Croquet fans around the world were treated to another thrilling day of championship play at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday as England’s Mark Avery rallied from two games down to defeat world No. 1 Robert Fletcher (AUS) 3–2 in a dramatic semifinal. On the opposite side of the draw, Reg Bamford (ZAF) advanced in three straight over Logan McCorkindale (NZL) to secure his place in Sunday’s 2025 WCF AC World Championship final.
Sunday’s title match promises to be one for the ages: Bamford will be chasing his sixth AC world title — tying the legendary Robert Fulford — and his eighth world crown overall, including two in Golf Croquet. Avery, meanwhile, returns to the biggest stage with unfinished business, having fallen just short as a finalist in the inaugural championship back in 1989.
On the featured court six lawn for the USCA YouTube Livestream, Bamford got in first with his black ball and set a DSL. McCorkindale lifted the peg ball (R) to A Baulk and hit blue to get into the action. But the turn was short-lived as he stuffed H2 with black as the north side reception ball. After a bit of back and forth, Bamford seemed to get a good start but dribbled through H1, then missed a four-yard hampered shot on black. McCorkindale couldn’t hit in and Bamford resumed the break and finished game one with a triple.
New Zealand’s Logan McCorkindale
McCorkindale fought back in game two as he opened with a third turn 3BB that finished with a leave with all three balls on the west boundary. Bamford shot from B Baulk with red at what could have been a double target and hit black. He went around and set the DSL with blue by the peg and black near the west boundary. McCorkindale lifted blue and shot from A Baulk but missed. Bamford got off to a shaky start with a bad rush to H1 that required a six-yard takeoff from black north of H1. The takeoff was played well and ran through on his way to a finishing triple for a 2-0 lead.
Game three started with McCorkindale doing a duffer tice and which Bamford opted not to hit. McCorkindale hit it and set a leave that Bamford missed. McCorkindale made Hoop 1 long with yellow and missed a six-yard return on red that let Bamford in.
Robert Fletcher (AUS) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the semifinal
In the Fletcher versus Avery semifinal, Fletcher stormed out to a 2-0 lead and had the first ball around in game three, and set an NSL. Avery lifted to A Baulk needing a roquet to extend the match. He hit the pressure shot and went around, but didn’t get his NSL set properly and left a double opportunity from B Baulk. Fletcher took the shot but missed and that opened it up for Avery to get back in the match with a finishing triple
England’s Mark Avery works on a comeback to earn a spot in the finals
In game four, Avery was first around and set an NSL. Fletcher missed from B Baulk and Avery started the finishing turn. He ran into trouble at Hoop 2, but Fletcher wasn’t able to hit the from H3. The break resumed, but more adventure took place with a hampered shot after H5. The sweep shot was successful, and Avery continued the break but could not finish with a triple and ended up setting a DSL. Fletcher opted for the more defensive choice and took the long shot at partner from A Baulk and missed, ending up in C2. Avery got a wonderful rush to get over to the west side and finished the game for a 26-0 win to force the decider.
Avery hit with the third ball and left yellow in the middle of the court (west) and returned to the west boundary. Fletcher shot from B Baulk and missed into C4, allowing Avery to get started on the first break of the game. He finished the turn and bailed on an NSL and ended up with an OSL. Fletcher shot from A Baulk and missed opening up a match-winning turn for Avery.
The Championship Final is best-of-5. The Shield, Bowl, and Plate finals are best-of-3. Matches in the Ramekin and the Manager's Invitational are single-game.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE, OCTOBER 26, 2025
The Championship Final: 8:45, Court 6
Mark Avery v. Reg Bamford
The Shield Final: 8:45, Court 7
Tom Balding v. Zack Watson
The Bowl Final: 8:45, Court 3
Edmund Fordyce v. Stephen Mulliner
The Plate Final: 8:45, Court 2
Duncan Reeve v. Sherif Abdelwahab
The Ramekin
Process Final: 8:45, Court 10
Ian Lines v. Greg Hill
Draw Final
David Fuller v. Greg Hill
The Manager's Invitational Knockout: Semifinals: 8:45, Court 11
A: Jordan Waters v. Nick Parish
B: John Versey v. Michael Gidding