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

---

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.