By Eric Sawyer | Yesterday was first round of the Plate. We played and defeated the #4 seed from the other block, Wales. We won 4-1. Sherif won his first singles match. Our boys showed some real character today.

Tomorrow, we play South Africa, my early favorite. That team features all-time great Reg Bamford. I have offered to buy whoever plays and beats him in singles tomorrow whatever six-pack they pick. We should beat SA, as they have not played well in this event.

Since we already played Sweden in our block (and won), our record against Wales and SA, plus our win vs. Sweden will be factored in. Same for the other four teams. The teams will be reseeded again, and the #1 will play 4 and 2 will play 3. The winners play for The Plate, the losers play to determine who may be relegated to Tier 2. So there is a lot more croquet to be played.

The play-offs take two days. After day one, Egypt is comfortably ahead of Britain. New Zealand is up on Ireland, but those matches have been very close. Tomorrow those play-offs will finish. The winners play for the championship, the losers play for third and fourth place.

I suspect the lads are starting to get tired. It's hard playing so much croquet under such tension.