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Anchors Hustled

To mark the start of the new season, the Hustlers hosted the Anchor Old Ladies in our annual grudge friendly match.  Who would win?  How much blood would be spilled?

 1st leg , ably lead by Pistols (with the first spare of our new campaign) & Lofty with 40s, seemed in a mixed mood, but managed to pull out a superb 41 pin lead.  But this standard soon slipped as 2nd leg struggled in dropping 4 pins to the ladies.  Gary’s 40 wasn’t enough to compensate for the poor performance from the rest of 3rd leg as they dropped a further 12 pins, and the future wasn’t looking quite so bright.  Then up stepped the anchor to take on the Anchors’ anchor.  JT’s bottom score was clearly a sign of the pressure of performing in front of his daughter, but why the missed spare from Lewis.  Thanks to some unorthodox heckling and Steve’s top score, the rot was finally halted as we gained 10 pins to cement a glorious(-ish) victory.

27/8/10  v Anchor Old Ladies @ Suffolk

Mart 7 6 9 8 5 8 43

TC

6 3 9 7 7 2 34
Stu 7 7 5 7 5 5 36
Pete 7 5 3 9 12 9 45

1st leg total 158 v 117

Mark 8 6 5 6 5 4 34
Jim 7 6 2 7 5 2 29
AU 7 5 5 6 8 9 38

2nd leg total 101 v 105

Rob

6 8 4 6 4 3 31

Clive

8 8 1 7 7 5 36
Gary 7 5 7 9 8 8 44
AS 6 2 6 7 5 5 31

3rd leg total 142 v 154

Steve 8 12 7 5 7 8 47
Lewis 7 6 6 8 9s 5 41
JT 3 7 5 1 3 7 26

4th leg total 119 v 109

Grand total 520 v 485

WIN by 35

 

Hustlers chase front pin glory

 With the Leagues and Cup now ended, focus turned to the Front Pin competition during May.  Follow the fortunes of our 2 intrepid entrants – Rob & Cap’n Clive.

Rob was drawn against the Black Abbotts’ Terry Middleton in the first round,  winning it despite failing to score in the 3rd hand:
4, 3, 0, 6, 8, 6  27   v   3, 3, 8, 4, 2, 2  22

In the 2nd round he was drawn against Kevin James of Old Golds but narrowly lost in a very tight game, to go out of the competition early:
7, 0, 9, 3, 6, 3  28   v   2, 3, 9, 4, 6, 3  27

Clive’s 1st round was against Adam Gregory, which he won easily, despite failing to score in the first hand:
0, 3, 3, 5, 7, 1  19   v   4, 8, 4, 7, 8, 0  31

Up next was Clive Hodges of the Brolly Boys, who proved more of a challenge for our skipper:
0, 4, 4, 6, 9, 6  29   v    4, 8, 9, 6, 2, 5  34

Clive’s march through the rounds continued with a resounding victory in round 3 over Terry Johnson of the Travellers:
7, 6, 7, 8, 7, 7  42   v   4, 3, 7, 8, 1, 7  30

The ¼ finals saw Clive facing the Steamers’ Paul Ashfield and putting in another great performance to secure another win:
4, 5, 7, 2, 8, 6  32   v   9, 7, 5, 7, 3, 8  39

The semi-final  brought Clive’s toughest challenge yet as he fought through against 2007 Champion Mick Benbow:
7, 6, 7, 11, 0, 8  39   v   3, 9, 7, 9, 3, 9  40

And so we came to the final, where Clive was pitted against the Travellers’ Darren Johnson:
8, 7, 6, 8, 9, 6  44   v   7, 8, 2, 8, 4, 9  38

Falling at the last, but not disgraced, Clive collected his runner-up trophy to bring us our 1st trophy since winning the shield at Woolacombe last year.  Well down skip – a great finish to a hard season.  Can we go 1 better next year?

 

Final Tables

The final league tables are now out and provisional promotions and relegations are available.

So, it looks like we’re saying goodbye to the Jets, St Marks and Batmen.

Down from Div 1, it’s currently looking like:

Shadows – United Services (Monday)

Saracens A – Saracens (Tuesday)

Smiths A – RBL, Bishops Cleeve (Monday)

Coming up from Div 3, we look set to face:

Ullenwood CC – Suffolk (Tuesday)

Cowley CC – Charlton Club (Tuesday)

Pitville Outcasts – Gas Club (Tuesday)

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