Hustlers returned to their birthplace at the Brown Jug but there was to be no happy homecoming to the pub where the team was formed in 1963. Indeed, after enduring a completely random wooden alley and what must be the highest beer prices in Cheltenham, there should be few complaints about the Suffolk in future !
The start of first leg gave no hints of what was to come. Rob’s 9 on the first hand was followed by a 13 spare from Gary on second, but the wheels rapidly came off from the third hand with only one score over 5 on the last three hands.
Second leg had to overcome a deficit of 19 pins. The leg was notable for a fine 42 by Chris and two nines by Pete and Dave (his first ever). Those were the good bits; there were no others and Hustlers shipped a further 3 pins to the Old Boys.
Third leg was noteworthy for being completely un-noteworthy. Low thirties were the order of the day, even Captain Clive only managing 35, and our brave lads went down to a further 18 pins.
So it was up to last leg to recover the 40 pin deficit. A tall order one would think, and one would have been right. Only anchor man Neil was on fire and despite running out of energy after the fourth hand, he nevertheless achieved a deserved 42 pins and helped to keep the last leg deficit to 5 pins.
Next week we are back at home when we entertain the Merry Fellows.
Away vs Whaddon Old Boys
| Total | Leg | Man | Overall | |||||||
| Gary | 6 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 38 | -3 | ||
| Malcolm | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 30 | -8 | ||
| Rob | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 96 | -8 | -19 |
| Pete | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 38 | +6 | ||
| Dave | 1 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 27 | -14 | ||
| Chris | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 107 | +5 | -3 |
| Mart | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 34 | -3 | ||
| Clive | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 35 | -5 | ||
| Andy | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 100 | -10 | -18 |
| Lloyd | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 30 | -8 | ||
| Steve | 2 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 34 | -2 | ||
| Neil | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 42 | 106 | +5 | -5 |
| 409 | -45 |
Loss by 45!!!