New Zealand fell just one rubber short of a huge upset over
title favourites Great Britain today after a stirring
comeback in the MacRoberton Shield croquet world teams
tournament in England.
Up 10-5 overnight, the hosts and defending champions needed
to grab just one of the six singles on the final day to
clinch the five-day test in Nottingham.
But wins by New Zealand skipper Aaron Westerby, team No 1
Paddy Chapman, veteran Paul Skinley and shield debutant
Michael Wright closed the gap to 10-9, making for a
nailbiting finish.
World No 4 Chapman, 22, who has been the pick of New
Zealanders at the tournament, produced a particularly
impressive 2-1 victory over five-time world champion Robert
Fulford, not conceding point after dropping the first game.
Great Britain finally closed out the test 11-10 when Scotsman
Keith Aiton beat Jenny Clarke, before Greg Bryant made it 5-1
to New Zealand on the day.
The shield competition involves the top four nations in the
world, with the final round of tests starting in London this
week.
New Zealand will face the United States in a contest likely
to determine second place, while unbeaten Great Britain face
winless Australia.
Results today after the final day of the second round of
croquet tests in the MacRobertson Shield world teams
tournament in England:-
Great Britain 11 New Zealand 10, United States 14 Australia
7.
Standings (with one round to go): Great Britain 2 wins, New
Zealand 1, United States 1, Australia 0.
Great Britain v New Zealand scores in Nottingham (NZ names
first)
Doubles: Paul Skinley (Wellington)/Michael Wright
(Wanganui) lost to Robert Fulford/Ian Lines 14-26 26-12tp
26-2tp, Greg Bryant (Nelson)/Jenny Clarke (Canterbury) lost
to Stephen Mulliner/Keith Aiton 21-26tp 26-13tpo 26-16tpo,
Paddy Chapman (Canterbury)/Aaron Westerby (Waikato-King
Country) bt David Maugham/Rutger Beijderwellen 26-0tp 26-0tp,
Bryant/Clarke lost to Fulford/Lines 0-26tp 0-26tp,
Chapman/Westerby bt Mulliner/Aiton 9-26tp 26-0tp 26-0tp,
Skinley/Wright lost to Maugham/Beijderwellen 9-26 26-0tp
26-3, Chapman/Westerby lost to Fulford/Lines 21-26tp 26-8
26-0tp, Skinley/Wright lost to Mulliner/Aiton 26-0tp
26-15tpo, Bryant/Clarke bt Maugham/Beijderwellen 26-19tpo
12-26otp 26-9tp.
Singles: Westerby lost to Fulford 11-26 26-0tp
26-9sxp, Chapman bt Maugham 26-4tp 26-0tp, Skinley lost to
Beijderwellen 26-11tp 26-9tp, Bryant lost to Mulliner 26-0tp
26-8, Wright bt Aiton 26-0 26-12tp, Clarke lost to Lines
26-10 26-11, Westerby bt Maugham 26-12 26-0tp, Chapman bt
Fulford 12-26tpo 26-0tp 26-0tp, Skinley bt Mulliner 26-0tp
26-19tp, Wright bt Lines 7-26 26-0tp 26-11, Clarke lost to
Aiton 26-11tp 26-13 Bryant bt Beijderwellen 26-21tp 26-8tp.
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