Mehas
Tony Stephens
Tony Stephens
Harley Watts
26
24
26
26 TP
26
v
v
v
v
v
Harley Watts
Erv Peterson
Leo McBride
Erv Peterson
Mik Mehas
17
9
14
2
5
Steve Comish
Toby Garrison
Mik Mehas
Tony Stephens
Harley Watts
Harley Watts
26
26 TP
26
26 TP
23
26
v
v
v
v
v
v
Erv Peterson
Mik Mehas
Steve Comish
Toby Garrison
Tony Stephens
Erv Peterson
4
0
21
0
22
4

YELLOW BLOCK - RESULTS AFTER TWO DAYS

Stephen Mulliner of England leads the block undefeated with four wins. American Wayne Rodoni (second last year) is in second place in this block, with three wins and a loss to Mulliner.

Stephen Mulliner
Stephen Mulliner
Wayne Rodoni
Jerry Stark
Jerry Stark
26
26 TP
26 TP
26
26
v
v
v
v
v
Mohammad Kamal
Wayne Rodoni
Tony LeMoignan
Mohammad Kamal
Tony LeMoignan
0
0
0
2
15
Shane Davis
Brett Hewitt
Brett Hewitt
Stephen Mulliner
Wayne Rodoni
Wayne Rodoni
26
26
26 TP
26 TP
26 TP
26 TP
v
v
v
v
v
v
Tony LeMoignan
Tony LeMoignan
Brett Hewitt
Jerry Stark
Shane Davis
Jerry Stark
0
13
0
11
23
11


Thanks to John Taylor and Mike Orgill for making possible these daily report in CROQUET WORLD ONLINE MAGAZINE.



 
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