EX-CONS STEAL THE GAME IN CLOSE CONTEST

Hustlers put up a brave performance against the league leaders but were robbed by a smash and grab spare by Ex-Cons on the penultimate hand.

Although no-one knew it at the time, the first hand set the scene for the entire game.  An inauspicious start by Lloyd (who now hosts Barry the Beaver over Christmas) and Dave resulted in a 9 pin deficit for the hand and, despite an excellent initial showing by Lofty, this was the way the rest of the leg finished.

There then started a slow recovery.  John shone on second leg with a fine 43 which just about covered the deficit run up by the Hylands and, by the end of the leg, the gain of 2 pins reduced the shortfall to 7.  Third leg continued in a similar vein; Stuart’s excellent 41 was enough to cover the other two on the leg and the deficit was reduced by a further 3.

Hustlers therefore went into last leg only 4 pins in arrears.  Clive played a captain’s innings with 42 but Gary and Neil fell short.  However, it was a 13 spare by the Ex-Cons on the penultimate leg that left Hustlers with too much to do and, despite two nervous scores by the Ex-Cons first two players, their anchor man only required 3 to win on the last hand, which he achieved with 4 to spare.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our followers !