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Stumped

Having risen to 4th in Div 2, Hustlers played their 1st innings against their 2nd cricketing opponents of the season.  Could their winning streak continue?

 There was some trepidation amongst the Hustlers, as they worried about the condition of the wicket alley even before the first ball.

Our opening partnership got off to a good start as AS and Cap’n Clive both knocked off 40s – AS getting our first 9 spare of the season, with Jim helping establish a lead of 15 pins.  Despite Mark’s best efforts to collect a beaver, 2nd leg kept the opposition below 100 in a knock that increased the lead by a further 16 pins to put us 31 up at the halfway stage.

The start of the 3rd leg had the feeling of an England middle order batting collapse as we conceded 12 pins in the first 2 hands.  But they pulled themselves together with the help of AU’s 40 and just lost the 8 pins, to give the anchors a 23-pin lead to defend – and we knew they could give us a tense time with that big a lead.  But the tailenders put in a glorious performance as Dobbin knocked off our highest spares and first 50 of the season in chalking up a superb 22-pin leg win and give us our biggest winning margin of the season.

With no game next week due to cup fixtures, we next face up to the Old Golds at the Gas Club.

25/10/10 v Cheltenham CC @ Cheltenham CC

AS 7 4 8 8 9 9s 45

Jim

3 4 5 6 6 7 31

Clive

8 8 8 9 6 7 46

1st leg total 122 v 107

Mark 7 5 5 4 4 1 26
TC 4 9 6 6 7 7 39
Lewis 8 6 7 9 7 6 43

2nd leg total 108 v 92

AU

7 4 9 7 7 7 41

Stu

7 5 7 6 4 2 31
Steve 2 4 6 9 8 5 34

3rd leg total 106 v 114

 

Rob

8 16 6 7 5 8 50

JT

7 6 8 6 7 5 39
Neil 7 7 8 7 7 6 42

4th leg total 131 v 109

Grand total 467 v 422

WIN by 45!!

The Chosen Ones

Now on a roll, Hustlers returned to the Suffolk to face the Chosen Champs.  Could the run of victories continue?

A much changed Husters team took to the alley this week.  First leg got off to a steady start, with Stu notching up our first 40 of the night as he guided us to an impressive 13-pin lead.  Steve kept up the 40 per leg, but couldn’t help extend the lead.  Instead, we dropped 5 pins, to raise the tension of the game a little.

3rd leg fought back, with Lewis claiming our third 40, but dropped a further 10 pins, putting us behind for the first time.  So, once more it came down to the anchors to chase the game down.  And they set about doing so from the off, but it was still a tight fight right up to the end, as Rob’s 40 guided us to a low-scoring victory.  But the run continues, so we all stay happy.

Next Monday sees us visiting Cheltenham CC.  Can we carry our winning streak through another match?

18/10/10 v Chosen Champs @ Suffolk

AS 5 7 6 7 7 4 36

Jim

5 6 8 4 5 6 34

Stu

5 8 8 6 8 5 40

1st leg total 110 v 97

Pete 2 4 7 4 4 5 26
JimBob 7 2 5 4 6 7 31
Steve 6 8 9 8 6 6 43

2nd leg total 100 v 105

Lewis

9 7 7 7 7 5 42

Rich

5 6 5 5 5 6 32
Clive 4 7 7 6 7 5 36

3rd leg total 110 v 120

Rob 9 6 5 7 5 9 41
Gary 6 5 7 4 7 3 32
Neil 7 7 8 7 3 4 36

4th leg total 109 v 100

Grand total 429 v 422

WIN by 7!!

Bowled over

Still high on our first league win of the eason, this week the Hustlers faced the unbeaten Cowley Cricket Club.  Would our bowling have the Cricket Club stumped?

Well, it certainly looked that way as JT’s 35 was made up for by Gary’s 44 and JimBob’s first ever 40 (and looking like getting a maiden spare at one stage) as we took an 18-pin lead, despite conceding a spare.  TC tried to cancel out the 40s from Lewis & Stu, but 2nd leg still managed to extend the lead by a further pins, even in the face of another CCC spare.   And so we went into the 2nd half up by 22 pins.

A steady 3rd leg decided to make the game a little more interesting (it helped that we saw CCC spin in another 2 spares) as a 13-pin loss left the anchor leg simply needing to defend a 9-pin lead.

And what a leg it proved to be.  In a hotly contested battle, CCC slowly clawed back the pins, until we were down to the last hand and the Hustlers ahead by a single pin – truly squeaky bum time.  7s from AS & Olive, left Neil just needing to match it to tie the game.  And so it came to roost – 8 off Neil’s first 2 balls was enough to win the game, clearing up with the last to chalk up his 3rd 9 of the night and claim top score to boot.

A 2-pin win against an unbeaten team who scored 5 spares (as well as a 50) wasn’t a bad result – win ugly will do for the Hustlers!

Back at home next week against new opponents Chosen Champs.

12/10/10 v Cowley CC @ Charlton Club

JT 5 5 9 5 6 5 35

JimBob

7 7 7 7 7 8 43

Gary

7 9 8 7 7 6 42

1st leg total 122 v 104

Lewis 7 8 8 6 7 4 40
TC 8 5 7 6 4 4 34
Stu 6 8 7 7 7 7 42

2nd leg total 116 v 112

Mark

7 8 5 7 7 3 37

Pete

6 6 8 6 5 7 38
Rob 7 6 6 6 5 8 38

3rd leg total 113 v 126

AS 7 6 7 7 6 7 40
Clive 5 7 5 8 6 7 38
Neil 7 9 7 9 6 9 47

4th leg total 125 v 132

Grand total 476 v 474

WIN by 2!!

2011 Trip

Well, it’s nearly time to decide on th edestination for the Hustlers’ 2011 trip.  Our match v Cowley CC will be decision day.  Who will we inflict ourselves on next year?

3 coastal destinations are vying for our business in 2011 – who will draw the short straw?  Make your mind up by the next match:

Dobbin wants to take us to Porthcawl (but didn’t realise that it’s in Wales)

Olive is offering up Bournemouth (can we decide if it’s in Hampshire or Dorsset?)

Salty has selected Portsmouth (a sea dog’s true home from home).

We should know the result after our next game.  Tune in for the decision.