The two Christchurch clubs Fendelton and United played host to the aptly named Green block, in which Kieran Murphy and Danny Johnston attempted to ping above their 3rd place seeding and qualify for the knockout. A tall order considering only the top pair from each block progressed!
The combination of solid Atkins hoops and speedy lawns put the Irish pair on the back foot initially, but eventually the first day went according with the seedings. The Scottish pair of Hope and Murray were dispatched quickly, as were the Kiwi pair of Stuart and Broughton. However the Irish Open doubles champions came unstuck against Aussie 2nd seeds Landrebe and Graham. This was a close fought match in humid conditions, the hoops providing some incredible rejections on both sides!
Day 2 started with a loss to top seeds (and eventual winners!) Avery and Wright, the lawns in the United club were turning brown and proves to slippery for the Irish pair. The block was completed with a narrow win on time over Field and Sharp as the lawns began to bake.
Conditions in Christchurch are wonderfully challenging, with only one triple completed on day 1 and none attempted on day two. The top players were all content with turns to the peg, with both semi finals going to time! The locals say the best is yet to come, so with the singles beginning tomorrow morning players will certainly have to have their wits about them!