It felt like the longest night of the year, only in part because it was the longest night of the year, as Norwood Arms’ last leg left Hustlers eating their dust at a barn-like Hillview Community Centre.
First leg, which consisted of big-hitters Rob and Steve plus an improving John, tried valiantly against Norwood’s first three but all failed to catch their opponents and ended the leg 10 pins down.
Second leg, led from the middle by Brian whose 40 included a ten – the first spare of his skittling career – and featuring Chris, back by unpopular demand from University, lost a further 6 pins and left third leg with a smallish hill to climb.
On to third leg in which Lloyd and Pete both managed to gain pins against their opponents. Lewis however, despite getting 40, lost a few to his opponent but the outcome was positive and the deficit was reduced by 2 pins.
So last leg was faced with tackling a shortfall of 14 pins. A stuttering start did not help and, by the time Hustlers clicked, third and fourth legs were upon us. Perversely, once again Neil, with the highest score of the leg (42, including an excellent 15 spare) was the biggest loser to his opponent who ended up with an incredible 53 pins, consigning Hustlers to a defeat of 34 pins.
| Away vs Norwood Arms A 21 December 16 – Lost by 34 | |||||||||
| Place | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | V man! |
| 1 | Rob | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 37 | -1 |
| 2 | Steve | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 33 | -7 |
| 3 | John | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 37 | -2 |
| Leg | 21 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 107 | -10 | |
| 4 | Andy | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 28 | -16 |
| 5 | Brian | 6 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 40 | 9 |
| 6 | Chris | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 1 |
| Leg | 12 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 103 | -6 | |
| 7 | Lloyd | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 35 | 2 |
| 8 | Pete | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 3 |
| 9 | Lewis | 8 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 40 | -3 |
| Leg | 17 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 111 | 2 | |
| 10 | Clive | 4 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 38 | -4 |
| 11 | Gary | 3 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 36 | -5 |
| 12 | Neil | 5 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 42 | -11 |
| Leg | 12 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 17 | 116 | -20 | |
| Norwood Arms A 471 v 437 Hustlers | |||||||||