The Hustlers

Category: Match Reports

  • Salad Days

    Last game of the season saw the Hustlers host 2nd-placed Celery Boys.  Could we go out with a bang?

    After holding a lottery to select the playing order, the Hustlers lead off with a steady first leg, only to see the Celeries sneak it by a mere 4 pins.  With  Rob getting our first 40 of the night, 2nd leg put in another steady performance, but saw the lead stretch out by another 3 pins at the break.

    Refreshed by the sasuages and chips, 3rd leg built on a slow start to hit the highest leg score of the night (Neil getting top score in the process) and win by 22, handing over a 15-pin lead to the anchors.  Slowly the Celeries began to eat away at the gap, taking the lead with 2 hands to play.  With the crowds roaring, the anchors bravely rallied and, despite losing the leg by 8 pins, clinched a last-gasp victory to end the season in style.

    12/4/10  v Celery Boys @ Suffolk

    JT 3 6 8 4 7 4 32

    AS

    		 8 7 1 4 8 6 34
    Clive 6 4 7 7 7 6 37

    1st leg total 103 v 107

    Mark 9 2 5 5 8 8 37
    Rob 8 5 8 8 4 7 40
    AU 7 6 6 7 6 5 37

    2nd leg total 114 v 117

    Neil

    		 5 8 5 8 15 8 49

    Pete

    		 5 3 8 6 7 6 35
    Jim 5 5 7 3 8 9 37

    3rd leg total 121 v 99

    TC 5 7 7 3 8 8 38
    Steve 5 5 7 4 7 8 36
    Mart 6 8 6 6 6 6 38

    4th leg total 112 v 120

    Grand total 450 v 443

    WIN by 7

     

  • Golden Balls

    With rain marking the second day of Summer, the Hustlers were away to the Cannonballs Elite in a mid-table battle. 

    Following, 1st leg made an interesting start.  With 3 spares, a beaver and AU getting his highest score of the season (equalling the team’s high in the process), they scored a great 126, yet still lost by 7 pins.  Another spare came in the second leg, who pulled back 13 pins, to turn the game around and give us a 6-pin leg.  Third leg saw more drama, as we hit another spare (just!) and Barry the Brasilian Beaver changing hands for the second time in the match as they lost 3 pins to make it an even closer game.

    But there was still more to come.  Neil’s 2 spares helped him to set a new season high as, ably supported by a pair of 40s, he guided the anchors to a 22-pin lead, to confirm another Hustlers victory.

    It’s Easter next week, so we have a break before our final game of the season – at home v Celery Boys.  Can we go out on a high?  Tune in next time.

    29/3/10  v Cannonballs Elite @ United Services

    AU 7 13 14 8 5 8 55

    Mart

    		 8 8 12 5 0 8 41
    Gary 6 5 5 6 5 4 30

    1st leg total 126 v 132

    Pete 6 8 6 6 6 5 37
    JimBob 3 6 6 7 7 5 34
    Rob 4 7 8 7 13 6 47

    2nd leg total 118 v 105

    Clive

    		 5 5 7 7 7 7 38

    Mark

    		 7 8 6 5 7 10 43
    Lewis 6 7 0 8 4 6 31

    3rd leg total 112 v 115

    AS 8 8 7 5 9 6 43
    Neil 8 15 6 10 7 9 56
    JT 7 8 7 8 6 6 42

    4th leg total 141 v 119

    Grand total 497 v 471

    WIN by 26

  • Dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner ….

    With Gold Cup over, would the Hustlers be pipped at the post, or would they have the legs to win at the last?

    Setting, first leg got off to a stuttering start, with AU getting our first 40 of the nigh, while Jim managed to wrest Barry from Lofty’s grasp (only his 3rd beaver in 30 years, apparently) to give us a 10-pin lead.  Despite Rob’s 2nd spare in 2 games and JimBob’s new highest score, 2nd leg continued the stuttering and managed to lose 3 pins

    Fortunately, 3rd leg suffered no afflictions and their two 11-spares (with Pete getting our highest score of the night) managed to extend the lead by another 25 pins, leaving the anchors to finish the game off.  Initial signs were that the stuttering was back, but they quickly got a grip and managed to add another 11 pins, to give us a much-needed big win.

    Next week we’re away at the United Services for our penultimate game, v Cannonballs Elite.  Let’s get another win to make Easter nice and eggsciting. 

    22/3/10  v Batmen @ Suffolk

    AU 8 8 6 5 7 6 40
    Jim 6 6 7 7 6 0 32
    Gary 1 9 8 9 3 4 34

    1st leg total 106 v 96

    TC 4 7 5 6 3 3 28
    JimBob 5 8 4 6 5 6 34
    Rob 8 82 2 13 5 6 42

    2nd leg total 104 v 107

    Clive

    		 6 5 9 6 7 9 42

    Pete

    		 7 11 8 5 8 7 46
    Lewis 5 4 7 11 6 5 38

    3rd leg total 126 v 111

    AS 3 6 8 6 6 7 36
    Neil 7 5 7 6 8 5 38
    JT 6 7 6 9 6 9 43

    4th leg total 117 v 106

    Grand total 453 v 410

    WIN by 43

  • On your Marks

    With Gold Cup week looming on the horizon, the Hustlers faced the prospect of a 4-pointer away at St Marks.  Could they go into the break on a positive note?

    Playing second, a nervous first leg got off to a great start, with AU getting our first 40 of the night as he & Gary got 40s (making up for Lofty gaining control of Barry with his first beaver of the season) to give us an 18-pin lead.  Despite Rob’s spare, 2nd leg put in a consistent performance, but failed to capitalise and ended up dropping 4 pins.  Was the rot setting in?

    Third leg likewise struggled (how else can you explain Salty’s 9 spare?) as Lewis’ 40 kept them to within 5 pins of the saints’ leg and we let the lead dwindle to a mere 9 pins as the anchors came to the oche.  Stavros did his best to keep the game close, but Neil’s 44 and JT’s spare (helping him to his first 50 of the season) saw the anchors win the leg by a stonking 23 pins) to give us a much needed win.

    Next game is back at home on Monday 22 March v Batmen

    8/3/10  v St Marks Club @ St Marks Club

    AU 8 6 5 4 12 8 43
    Gary 7 8 6 9 9 8 47
    Martin 7 3 8 5 6 0 29

    1st leg total 119 v 101

    TC 6 7 7 5 3 4 32
    Jim 6 5 9 8 4 1 33
    Rob 4 12 5 3 5 6 35

    2nd leg total 100 v 104

    Mark

    		 2 5 4 7 3 9s 30

    Pete

    		 5 7 8 5 6 4 38
    Lewis 6 7 5 9 6 7 40

    3rd leg total 108 v 113

    AS 6 6 7 7 4 2 32
    Neil 8 8 7 8 7 6 44
    JT 8 6 8 14 7 8 51

    4th leg total 127 v 104

    Grand total 454 v 422

    WIN by 32

     

  • Yorked

    Fresh back from our trip to Torquay, Hustlers were ready to take on high flying Duke of York.  How would we fare?

    Back at home, first leg set a fine standard as they set up an 18-pin lead, with rob getting his highest score of the season.  Despite JimBob’s top score of the season, 2nd leg couldn’t maintain the standard and dropped 10 pins, ending the leg 8 pins ahead.

    Third leg performed a little better, but not well enough to compete with the Duke, dropping a further 12 pins to see us go behind for the first time in the match, but still leaving the game finely poised.  A brave anchor posted our 2nd highest total of the night, but, despite Neil’s spare, still dropped a pin and we lost by a mere 5 pins, going down to the highest score we’ve conceded at home all season.

    Next game is away next Monday v St Marks Club.

    1/3/10  v Duke of York @ Suffolk

    Rob 7 6 9 9 7 7 45
    Gary 8 8 3 4 7 6 36
    Martin 4 6 8 6 8 8 40

    1st leg total 121 v 103

    Mark 6 6 6 6 5 7 36
    JimBob 5 6 4 6 5 7 33
    Steve 8 5 9 7 6 6 41

    $2nd leg total 110 v 120

    AS

    		 7 8 8 5 7 5 40

    Rich

    		 7 5 5 6 4 8 35
    Lewis 7 7 5 7 8 3 37

    3rd leg total 112 v 124

    Clive 7 8 4 5 5 6 35
    Neil 7 8 6 7 7 11 46
    JT 7 6 5 6 5 7 36

    4th leg total 117 v 118

    Grand total 460 v 465

    WIN by -5

     

  • Bitzas & Pieces Part II

    A final game before embarking on our annual trip.  Would the Hustlers be heading off to the Riviera with a cheery smile or a scowl?

    With Clive missing with work, Dobbin took on the skipper’s mantle and put us in to set in a new venue of the Beehive.  An interesting first leg saw AU gain possession of Barry the Brasilian Beaver, with his first beaver in many a moon, while Lofty’s 9 -spare surely cost him a precious 40.  Second leg took on a 10-pin deficit and, despite a very indifferent performance, somehow managed to lose just a single pin, handing over just 11 pins down.

    Third leg incredibly saw Salty get our second 9-spare of the night (and season!) and their mediocre performance saw us drop a further 9 pins, to leave the anchor to pull back 20 pins for the draw.  AS led the way with our top score of the night, surely aided by the sausages and chips which conveniently appeared just as Wallsy, Lewis & JimBob ducked out!  But their efforts could only manage to narrow the gap by 10 and bringing our winning streak to an early end

    Next game is back at the suffolk on Monday v Duke of York

    23/2/10  v Beehive Bitzas @ Beehive (Prestbury)

    AU 3 8 8 0 5 7 31
    Jim 4 8 3 7 4 7 33
    Martin 6 6 5 9s 5 8 39

    1st leg total 103 v 113

    TC 6 7 4 8 4 2 31
    Rob 8 2 8 8 5 3 34
    Steve 7 4 8 5 5 6 35

    2nd leg total 100 v 101

    Mark

    		 3 8 9s 5 6 5 36

    Pete

    		 5 8 5 5 5 6 34
    Lewis 5 6 7 5 6 6 35

    3rd leg total 105 v 114

    AS 8 8 6 6 9 7 44
    Neil 4 5 6 9 6 6 36
    JT 7 6 5 7 7 9 41

    4th leg total 121 v 111

    Grand total 429 v 439

    WIN by -10

  • Golden Balls

    A final Suffolk game before we get back to normal home & away games.  Could the Hustlers make this a double win over the Old Golds?

    Yet again following, the Hustlers got off to an indifferent start after Gary’s spare took us into an early lead and first leg handed over 5 pins down.  Despite JimBob improving his average (a rarity tonight), 2nd leg fared no better and dropped a further 5 pins, going into the 2nd half trailing by 10.

    Lewis’ top score of the night paved the way for a glorious comeback as 3rd leg turned the game on its head, handing a 10-pin lead over to the anchors to capitalise on.  And so it was time for the steady performance of our anchor lead, who managed to stretch the lead by a further 17 pins, to give us our third win on the trot.

    Can this winning streak continue?  We shall see after next week’s jaunt to the Beehive v the table-topping Bitzas.

    15/2/10  v Old Golds @ Suffolk

    AU 4 9 5 8 5 7 38
    Gary 12 1 5 7 2 4 31
    Martin 4 5 7 9 7 8 40

    1st leg total 109 v 114

    TC 5 8 5 5 6 7 36
    JimBob 5 5 6 6 4 5 31
    Steve 5 7 6 7 6 6 37

    2nd leg total 104 v 109

    Mark 3 7 8 8 4 9 39

    Rich

    		 4 8 1 8 8 5 34
    Lewis 5 8 9 7 7 6 42

    3rd leg total 115 v 95

    Clive 5 6 7 8 7 6 39
    Neil 6 8 8 4 6 9 41
    JT 7 7 8 5 5 8 40

    4th leg total 120 v 103

    Grand total 448 v 421

    WIN by 27

  • Bowled out

    A vital return match against close rivals Cheltenham Cricket Club, at the Suffolk once more.  Would the cricketers be stumped, or would the Hustlers get run out?

    Following on once more, the Hustlers got off to a great start, with 40s from Gary and Lofty (his top score to date) giving us a 13-pin lead.  Despite losing early pins, 2nd leg soon helped keep that lead, as TC got our 3rd 50 of the season and our first flattener to take the lead out by a further 120 pins, until a last man spare helped the CC draw the leg.

    With Lewis’ spare helping him to his top score of the season, 3rd leg  were strong and won by 8 pins, giving anchor a 21-pin lead to play with.  Clive hit his 3rd spare in as many weeks and JT his top score of the season as the anchors (all with 40s) put in an amazing performance to stretch the lead by a further 30 pins and giving us our biggest win of the season and an incredible total of 491 pins at home – our best ever score on the alley.

    Is this the start of a winning streak?  Tune in next week to see another home match, v Old Golds.

    8/2/10  v Cheltenham CC @ Suffolk

    Rob 5 8 5 8 5 5 36
    Gary 7 6 4 7 8 8 40
    Martin 6 9 8 6 9 6 44

    1st leg total 120 v 107

    TC 7 7 16 8 6 6 50
    Jim 4 4 6 5 6 7 32
    Pete 7 4 7 5 8 4 35

    2nd leg total 117 v 117

    AS 7 5 7 8 5 5 37

    Rich

    		 7 8 6 4 8 7 40
    Lewis 7 7 5 12 6 7 44

    3rd leg total 121 v 113

    Clive 7 7 7 14 5 7 47
    Neil 6 8 7 6 6 7 40
    JT 5 8 9 9 6 9 46

    4th leg total 133 v 103

    Grand total 491 v 440

    WIN by 51

  • Kraftily done

    A rearranged Hustlers match on a Wednesday night against the Kraftsmen and all to play for.  Whose bid would be successful?  Would the result be a choc?

    Following on, the Hustlers got off to a stuttering start, with Rob’s 40 barely making a difference as we fell 12 pins behind.  A similar story followed with 2nd leg, although TC’s first 40 of the season helped pull back 6 pins to hand over a narrow deficit.

    3rd leg got off to a poor start, dropping 10 pins on the first hand.  The rest of the leg was rather up-and-down, but they held on to hand over 15 pins down, with the anchor having it all to do.  And what a start they made.  2 spares on the first hand saw the deficit pulled back and converted into a 2-pin lead.  Slowly, but surely further progress was made and finally the game ended with the Hustlers taking the leg by 21 pins and the game by 6.

    Has the corner been turned?  Watch us take on Chelt CC next week, at the Suffolk once more.

    3/2/10  v Kraftsmen @ Suffolk

    AU 1 6 5 9 4 7 32
    Rob 6 7 9 5 5 8 40
    Lewis 8 6 3 8 4 5 34

    1st leg total 106 v 118

    Pete 4 6 6 6 7 6 35
    TC 6 9 7 7 7 8 44
    Steve 2 7 6 4 7 6 32

    2nd leg total 111 v 105

    AS 2 3 8 7 9 7 36

    Rich

    		 5 8 8 5 6 3 35
    Mart 6 5 8 5 8 7 39

    3rd leg total 110 v 119

    Clive 12 7 5 7 5 7 43
    Neil 6 8 6 6 8 9 43
    JT 14 6 7 5 8 5 45

    4th leg total 131 v 110

    Grand total 458 v 452

    WIN by 6

  • Creamed

    After a 3-week gap we finally get to play a match, and it’s back at the Suffolk.  Would the break have been good for us or would lack of match practice show?

    A nervous start saw AU lead the way with a steady 40, only for 1st leg to hand over 5 pins down.  With Jim-Bob improving on his previous score, Clive’s top score (and our only spare of the night) helped turn the game around and handed over 2 pins up.

    A steady 3rd leg couldn’t improve on this and dropped 11 pins, leaving it all up to the anchors to win the game for us.  But a faltering performance saw another 20 pins dropped and our winning streak come to an end.

    Our next game is the rearranged fixture v the Kraftsmen, back at the Suffolk next Wednesday.

    25/1/10  v Cream @ Suffolk

    AU 7 9 5 5 8 6 40
    Jim 8 3 4 4 5 5 29
    Steve 6 8 4 4 6 7 35

    1st leg total 104 v 109

    Pete 5 4 6 6 5 7 33
    Jim-Bob 3 7 6 5 3 4 33
    Clive 6 5 6 8 6 13 44

    2nd leg total 105 v 98

    Mark 6 8 7 6 8 2 37

    Rich

    		 7 6 5 3 6 6 33
    Lewis 6 7 5 7 5 6 36

    3rd leg total 106 v 117

    Rob 8 5 5 5 3 6 32
    Gary 8 6 7 4 7 6 38
    Neil 5 4 4 3 9 4 29

    4th leg total 99 v 119

    Grand total 414 v 443

    WIN by -29